Wu Ji Chyuan Fa?

[Harima]

Wu Ji chyuan fa

I have studied with Tom for a 12 years, and still currently study with him... whenever time allows out of his schedule. It's had to find instructors of his level and ability. But enough of praising the man.

One thing that I would like to clarify is that Wu Ji Chyuan Fa isn't really a STYLE. It's a system.

A highly intelligent approach to assessing your "problem" and carrying out an ultra stream-lined conclusion to a problem, physical enemy or otherwise.

[Shattakan]

I have studied with Tom for a 12 years, and still currently study with him... whenever time allows out of his schedule. It's had to find instructors of his level and ability. But enough of praising the man.

One thing that I would like to clarify is that Wu Ji Chyuan Fa isn't really a STYLE. It's a system.

A highly intelligent approach to assessing your "problem" and carrying out an ultra stream-lined conclusion to a problem, physical enemy or otherwise.

True, but that was stated earlier; “While Wu Ji Chyuan Fa could properly be described as a style – and although it does include the development of a personal 'style' as part of what is taught – because of its thorough and methodical approach Wu Ji Chyuan Fa is more properly described as a system of martial art/knowledge.”

Harima, send me a private message. I've studdied with Tom since 1996, just want to see who is out there.

[Harima]

It's Funny who you find on the net

To : Shattakan
It's good to find out who was giving all the facts about the "system" long time no chat. - LOL

Glad I know who's giving out the info, that it's all accurate, and from a reliable source. Glad you haven't lost your edge. No pun intended!

[stedradragon]

An old student of Tom's

Hi,

I'm a old, short-term student of Tom's from years ago (1978). I studied with him for about 8 months in the back of the old beehive credit union. He called it Hua-kenpo back then. I was introduced to him by a friend at my work (Safeway) at the time.

I was out of the country for a couple of years and lost track of him. I ended up studying a kenpo/tae twon do mix for a while, and then studied with Tony Martinez Jr. for about a year. I had to quit when I got married and moved away to go to college.

I noticed that there is what seems to be a current web page for Tang Wei, but there is no contact info. I too would like to get in contact with someone teaching Tom's system. It sounds like I missed out on a lot.

Thanks!

[Harima]

stedradragon - Tom Garriga info

Tom Garriga <tom@tomgarriga.com>

subject Martial Arts Seminars in November



Hello Everyone,

I thank all of you who have attended our Rapid Skill Building Seminars and look forward to working with you again. I also appreciated your input and comments that made the seminars such a great success.

Many thanks go out to all of you who coached, assisted and filmed our seminars. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Also a big thanks to all those who helped organize the seminars and assisted the participants as they arrived.

Please see the flyer below for more details. Also, please spread the work about the upcoming seminars to anyone you would like to invite and have them contact me to register.

I hope to see all of you on November 14th!

Thanks, again,

[stedradragon]

Thank you!

Harima,

Thank you for providing me with Tom's email address. It is most appreciated. I sent him an email, so if he gives his permission (and time and money allowing), I may be able to start training in his system again.

Thanks again!

-Stedradragon

[Shattakan]

New Website

Here is the new Wu Ji Chyuan Fa website.

http://tangwei-martialarts.com/

NEXT SEMINAR will be held at the same location on Saturday, NOVEMBER 14th, 2009. There will be two Seminars presented:

SKILLS from COMBAT TAI CHI in the morning and WEAPON SKILLS; BATON in the afternoon.

[Paul Evans]

Krav Maga in SLC

As a former student in Wu Ji Chyuan Fa I agree that it is a complete system. Since Tom moved away it hasn't been the same. He has many great and qualified instructors however it was toms teaching and the way he taught that made it special. I have been in the arts since 1984 and through many systems. All systems I have trained in have led me to Krav Maga. Many of the excat things Tom taught are in Fact Krav Maga. It is a reality based system taught to the Israeli Defense Forces and Anti -Terrorist Units world wide. Wu Ji Chyuan Fa and Krav Maga are the two best systems I have ran across. If you want more info on Krav Maga go to KravMagaSLC - Home

Krav Maga focuses more on performing under stress, other systems are great in therory. Come check it out.

[stedradragon]

Wu Ji Chaun Fa Forms

Does the Wu Ji Chyuan Fa System contain any forms? Either Required or optional?

[Paul Evans]

they do teach weapons sets. similar to forms but combat related. The biggest thing the weapons forms teach is the constant foot work, movement and developing power. The sets are used as a building block and can all be broken down into self defense techniques. In Krav Maga we don't have any forms or sets. Self defense only

[Shattakan]

Here is a complete known list of Sets/Forms taught by Tom Garriga as Wu Ji Chyuan Fa.

Evasive Body Maneuvers (Variations with Strikes and Timing)
Evasive Foot Maneuvers (Variations with Strikes, Kicks, and Timing)
Handset 1
Handset 2
Handset 3
Handset 4
Kick Set 1
Kick Set 2
Kick Set 3
Kick Set 4 - Referenced, but never taught (according to my understanding).
Bagua 1
Bagua 2
Bagua 3
Bagua 4
Bagua 5
Bagua 6
Bagua 7
Bagua 8
Double Baton Set
Lost Dragon Set
Staff Set
Spear Set
8 Man Sword Set
22 Man Sword Set
Phantom Single Sword Set
Phantom Double Sword Set
Combat Tai Chi Set
Lin Kuei / MiZong Set


There are also countless other amount of techniques and possible variations. Some set/form techniques were taught with different variations at different times. Wu Ji Chyuan Fa is considered a living system/style of fighting that can change when new or better information becomes available.

