Tiger Folk Seminar

Sifu Iain Armstrong (The Nam Yang Pugilistic Association) & Sifu Paul Burkinshaw
 (Sil Lum Kune - Shaolin Fist Chinese Boxing Association)

Students of Sil Lum Kune: Shaolin Fist Chinese Boxing Association (SFCBA) were privileged to attend a day seminar on use of the Tiger Fork weapon given by Sifu Iain Armstrong 1 of the UK Nam Yang Pugilistic Association (NYPA).

This honour for the students emerged from a history of training and trust
over many years between Sifu Paul Burkinshaw 2 of SFCBA and Sifu Iain Armstrong of NYPA and the evolution of this bond to a recent affiliation between both associations.

The Tiger Fork is a large weapon approximately 6 feet long and is well suited
to larger body types. The Tiger Fork developed from the roots of the Shaolin staff. As a result of this heritage, the two weapons share a degree of common
technique and function. Whilst these similarities were noted the feel of the Tiger Fork was entirely weightier and so had a slightly different flow of movement to its ancestor.

The heaviness of the Tiger Fork comes from its original use for hunting tiger’s; this use also derived the two additional prongs that distinguish the Tiger Fork from other Shaolin polearm weapons. These extra prongs served a dual purpose that made the Tiger Fork better suited to large opponents than the spear. Primarily the addition of the second prongs ensured that no undesired, excessive penetration of the weapon could be made into the target; this would be most advantageous if the weapon impaled an injured, angry tiger.

Secondarily the three prongs served a more subtle purpose when hunting large cats. Given only a single point holding them back a large cat would simply swipe the weapon out its way and attack the wielder; however the three prongs give the cat multiple targets to consider which confuse it sufficiently for the wielderto maintain a safe distance during an attack. This second principle can be seen demonstrated by Lion Tamers using the multiple prongs of a chair’s feet to confuse their target.

The more weighty nature of the Tiger Fork over the spear is re-enforced by the ‘blunt’ end commonly being finished in a heavy metal spike. This could be used to secure the weapon in the ground to provide a firm foundation on which to impale a charging opponent.

Despite the heavy nature of the Tiger Fork Sifu Armstrong spent much of the day building on the idea of the weapon as a channel for Geng (the Cantonese word for ‘springy’ energy).

Sifu Armstrong showed demonstrations and exercises to the students allowing us insight into how waves of Geng could be channelled from the root of ones stance, amplified througha suitably relaxed body and concentrated to produce the correct effect at the tip of the weapon. Many of the exercises took time to grasp, as the Geng effect was much subtler than in a more flexible weapon such as the spear. The exercises also demanded the introduction of opposing concepts such as locking the weapon into the body so that channelled Geng could not feed back through the weapon.

Sifu Iain Armstrong explaining the use of the Tiger Fork and related histories

Armed with an understanding of the origins and usage of the weapon Sifu Armstrong then proceeded to teach the students a form for the Tiger Fork. The form learned was unique toSil Lum Kune, derived by Sifu Armstrong from the original classical weapons forms of TanKew Leong 3 . The form showed applications of the heavy weapon, which were both flamboyant  and graceful. Some moves showed how the weapon could be used to maintain contact with a target for maximum damage whilst others demonstrated how classical unarmed defences could be extended with the weapon. Constant throughout the form was an emphasis on a ‘pushing’ grip that would minimise Geng feedback from the target on contact.

At the end of the day there was time was left to add polishing touches to the form such as improving the Geng concentration of particular moves with demonstrations from Sifu Armstrong, or ensuring that the exponents eyes maintained contact with the tip of the weapon throughout the form.

By the end of the day all students had learned the moves of the form and many were beginning to concentrate on gaining the correct flow and Geng in each move. Students left the course with plenty to practice and contemplate. A great deal of enthusiasm and curiosity surrounded the weapon before the course amongst the students, both of these were heightened by Sifu Armstrong’s excellent tutelage and we look forward to his next visit.

Sil Lum Kune would like to acknowledge the contribution of Masters Ang Lian Huat and Tan Soh Tin of Nam Yang Pugilistic Association, and Sifu Iain Armstrong for the facilitation of this event. As a result Sil Lum Kune has now affiliated to Nam Yang Pugilistic Association (www.namyang.co.uk), and are grateful for its affiliation and friendship. We would like to express particular thanks to Sifu Iain Armstrong, for all his hard work preparing for and the coaching of this seminar.

Written By Andrew Shenton, Student of Sil Lum Kune

1 - Sifu Iain Armstrong trained in Singapore and is senior student of Master Tan Soh Tin. Sifu Armstrong also leads the UK branch of NYPA and specialises in the Tiger Fork.

2 - Sifu Paul Burkinshaw studied under both Sifu John Holden for Shaolin Fist, and has spent many years studying Chinese martial arts with various instructors of different styles. Sifu Burkinshaw is the Chief Instructor and Association Head of Sil Lum Kune and the Shaolin Fist Chinese Boxing Association.
 

3 - Tan Kew Leong was the Head of Herbal Medicine Peddlers in Chuan Chew district of Fukien province, in the ealy portion of the 20th century. These medicine peddlers were usually highly accomplished martial artists and were often challenged to fights in the towns andvillages they visited. For this reason, their Kung Fu had to be good. Tan Kew Leong specialised in the Tai Chor (tiger) style and was also a master of the Shaolin weapons system.