Chapter 6
Iron Crutch Kung Fu
A Kung Fu form is a series of offensive and defensive techniques placed into a dance form. These forms last anywhere from one to ten minutes. While studying Kung Fu, I learned several traditional Shaolin Praying Mantis Forms that I translated into Crutch Forms. I have called these Iron Crutch Forms. Each form takes an average of six months to learn. Each form is like a visual book read to the audience. As a book, I describe it with words one technique at a time.
This form is called Iron Crutch Shaolin Gong Lik Swan Staff.
Much of this form I translated from the original Shaolin Form.
Watch this form in its entirety.
Then adjust the speed settings to study it.
Go to Settings on the bottom bar of the video, find the wheel icon, and slow the speed to 25%.
Go past the opening — to the 15 seconds mark.
The first 15 seconds are a traditional Kung Fu introduction and then an energy raising motion that we will return to once I step you through the Iron Crutch techniques.
Feet positions
While walking on crutches with leg braces, the knees don't bend.
Thus, when standing up or walking, feet are next to each other.
When in attacking or blocking mode, they are always in a pyramid or horse stance.
Feet are spread apart side to side.
This stance gives you a strong foundation.
Crutch Techniques
Go to seconds 15 to 16. Press play, then press pause. Watch this technique three times.
Propeller Block
Seconds 15 to 16
Stand erect with crutches held by handles
Look left and lift left crutch hand while quickly bending wrist up
Causing the crutch tip to rotate up counterclockwise, then over, and then down to the ground in a 360% arch.
While this is happening, place your balancing weight on your right crutch.
Training Exercise: Learn how to rotate a crutch counterclockwise on the left side. Start slow, and do it 10 times. Then faster 10 times. Then faster 10 times until you have accomplished 100 backward rotations.
Practice this training exercise system for every technique you learn.
Repeat the backward propeller rotation the same way on the right side. 100 times.
If at any point you lose control of your crutch, then slow down until you feel confident until your muscles are adequately controlling the movement.
Objective: To block a fist or a kick attack from the side
Repeat this same technique on your right side as well.
Notice that during this technique with crutches, there are three stabilizing feet on the ground at every moment. Having a strong foundation is essential. When on crutches, keep three points on the ground.
Triple Crutch Tip Strike
Seconds 16 to 18
Now that the Propeller Block has paused their attack, thus creating an opening in their defense, you should attack.
Left crutch point kicks up to the groin
Right crutch point kicks up to the chin
Left crutch point kicks up to the chin
These attacks hit and also breakthrough anything your attacker comes at you with — hands, feet, and also groin and face.
Training exercise.
Practice snapping one crutch at a time while maintaining balance. Always start practicing a new move slowly so that you are accurate. Practice hitting three targets.
For instance, you may want to put three spots on a wall.
One at knee-high, then groin high, then chin high.
Practice striking each spot slowly 10 times each.
Then do another 10 each faster.
Then another 10 each faster and so on until you are able to kick precisely and quickly.
While hitting the wall, stop your crutch at the wall surface.
This teaches range as well as target acquisition.
Cradle to Face Strike
Seconds 18 to 19
Bring right crutch cradle up and snap it left to his face.
Training Exercise:
Look Left.
Lift your right crutch face up and then across the path of your face to your left.
Hit his nose.
Make a dot on the wall and hit that spot lightly 100 times.
Use the 10 slow to 10 faster methods.
Upward Face Crutch Tip Strike, Rotate Clockwise Down on Head Strike
Seconds 19 to 21
Turn head right and snap left crutch up to the right side, hit chin
Rotate Hammer left crutch clockwise toward the right side
and over
and down onto his head
Training Exercise:
This requires that the motion not stop until both attacks are complete
Lift crutch tip up to chin height toward the right side
Drop the crutch back down, swing it back, over and down onto his head
Practice this using the 10 slow to 10 faster sequences for 100 times
Double and Single Rotation Clockwise Hammer Strike-Triple strike
Seconds 22 to 25
Turn face toward left
Rotate Left Crutch Tip 180 degrees counterclockwise on the inside of your wrist toward left side, and then 180 degrees counterclockwise on the outside of your wrist
Rotate Right Crutch Tip 180 degrees counter-clockwise downward hammer strike
Training Exercise: Double Hammer Rotation.
