Cannon Fist

"I've had 56 students win gunfights in the past 5 years. I also had two students that died because they were unarmed when they were attacked. Carry your f***in' gun." - Tom Givens (Rangemaster)


Today's FOD is Tiger Versus Crane.

Finished Cannon Fist transcription, fixed the directional errors in the Chen Dao transcription, got the bulk of the Jian transcription done.

After finishing the Cannon Fist transcription, I realized that somehow- three quarters of the way through the form- I was facing south when I should have been facing north. It took a long time to track down the error, and then I had to go through that last piece and fix all the directional notations.

Although- once I finish transcribing the straight sword form- I don't ever intend to find myself transcribing forms from scratch again, it is a good lesson to double-check at regular intervals and make sure one is facing the correct direction. Visons of Bugs Bunny saying, "I *KNEW* we should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque...."



+Cannon Fist


(Part 1- the part that is like the short form.)

Begin standing straight facing north. Arms are at sides.

Three medium-sized openings and closings.

Slowly transfer weight to rt foot.

Lift left foot and deliberately step out to left (toe down first) in high horse.

Slowly equalize weight. Pause.

Bring arms up slowly in front ("zombie" pose). Shoulders are relaxed, hands loose and palms facing floor. When hands reach chest level, pause. Then press fingers gently to north.

Let arms gently fall to fronts of thighs. Pause.

Turn torso to northwest. Scoop in front of your groin with right hand, moving it left. Rt hand is floating above it, palm turned towards it, as if you are holding a basketball.

Move the basketball to chest level on your centerline.

Switch the hands so that right is on top (palm down) and left on bottom (palm up). Turn the torso to face northeast. Rt toe turns east. Shift into a front stance facing northeast, rt foot in front. As you turn, the hands pull the basketball across so that it stays on your centerline.

Lift rt knee to stand on left leg. You are facing east with the basketball at your chest. Pause.

Step out with left leg to northwest. Heel down first. As you step, both hands drop to groin and then do a spreading motion "smoothing your skirt" to end at 45 degree angles off your hips. Most of your weight shifts forward onto left foot.

Turn torso to front (north) and pull rt foot to left, then push it out front into a cat stance. Left hand turns palm-up to up at belly button. As foot moves forward, rt hand moves with it to scoop (palm fwd) from rt hip all the way forward and then up the centerline to above brow level. Rt knee comes up with it so that you are standing on left leg.

Left foot stomps down as rt Fist drops firmly into cupped left hand at belly button. Pause. You are now in horse.

Turn torso northwest. Stance shifts so that you are in a shallow lunge with rt leg straight. Left hand remains cupped at belly button. Rt hand (loosely cupped, palm up) reaches toward northwest on an upward diagonal. As this hand reaches, the left palm slides down the forearm to cup elbow. At the apex of the reach, rt palm turns to face northwest. Rt knee comes up so that you are standing on left foot.

Slowly Turn torso northeast, placing rt foot back on the ground and shifting stance so that your lunge transfers to a left-leg-straight one. Rt palm (facing north) travels across at face level with you as you turn. Rt elbow is bent and dropped. Left palm remains cradling elbow.

Turn torso north and settle into horse. Left hand, palm up, drops to cup under belly button. Rt hand turns palm outward (toward northeast) at face level. Rt elbow is still bent and dropped. Pause.

Drop left hand to left hip, then let it float (palm upward, elbow bent and dropped) up to shoulder level, northwesterly. It then turns palm east, pushes past face and meets up with rt hand as your torso turns slightly northeast and your horse stance shifts into a gentle lunge (left leg straight).

Both hands (palms east, elbows bent and dropped) drop from rt shoulder to rt hip.

Turn torso north and shift into horse as hands move to groin level on centerline.

Turn torso northwest and shift into gentle lunge (rt leg straight) as both hands (elbows bent and dropped, palms toward ground and fingers hanging loosely) continue the curve from groin to left shoulder.

Settle weight back on rt foot and pull left foot back so that you are in a narrow cat. Simultaneously, pull both hands (elbows bent and dropped, wrists hanging loose and palms toward you) to your solar plex.

Turn torso northeast. Do not move feet. Turn palms diagonally downward toward floor and push both hands down to your rt hip. Pause.

Turning your torso a bit more to east, form a Tiger's mouth with your left hand and push it overtop of the right hand to reach eastward at hip level (palm down). Then pull it back to cup beneath belly button as torso turns north again. As torso turns north, your rt hand forms a loose Crane's beak (beak down) and lifts up (almost at arm's extension, but elbow remains slightly bent) to northeast. Pause. This sequence comprises "Single Whip".

