The Unarmed Path – Full Beginner to Advanced Unarmed Kung Fu Course

Tao Te Kung Fu is a complete system that incorporates the most efficient martial arts techniques with modern teaching methods enabling you to learn Kung Fu online from the comfort of your own home.

Tao Te Kung Fu has been developed using techniques predominately from the Kung Fu style of Wing Chun.  Unlike Traditional Wing Chun, in Tao Te Kung Fu the forms are easy to learn and incorporate the techniques in the way they will work in real life.  “Tao Te” means the virtuous or powerful way, and refers to the development of the style within a modern context.  There is always the danger that if one becomes entrenched in a tradition, eventually lessons look like some sort of historical re-enactment.  Tao Te Kung Fu takes advantage of the most recent developments in the neuroscience of skill acquisition and includes influences from other traditions not available to earlier practitioners and is refreshed with decades of real-life experience in the security industry.

Because Tao Te Kung Fu was developed to enable a smaller, weaker fighter to overcome a larger and stronger opponent it is ideally suited to people of all sizes and ages.  Not being dependent on vast strength, Tao Te Kung Fu puts an emphasis on efficient techniques, with functional biomechanics.

Paak Sao

An easy form for when you start to learn Kung Fu online.  The Paak Sao is one the primary blocks in Tao Te Kung Fu.  It can be fast and powerful but also used solftly to deflect an attack.  It defends the head and upper body from srikes or kicks. The form also covers palm strikes, the round kick, fundamental footwork and body mechanics.

• The Paak Sao block – one of the three primary blocks, most often needed in real conflicts
• The round kick – one of the three primary kicks with an understanding of it’s relative strengths
• How to step with the greatest speed and tactical effect
• How to deliver a strike or kick with maximum effect using whole body dynamics
• Tactical use of kick variations to utilise optimal timing and targeting
• Use of a square stance for the most efficient defensive evasion and counter manoeuvres
• The overall strategy for finishing any real fight in the shortest possible time for your safety

Taan Sao

The Taan Sao is one the primary blocks in Tao Te Kung Fu. It is fast and can either powerful or soft as it deflects strikes to the head from straight or hook attacks which are perhaps the most common first strike. The form also covers palm strikes, the side kick, fundamental footwork and body mechanics.

• The Taan Sao block – one of the three primary blocks, most often needed in real conflicts
• The Side kick – one of the three primary kicks with an understanding of it’s relative strengths
• How to step with the greatest speed and tactical effect
• How to deliver a strike or kick with maximum effect using whole body dynamics
• Tactical use of kick variations to utilise optimal timing and targeting
• Use of a square stance for the most efficient defensive evasion and counter manoeuvres
• The overall strategy for finishing any real fight in the shortest possible time for your safety
• A form you can practice facing the screen, making it ideal when you want to learn Kung Fu online

Gaan Sao

The Gaan Sao is the primary low block; used to defend your lower body. Whether it is to defend against a kick or low punch it should always be used in conjunction with either the yielding body turn or better still, a step as it is in the form. The form also teaches the front kick, a very fast and strategic kick.

• The Gaan Sao block – one of the three primary blocks, most often needed in real conflicts
• The Front kick – one of the three primary kicks with an understanding of it’s relative strengths
• How to step with the greatest speed and tactical effect
• How to deliver a strike or kick with maximum effect using whole body dynamics
• Tactical use of kick variations to utilise optimal timing and targeting
• Use of a square stance for the most efficient defensive evasion and counter manoeuvres
• The overall strategy for finishing any real fight in the shortest possible time for your safety

Bong Sao

The Bong Sao is a block often used for last-minute reactions, close-range attacks in which you may already have arm contact or as a low block to cover your opposite side of your body.  The outside knife hand is a fast and effective strike used ideally when your arm is across your body and therefore links with the Bong Sao very well. It requires a good level of accuracy but is effective if used correctly.  The double kick you’ll learn is superb for sending in an initial bluff kick, is great for quickly changing the height of your target or for hitting the same point twice in fast succession.

