Kung Fu Field Day- A Family Event for Fun and Fitness

Kung Fu field day was a silly idea for family activity I came up with some time ago in which each event is based on the characteristics of one of the animal styles. It worked out really well, I think, for a number of reasons. First, it gets the whole family outside and interacting which, in today's world of smart phones and social media is no small matter. Secondly, The animal styles are so diverse that everyone gets a chance to play to their strengths. While the exercises we do may not be traditional, the whole event challenges the body and mind while encouraging an interest in other cultures. Kids may even feel encouraged by how well they did in a certain event and decide to pursue actual kung fu training.

The examples I have presented here are just that, examples for your consideration. Use those you like, but if you have better ideas, by all means use them and tell us how it worked out in the comments section below!

The format is pretty simple. We kept scores on a grid with our names down one side and the animals along the top. So, each event had 1st 2nd and 3rd place winners, with an overall high scoring contestant being crowned champion. 

TIGER- "Fu Jow Pai"- physical power, inner power, endurance

Trial of the Tiger-

First, contestants do as many push ups as they can in one minute. More advanced students and adults (if competing with children) may do push ups on the finger tips. Second, they must run a distance of 10 meters (half that for kids), strike a wooden target 5 times with each hand using a "tiger claw" in any combination (alternating hands, 5 per side, switching stances or fixed stance) they choose. Bonus points may be awarded for actually breaking boards if you choose to go that route. Next, contestants should lift a heavy weight, such as a sand bag, and run back to the previous position 10 meters away. Finally, from a still and stable horse stance, bring the weight to the chest and shove it away, releasing as the arms are fully extended. Score is a combination of the number of push ups and the distance the weight traveled, plus any bonus points awarded. The running is required only to increase physical fatigue, but this contest could just as easily be run as a relay by starting with a fixed number of push-ups and contestants placing in the event based solely on the speed with which they completed all actions.

CRANE- "He Quan"- poise, timing, explosive power
There are 5 different crane styles- "Fei He Quan"- Flying (or leaping) crane, "Shi He Quan"- Feeding crane, "Ming He Quan"- Crying crane, "Zong He Quan"- Shaking (or trembling) crane, and "Su He Quan"- Sleeping crane. Each emphasizing different aspects of the crane style.
  
Swatting flies- 

This game is inspired by the "sleeping crane" which emphasizes timing and defense. Player starts by assuming a Crane stance (one leg lifted in a block) and with hands in crane wing form, participants throw paper balls at contestant who must try to remain in this pose for one minute. Points are awarded both for deflecting incoming balls AND for not reacting to those that fall to the ground without striking the contestant, but a point is taken for each that actually strikes the body. Contestant may hop to avoid low strikes, and may switch legs when doing so, but If both feet touch the ground the round is over and only the points scored up to then are awarded.

Kick volleyball- 
From the "leaping crane" method, which emphasizes agility, evasion, and long-range attacks. Players are divided into two teams. A net is set at tennis height (or lower) and the ball can only be played with feet , knees, and shins. If a player is hit with the ball, or uses their hands for anything other than holding the ball to kick off a serve, they are out. 1st place goes to last one standing. 2nd place to their opponent, and 3rd place to the last person to be out on the team with the most points. Typically, this game would be played to a point goal (first team to 20, for instance) but because this is kung fu field day, the conditions are modified.

SNAKE- "She Quan"- perception, focus, fluidity

Snake Hooping-

Using a hula hoop, begin with the hand closed, palm up, holding the body of the hoop up in the air. Rotate the hand, letting the hoop follow, then open the palm down entering into a "snake fist" hand form. The arm must move in a snake-like twining motion to keep the hoop turning while the other hand is poised at the armpit already in snake form. The hoop may rotate on one arm for no more than 20 seconds before the other hand strikes out along the underside of the arm for a switch. This challenge continues on until the hoop is dropped, or the contestant fails to switch arms in time. The winner is the one who can keep it going the longest.

Snake Tug-of-War-

An alternative event using a classic game. Begin with a rope with knotted ends for grip. Only two people compete at a time. The object is to use any combination of twining, binding and footwork techniques to gain the advantage over the opponent. The rope can be wound around the arm to take up slack and use inner strength and superior leverage to bring the opponent down, or you may attempt to wrap them up with the rope, binding their arms and/or legs. As a matter of safety, the neck must be off limits, and the opponent may give up before being brought down if they are bound and afraid to fall.

LEOPARD- "Bao Quan"- speed, precision, simultaneous aggression and evasion
Leaping Leopard-
Note; full credit for this idea goes to my 8 year old (at time of ths writing) son Caegan, for whom I started "kung fu field day" in the first place. How fitting that he should be the one to complete the list when I myself was stumped for weeks <3 :)
For this game, you first need to lay out a course by placing a number of markers in different positions. The number and distance between points will be determined by the skill level of the contestants. We used 6 points in a diamond pattern with two points just off center. Number the points so that contestants follow the pattern in the correct order. The idea is to challenge contestants to jump maximum distance while landing with precision. To incorporate leopard's aggression and dynamic reaction, participants will throw water balloons at the contestant who may dodge or strike at them with leopard paw fists, arms, elbows, knees, shins or feet to earn bonus points. 1 point is awarded for striking a single target, and 2 points each for multiple targets. The goal is to finish the course as quickly as possible without being hit. If no one completes the course, or if there is a tie, the win goes to the highest bonus score. If neither applies, then it goes to whoever made it the farthest along the course.

Snag the Leopard's Tail-
This is a game popular in youth martial arts classes to teach evasion, proprioception, and awareness of the center line. Each contestant gets a "tail" (belt or strip of cloth) tucked into their belt or waistband. On "GO" all participants begin trying to snag the "tails", one at a time, from other contestants. Each tail is tucked it into the belt or waistband, along with the others and the game continues until one person has all the tails. Alternatively, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places are awarded to the final three based on their respective number of tails and how quickly they acquired them.

