If I learn kung fu, will I have to fight someone?

How long until I'm all finished?

What equipment do I need to start?

Traditional Kung Fu is the soul of BTKA. Sifu Wang believes very stongly that students require both breadth and depth of education for a student to truly grasp the underlying theories that make up kung fu. And no one style or form can achieve that goal. That is why the Traditional Empty Hand Certificate program is broken into eight section; each one focusing on a style of kung fu that has unique properties, advantages and disadvantages. By studying each of the sections in depth, and then comparing and contrasting what you have learned, you will come to truly understand Kung Fu.

The Traditional Empty Hand Kung Fu Certificate Program teaches:

Learning anything new can be a challenge. Your introduction to traditional kung fu starts with a basic foundation: stances, basic kicks and punches, flexibility work and overall conditioning. The beginning of every class at BTKA consists of a warm-up, stretching and basic drills (to keep everything you learn precise), followed by forms instruction. How many forms you learn is based on the curriculum you choose.

There are basic elements that need to be mastered before advancing to any style. These elements have been standardized from a style of kung fu known as "Long Fist," and will teach you several ways to block, kick and punch. Along the way, you will also improve your balance and strength.

1. Front Punches
2. Side Punches
3. Pick Palm
4. Flash Palm
5. Drop Stance
6. Resting Stance
7. Stretch Kick
8. Outside Crescent Kick
9. Inside Crescent Kick
10. Kick-Punch Combinations
11. Side Thrust Kick
12. Wushu Basic
13. Jump Kick
14. Tornado Kick
13. Butterfly Kick

Watch a Video Segment of Tan Tui

Tan Tui (Spring Leg Form)

Created in Northern China by Chinese Muslims, tan tui is composed of a series of forms, which emphasize blocking, stances, footwork, and most of all, kicks. Tan tui exists as a style on its own, but is commonly used as a basic foundation form.

The tan tui routines consist of "roads" or parts that divide the form and vary from variation to variation of the form. Originally tan tui consisted of 28 roads that were based on the 28 characters of the Arabic alphabet and was later summarised. Today the most common variations of tan tui are the 10 and 12 road tan tui.

Springing Leg forms have a long History in China. The 12 roads of this form are the basis for more advanced material in the Long Fist system. This form improves your fighting skills, balance, strength, and focus, thus, Tan Tui contains the basic skills and flexibility drills required in advanced forms. In some Schools, Tan Tui is taught as the first form to build the skills necessary to advance in the system. It has been stated that if a new student doesn't find the Tan Tui form challenging that he or she will not like the Long Fist style of Kung Fu. Tan Tui is deep rooted in China’s Hui Muslim community. One such reference to the Islamic influence is the posture of holding one punch out in front of body as a punch is thrown to the rear with the other hand. The Body is turned sideways so that both the front and the rear punches reach maximum range. Besides being a good exercise to train the fighter to get full shoulder and body trust behind each punch, like a good Boxer, it also is a giveaway that the form has a Muslim history. Kung fu forms that use this posture came from China's Muslim community. (History and Definition courtesy of Wikipedia.)

BTKA's Tan Tui consists of ten sections and is taught first to get new students comfortable memorizing set movements, controlled motion, kick and punch combinations and other basic kung fu combinations.

Watch a Video Segment of Long Fist

Beginning Modern Wushu Long Fist

Although a contemporary wushu form, beginning long fist has great foundation aspects to get you started with traditional kung fu. Also, along the way, you may find that you would like to add or switch to the Modern Wushu curriculum. This form teaches fast and accurate movement, arm and leg extention, jump kicking and many other aspects of basic kung fu.