• The Bong Sao, one of the secondary blocks of the system that enables a yielding defence and counter strike from an across guard attack
• The powerful round/side kick combination
• Use of yielding dynamics that deflect and absorb an opponent’s force to be returned with unbeatable speed
• How to deliver the outside knife hand strike
• Tactical targeting to end any confrontation with speed, reducing the risk to you
• Use of the yielding stance turn for close range combat
• A form you can practice facing the screen, making it ideal when you want to learn Kung Fu online

Kao Sao

The Kao Sao is a block that takes people by surprise. Your opponent can think they have a strike on its way into your middle, only to find that you have diverted it and hit them. It is perfect for when you are in very close and your opponent’s hand may already in and past your initial guard. This is why it is learned in conjunction with the upper cut as this strike is perfect for very close work. If you can get a hand inside your opponent’s guard, the upper cut will finish a fight. The fast double kick combination in this form enables you to change the height and target of your kick, or you can make the first kick a bluff to open up a another target

• The Kao Sao, one of the secondary blocks of the system that enables a yielding defence and counter strike from an inside guard attack
• The powerful front/round kick combination
• Use of yielding dynamics that deflect and absorb an opponent’s force to be returned with unbeatable speed
• How to deliver the uppercut punch, a powerful, close-range and difficult to block attack
• Tactical targeting to end any confrontation with speed, reducing the risk to you
• Use of the yielding stance turn for close range combat

Paak Girk

Some styles teach you to block low fast kicks with your shin; don’t. That’s just a quick way to break your shin. We will teach you two low blocks using the bottom of your foot. This is one of these low blocks and is designed to work against a low kick from the opposite side to your leading foot. You’ll learn to do this in conjunction with a side kick that works beautifully as your opponent is on one foot and has lost balance with their kick being intercepted. The straight punch is for any target at elbow height or above, while the drop punch is for any target lower than the elbow. Both punches want to be delivered with a straight line through the wrist and keeping the elbow in close, not letting it flare out.

• The Paak Girk, one of the two blocks of the system used to defend against fast, low kicks that arms could not reach or a step would not be sufficient
• The straight and drop punch techniques
• Use of the straight stance to advance or tactically retreat with speed and efficiency
• Tactical targeting to end any confrontation with speed, reducing the risk to you
• Overall strategy for understanding when to move in aggressively and when to keep defensively on the back foot for maximum advantage
• A form you can practice facing the screen, making it ideal when you want to learn Kung Fu online

Laan Sao

The Laan Sao is an important block used for defending against vertical downward attacks at the head and top of the shoulders. It is combined with the inside knife-hand in this form, an arcing strike used to attack the body and/or neck. You also learn how to use a front and side kick together to great effect.

• The Laan Sao, one of the blocks of the system that enables a defence against a vertically downward attack
• The powerful front/side kick combination
• Use of yielding dynamics that deflect and absorb an opponent’s force to be returned with unbeatable speed
• How to deliver the inside knife hand, a powerful, arcing attack that allows precise strikes
• Tactical targeting to end any confrontation with speed, reducing the risk to you

Gaan Girk

So here is the block for a low fast kick coming in from the same side as your leading foot. The front kick follows it perfectly as the body is set up for it and your opponent is on one leg & off balance. If that doesn’t finish them, the palm strike and ridge hand will. Take your time with the ridge hand, it’s a tricky strike but well worth learning. If your ridge hand catches your opponent under the jaw line they will drop. It’s a sneaky sort of strike that often catches people totally out of the blue.

• The Gaan Girk, one of the two blocks of the system used to defend against fast, low kicks that arms could not reach or a step would not be sufficient
• The ridge hand, a far reaching and targeted strike
• Use of the straight stance to advance or tactically retreat with speed and efficiency
• Tactical targeting to end any confrontation with speed, reducing the risk to you
• Overall strategy for understanding when to move in aggressively and when to keep defensively on the back foot for maximum advantage
• A form you can practice facing the screen, making it ideal when you want to learn Kung Fu online

Water

Water has mass, weight and although it is ultimately very flexible, fluid you might say, it can still hit you very hard. Water will move around an object in its way, but once it is moving, circling around a bolder for example, that circular current can knock you over. While you are learning and practicing the water form, visualize your self in water. I don’t mean as if you are trying to move against the resistance of still water. I mean imagine that the water is swirling around and is moving you; your whole body. Try to feel yourself softly flowing, circling and moving as the water pushes you around. As you visualize this, you will find that you perform the Water form with much more grace and fluidity. When your whole body is moving as one fluid motion your technique will become better and better. You will be able to speed up your movements and because your whole body will be generating power, your techniques will be unstoppable. Imagine, if you are 70kg, that a strong plastic bag holding 70kg of water were to be swung around until it was moving fast. If that bag of water hit you, you would be thrown across a room. Hold that idea as you move your whole body to deliver a strike. Water is not always soft.

