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You're refering to san da lei tai and the old challenge match format; no rounds, just continuous fighting until someone wins. 2 master instructors get on the raised platform and do their thing until one takes a beating or gives up. sometimes the 2nd in command will go at it with the other schools 2nd in command.
The fights did not last several seconds; more like 10 minutes with both instructors pretty beat up. They would not loose face so quickly and were carefull about arranging whom would fight. You would never see a beginner or intermediate student challenge a grand master. That would make the school look foolish.
Some fights ended up with someone getting launched off of the platform via hip tosses or shoulder throws and landing on whatever surface surrounded the platform or both falling off the platform from a failed throw attempt.
In the 70's, their was that exhibition between the gong fu masters and pro-thai fighters. The judges did not allow throws or leg reaps (the only viable technique to beat the Thai fighters) All of the gong fu guys got Ko'd. Later, a gong fu master from Malaysia (great sage of Penang) scheduled an exhibition match against a Pro-Thai fighter and won via decision. He used everything but the kitchen sink from his arsenal and rocked the Thai fighter on many occasions. Most recently, gong fu fighters train in either muay thai or san shou to catch up with the Thais. In the early 90s, the new generation of san shou fighters took an exhibition match against some pro-boxers and won 80% of their matches with hard throws or fierce kicking to the legs.
Gong fu can be effective, but man does it take a LONG time to get there.
The fights did not last several seconds; more like 10 minutes with both instructors pretty beat up. They would not loose face so quickly and were carefull about arranging whom would fight. You would never see a beginner or intermediate student challenge a grand master. That would make the school look foolish.
Some fights ended up with someone getting launched off of the platform via hip tosses or shoulder throws and landing on whatever surface surrounded the platform or both falling off the platform from a failed throw attempt.
In the 70's, their was that exhibition between the gong fu masters and pro-thai fighters. The judges did not allow throws or leg reaps (the only viable technique to beat the Thai fighters) All of the gong fu guys got Ko'd. Later, a gong fu master from Malaysia (great sage of Penang) scheduled an exhibition match against a Pro-Thai fighter and won via decision. He used everything but the kitchen sink from his arsenal and rocked the Thai fighter on many occasions. Most recently, gong fu fighters train in either muay thai or san shou to catch up with the Thais. In the early 90s, the new generation of san shou fighters took an exhibition match against some pro-boxers and won 80% of their matches with hard throws or fierce kicking to the legs.
Gong fu can be effective, but man does it take a LONG time to get there.
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