Paul is correct that "Many of the exact things Tom taught are in Fact Krav Maga." When it comes to empty hand against weapons much of the Wu Ji Chyuan Fa Technique Patterns came from Krav Maga, but everyone in Wu Ji Chyuan Fa knows that the patterns of movement “techniques” are just the superficial aspects of Wu Ji Chyuan Fa and it’s the hundreds of Power Concepts, Speed Concepts, Bridging Concepts, Illusionary/Timing Concepts, Tao-I Energy Concepts, and Targeting Principles that makes Wu Ji Chyuan Fa unique.

Tom referenced Krav Maga as an influencing combat system incorporated into Wu Ji Chyuan Fa, the first time I heard of Krav Mega was during “Small Arms Takeaway Seminar” taught by Tom back in 1996. At the time Krav Maga wasn’t even a household name among Martial Artists, now it’s the Iconic system for Reality Based Martial Arts and a practical system of innate self-defense.

[stedradragon]

Thanks. Are these forms required in some kind of learning/belt/step structure or just learn them as you want to? (Personally, I like forms and enjoy practicing them, but some people don't.)

[Shattakan]

When Tom taught them you would learn the Mandatory Sets/Forms during Fundamentals, Basics, Intermediate, and Advanced Classes.

(Mandatory Sets for Fundamentals, Basics, Intermediate, and Advanced Classes)
Evasive Body Maneuvers
Evasive Foot Maneuvers
Handset 1
Handset 2
Handset 3
Handset 4
Kick Set 1
Kick Set 2
Kick Set 3
Double Baton Set
Staff Set
Spear Set
8 Man Sword Set
22 Man Sword Set
Lost Dragon Set

You could Advance to First Step without going through all the classes & sets if Tom felt that you are capable of passing the First Step Tests.
--------------------
Phantom Sword Sets and Bagua Forms were taught during special seminars.
--------------------
Combat Tai Chi Set and Lin Kuei / MiZong Sets were taught after Fist Step.

[stedradragon]

Thanks Shattakan. Looks very cool. especially the Baqua forms and the Baton forms. I hope he touches on them in the seminar.
You mentioned Krav Maga as an influence in Wu Ji Chyuan Fa. Is there a Kenpo influence? Kenpo has hand and kick sets, although so do many other styles. I know Tom is a first-generation student of Mr. Parker and that he now is 9th degree. So you'd think there would be a kenpo influence too. Although, way back when, I got the impression that Tom didn't have a lot of use for Kenpo - at least how it was taught commerically. But, I may have misunderstood.
(BTW - does anyone know who awarded it to Tom - Mike Pick maybe? It's not important at all; I'm just curious.)

[Shattakan]

From Pick's Corner
CKF: Who are some of the people you recall running the Pasadena school or West Los Angeles school in the 1970’s and ‘80’s?

MR. PICK: There were a number of people—many for brief periods. The main ones I remember are Tom Garriga and Yoshio Furuya in Pasadena, and Danny Inosanto and Tom Kelly in Santa Monica.

CKF: Wasn't Tino the one who endorsed your 10th Degree Black Belt ceremony?

MR. PICK: Big brother officiated at the ceremony that was held at Tom Garriga's Salt Lake City school, and he presented me with my 10th degree belt. I was not promoted, I was recognized by a man that I hold in the highest esteem, for big brother is the real deal-- former Marine, marched out of the chosen reservoir with chesty puller, Silver Star recipient, and many other accomplishments. Big brother and I have an eternal relationship, the same as I have with Ed Parker.

CKF: Your rank today is a 10th Degree, which illustrates the level of Grandmaster. Who, if anyone, recognized this rank for you?

MR. PICK: Over the years, I have had many individuals, both in and outside of the Kenpo world, give their accolades to my acceptance of rank. Grandmaster Tino Tuiolosega officiated at the ceremony for my tenth degree at Tom Garriga’s school in Salt Lake City. Tom is a first generation Parker Black Belt and was the manager of the Pasadena school for four years in the late 60's to early 70's. Many of the prominent seniors studied under his tutelage. Ed Parker basically quit teaching regular classes at the Pasadena school when he was traveling with Elvis Presley, so the bulk of the teaching fell to the manager and a number of others, including Dave Hebler, Dion Steckling, Roger Meadows, myself and a few others

--------------------------------

Tom told us after receiving his 8th degree black belt in Kenpo he left to focus his MA training totally in Wu Ji Chyuan Fa. After Mike Pick received his 8th degree then 9th degree black belts Tom returned to Kenpo for a period to receive his 9th degree black belt. Tom was the first to receive the 8th degree belt, and Mike Pick was the first to receive the 9th degree belt and now 10th degree which was presented by Ed Parkers martial arts big brother from Ark Yuey Wong’s school Tino Tu'umamao founder Limalama.

There are similarities with Kenpo because of the extensive training Tom had in Kenpo, but to get specifics you should contact Tom, also you would have to ask him who gave him 9th degree ranking in Kenpo because I do not know. Tom really didn’t speak much about kenpo while teaching Wu Ji Chyuan Fa.