It is a big mistake to think that kungfu is elaborated or flowery, full of frills meant for demonstration but unnecessary for combat. If you are well trained, as soon as your opponent attacks, you stop him with just one stroke. Please note that techniques are only one of numerous factors determining victory in a combat. In other words, a kungfu student may know the beautiful form of fighting techniques, but if he has no striking power, is slow, confused and panicky, he is likely to be beaten by an ordinary street-fighter who knows no martial art. Sparring practice is a good way to train for such combative exchanges.
Different masters have different ways of connecting the gap between set practice and free sparring.
One effective way used in Shaolin Wahnam Kungfu is as follows. Understand and apply selected kungfu techniques to overcome specific combat situations. Arrange these specific techniques into short meaningful combat sequences. Gradually release control over pre-arranged sequences. Introduce variations at appropriate points of the combat sequences.