Extend arm with the crutch to your side
Point crutch tip out
Drop the point down rotating it toward you on the inside of your body,
then up in front of you,
then over and bend your wrist so that the tip revolves behind your arm
and down
then the tip lifts behind your extended arm
then up and to your side so that it extends out in the direction of your pointed arm
Practice this 100 times using 10 slow to 10 faster sequences
Now practice the propeller hammer swing 100 times
Now bring these two motions together, for 100 times
Slow to faster
Mantis capture
Seconds 26 - 31
Two hands forming mantis points
Index finger support by thumbs while three secondary fingers curling in
Watch the film to learn the sequence of movement of this technique.
This is an ideal arm capture
Double Crutch Fan Salute
Seconds 31 - 32
Rotate both crutch tips 360 degrees away from each each other, down up and down
Lift body to standing, feet together
Perform mantis capture form
Beginning of first row.
Two Advancing Downward Hammer Crutch Tip Strikes
Seconds 32 - 38
Look left
Cock left crutch tip up 90 degrees as a shield
Rotate crutch tip toward the left 360 degrees
Place crutch tip on the ground using crutch as shield
Step sideways to left
Repeat this advance once more
Upward Block-Hold
Seconds 38 - 39
Continue to look left
Rotate left crutch tip up and over 360 degrees creating full circle
Until the crutch tip is pointing at the attacker
This technique is designed to break though any attack with the upward cut
and then hold the space between the attacker and yourself
Right Hammer Crutch Tip
Seconds 39 - 41
Step with right foot forward, rotating the body and placing the feet to face opponent
Right crutch tip hammers down onto opponent
Four Stacking Downward Hammer Crutch Tip Strikes
Seconds 42 - 44
Two Outer Rotation Down Hammer, crutch tip strikes
One inner Rotation Down Hammer, crutch tip strikes
One outer Rotation Down Hammer, crutch tip strikes
Place crutch tip on the ground creating a crutch shield
This is the end of the first row.
Second Row
Crutch Propellor Block
Seconds 44 - 46
Right crutch spins perpendicular counterclockwise thus blocking a punch or kick
Place right crutch tip on the right outside of the right foot
Prepare to turn the body
Rotate Body
Seconds 46 -47
Move right crutch about 18 inches further back from its previous placement
Lift body and allow shoulders and hips to rotate left foot forward so that it is forward and the right foot is back
A side stance will create a smaller target
Three times-Upward Block Strike / Retreat Attack
Seconds 47 - 53
As the left foot touches the ground thus creating a stable structure
Rotate left crutch tip forward up and over 360
Until the tip is pointing forward in defense, keeping a distance
Step back once maintaining the same body angle
Do this full technique three times.
Upward Cradle Shield Block
Seconds 53 -56
Repeat same step backward maintaining same body angle
Rotate left crutch tip forward up and over 180 degrees
Ending with the cradle facing up 60 degrees above head as a block
Double Downward Hammer Strike
Seconds 56 - 58
From that position
Rotate the crutch tip forward and down two times
And place the tip on the ground with force
Creating a crutch shield
Right Hammer Down
Seconds 58 - 59
Right crutch tip rotates 360 forward,
hits ground, create a shield
Back Strike
Seconds 59 - 101
Put cradle under your armpit
Look behind over your right shoulder
Lift tip and flip it backward toward the head
Seven Forward Propeller Hammer Strikes
Seconds 101 - 105
Turn your head forward again
Rotate right crutch tip in hammer motion three times
Move tip to the left side of the body up and over (creating outside block)
Rotate right crutch tip in hammer motion three times
Crutch Hammer Strike
Seconds 105 - 106
Rotate crutch tip at a 45-degree axis toward the left side
Upward Spinning Block
106 - 107
Rotate left crutch tip up and over 360
Creating a shield for the left side
Bring it down to the side of the left foot
Prepare to rotate the body
Rotate Body
107 - 108
With both crutch tips in the same position pick up the body and rotate it so that it faces the left side.
