Training Ideas Exchange with Sifu Chris Thompson

On Sunday 14th June 2015 myself and 11 of my students travelled to sunny Southend for another Wing Chun Training Ideas Exchange with Sifu Chris Thompson and his students at Absolute Arts, Southend.

I taught the first hour and covered the use of side Paak Sau (slapping hand) with a palm strike from all positions (outside gate/one hand in one hand out/inside gate) Thus ensuring that whatever hand you have forward (in a passive hands up guard) would still allow one of the options a natural path to simultaneous attack and defence should we get caught relatively unprepared in a natural defensive manner instead of the way we usually train the Paak Sau concept to attack the attack and disrupt the centre of mass while doing so..highlighted by the fact we don't all walk around on high alert ready to burst forward aggressively in everyday life.

I then moved onto using the Lat Sau Jik Chung (lost hand thrust forward) concept to intercept the timing of a straight grab or push/punch action by slipping one hand inside while covering outside and making sure facing theory was followed while we moved the opponents centre and followed the counter attacking action closing down and keep the opponent off balance while we continued to strike.
Everything I teach is broken down into three stages - slow and correct, fluid then when that is achieved, dynamic and sharp so a student has a full understanding of the training drill and is able to de-construct and develop the drill at their own pace.

Sifu Chris then took over and taught speed methods to transition from one counter attack to the next highlighting the need for triangulation, facing and footwork to achieve that objective.
He did this through counter methods versus a straight attack, two consecutive straight attacks and the same with round line attacks.

These ideas exchanges are a great opportunity to train with students and learn from teachers you don't usually train with or learn from who may have different approaches and levels of understanding and experience, which in turn helps you to keep an open mind to options and methods to enrich your Wing Chun journey.
There is no extra charge for these sessions (this was the 5th or 6th joint event since 2009) other than your usual training fees and everyone involved enjoyed the experience.

More of the same to come no doubt in due course.

Thank you again to Sifu Chris Thompson and his students for hosting us and look forward to seeing you all again soon.