![]() When I first began training WIng Chun, I was fascinated with it's no-nonsense basic approach, and particularly it's emphasis on short power, the famous one-inch punch. Once I got past the initial phases of being wowed by the hype and more glamorous parts often touted by fans of this fighting system, regular practice and conversations with my Sifu John Kang, started to show me the more practical underpinnings of why the system worked the way it did, and most importantly, how to use it. Often, Wing Chun is referred to in cool sounding terms such as "In Fighting" or "Close Quarters Combat". The fundamental question is why would that particular strategy be dominant? There are several, but these are the major ones that really stand out to me to understanding Wing Chun Fighting Strategy:
After realizing these truths about the Wing Chun fighting system, I had a better comprehension of the nuts and bolts of the system overall, and I could now see why the masters of this system touted regular practice of the first form, or Siu Nin Tao (Little Idea). The first subsection sets a solid foundation of establishing your centerline, how your elbows are used to protect your sides and front, at what point your elbows and hands work together to project power forward, or to move back inward to absorb incoming force. The same great masters of Wing Chun also performed Siu Nin Tao very slowly during solo practice, so I started to train the first form very slowly as well. It was difficult to do in the beginning, and tested my patience. As I started to get to the 20 minute mark, I found myself relaxing, especially in the first subsection (there are three), and my mind stopped wandering and I was able to focus with intent for prolonged periods of time. As my understanding progressed, my angles and alignments became better and I started to improve quickly, and I found that I was now understanding how the pieces from the form were coming together into a cohesive fighting style. As demonstrated below, I am moving more slowly than you may normally see in other videos. If I was practicing alone and not doing a demo, I would be going much slower. Remember to relax, sink at your Kwa (hips), while lifting your spine and tucking the tailbone forward to engage your core. Breathe deeply into your stomach, not your chest. 4 seconds in, and 4 seconds out is a good starting point. If you feel a minor compression in the abdomen, this is good. It strengthens your abdomen and internals, as well as builds upper and lower body connection. Regular practice is key when it comes to form work. If you want results, training hard is the only way to get the desired effect. It is a skill, and while different, must be done with same intensity you would developing a knock out punch with a heavy bag. Focus on becoming mentally relaxed and aware, and don't be impatient or in a rush. There is a saying in the Martial Arts: "He who is in a rush to learn, learns very slowly indeed".
3 Comments
JB
11/8/2018 04:03:09 pm
I love training under a Sifu Will. His patience, knowledge and kindness are just some of the reasons. Attending Wing Chun classes at The Martial Arts Academy of Marin continue to be the highlight of my weeks. I learn something about Martial Arts and life in every class. This blog is spot on as usual. Sifu Will’s impeccable work ethic, teaching methods and interest in his students make training here an awesome experience. I hope Sifu writes a book soon...!
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Will
11/9/2018 03:57:25 pm
Thank you for the kind words JB - I'm definitely on working on a book, I already have a title chosen!
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2/12/2019 01:29:54 am
You done a great job about this category, I got the best and useful information and suggestions from this category. You made a good site and it's very interesting one. Thanks for sharing the best information. Regards.
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authorWill Yturriaga, Archives
June 2020
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