Turn torso northeast, lifting left knee to stand on rt leg. Step left foot (heel first) out to west and shift into horse, turning torso northwest, then north.

Turn torso northeast and lift left palm to cross rt wrist.

Turn torso slowly north, then keep going to slightly northwest. As you hit north, shift into horse stance. As you are turning, left hand turns palm out to north, fingers eastward, and pulls across face level on centerline. Elbow is bent and dropped.

As your left hand gets to northwest, turn torso back to north and settle into stance. Left hand turns fingers-up and moves just a bit back toward center. Pause. Your arms are extended to either side, just a bit forward of the torso. Elbows bent and dropped. Rt hand is a loose Crane's beak (beak down), left hand is palm facing northeast with fingers up. Pause.

(Note that up until this point, Cannon Fist is identical to the short form. This is where Cannon Fist begins to deviate.)

Draw left foot in to rt foot and then lift left knee to stand on rt foot. Form blade hands. Left is at left thigh (palm in) Rt is at rt cheek (palm in).

Two quick scissoring slashes with blade hands. Left goes to left cheek, rt goes to thigh. Then back again.

Do not put foot down. Turn torso west and step out with left foot to southwest (heel first) in a front stance. Left palm stays at left thigh. Rt blade hand pushes rt-to-left past face as you step.

Rt palm continues the circle down to left knee, then rt knee (wrist flexed, palm down). As it reaches left hip, left palm curves up and pushes across face from left to right.

Left palm continues the circle down to rt knee. As it reaches rt hip, it covers the rt fist, which is coming up from the rt hip in an uppercut. End with rt fist (palm toward you) chin level, left hand (palm in) at rt hip.

Lift rt knee to stand on left leg. Both hands (side by side, palms out) sweep in a circular motion from rt shoulder to end with left palm at left thigh and rt hand continuing circle to end with palm at rt cheek.

One quick scissoring motion. Rt palm goes to rt thigh. left palm goes to left cheek.

Step rt foot out to west in a front stance. Left palm pushes across face left-to-rt and then continues the circle down to rt hip, then rt knee, then left knee. At left knee, it forms a Crane's beak. Rt hand (palm toward you) circles back and around to brush rt cheek, then presses forward to west in a chest-level blade hand strike (thumb toward you, fingers up, palm to south).

Bring left Crane's beak up to meet rt blade hand in front, chest level.

Spread both hands out to sides, chest level, not quite fully extended. Rt hand is now palm out. Pause.

Reach both hands down toward ground in a grabbing motion in front of left knee.

Turn torso northwest. Press left palm hard across centerline to end at rt shoulder (palm facing north). Rt hand is palm-to-ground (wrist bent) at groin.

Turn rt toe as far around to the right toward east as you can. Let the left foot swing around and turn a full circle to your rt to face north again, ending in a cat with rt toe forward. Arms stretch out almost to extension and circle clockwise, opposite each other. Rt hand starts at 1 o'clock, left hand starts at 7 o'clock. When left hand gets to 12 o'clock, let it fall down centerline to end horiz across waist, palm up. When rt hand gets to 6 'oclock, it comes up centerline palm-up with elbow against belly button.

Rt hand continues to move up the centerline to above brow level.

Rt fist drops gently into left cupped hand.

Rt fist goes straight back up centerline to above bow level, rt knee comes up with it so that you are standing on left leg.

Left foot stomps down as rt Fist drops firmly into cupped left hand at belly button. Pause. You are now in horse.

Both hands separate and come out and down in a "smoothing the skirt" motion while rt foot steps to east (heel down first) in a much lower horse stance. As you settle into the stance, hands reach chest height and come in front to centerline to cross at wrists.

Turn torso northwest, shift most of the weight to left foot as stance changes to a lunge (rt leg straight). The crossed wrists stay on your centerline, so it looks like you are pushing them to your left- but they are really just staying with the torso as the torso turns to the left.

Drop rt palm to left thigh (palm facing east) and sweep across to your rt knee. left hand (palm also facing east) pushes from your left to your rt across chest at the same time. Torso turns northeast, stance shifts to a lunge with left leg straight, most of the balance goes rt.

Switch arms. Left hand (palm facing west) drops to rt thigh. Rt hand (palm facing west) is now at rt shoulder.

Reverse the previous motion. Left hand sweeps across to left knee. Rt hand pushes across chest from your rt to your left. Torso turns northwest, stance shifts to a lunge with rt leg straight, most of the weight shifts left.