Forward Right Hammer Strike
109 - 110
Face forward-center
Right Crutch Tip rotates overhead and down
Place right tip in front of right foot about 12 inches
Creating a stable quadpod
Crutch Cradle Point Face Strike
110 - 111
Right-hand grabs shirt collar and pulls his face toward you
Place your left hand on the upper inside bar of crutch
Left crutch cradle point strikes his nose
Triple Groin, Face, Hammer Strikes
111 - 113
Face turned toward the right
Right crutch tip upward groin strike (causing him to bend over)
Left crutch tip upward face strike
Propellor Block/ Hammer Strike
114 - 116
Face left
Lift both feet together
Rotate crutch tip perpendicular counterclockwise in front of your face as a block
Rotate tip on the outside hammer strike
Bring crutch tip down create a shield
Step left repeat Propeller Block / Hammer Strike
117 - 119
Repeat what you practiced
Step Left Propeller Block/Hammer Strike/Upward Groin Kick/Upward Head Strike
120 - 124
Repeat Propeller Block and Hammer Strike
Left Groin Kick with the crutch
Right Head Strike
End of Row
Propellor Block
Turn Body
125 - 127
Look right
Clockwise propellor parallel to the front of the body
Acts as shield
Place crutch tip on ground 15 inches behind right heal and rotate the body to face the attacker
From here on, everything is a repeat of the previous techniques.
I designate them with the seconds performed in the video
127 - 132
Upward Right Kick Spin
Lock crutch cradle behind bicep with the tip pointed up
Left Groin Kick
Right downward head spin strike
Right downward head spin strike
133 - 137
Left Groin Kick
Right Downward Spin Head Strike
Right Groin Kick
Left Downward Spin Head Strike
Center Left Crutch Groin Kick
Center Right Crutch Spin Head Strike
138 - 139
Right Crutch Tip Outer High Block
Then Low Block
140 - 144
Swing though step forward,
Rotate body left foot forward
Left Crutch Upward Strike \Spin
Repeat Step and Strike Spin
145 - 149
Step rotate body 45 degrees to the right
Left Crutch Downward Spin Strike
Crutch Tip Placed in from of body as a shield
Right Crutch Spin Downward Head Strike
Sling Hammer
150 - 158
New technique
Hold Left Cradle with Right Hand
Lift crutch to your back shoulder
Catapult the crutch over the shoulder and down
Spinning crutch as a shield four revolutions
Two Side Sling Hammer
On the fifth revolution
Transfer spinning motion to the right side
Then left side
Right side
Left side
Right
Left
Right
Left
Put Left Crutch Tip on the floor to shield the body
Right Crutch Tip Upward Strike to Face
159 - 201
Right Crutch Downward Spin Head Hammer Strike
Both crutch tips on the floor
202 - 204
Right Upward Spin Kick 360 degrees
Point tip at face
Left Groin Kick
Right Downward Spin Head Hammer 360 degrees
Both crutch tip on the floor
This 360-degree spin strikes the opponent twice
Closing Mantis
205 - 212
Double Left Outer Inner Crutch Spin
Right Downward Head Hammer Spin
Lean on both crutches form stable balance
Mantis Hands
Lower both palm slowly down to crutch handles
Closing of Form Salute
212 - 219
Both crutches up and around once
Place tips on the ground
Lift body s
The feet are together
Bow with a right fist pressed into the left palm
Head lowered eyes forward
Stand straight.
End of form