Jade Dragon School of Kung Fu and Qigong in Reading, Berkshire

The Training Syllabus

In recent years the granting of coloured belts has become the norm in many popular martial arts. This ensures that fighters of a relatively equal ability are pitted against each other in competition. In traditional martial arts, where the aim is not success in competition but cultivation and development of body and mind and the learning of skills to survive real battle and live a long and harmonious life, such a grading system has never been necessary. All that matters is the knowledge one has learnt not the belt one has attained. However certain steps need to be taken in order to ensure that training follows a pattern and that the student learns at the correct pace, not being bored by relearning basic skills or being confused with advanced skills he is not yet ready for. For these reasons a structured syllabus exists that ensures that a student can only progress onto more advanced skills when he or she has mastered more simple ones.

The grading system that the Jade Dragon school uses is ancient but highly practical:

Level 1 is available for everyone to learn and teaches the student how to stand in fixed positions thus strengthening their legs and teaching correct body alignment. It also includes the use of circular arm movements and teaches how to use them in simple block and strike combinations with a partner. Added to that are joint locking techniques that are exceptionally useful in real life combat situations. Finally there are basic qigong techniques that enable the student to maintain a calm, relaxed centre and not be influenced by the fear or anger of their assailant. In traditional schools of old these skills were all static with the students not moving from their spot. I have varied from this by adding the ability to move from one stance to the next as part of Level I instead of being a part of Grade II as is more customary. This makes it far more interesting and challenging for Western students.

To help learn these basic principles and self defence skills there are two forms that are taught simultaneously to beginners: a hand form and a staff form. These train the practitioner to perform a series of movements without hesitation and they begin to learn some of the huge range of techniques that are contained within the forms. The forms are fun to do and are excellent exercise for both mind and body.

Level 2 includes the use of a short stick form and a hand form that introduces the eight animals of the Jade Dragon system as well as more advanced qigong skills. All levels beyond Level 1 are taught in a seperate 'closed door' class as they involve skills that could be dangerous if attempted by beginners without the requisite prior knowledge of Level 1.

Levels 3 and above introduce the practitioner to bagua circle walking and starting to enable them to attack and defend from any angle or direction without relying on fixed positions. See the article on Bagua for more information.

The higher levels include the use of bladed weapons, iron shirt qigong and advanced meditation skills alongside more sophisticated animal fighting styles.

When a practitioner has been through the animal styles they are given the opportunity to learn a personal form. This is a series of movements and skills that are unique to that individual. This form is taught to nobody else as it tailored to make best use of the natural strengths and skills and develop the innate personality of the practitioner. Once learned this form becomes a part of that person and eventually becomes their own 'style'.
(This is part of the reason why there are so many styles of kung fu - certain individuals developed and expanded on previously learned skills that work better for them and so the styles gradually developed over time.)