Place left fist on left hip. Roll rt hand out toward little finger so that palm is out, fist it, and pull it back to rt ear. Shift left hip and shoulder to the north and downward a bit as you pull, opening the chest up.

Remove left hand from hip, fist it, and bring both fists up to your temples like the Donkey Kong gorilla. Your torso is still facing northwest, you are bent over a bit at the waist toward west.

Little hop to the west with rt foot. Bring left foot to cross behind rt. End in a low scissor stance facing south, rt foot in front. Left palm pushes past forehead left-to-rt and continues the circle down to rt shoulder, then rt hip. Ends palm-down at rt hip. Rt first gathers to chest, then circular-backfists chest level overtop of the left forearm.

Unwind legs with a hop and spin to your left to end in a deep horse facing west. As you spin, fisted arms come up in the "Donkey Kong" pose again. As you land, left fist chambers at waist and rt fist punches to gound between your feet.

Turn to northwest in horse, cover with left hand and puch waist level rt fist to northwest.

Step out with rt foot, turning to south and reaching out with rt arm at waist level.

Push left arm out to south at waist level while Pulling rt arm against waist.

Bring bottom of rt elbow (arm is bent so that fist is on chest) sharply around to slap into palm of left hand. The elbow strike should be powered by the turn-and-step.

Complete the turn of the torso to east. Drop left hand to left hip. Rt hand (palm out,elbow bent and dropped) goes to left cheekbone.

One and a half Wave-Hands-Like Clouds: Step out to south with rt foot to make an east-facing horse. Pull both hands across in front of you from your left to your rt.

Step left foot to south behind rt foot to make a scissor. Switch hands so that left hand is now at rt cheek, rt hand is at rt hip. Pull both hands across in front of you from your rt to your left.

Step rt foot out to south in horse again. Switch hands. Pull both hands across in front of you from left to rt. As you complete the pull, bring left foot in beside rt.

One and a half Wave-Hands-Like Clouds the other way: Switch hands so that left hand is at rt cheekbone, rt hand is at rt hip. Step out to north with left foot to make a west-facing horse. Pull both hands across in front of you from your rt to your left.

Step rt foot to north behind left foot to make a scissor. Switch hands so that rt hand is now at left cheek, left hand is at left hip. Pull both hands across in front of you from your left to your rt.

Step left foot out to north in horse again. Switch hands. Pull both hands across in front of you from rt to left. As you complete the pull, bring rt foot in beside left. You end with left hand at left cheekbone and rt hand at rt hip.

Turn to your rt 180 degrees to face west. You are in a cat with rt toe fwd. As you turn, bring both blade-hands over your head and then down in front of chest in a standard "karate guard" pose, with left hand closest to your body.

Step out west with rt foot, immediately bringing left foot up behind it in a quick shuffle-step. Do three of these shuffle-steps total.

Cross left hand overtop of rt wrist in a grabbing motion, then close that hand into a Crane's beak and sweep it around your left hip to end palm-up with the beak pointing behind you. Rt hand remains at chest, palm toward centerline, fingers up and thumb toward you. As you grab, kick left toe out in front and turn to your rt 180 degrees on your rt toe to face east in a cat with rt toe in front.

Three more shuffle-steps, to east.

Turn south and sink into horse. Rt elbow strike chest level as you complete the turn. rt hand is fisted. Left palm presses on top of it to support.

Lift rt knee and Turn to your right to finish northeast in horse. Drop both hands down and then out in a "spreading-your-skirt" motion. When they reach almost horizontal to sides (palms down), they move to centerline (waist level) and meet. Leave left hand out there (palm pressing fwd). Turn torso north and draw rt hand back to rt hip.

Make a fist rt hand and punch waist level northeast. Torso turns northeast again as you strike. Left hand pulls back as you punch, to chamber at waist. Pause.

Lift rt knee and turn 180 degrees to your rt to face south, in horse. Bring both fists to your chest, palms down and knuckles touching elbows out horiz.

As your left foot comes down to complete the turn and stance shift into horse, bring both fists up-and-out and backfist downwards to the sides at chest level. This should be a snappy motion, and not too big- the arms shouldn't move much above the elbows.

Step rt foot to the rt and then step left foot to the rt to end in horse again. You are still facing south. As you step, bring both fists to chest again as before. After the left foot settles, another double-backfist.

Repeat once more, for three total "fireworks".

Lift rt knee and turn 180 degrees to your rt to face north. Do three more "fireworks".

