The Peaceful Fight Syllabus
The Peaceful Fight Syllabus
The areas of knowledge that Peaceful Fight covers are comparatively wide and diverse. Some areas require more thought and study than others with some being intuitive (or innate knowledge) and others being "taught" knowledge. Students who find one area of study easy often struggle in others : this is in part to do with their own personalities and what they "bring to the party". Other students might find everything difficult to achieve or understand but work hard to achieve only limited success. Regardless of the level of success or performance that the students achieve, neither sort of student is "better" than the other, with both having merits in what they have achieved within the system from their concerted efforts of study . They can both go forth to show the system and themselves in a good light but will appear totally different in their outlook and focus as individuals. In order to reflect this, the ability of a student of Peaceful Fight cannot then be measured solely by one set of rules such as kicking height, punching strength or technical knowledge. All students are individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses which they bring to the system. This has to be reflected in any assessment or grading system. The overall objective of Peaceful Fight is to produce respectful, contented and self reliant students who fight like berserkers when threatened whilst for the rest of their lives doing "good works" for their family, friends and community. Any grading system is secondary to these aims.
However, it is acknowledged that pursuit of goals (eg the next grade) is a useful motivator for many students. Because of this, Peaceful fight has a framework syllabus of items which need to be understood for each successive grade. However, it is not that all of the items listed are necessary formally taught but more that a student after a certain amount of training should be able to deal with the attack forms shown and also have an appreciation of the relevant healing sides of the arts. Put another way, a student might have trained for a number of weeks and then they will be attacked with a baseball bat (padded of course !) to see if they can apply their skills to the unexpected. It is not so much that they have been told what to do, more that the training should have got them ready for it. In real life it is important that students think for themselves and find (and follow) the Dao. It is not viable nor useful to just be able to remember a certain technique for a certain attack method. Finding the Dao is what is important within Peaceful Fight and to do this, there has to be an understanding of chaos and an acceptance of the unknown (The attitude eventually becomes "I haven't a clue what I'm doing but I'll follow the Dao anyway and let it carry me along whatever is supposed to happen and take me wherever I'm supposed to be going". The normal response for me immediately after applying this attitude to someone attacking is "Blimey, the technique worked !" as it is always a surprise to me that it does ! ). It should also be noted that after the first few weeks, the syllabus is also not taught in a linear fashion but what is taught to a student depends on what happens to come out during any lesson. Lesson content is a combination of who is present, what they want to learn, what is happening in their lives and what ideas they bring to the party. The majority of the lesson in the early days is on understanding the only move and this seems to take about 6 weeks. After that, anything could conceivably happen ! Most of the lessons split ~ 90% martial and 10% "other". This "other" might be discussions of how to apply Taoism in a real life situation, formal medical work, comparison of Peaceful Fight with other arts, technical review of a technique that has occurred and why it works or a general discussion on any aspect that students come up with. Who knows what will happen - that is part of the good bit of chaos !
If the students only perfected the skills listed in the early parts of the syllabus, the skills should allow students to "hold their own" against 90% + of violent encounters and also help to give relief against a number of minor ailments that they encounter. The actual instruction in both healing and martial aspects are a lot wider than these limited categories (again, dependent on who turns up and what ideas they have) but gives an indication of the relative value of each aspect to each grade. The general scheme reflects that critical, highly important aspects of healing and fighting (eg understanding qi and its links to pain, or knowing where an opponent's vulnerable spots are etc) come early in the syllabus with each section being refined as students become more knowledgeable / competent.
The syllabus is listed with a bias towards the martial side of the art although both healing and martial aspects of each subject (ie the yin and yang) will be taught to highlight how the two sides of the system fit together.
Grading Structure
Pregrade status assessment
Probationer : Aptitude and enthusiasm towards learning in a constructive manner within the style of Peaceful Fight
Grade 1
Gain proficiency in correct application and defences against
Innate Fighting : : Hook, bear hug, upper cut, jab, shin kick, slap, choke, throttle, back hammer, rugby tackle / shoulder barge, testicle kick, football roundhouse, hair grab, ear grab, testicle grab, shoulder grab.
Ability to apply limited level of unfocused violence and
defend against it.
