The only instructional video on the White Crane Barehand vs Staff sequence.

Barehand vs Staff or Kong Shou Dui Gun (空手對棍) is an intermediate-level sequence from the YMAA Shaolin Training Curriculum. This course includes 17 instructional videos covering:

1. Jumping Drills

2. Staff Fundamentals

3. Partner Drills & Applications

4. Sequence Instruction

5. Demonstrations

6. Running time: 1 hour 3 minutes

This step by step instructional lesson teaches fundamentals, applications, and the sequence movement by movement. The final lesson includes demonstrations performed at slow and fast speeds.

The sequence was passed down from White Crane Grandmaster Cheng, Gin-Gsao (曾金灶) to Dr. Yang, Jwing, Ming (楊俊敏博士) to modern-day YMAA International schools. Traditionally, White Crane sequences are short and repetitive and Dr. Yang added the 3rd and 4th parts of the sequence to challenge practitioners and include exciting movements. Barehand vs Staff, or Kong Shou Dui Gun (空手對棍), is a 4th level requirement in the YMAA Shaolin curriculum. It is recommended to first study Dr. Yang's Staff Fundamentals program.

The primary objective of practicing Barehand vs Staff is to train White Crane jumping and reaction. Most practitioners will not excel to the level of avoiding full speed attacks. Instead, practicing the sequence trains endurance and teaches a sense of timing, distance, and angling. The staff side attempts to keep the barehand side at a distance so it can use the ends of the weapon. The barehand side’s goal is to close the distance and seal the staff to render the weapon useless. Throughout the sequence, both sides will learn how to safely close and create distance.

The course begins with a warm up and introduction of stances and hops. The viewer can then choose to focus on the barehand side to train jumping conditioning and sequence specific jumping drills. Co-author Quentin Lopes demonstrates the drills at intermediate to advanced levels, therefore viewers should use discretion before attempting the drills.

Alternatively, the viewer can focus on the staff side by training conditioning drills, staff basics, and sequence specific techniques. Ideally, the viewer has a partner who can learn the opposite side.

After sufficient solo practice, the viewer can begin training partner drills to understand the applications. Six videos are devoted to learning the sequence. There is a beginning segment for each side. The sequence is then broken down into four parts. During the instructional portion, each movement is described and performed slowly and clearly. The Demonstration lesson includes each of the four parts performed at slow and fast speeds and the entire sequence performed at fast speed.

Instructors Michelle Lin & Quentin Lopes are graduates of the YMAA Retreat Center Training Program where they lived and studied as disciples of Dr. Yang for over five years.

Filmed on location at the YMAA Retreat Center in Miranda, CA.
Cover Design: Jonathan Chang
Copyright © 2023 Michelle Lin & Quentin Lopes
a Barking Rabbit Media production