Draw rt forearm to chest and pull rt foot in, then back to west as you lift left toe to make an east-facing cat. left fist guards groin, left fist goes above brow (palm out) in White Crane Spreads Its Wings.

Switch arms in a centrifugal motion to top-fist head level to your left (north) and simultaneously hammerfist hip level to your rt (south). Put your heel down as you strike, for stability.

Little hop to face north in horse. As you hop, bring both arms up in "Donkey Kong" pose so that as you descend, you canpuch downward with rt hand.

Little hop to face south in horse. Ams are still in Donkey Kong position. As you descend, elbow-strike downward with rt elbow.

Cover rt forearm with left hand, then bring left hand (palm down) to rt hip as rt fist punches overtop of it to soutwest (waist level).

"Stirring the Cauldron": Turn torso a bit further west as you draw rt forearm to stomach and then pull rt fist back to rt hip. Left forearm then circles in to be drawn toward stomach and then fist drops to guard groin. Drop into Snake-Creeps-Down: Squat as low as possible on rt leg, left leg straight to west, torso facing southwest. Left fist is still guarding groin, rt fist (palm out) is above brow in a ward-off.

Stand up and step out to west with rt foot, turning body north and reaching out with rt arm at waist level.

Pull rt arm against waist, while reaching out at waist level with left arm.

Palm-heel strike north chest level rt hand. Left hand chambers.

Turn torso east. Place left hand on left hip. Bring rt hand (palm out) up above left temple and let it circle around clockwise to rt temple, down to rt hip. Draw left foot in to rt.

Continue the rt arm circle to left hip, then back up to left temple. Step out to south with left foot, then cross rt foot behind left for a scissor.

Turn torso to north. Place rt hand on rt hip. Now you do *COUNTER*clockwise circles with the left hand instead. Start at rt temple. Step out to east with left foot, then cross rt foot behind left for a scissor.

Continue the counterclockwise arm circle to 12 o'clock. Rt arm comes up centerline to join left at 12 o'clock. Step out to west with left foot, as both hands spread out to the sides above your head.

Pull left knee up to stand on rt leg. Arms circle around-down-and-in to be drawn up to your chest, fisted and palms-up, knuckles touching.

Left foot side kick waist level to west, with double hammerfists to either side at waist level.

Rechamber left foot and set it down with toe pointed as far around to your rt as possible. Rechamber both fists at chest.

Turn torso to south and lift rt knee to stand on left leg.

Rt foot side kick waist level to west, with double hammer fists to either side at waist level.

Rechamber foot but do not set it down. Turn torso northeast. Hands make blades and make a scissoring slash as you complete the turn: Rt goes to the outside of your rt thigh (palm in) Left is at left cheek (palm in).

Set rt foot down to make a northeast-facing horse. Both arms drop and spread ("smoothing out your skirt" motion); when they reach almost horizontal to sides (palms down), they move to centerline (waist level) and meet.

Leave left hand out there (palm pressing fwd). Turn torso north and draw rt hand back to rt hip.

Make a fist rt hand and punch waist level northeast. Torso turns northeast again as you strike. Left hand pulls back as you punch, to chamber at waist. Pause.

Sweep to west with front of left leg: Drop to a squat on the rt thigh, turning hard to your rt 180 degrees to end facing south, left leg circling out straight.

Sweep again, with back of rt leg: Transfer weight so that you are squatting on left thigh, then turn hard to your rt to end facing north, rt leg circling out straight.

Stand up and turn to southwest in horse. Cover punch with left hand, punch to southwest rt fist waist level.

Face west. Do two "tug and toss" motions: Lift rt knee to stand on left leg while you reach up with both hands (left on top) and make a grabbing motion to northwest above your left temple as if siezing a rope. Stomp rt foot down as you tug your fisted hands to your rt hip. Then lift left knee halfway and stomp it back down again as you bring your fisted hands out from the hip a a bit in a curve and "throw" the rope diagonally off your left shoulder as if tossing it back where you got it. This is a forceful motion.

"Tug and toss" in the opposite direction to south: Lift left knee to stand on rt leg while you reach up with both hands (rt on top) and make a grabbing motion to south above your rt temple as if siezing a rope. Stomp left foot down as you tug your fisted hands to your left hip. Then lift rt knee halfway and stomp it back down again as you bring your fisted hands out from the hip a a bit in a curve and "throw" the rope diagonally off your rt shoulder as if tossing it back where you got it. This is a forceful motion.

