Yet one aspect had consistently run through each and every one of those interpretations - the aspect of 'Self Defence'...using Wing Chun technique to bridge with an attackers attempt to strike as an initial option in defending themselves with all drills following this idea.
Now, some did this in a very strong convincing manner against full power (ish) punches (well..staged classroom punches)...others bridged softly like the stroke of a Chinese calligraphy brush, seemingly effortlessly deflecting or absorbing the strike, some followed the bridging with a dynamic burst of violent, faster than light follow ups and connected strikes that would overwhelm the best of them (drunks maybe) ;) where some danced out the way, lightly bridging before striking, from arms length, several (read too many) follow up strikes...
Every one of my teachers over the years that i've been fortunate enough to learn from has possessed a skill level that I may never even get close to and I owe them all a great deal of thanks and gratitude for guiding me to where I am now...(beginning to see the light of day) :)
It was only when I began my research into the basics of the WSLVT (Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun) system almost 3 years ago now through "Wing Chun Federation" chief coach Alan Gibson and attending a multi-seminar event with David Peterson, John Smith, Ernie Barrios and Kev Bell...that I truly began to see how much more simple, direct and conceptual Wing Chun really can be...and that this interpretation of Wing Chun actually DOES walk the talk and DOES do what it says in the history books...this IS a fighting system and it is certainly NOT in any sense of the word "Self Defence"
Self defence is for corporate workers who get paid to learn complex wrist locks and shout alot at would be attackers in a team building event to improve their confidence and escape the reams of paperwork building higher on their shiny desks...self defence is for children to protect themselves against the potential threat of a school bully who may try and nick their jam sandwich...self defence is for ladies that lunch (put that last bit in cos it made me chuckle) :)
Yet a fight or confrontation at street level is often horrendous...its often stamping and head-butting, its often blood and teeth coming out, its often faces being smashed on the kerb or a knife in the lung....self defence is about as much use for this as the proverbial chocolate teapot...it will melt VERY quickly under heat!!!
"Wing Chun/Ving Tsun Kuen" translates best as "Perpetual Spring Fist" or more accurately with regards to the WSL way, Chinese Boxing - try applying your self defence against a seasoned or even novice boxer..or better still a well versed student of the WSLVT system and see how the defensive, over complicated actions fare...personally I wouldn't advise plying it at street level for you may painfully find it wanting...
So, what makes it different to my previous training and teaching???
In all honesty and with my small insight and understanding to date, it is quite plainly the simplicity - by training a few core concepts (not techniques) that are contained within Siu Nim Tau and Cham Kiu forms the system soon becomes a close quarter fighting system, it does cut the opponent off in one or two actions, often punches, the simplest and most fundamental skill, it does attack and defend simultaneously, more often than not with a single hand, epitomising economy of motion whilst doing so and it certainly seems to use the centreline theory and triangulation more comprehensively than any other Wing Chun system i've seen through proximity (bent elbow distance) and control and/or disruption of the opponents centre of mass (if they're off balance they cant defend or attack effectively) with the aid of the constant forward, springy feeling of the Lat Sau Jik Chung concept - not hand free choose to hit - but hand free attack without thought from an almost magnetic and automatic searching for the centre..
Of course, in reality - shit happens...we don't all walk around like a tightly coiled fighting spring ready to unleash merry hell on anyone looking or acting odd...we may need to bridge against a random attack we don't see coming before anything else...but by doing so we know we are still at a disadvantage because we are defending and the other guy is attacking us...in my classes and WSLVT classes (im not a current certified WSLVT coach) we still train for this situation, yet recognise it is not the most direct way of using our Wing Chun and to be the best we can be we should train as simply and directly as possible for the most part yet also being realistic to the potential consequences should it all go pear shaped..
So, with the article heading in mind and hopefully to get you all thinking about how you practice your Wing Chun currently...ask yourself...do you attack every attack that you see coming in?...or bridge first?..or bridge and attack together (ie: Taan Da, Pak Da etc) - common..that last one...but not as direct as it could/should? be...coulda, woulda, shoulda...
What about Bong Sau?..do you throw your elbow up high defensively to bridge?..step back or to the side as you're doing so and then add a Laap and strike in??..and then repeat endlessly to a count??...hmmm?..but Wing Chun doesn't defend first and then attack because all the other striking arts do that and we're different right??..we attack and defend at the same time...(I still teach this to my students but put a huge emphasis on it being for a situation when your hands may be down, we also then reduce the drill so we punch off the emergency Bong action and get back to basics as quickly as possible..and then re-cap at Cham Kiu level where the only uses for Bong Sau are illustrated)... When/If we use/need Bong Sau (out of Chi Sau of course) it is drilled to be thrown (Paau) at the centre to cause a deflection or disruption and is followed immediately by an attack response..or if contact has already been established and our attack line is cut off, a shifting process may be used (Yi) temporarily to open a new attack line..or when pulled down can be used at a low level (Dai) to redirect the pull back towards the source
When training Taan Sau does it actually intercept and disperse energy or is it just a palm up block to enable a strike with your other hand?..do you attack with it? - not defend then attack with the same hand...but attack, dispersing in the process?
Lastly..what about Fook Sau?...do you just use it in Chi Sau?...does it actually subdue anything?...or could you use it conceptually as it can be applied throughout the system?
Briefly going back to the Bong Sau action, when we use it - although we minimise its use as its very defensive in nature and we've established Wing Chun is an attacking skill primarily, the counter strikes that we deliver following the Bong will aim to be dispersing and subduing within correct Wing Chun range (bent elbow distance for the ones at the back)..all while maintaining 'Chiu Ying' or facing, triangulation, forward intent, disruption and control of the centre of mass all..simply by attacking the attack with an assertive mind intent, not a defensive, see what happens rose tinted view of the world
Three areas which have helped me and my students begin to simplify and improve our skills and understanding and which may help you to do the same regardless of school or lineage are:
1/ Understand and maintain facing/triangulation as well as correct Wing Chun range wherever possible and remember your upper body structure is only as good as your base. The form concepts and actions give depth to your practice, work to understand and apply them - by being in correct range, using facing and forward feeling from a good base makes most things in Wing Chun terms more effective straight away
2/ Drop pre set drills and set sequence routines as well as "what if" thinking - work a set idea but in a free way so you can explore and discover what works and what does not under increasing pressure over time...question everything you currently train and ask yourself could it be made simpler and more direct...dont chase the hands, chase the centre
3/ When under threat - Attack - don't defend - all the time you are attacking and controlling or disrupting the centre of your opponent/partner they have to be defending or trying to reverse the situation - "Be fast, be first and be furious" - Alan Gibson
See below for shameless plug of Alan Gibsons book "Wing Chun the Works" available from the Wing Chun Federation website...also some excellent DVD's and publication by David Peterson at the Cranes Productions website.
Alan Gibson is booked in to visit our Bury St Edmunds club again in March 2012..more details in due course
Until next time - enjoy your training.
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