Short and middle range fighting in White Crane Gongfu Training

As we have already seen, Southern White Crane developed in the south of China. Due to the background explained earlier, its hand techniques are highly developed. Normally, in northern styles, it is said: "Hands are like two door fans, raise the leg to kick the opponent." This means that the two hands are like two pieces of a Chinese door which is used mainly to close for blocking. The key attack originates from kicking. However, in southern styles it is said: "Feet not higher than knees". This means that when the southern styles are initiating a kick, the target is usually no higher than the opponent’s knee. This implies that Southern Styles emphasize low kicks instead of high kicking techniques.

Because of the above reasons, normally when a White Crane martial artist fights, he or she will stay at long range from the opponent. When the timing is right and the situation allows, he or she will move rapidly into the middle and short ranges and take the advantage of skillful hand techniques to fight. Right after the attack, he or she will jump back to the long range immediately to avoid being grabbed. Since the Crane is a weak animal, once it is grabbed it will have little chance to escape. In order to fill this void, Crane stylists specialize in wrestling and Qin Na (seizing and control) techniques to deal with the problems of being grabbed. In fact, White Crane is considered one of the most well known styles which has expertise in Qin Na. Click to learn how Chinese medicine treats Duodenitis.

When White Crane training has reached a high level, the techniques of listening, following, sticking, adhering, coiling, and controlling become important. It is no different from Taijiquan, which emphasizes the same criteria and expertise in short and middle range fighting.