Body & Mind Training Center

One important act in Kung Fu To'a is the (TWIST & TURN). These twists and turns can be from the upper or lower body and also could turn from the legs or arms. The important matter is, we cannot do any techniques without twisting and turning some part of our body. It means, if we do any kind of move as a technique without twisting and turning the upper body, legs or arms, (depends on the movement) the technique will be wrong. We should know that twisting and turning of any techniques are as important as the technique itself.

Now, before I continue and explain "the twisting and turning", I would like to test you.

Could you explain: What is the twisting and turning in To'a? Give an example.

Dear Master, I think that with the terms "twist & turn" you are refering to what I have been tought to search in all the movement and that was called the "shock".
For example, in mato technique, the fist start to move forward from the ribs side, the back of the hand is facing the ground and gaining energy. Almost at half-way and approximately in front of the central axis of the body it starts to turn and reach the final position. The mato is not a linear punch, meaning that is not performed with the hand in the final position from the very beginning to the end, but it has to be reached by turning.
If I try to perform a left Yeteh-keyto, from Yeteh-rato stand I should turn my trunk to the left and get my body weight to my right leg while my left leg start to bend and my knee comes up. From this position (knee high) I have to turn and rotate my left leg bent lowering my knee and lifting up my heel while in the same moment I'm extending the leg up. During the movement I also twist my back and the left arm goes in the same direction of the techinique and backward while the right fist goes near the ribs on the right side. It's a movement like "closing, gaining energy, twisting and hitting".
I hope to have been able to explain what is my idea of "twisting and turning" and also I hope that this idea is correct.

Dear Patrizia, Thank you for the participation. Your explanation is right and your idea is correct, but it is not all and enough.

Dear Master, thank you for the answer and for the continuos spur to reflect.
I'm trying to think about it with more attention. Maybe you're refering to the fact that we don't twist and turn only the legs or the arms in the single technique, but also the whole body. For example performing a "hotto" is not only the elbow that turns, but also the trunk of the body guide the movement while in the same moment the legs stay in the rato stand slightly twisting in the opposite direction. Performing the technique in this way gives more power to the technique and gives us also stability.

Dear masters and dear friends, I'm doing a complete review of all the forms and techniques.
I have 3 question, sorry if they are really basic, but I think "you can't built a house without good foundation".

In master Tawassoli's book at page 85 I read the techinque "Chi-Kareh". Is it the one refering to the pic number 1i?
What does the term means? I remember it was called before wearing the belt in class, but we never known the right meaning. Would you please explain it?

At page number 109 we were taught the technique in pic number 4a differently. I added a jpg, sorry for the bad quality.
In our way in 4a we went completely down doing a squat with legs in the position as in 4b. Now I see we have to stand half way, and this is not a problem. What I don't understand is the Oranto. I see it is face high ( we were taught higher), and the left arm in lower. We were said that it was to defend the head, but I see that master Tawassoli is doing it lower, and in this way you can't protect niether the head not the ribs. So, what it is used for?I can understand the meaning of the right fist, but for the left one I don't.

One last question is about the belt. I was taught to wear it like in the pic from 1 until 2i, and we were going as in 2m only when we were to enter a fight or after an exam. Is our way incorrect? Do I have to wear it always as shown by the master Tawassoli or only in certain occasions?

Thank you all for the help you're giving to us all and to this martial art's unique world!

Hello Dear Parizia,
You must ask until you understand.

1) The meaning of Chi kareh is power.
2) The technique you are talking about is from Anattawa "Weisa" section. Which is Oranto defend for a kick.
The right arm "Oranto" comes down from your upper right side to the lower left side at a 45 degree angle to block the incoming kick from in front of you. The left arm is a reaction and at the same time is protecting the left side of your body.
3) In Kung Fu To'a, when a student finishes and passes the test of "Anattawa" they become an older or senior kung fu ka. After that he or she must have two knots on his/her sash. It is an honour to have it as a student of To'a.