Training: Day of the Tiger

TRAINING:

DAY OF THE TIGER

Tiger style...

Just as the Wutang Clan once said, this style is "awesome." And, as Blake said, it is a creation which, in stark contrast to the Lamb, is aggressive and passionate. Call it dichotomy, call it Ying and Yang...it is just as with the martial arts, and the martial artist, there is the gentle side, and there is the brutal side. Tiger style is the latter.

Tiger style is powerful and beautiful, just like the majestic creature that is its namesake. The tiger overwhelms its enemies with power and speed, and this style employs a direct and aggressive approach.

The primary weapon of the style is the tiger claw, which smashes and rakes. However, powerful footwork and skill are as always necessary for the proper application of tiger style techniques.

The following is my tiger inspired workout. Day of the Tiger emphasizes the Tiger Claw, which works as a rake, a palm strike, and a grip. The leg strikes are straightforward and powerful. The routines have three intentions--to seize, incapacitate, or overwhelm. Isometric exercises are for conditioning, and the favored stances in this workout are the half-horse and the full horse.

Enjoy.

Windmills: 

• Tiger Claw Hand

Strikes:

• Tiger Claw
• Tiger Claw Rake (In and Out)
• Tiger Claw Slash

Kicks: 

• Front Kick
• Knee Strike
• Thrust Kick

Conditioning: 

• Isometric Exercise/Dynamic Tension Claw Push in Full Horse and Half Horse

Drills:

• Three Form Windmill Drill

Routines: 

• Entering Tiger Claw 
• Single Trapping Tiger Claw Combination
• Single Trapping Tiger Claw Combination to Kick and Wrist Lock
• Tiger Claw Trap to Shoulder Bust
• Tiger Rush
• Double Windmills to Fist and Claw Combinations (Full and Half Horse)

Pushups:

• Regular Pushups (Hand Open)
• Finger Holds

Reflection:

The emphasis in the techniques revolves around the aggressive use of the Tiger Claw technique. As in Entering Tiger Claw and Tiger Rush, it can be used as an initial strike to completely take an opponent off guard. In the Trapping Claw Combinations, the claws are used to immobilize a foe while proceeding to damage an opponent's. Then, in the Double Windmill Combinations, the claw is used to catch and move arms out of the way in order to apply claw strikes and claw rakes to the body.

As for the footwork, it should be solid and low. The tiger claw workout should place a lot of emphasis on your legs due to using low, strong stances. However, the workout also places a lot of emphasis on the arms. Most of the techniques require good use of the arms to be executed properly.

The mentality of the tiger is to crush immediately. End the conflict with absolute decision. It's one of my favorite workouts.