Like all practical skill, kung fu requires hands-on practice for effective learning and mastery. This is even more particularly so for grappling/cum la techniques, and so you would expect the training method to at some stage encompass partner work in addition to self-training.
Certainly you can list joint-locking techniques as technique 1, #2, etc etc in response to grab or hold 4, 5 etc etc however the effectiveness of this method alone is questionable.
Choy Lee Fut’s designer/s was very clever in the construction of the system.Initially, single techniques can be demonstrated and isolated for drill practice on a co-operating partner ----the aim is not to injure him or her but to familiarise oneself with the techqnique and its subtleties, get a hands-on feeling with applying on another person. It makes good sense that if you can’t apply it with speed, accuracy and precision without thinking on the how’s of the technique on a co-operative opponent, then how can you hope to apply it on a resisting opponent. The aim is to learn it so well that is almost like “second nature”.
There is an entire form teaching the series of grappling techniques in CLF, and some techniques are also contained in other advanced hand forms. Choy Lee fut does not confine grappling to only grappling, that is, the grappling techniques are also used in conjunction and in combination with effective striking techniques, resulting in a devastating arsenal of combat tools.
If I am not mistaken,there should be a two-man form of grappling techniques as well.
No one will just stand there and let you grapple them, sometimes you have to use striking combinations and bridge, and have the feeling and sensitivity to feel the force of the opponent and instinctively apply the appropriate technique, and if the opponent successfully counters or escapes, to have the skill and sensitivity to change with the opponent effectively to overcome him or her.
If you have the vcd set of Sifu Chen Yong Fa, have a look at the section where he is teaching the kei lun sau faat or unicorn hands. In it, there are drills where you apply grappling/cumla on the partner, the partner goes with the force and counter grapples you, you of course go with his force and evade to counter grapple him and so it goes on, teaching you to develop a feeling for the techniques and counter techniques, training for sensitivity and familiarity, training technique as well as skill.
Separate isolated techniques are good for drilling, and form is good for remembering and practicing, and in fact I think the appearance of the grappling in other hand forms says something about strategically effective times or moments in other technique combinations to apply cum la.
If you experience the higher level forms of CLF, I think you may be amazed how well built the combinations are, and if you analyse them you may discover very clever strategy/tactics/moments for application.
I encourage those who know the grappling forms to share their views.