Taught Knowledge : To Apply Correctly and Defend Against
Punching : 4 direction straight punches short / long, back fist
Kicking : 4 direction straight kicking, front, side, back kick
Locks : elbow Grabs : wrist Breaks : Knee / elbow Take downs : None Targets to Consider : hair, shin, neck, solar, eyes, groin
Evasion : None Healing : None Defence : side / side, up / down using arms only Weaponry : knife
Fighting positions : defence and fighting from standing or lying on back positions Falling : front / back
Floor fighting : one opponent after being taken down Movement : forward / back, understanding fighting distance
Spiritual / Psychological : Justification of Violence Close fighting : short arm defence Internal Body Energy : None
Physical : press ups, crunches, sustained push against an opponent
Set Work : None
Grade 2
Continued Understanding / Proficiency / Improvement in Grade 1 Items + Gain proficiency in correct application and defences against
Innate Fighting : : Fighting when grabbed or being grappled
Ability to apply explosive physical violence and defend
against it.
Taught Knowledge : To Apply Correctly and Defend Against
Punching : Short upper and round spinning punches. Use of elbows
Kicking : Use of knees. Skip and static side kicks. Effect of heels or toes as striking weapons.
Locks : shoulder Grabs : none Breaks : None Take downs : Using top body (ie head / neck) Targets to Consider : flesh grabbing points on arms / legs
Evasion : backwards Healing : self healing from fight injuries Defence : Fighting two people Weaponry : None
Fighting positions : None Falling : Side / roll
Floor fighting : one opponent after being thrown Movement : Turning left / right / backwards Spiritual / Psychological : Yin / Yang theory. Micro/ Macrocosm Theory.
Close fighting : None Internal Body Energy : None Physical : None
Set Work : None
Grade 3
Continued Understanding / Proficiency / Improvement in Grade 2 Items + Gain proficiency in correct application and defences against
Innate Fighting : None
Taught Knowledge : To Apply Correctly and Defend Against
Punching : Up / down and sweeping punches
Kicking : Roundhouse, foot sweeps
Locks : Wrist Grabs : Forearm Breaks : None Take downs : Clothes Targets to Consider : Choosing Right body weapon for right target
Evasion : Side to side backwards Healing : Acupressure for headaches / body pain Defence : applying damage with deflections Weaponry : Pool cue / baseball bat / short stick
Fighting positions : Seated Falling : Sitting back
Floor fighting : None Movement : Turning to all angles Spiritual / Psychological : Five Elements Theory
Close fighting : Balance points, short arm locking Internal Body Energy : Concept of Qi Physical : Finger press ups, staff gripping / control
Set Work : Student to Develop First set Against 3 opponents.
Grade 4
Continued Understanding / Proficiency / Improvement in Grade 3 Items + Gain proficiency in correct application and defences against
Taught Knowledge : To Apply Correctly and Defend Against
Punching : stepping / moving in all directions / angles with any type of punch combination
Kicking : Reverse kick
Locks : fingers Grabs : none Breaks : fingers Take downs : Using arm / shoulder Targets to Consider : Joints
Evasion : Side to side forward Healing : Isolating muscles, energising eyes Defence : Intercepting deflections / Fighting going backwards Weaponry : None
Fighting positions : None Falling : Jumping Forward
Floor fighting : Two opponents after being taken down Movement : forward from two leg lengths away Spiritual / Psychological : Fighting Spirit. Connection to Earth
Close fighting : Follow through fighting Internal Body Energy : Punching energy release Physical : Development of Full Body Tension / Relaxation
Set Work : None
Grade 5
Continued Understanding / Proficiency / Improvement in Grade 4 Items
+ Gain proficiency in correct application and defences against
Taught Knowledge : To Apply Correctly and Defend Against
Punching : Dummies, feints, reverse punching, effect of change (hard to soft)
Kicking : Combination kicking in any direction. Short Kicks
Locks : Leg trapping Grabs : Throat Breaks : None Take downs : None Targets to Consider : Muscle Layers and Flow
Evasion : None Healing : Tendon relocation. Full / empty balancing Defence : Leg deflections Weaponry : None
Fighting positions : Sitting at Table Falling : None
Floor fighting : Two opponents after being thrown Movement : None Spiritual / Psychological : Qi Flow during emotions / fear / fight / Mental Balance
Close fighting : Energy release Internal Body Energy : Wei Qi flow Physical : Flexibility of wrists, elbows, shoulders, fingers
Set Work : Student to Develop First set Against 3 opponents to remove mistakes / show improvement of knowledge. Develop second set against three opponents, two armed with knives.