DRAGON- "Long Xi Quan"- evasion, redirection, balance of internal and external power

Balloon onslaught-

Participants get a supply of water balloons to throw at the contestant. For one minute, they must endure the assault. Points are awarded as follows; 2 points for destroying a balloon with dragon claw strikes. 1 point for destroying a balloon on the ground by stomping it. 3 points for destroying a balloon with a whipping kick. 4 points for deflecting a balloon without popping it (against the body, if it pops after hitting the ground, the points still count). and 5 points for absorbing the force of the balloon to catch and throw it back, with a bonus 5 for bursting it on one of the throwers. -3 for every balloon which bursts on the body without being struck or deflected. 

MONKEY- "Hou Quan"- unconventional movement, momentum, multi-level targeting
Like crane, Monkey is divided into 5 different styles, each with different specialties; drunken (soft structure, attack vital points and low targets, heavy strikes, sacrifice throws and feints), stone (iron body, powerful attacks to weak points), lost (speed, agility, feigning weakness to launch unpredictable attacks), tall (long range, maintains superior position, “climbs limbs” as in moving up the body as openings are created, or literally climbing the opponent to drop down with gravitational force) and wooden (heavy movements, grappling).
Monkey ball- 

This game is inspired by the "Lost Monkey" style 4 fist sized balls or bean bags and a goal placed under a target. Participants throw balls one at a time onto the field while the contestant collects them and takes them to the goal. Contestants are ONLY allowed to use monkey movement on the field- running on all fours, tumbling, rolling, or leaping. They must strike the target as they drop balls into the goal. Balls may be thrown at any time another ball is not on the field, ie when the ball in play is either in the goal OR in the contestant's possession. A bonus of 3 points is awarded for striking a ball mid flight and 5 points for catching it. If a ball fails to go into the goal or contestant fails to strike the target, that ball's points are forfeit. 2 points is awarded for each correctly executed goal.

MANTIS- "Tang Lang Quan"- inner strength, precision, patience

Mantis Style Egg and Spoon-

There are many mantis styles, but all of them rely on extremely powerful lower bodies and footwork from which to generate power for effective technique. Balance, patience, and the ability to make small, dynamic adjustments are also important. For these reasons, I have chosen a modified version of the classic "egg and spoon race" for mantis style training on kung fu field day. The basic concept is the same, carry a raw egg in a large spoon from point A to point B without dropping it. The twist is the contestant must navigate the course using only a low, cross-stepping stance. This stance is achieved by bending the knees, then bringing one foot behind the body and crossing it over on a line with the opposite shoulder and resting on the ball of the foot. The stance should be balanced, not too narrow, not too wide. Forward movement is achieved by constantly crossing one leg over the other. Side stepping is done by uncrossing and re-crossing the legs. Pivots are done with both feet planted and pivoting from front to back should put you back into the same stance on the opposite side. Lay out the course with boards or tape, making it as simple or complex as you wish, keeping the abilities and limitations of your family in mind. A 12ftX12ft square could be used with the contestant starting at one corner, then stepping forward, side stepping, pivoting to the back, forward stepping again, then side stepping, and finishing by pivoting to the back once more. Contestant with the fastest time wins. If everyone drops their egg, then whoever made it the farthest wins.

EAGLE- "Ying Jow Pai"- grip, agility, seamless progression

Brick Catch-

This is the training exercise I used to use for eagle claw. From a deep horse stance, hold a brick at arm's length in front of you with palm facing down in an "eagle claw" grip. The other hand is at the hip, fist clenched, with palm up. Drop the brick (do NOT toss or raise the hand) and shoot the clenched hand out to catch the brick in the same (palm down eagle claw) position before it hits the ground while simultaneously bringing the other hand to the opposite position (the hand that was holding the brick goes to the hip, palm up, fist closed). Score is based on the number of times contestant can perform this move without the brick touching the ground.

Bean Bag catch-
For a more dynamic game, participants throw beanbags (or sand, or rice) at the contestant, who must, dodge, and catch them with their "eagle claws" piling them up on the ground to be counted/reused. Points are scored for each bag seized midair. Contestant is "out" when a bag hits them anywhere on the body.

DOG- "Gou Quan"- power, agility, and speed, all delivered from low position.

Dog Fist Dodge Ball-

Contestant starts from a position lying on the ground with arms and legs up. Participants throw balls at the contestant who must evade or deflect incoming balls from all sides. Round time is one minute. Every ball successfully evaded is worth 1 point and those struck by the hands, feet, knees or elbows are worth 3 points. Contestant is allowed to get up from the ground to dodge, but is NOT allowed to stand upright for more than a few seconds. Instead, they must roll, dive, or turn to avoid being hit. If a ball strikes the body, a point is deducted, but if a ball strikes the head, the round is over.

Bonus rounds:

5 animals +

The 5 traditional animals are snake, leopard, tiger, crane and dragon. Bonus rounds may be dedicated to any one of the additional animals- mantis, eagle, dog, or monkey- for a shortened version of the game. The first time we did kungfu field day was actually inspired by my son's love for the Dreamworks movie "Kung Fu Panda" so we ended up doing monkey, mantis, tiger, crane and snake with a bonus round for dragon.

Demo own animal style

This would take some planning, but if the family was informed of the event at least a week or so ahead of time, they could start pondering and practicing forms based on another animal of their choosing. If you made Kung Fu Field Day a yearly event, they could even spend all year working on their new forms. Capitalizing on your kids' competitive attitudes to get them to study nature and martial arts doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me ;)