Synopsis of the First Book
Although the Fist book is an introduction to the Shaolin 72 Fists, it already has a number of techniques that were kept secrete form many centuries including the Stone Breaking Fist, Tiger Kick and Small Volcano Fist.

Each fist comes with it's on tactic for application for real and competitive situations. In this first level the tactics are simple and straight forward; very easy to follow and often very ingenious. There is also some linking between the fist to highlight the key issues and to show the main differences. Fists 1 & 2, Fists 3, 4 & 5, Fists 6 & 7; each of these have a core of similarity that allows ease of learning as each have key aspects that make them different and applicable.

You are also introduced to the 36 Strategies; a set of strategies compiled several thousand years ago which are still being used today (They have even been rewritten as strategic guides for Businesses and Executives). The first book introduces you to the first 4 and suggest how they can be used in a sparring ring, street situation and everyday life!

1. Fool the Emperor to Cross the Sea - Surround Wei to Rescue Zhao
2. Deceive the Sky to Cross the Ocean
3. Borrow one's hand to kill - Kill with a borrowed knife
4. Make your enemy tire himself out while conserving energy; Await the Exhausted Enemy at Your Ease

This first Book of 72 Shaolin Fists is the key to understanding the 2nd and subsequent books. It is essential that this be the first step or much else will not make sense!

Stone-Breaking Fist
Although many styles have a semblance of this punch in their style, most do not know it's detail or proper function. In the Bad Old Days, children the age of 5 or six were made to punch a solid stone, with their left fist, until their knuckles were broken. Then with the help of herbs, ointments and fire, the knuckles were reset and fused until the hand had a single ridge. Over ensuing 6 to 10 years this ridge was worked until it was a hard as stone. Of course, the left hand was used as it was of little use for anything else after this. The Shaolin Stone-Breaking Fist dose not require you to damage your hand in anyway to achieve the devastating effect it can have.

You also learn one of the most fundamental tactics for Sparring, defence and even arguing. This is one of the reasons this was chosen to be the No 1 technique of the Shaolin 72 Fists'

Key techniques Covered

1. Retreat Stepping
2. Sunrise Block
3. Stone-Breaking Fist
4. Tiger Front Kick

Thunder Fist
The Thunder Punch is very, very rare technique that was kept a family secret for a very long time. Once you have trained with it, you will know why as it seems a very unlikely technique. Its 'unusualness' make the Thunder Punch quite a Surprise; a bit like a Clap of Thunder in the night! It is also used in conjunction with the Stone-Breaking Fist for a surprising Advantage.

Another superb Tactic is introduced with this fist, one that allows the using of Fist 1 for the set-up and fist two for the 'surprising' finish. A tactic that again finds very wide application.

Key Techniques

1. Retreat Stepping
2. Sunrise Block
3. Thunder Fist
4. Stone-Breaking Fist
5. Tiger Front Kick

Moon Fist
The Moon Fist is one of those techniques that every one knows about as an individual technique. In the 3rd Fist though, there is a whole tactic build around it that works on the physical and psychological level. Imagine wanting to punch someone and as you are hitting them, you feel the pain! Brilliant tactic, smoothly executed and delivered in this fist.

Key Techniques

1. Double Side Sliding
2. Iron Bar Block
3. Moon Fist Fist

Small Volcano Fist
The SVF belongs to the 'Hidden Arts', Poison Hand techniques of Traditional Chinese Kung Fu. There are two reasons for this. In it's best form, this one fist can stun a person, knock them out or even more; yet most people would not recognize the difference, the detail. The second reason is that it is an 'invisible' technique. One dose not actually see what happens and it already is over. It is not usable for competitions as even experienced martial art judges and referees would not see or recognize this technique. As a Poison Hand Technique, the SVF introduces you to some basic Vital Point targeting.

The tactic employed with this fist shows the use of the old wisdom "Keep your friends close but keep your enemy's closer". It is a sublime usage of this learning, one that will reappear in may forms in the future.

Key Techniques

1. Sliding and Single Pivot
2. Palm Block
3. Small Volcano Fist
4. Moon Fist Fist

Branch Whipping Fist
This Fist, is not a fist but we need to consider that the Chinese Translation of 72 Fist Kung Fu would more accurately translate to "72 Key Techniques with a specific movement framework and unique tactic". So for simplicities sake, we will continue calling them 'Fists'. Again, another technique that was jealously guarded and handed down only from eldest son to eldest son. Yet the last keeper of this technique did not have an eldest living son and choose to pass it far from the family.

