Practical Application for Northern Shaolin Form “Gung Lik”
By Instructor Candidate Bahiyyah Muhammad
Gung Lik is a powerful and flowing form. Translated, Gung Lik means “Power Fist”. The form itself is comprised of the basic elements of fighting and fighting well, with long range striking , sweeps, throws and accurate blocking. Through practicing Gung Lik as a form you can then transfer those flowing, but powerful movements into a devastating attack on your opponent. The first attack in Gung Lik is an attack on the opponents offending limb, primarily geared for lower extremities. Other attacks reflect sweep, kick, throw combos. Such as going for a sweep as direction allowing then to avoid. Then using a knife hard block to capture and close around the wrist of the opponent while either kicking through the knee or blocking the knee as you pull captured hand across your own body and finishing the move with a strike across the opponents lower back. Gung Lik also uses a concept refined to as lim tip cow which means close, close and closer. In this section and different things could be happening. You could be using your initial windmill like movements as defense of two punches leading into your threw or this could be your attack. The start of your relentless striking finishing in a throw. On any case how ever you interpret the movements, Gung Lik is more than just one of the traditional forms it is your basic to becoming a recognizable fighter.