Grade 6
Continued Understanding / Proficiency / Improvement in Grade 5 Items
+ Gain proficiency in correct application and defences against
Taught Knowledge : To Apply Correctly and Defend Against
Punching : competent use of open hand techniques ie palm, fingers, wrist, edges of hand, joints
Kicking : Flying front kick, use of spinning heel
Locks : Ground restraint Grabs : None Breaks : Hip dislocation Take downs : Fingers / wrist Targets to Consider : Pressure Points (To Cause Pain)
Evasion : None Healing : Tracing H and LI Meridians and effects Defence : Reversing Locks / Holds Weaponry : Bottle / Glass
Fighting positions : Kneeling Falling : front / back
Floor fighting : None Movement : Slow stepping / movement Spiritual / Psychological : Zangfu system. Qi Rebalancing
Close fighting : Pressure Point Control Internal Body Energy : Affecting Qi Patterns / Flow Physical : 20 Minute Fighting Aerobics
Set Work : Improve Set 1 to Final Standard. Improve Set 2. Develop a third set for 3 fighters starting from floor position, one armed.
Grade 7
Continued Understanding / Proficiency / Improvement in Grade 6 Items + Gain proficiency in correct application and defences against
Taught Knowledge : To Apply Correctly and Defend Against
Punching : High speed flurry to > 5 strikes / sec. Bounce flow effects.
Kicking : Energy release during kicks
Locks : Bones Grabs : Leg / ankle Breaks : Ankle Take downs : Pressure point based Targets to Consider : Pressure Points (Short Term Damage)
Evasion : None Healing : Trace Pc and Lu Meridians and Effects Defence : Hooking opponent and Redirection of force Weaponry : Belt
Fighting positions : Lying on front Falling : Jumping forward roll
Floor fighting : None Movement : None Spiritual / Psychological : Effects of breathing / styles of breathing.
Close fighting : Opponent shutdown Internal Body Energy : Yin / Yang concept of energy fighting Physical : Breaking trials
Set Work : None
Grade 8
Continued Understanding / Proficiency / Improvement in Grade 7 Items + Gain proficiency in correct application and defences against
Taught Knowledge : To Apply Correctly and Defend Against
Punching : Effect of angle of attack and intent.
Kicking : Spinning kicks
Locks : None Grabs : None Breaks : Foot Take downs : Muscle layers and body parts Targets to Consider : Pressure Points (Permanent damage)
Evasion : Ducking / weaving Healing : Trace CV / GV systems and Effects Defence : None Weaponry : Chair
Fighting positions : Lying on back with opponent on front Falling : None
Floor fighting : Ability to get up against close crowding Movement : None Spiritual / Psychological : Qigong Practice and Concept. Why violence stops / starts.
Close fighting : Unpleasantries Internal Body Energy : The Peaceful Fight State of Mind Physical : Body drag / lift
Set Work : Perfection of Set 2, Improve set 3.
Grade 9
Continued Understanding / Proficiency / Improvement in Grade 8 Items + Gain proficiency in correct application and defences against
Taught Knowledge : To Apply Correctly and Defend Against
Punching : None
Kicking : None
Locks : None Grabs : None Breaks : None Take downs : None Targets to Consider : None
Evasion : None Healing : None Defence : None Weaponry : Staff
Fighting positions : None Falling : None
Floor fighting : None Movement : None Spiritual / Psychological : Bring 3 topics relating to healing / combat to discuss with the class
Close fighting : None Internal Body Energy : To feel Qi flow internally Physical : None
Set Work : Instruction of Either Set 1, 2 or 3 to the Class.
Grade 10
Instructor Training
Be competent and confident in explaining all aspects of Peaceful Fight, at all levels of grade, to the student body of a wide range of abilities / attitudes.