• The Taan/Bong Sao double block that allows you to defend more of your body in a yielding manner
• The turning side kick combination utilized when you want to use your momentum to your advantage in unique situations
• The powerful hook punch
• Use of body mass and circling movements to yield in a way that redirects body weight into an attack
• Unique circling steps and footwork to guide and trap your opponent to your advantage
• Use of the straight stance but incorporating forward and rear stance weight transference
• Overall strategy for understanding when to move in aggressively and when to keep defensively on the back foot for maximum advantage

Fire

Fire has no mass of course. It can’t wait around for an opening, it has to burn while the fuel is there. Fire is passionate; it attacks with absolute optimism. Some of the moves in the Fire Form are high risk, meaning that to execute the attack leaves you vulnerable and open, all be it for just a moment. Fire flickers, and while it is very aggressive, it doesn’t throw your weight in like stone does. Even the initial block is immediately incorporated into a strike. There is some degree of attacking so fast and furiously that your opponent doesn’t really have a chance to counter.

• An aggressive blocking style used to come at your opponent while defending to put you in a good position to land your next strike
• The front elbow strike, a powerful close range attack
• The double front kick combo used to keep attacks up when you want to keep a powerful opponent at range
• Combos focusing on attacks from different heights and angles to make them unpredictable to your opponent
• Fast, linear and aggressive footwork to keep you light on your feet and ready to land and attack at a moments notice
• Use of the straight stance but incorporating forward and rear stance weight transference
• Overall strategy for understanding when to move in aggressively and when to keep defensively on the back foot for maximum advantage
• A form you can practice facing the screen, making it ideal when you want to learn Kung Fu online

Metal

Metal is the element which, above all, focuses on skill, precision and accuracy. While other elements help you to push certain strategies and physical attributes to the extreme, strength and aggression for example, metal takes a balance with these things and favours a the few well placed, well-timed moves, that outclass your opponent in skill rather than speed or strength. It means that with enough training and honing of yourself, as with the crafting and practice of a good tool or weapon, you will be able to almost effortlessly achieve your task.

• A system of precise striking techniques that focused on targeting to win over pure speed or power
• The vertical backfist, a fast and difficult to predict attack that opens an opponent up for further attacks
• The downward knife hand, a powerful yet easy to target strike with many vulnerable targeting options
• A knife hand figure 8 combos used to string together fast and accurate attacks without losing momentum
• An angled knee strike used to attack the torse of your opponent even if they are guarding their front well
• Use of the straight stance but incorporating forward and rear stance weight transference
• Overall strategy for understanding when to move in aggressively and when to keep defensively on the back foot for maximum advantage

Wood

Watch a young tree bending in the wind and then snapping back, or an old willow catching the wind as it gusts along a river and see the branches swirl and slap. Perhaps you’ve walked through a young forest where the branches are in your way and your friend, in front of you has bent a branch away as they have pushed past, only for the branch, when released, to whip back and hit you. If so, you already have a sense of the tension that can be stored in wood. As you learn and practice this Wood form, picture yourself like a tree. The wind blows you one way or makes you twist, holding that torque in your core muscles and rooted to the ground, you are able to unwind, accelerating into a strike releasing all that power. Wood has a very particular way of storing tension and can be devastating when that tension is directed at something. Remember, the earliest artillery devices, Roman ballista or medieval trebuches and the like, might have been hurling metal bolts or rocks, but is was wood that provided the lever to throw them.

