Fun With Claws

In Kung Fu there are claw techniques throughout the forms. I personally enjoy mixing claw techniques into my fighting to give some variety. I have a few notes for those that are looking to introduce claw techniques to their fighting.

1. I always say that there are no wrong techniques. If you can visualize an application and then go execute it, who can say it is wrong? There may be reasons that make a technique ill advised but that is not a reason to stop using it until someone proves that they can stop it. Try different angles, different variations and different ways of using your claws to see what works for you.
   
2. A claw can be used as a scratch. You can use the scratch to attack the eyes, face, or exposed tissue.
3. A claw can also be used as a strike where you use your palm as the striking surface.
4. A claw can be used as a grab. You can grab the throat, wrists or muscles/tendons of your opponent.
5. You can combine the techniques above. An example would be striking with your palm to an opponent's nose and in a continuous motion downward scratching the opponent's face until you are under the chin at which point you grab the throat.
6. When executing a claw technique, bend your hands back and grip your fingers tightly to avoid injury from bending a finger or wrist backwards.
   
7. Claws can be used as blocks (or block and grab).
8. Claws can be used as traps such as in the Chum Jaang technique in Fut Gar Kung Fu.
9. Claws can be used to go around a defense as you bend your wrist around it.

All in all claws are a lot of fun to try and incorporate into your training. Of course some of my suggestions should not be used in class unless your class is too large and you need to get rid of some students.