Turn to your rt, torso to south, and set left foot down to make a south-facing horse. Both arms drop and spread ("smoothing out your skirt" motion); when they reach almost horizontal to sides (palms down), they move to centerline (waist level) and meet.

Leave left hand out there (palm pressing fwd). Turn torso southeast and draw rt hand back to rt hip.

Make a fist rt hand and punch waist level south. Torso turns south again as you strike. Left hand pulls back as you punch, to chamber at waist. Pause.

Left hand turns palm-up at belly button. Rt hand moves forward to scoop (palm fwd) from rt hip all the way forward and then up the centerline to above brow level. Rt knee comes up with it so that you are standing on left leg.

Left foot stomps down as rt Fist drops firmly into cupped left hand at belly button. Pause. You are now in horse.

Chamber left hand at waist. Rt fist swings down to hammerfist to east, thigh level.

Turn torso east and step out with left foot to make a front stance. Backfist waist level to north with left hand as you step out. Chamber rt hand.

Step east with rt foot to make a front stance. Chamber left hand, forward punch to east chest level with rt fist.

Step east with left foot to make a front stance. 3 quick forward punches to east chest level, left-rt-left. Chamber the hand not punching.

Two "tug, twirl and toss" motions: Lift rt knee to stand on left leg while you reach up with both hands (left on top) and make a grabbing motion to east above your left temple as if siezing a rope. Stomp rt foot down and then skip a full circle to your rt as you tug your fisted hands to your rt hip. Then lift left knee halfway and stomp it back down again as you bring your fisted hands out from the hip a a bit in a curve and "throw" the rope diagonally off your left shoulder as if tossing it back where you got it. This is a forceful motion.

"Tug and toss" in the opposite direction to west: Lift left knee to stand on rt leg while you reach up with both hands (rt on top) and make a grabbing motion to west above your rt temple as if siezing a rope. Stomp left foot down and then skip a full circle to your left as you tug your fisted hands to your left hip. Then lift rt knee halfway and stomp it back down again as you bring your fisted hands out from the hip a a bit in a curve and "throw" the rope diagonally off your rt shoulder as if tossing it back where you got it. This is a forceful motion.

Step west with rt foot, dragging left foot over a bit with it in a shuffle-step. Torso remains facing north. As you step, bring rt elbow up to strike forward to south at chest level (forearm horiz. at shoulders) and slap it with left palm.

Step west with rt foot, dragging left foot over a bit with it in a shuffle-step. Both forearms are held horiz across chest (rt on top) in "Jeannie" pose. As you step, jab both elbows out to the sides. This is a small but forceful motion.

Step west with rt foot, dragging left foot over a bit with it in a shuffle-step. As you step, place left palm on top of rt fist and jab to your rt (west) with the elbow (chest level).

Step west with rt foot, then cross left foot in front for a scissor, then another step with rt foot so that you are in horse. You are still facing north. Arms extend and circle opposite each other, out-up-and-in. Left starts are 9 o'clock (clockwise) and rt starts at 3 o'clock (counterclockwise). Left hand ends chambered at waist, rt finishes in a hammerfist to your rt (west) at thigh level.

Turn rt toe as far to the right as possible. Turn to your rt and bring both hands up to chest level (palms out). Swing left foot around and turn an entire circle to face south again. End in a front stance with left foot fwd. You are facing north. Fisted hands (palms down, knuckles touching) are at chest. Throw elbows forward at chest level to north. This is a small but forceful motion.

Turn torso to west and bring both hands (palms out) up to chest level. Drop hands to rt hip, Then turn torso to north again.

Turn left toe east. Rt hand remains at rt hip (palm toward ground) while left hand continues the circle. Hands do a spreading motion "smoothing your skirt" to end at 45 degree angles off your hips. Pull rt foot to left, then push it out front into a cat stance. Left hand turns palm-up to cup at belly button. As foot moves forward, rt hand moves with it to scoop (palm fwd) from rt hip all the way forward and then up the centerline to above brow level.

Rt fist drops gently into left cupped hand.

Rt fist goes straight back up centerline to above brow level, rt knee comes up with it so that you are standing on left leg.

Left foot stomps down as rt Fist drops firmly into cupped left hand at belly button. Pause. You are now in horse.

Drop both arms in a "smoothing the skirt" motion. As arms come out to the sides horizontally, they move to the front (palm down) and are pulled in to the belly side by side. Press palms to floor at groin, wrists bent 90 degrees.

Step left foot in to stand straight.

Three medium-sized openings and closings.

Salute.