• How to use flexibility and yielding to then strike back at your opponent with their own power as well as your own
• The horizontal backfist, a powerful swinging attack with good reach and can be combined with many follow up attacks
• How to combine stronger strikes together using momentum
• A turning side kick combo’d with the front and round kicks for an unrelenting attack sequence
• How to yield to an opponent using good stance strategy and use their own force against them
• Use of the straight stance but incorporating forward and rear stance weight transference
• Overall strategy for understanding when to move in aggressively and when to keep defensively on the back foot for maximum advantage
• A form you can practice facing the screen, making it ideal when you want to learn Kung Fu online

Stone

Don’t think of a huge heavy rock just sitting there. Oop, too late, that’s exactly what you are doing now. Now think of rocks in motion. Picture a landslide on a rocky mountain side. Thousands of individual rocks and stones, that from a distance appear to flow down the slope. Now that’s the image to visualize while you are practicing the Stone form. It is unrelentingly aggressive; gets in close and smashes its way through. There is often an assumption that you have to be big and heavy to do this form well, but that just means you have never hit your thumb with a hammer. What did the hammer weigh? 1 kilo? What do you weigh? 40? 50? Yep, that’s quite small for a person I guess. Now picture a 40kg hammer and imagine what damage that would do if it was swung and hit someone in the middle of their chest. Even if swung slowly, that sort of weight hammer would smash anyone off their feet, breaking their ribs in the process. Got the picture yet? Stone is belligerent, it doesn’t go around, it smashes through.

• A powerful and aggressive double block designed, not only to defend you but crash through your opponent’s guard
• The reverse elbow strike, a strong close range attack used when your opponent is outside your attacking arm
• The upward elbow, a strong close range attack that is difficult to block
• The downward elbow, a risky and difficult to set up but fight winning attack
• The front knee strike, a devastating leg attack used at close range that can finish a fight quickly if landed
• How to combine punches together with maximum force and power
• Overall strategy for understanding when to move in aggressively and when to keep defensively on the back foot for maximum advantage
• A form you can practice facing the screen, making it ideal when you want to learn Kung Fu online

Kung Fu Exercise Regime

While learning Kung Fu on the unarmed path, you will also get our daily, progressive Kung Fu exercise regime.  With our exercise and conditioning program, no matter where you’re starting from, you will make sustained progress throughout.  The program is designed to not simply increase your fitness, which is an overused, often undefined term, but specifically improve your flexibility, balance & coordination and overall physical strength.

Each day you will be presented with 3 different categories of exercise.  Each week you will have one day where you rest from strength and flexibility to ensure complete recovery.  Exercises are ranked by 1, 2 or 3 stars enabling you to choose your own level.  It is important to remember that it is better to make slow and steady progress than to push your body too hard with the potential of overtraining.

The strength exercises are chosen to increase functional strength, not only to help with your martial arts but also the daily utility of a robust physique.  This is not a program for competition bodybuilders but for those who want to enjoy enhanced physical abilities for the rest of their life.

Flexibility is limited by your particular genetic makeup.  You should aim to maximize your potential.  Most people will not be circus performers but should still aim for their personal best.  The quickest way of improving your flexibility is to gently relax into the poses you will be taught, taking 2 or 3 slow breaths in each position.

You will progress with a series of different, controlled poses to improve your overall balance, coordination, spatial awareness and the strength of multiple tiny muscles that constantly adjust to hold these poses.  These will not only help with learning Kung Fu, but also the fluidity and elegance with which you perform even the simplest of everyday movements.

In striving for the absolute best example of how to do every exercise, a highly qualified yoga instructor demonstrates and guides you through each of these exercises.

In this program, you will learn all of the 13 Tao Te Kung Fu forms.

Each form is short enough to be remembered easily (this is martial arts, not memory training), and practiced until it can be done without thinking.  Each form is put together in a way that if any part of it were used automatically, in a violent confrontation, it would deliver a conflict winning combination.
The program is set out for you to train every day using several short videos.  Adding to your skills in easy to follow steps, you will build a foundation of superb combat skills that will become second nature to you.

Some videos are called Repeat Drills, these are of simple techniques that you need to learn so that you can do them without thinking.  Once you press play, they will simply repeat continuously until you hit stop.  This will enable you to practice each movement many times with a constant visual reference to help you get it right.  You don’t want to practice until you get it right, you want to practice until you can’t get it wrong.

It is tempting to rush ahead, but you will find that to learn these skills thoroughly, it is best that you master each part as you go even if that means repeating the same day several times.  Excellence takes patience and determination.  Remember “Kung Fu” means “mastery through discipline.”