It is time to address the made up 45 techniques that advanced Masters are passing off as the real 45 lessons that Jimmy Woo gave his first students. They have been my friends but Grand Master Woo is far more important to me and will show you what he wanted us to learn. More important it should be a lesson to you as to where and who you ask to get the information on this Art. I am going to add 3 pieces of evidence that prove my point. You can read exactly what he taught as he had someone write the first 22 lessons of the 45 and that is how he wanted them taught, after you learned them you could break them apart as you wanted but teach them as taught. There is a big mistake in lesson 9 and they (Juan and Jack)confused the blocks of double hammers type blocks with double down windmill which is totally different and the rest of the lesson needed to be changed. Since I have seen a #9 lesson on video by Jack I must assume that is who taught Juan that lesson. Second I will post a video that is incorrect which you will see what I saw that does not look anything like what was taught, you decide for yourself. Third I will include a video I made years ago of myself that I made when Bernie asked for some of the better San Soo techniques that we liked. I am not the greatest but I am correct, we memorized them, and I refuse to argue the point, they are correct.
You have the info it will be up to you, most all the 45 I have seen are not correct, I have seen very few that are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWHQEr-xf0g
Juan
Lesson#9
This page of lesson and break down is from my Basic 45 book.
Opponent punches with his left hand toward your head…
Step into opponent with a right front horse (in front of his left foot) as you deliver a double down windmill, blocking the top of his fist or arm, moving it down. What is meant by a “Double Down Windmill” is the same type of windmill you use in your windmill practice. Like two propellers rotating but in synchronization – one passes the center shortly after the other has just passed. This is very important as the right hand blocks his left hand down, followed by your left down windmill passing in front of his face, taking his attention which is the set-up for your next strike.
The follow up is a right upward palm to his nose. Use caution on this type of strike as it could cause him to hemorrhage and result in death. You may change your target to the jaw or chin, if you wish. The strike after the windmill appears to be one continuous movement.
Left open web hand to his throat.
Right hammer to his left jaw.
Right backhand to his throat.
Left roundhouse one-knuckle fist to the right side of his neck.
Concepts to Learn
Lesson #9
In this lesson you will learn…
This technique contains many subtle superior fighting techniques.
Suppose your opponent strikes with a left punch followed up by a right punch. You will be protected by a double down windmill unless your opponent uses “Broken Rhythm”, which is highly unlikely. The synchronization of that windmill is almost exactly the speed an attacker will throw two punches. When the left is blocked down by your right his right hand fires. Your left hand blocks that punch down as you right palm to his face. Try it with a partner – it works.
The other benefit previously discussed is deception and the application of the element of surprise.
This is the first time any strike travels up the “Blind Spot”. He watches your left hand as you down windmill. The palm travels up the middle line of his body and he can’t see if he is looking straight ahead.
Try this before you begin the lesson: Look straight ahead and touch your stomach and then raise that hand to your chin – can’t see it, can you? You have just found a blind area. This is the reason to keep his eyes busy with the left down windmill as the palm hand moves up the blind spot to strike him in the nose.
This is Jimmy’s basic 45-9.
Thank you for the videos. This comment is for the 3rd video which shows the 2 windmill blocks. I learned some san soo for a couple of years back in the 80s from a teacher who moved to Pullman, WA from LA. Watching, I was wondering why is the windmill counter-clockwise? Seems like it should be clockwise for the right hand blocking the left-hand punch and counter-clockwise for the left hand blocking the right-hand punch? The reason I think this is you have to do almost a full rotation to do that block with the right hand. A counter-clockwise block is right there. And, given you are reacting to a punch, time is not on your side. Also, a counter-clockwise rotation would push the punch away from you rather than inside to your body.
Chad,
Thanks for asking, It is very tiresome watching these messed up lessens on YouTube they either forgot or never learned. Juan’s version is not right, I think he learned from Jack which is also wrong, they do a double arm cross block (which is lesson 19) then the rest of the lesson will not fit in so they make up their own. Remember, Jimmy had someone type the first 22 lesson as he showed them. Many of the first generation knew them by heart. Many today never learned them and tried to figure them out by reading them, much has been lost. That lesson was a very beatiful and high level tactic that involved flow and surprise. If you change to the idea you stated the flow and concealment will be lost. The right blocks (or acts as a faint) as the left blocks (or acts as a faint) and the right palm pops over and comes over from nowhere. Both of his hands are between you and it would be difficult for him to strike, it is over very quickly. I would not change the direction of the flow.
Hope this helps.