The Branch Whipping Fist is a great description of this technique (one of the great things about Chinese Kung Fu that they give descriptive names to the techniques that often tells it all) and it looks so benign with it's loose action, relaxed fingers and almost gentle movement. Yet when correctly used it has the devastation of a branch Whipping into your eye, which it actually simulates. But also the method of approach and movement is beautiful, graceful, minimal and very wind like.

This Fist counter balances the previous Fist. In many ways similar in movement it is the differences that is the key Tactic and learning in the Fist. How just a small change can make a huge difference, how a small change can be almost opposite.

Key Techniques

1. Sliding Double Pivot
2. Palm Block
3. Moon Fist Fist
4. Small Volcano Fist

Avalanche Fist
Although there may be some genuine Elemental Kung Fu schools we have not been able to find any. The Avalanche Fist is from Elemental Kung Fu, Earth Element. It requires the ability to end up in a solid stance and the use of gravity as way of accentuating the delivery of the fist.

The Avalanche Fist is our first double technique. Both hands need to be used to achieve the full affect of this technique. It uses the downward force of the 2nd hand to combine with the downward force of the striking fist. This is also the first technique that requires you to make a small leap to achieve the full potential of the Avalanche Movement

The Panther Front Kick is about the best street defence technique there is. A whole book could be dedicated to the Shades of the Panther Front Kick. And it would take a Panther Stylist to full comprehend it. You will be introduced to one of the most useful offensive and defensive kicks . . ever!

The stepping in this and the next technique is very effective and in this Fist the key tactic. It has even found it's way into K1 and Boxing on rare occasions (possibly more in the future when people see the power of it). It even was featured in a Historical Movie with great effect, the Shake Triangle Stepping. Very easy to learn yet very difficult to counter. The Tactic being that of finding the week point whilst attacking a week point. Ahh, the Dao is great.

Key Techniques

1. Snake Triangle Stepping
2. Inverted Sunrise Block
3. Avalanche Fist
4. Panther Front Kick

Sun Fist
There are some Fists that are so effective that you would think every style would want to have them as part of their curriculum. Yet some Fists are so strong that they are the foundation of a whole style as with this Fist.

The Sun Fist, so named as the fists make the shape similar to the Chinese character of the Sun, are the best example of usable rapid punching. Combined together with the way of moving the hands and body, this is the first of the Fists that does not use a block first (all Shaolin techniques will start from the defensive!). The blocking and suppressing action is inbuilt into this fantastic technique.

The tactic used is one of avoiding the main attack and stepping into the side of the attacker (a version of this was used by the great Muhammad Ali against George Foreman). It is not easy to do this under normal circumstances, stepping into the side of an attack but this Fist dose it efficiently and effectively.

Key Techniques

1. Snake Triangle Stepping
2. Short Stepping
3. Sun Fist Punching

Tigers (Ripping) Claw Fist
Many Tiger Styles existed in the past. Some are full Styles, some only have a few special techniques. Some even combine the Tiger with such as the Crane as in Hung Gar. Yet one of the most complete and deadly of the Tiger Styles was that Shantung Black Tiger Kung Fu. Now, no longer in existence, in it's original form, the Shantung Black Tiger Kung Fu was a pure Tiger style that only allowed for two outcomes; death. There is an old Chinese saying that "When 2 tigers fight one will die and the other will be very hurt".

The Tigers Claw Fist has been slightly modified for usability today as we are much better informed about the long term consequences of extreme training and repetitive strain. It belonged to the Pain Bringing techniques and was considered the core technique of the Shantung Black Tiger Kung Fu Style. Easy to apply, deliberate, devastating and efficient. The modern version has been adapted to be usable both in Street Defence and in Sparring without permanently or even seriously damaging or hurting the opponent. It is now a safe and usable technique without having to worry about long term consequences

Simplicity is a deceptive tactic. The ability to strike suddenly, ferociously and consequently is possibly the easiest way of defending your self. It is not for everyone but for those that are able to do this, you don't really need much more for defence!

Key Techniques

1. Tiger Claw Fist