ABMVT - (Applied Body Mechanics Ving Tsun) - Coming Soon

"Applied Body Mechanics Ving Tsun"

Following conversations this week with the Founder and Head Coach of ABMVT - Ernie Barrios and old training colleague and Head Coach of ABMVT London - Jason Gowan I am in the planning stages of joining their organisation and setting a date to attend one of their "Discovery Camps" - a 5 hour training/learning session which provides prospective members, coaches and established schools the opportunity to understand how they structure their coaching and training modules and cycles in their curriculum as well as seeing how they can help and develop those attending, dependant on their individual requirements. (Anyone is welcome to join me should they wish to get the same insight and split the cost - talk to me for more details if interested - it will be a Saturday in Sutton, Surrey most likely)

As long as this all runs smoothly I will then be getting down to London/Surrey on a regular basis built around my current commitments to get up to speed on a practical and coaching level with Jason as well as having the opportunity to train at will with any of their other UK (or International) based coaches. (Manchester/Essex/Hertfordshire/London/Salisbury/Bristol - France/Argentina/Chile/USA)

 Akim Otmane, Adam Gerken, Ernie Barrios, Adam Cope, Jason Gowan, Ged Kennerk

I made this decision based mainly on developing myself as a coach of Ving Tsun, to ensure anyone who comes along to train with me also gets the very best in coaching and full opportunity to learn from a variety of sources should they wish but without pressure to do so if they want to learn only from my experiences.

ABMVT focus on getting results across the board for everyone....the complete Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun system/forms/drills/dummy/pole/knives is a key part but system completion is not the main goal, any more than a boxers main goal isn't learning the 5/6 punches and footwork and then they magically become a masterful boxer. There is an emphasis on the training of combat attributes (balance,timing,accuracy,distance,power,recovery) concepts, strategy and structure as well as conditioning and delivered to the student via referencing the geometry (angle/shape - triangle, circle, straight line) over the myriad of Chinese terms to make it more accessible and obvious to relate to for the average Joe.

Early indications show that this is achieved through two main and associated areas;

1/ Solo Training - Legacy (VT) forms/striking/power development, core strength, balance, footwork, kicking with tools such as punch bags, medicine balls, weights, dummy, pole, knives, our body etc

2/ CPT (Connected Partner Training) - Legacy drills (Paak/Laap/Chi Sau) Focus Mitt Combination Flows, Isolated Sparring drills

It is honest, hard work and accountability that produces results, focus not on history (His-story)

a legacy or faith on anyone other than ourself to produce these results for us - there are no secrets, stories, suits, slippers and sifu-ism in the ABMVT family - all coaches have the same goals and same mission with everyone working off each other minus an obvious hierarchy to worship and cling to their every word - we are all free thinking adults, not trying to be clones of previous generations but learn from what VT can give us

One area I have mentioned in recent months I feel we all need to develop is balance in mobility, and this is broadly covered through their module approach to "Focus Mitt Flows" which vary dependant on what level of understanding and stage your learning and ability is at..... this is followed by "Progressive/Controlled Isolated Sparring" using VT with safety as a paramount consideration to develop the skills without fear or high chance of injury but can be pressure tested with protective gear also to hone that area.

The ABMVT method will/can also address other close quarter combat areas such as the clinch, takedown, ground game, stick fighting etc as many of the coaches (especially Ernie) are very well versed in Boxing, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, Kali, Escrima as well as a Ving Tsun system via Gary Lam/David Peterson, both direct students of the late Wong Shun Leung 

Ernie Barrios with his long time coach Lam Man Hog (Gary Lam)

On a personal note when I began my initial research into the WSLVT methods in 2008 several well known, direct line students kept telling me of only a handful of people in the UK to go to for a true reflection of real skills and coaching ability in this method - Anthony Kan, Adam Cope, Ged Kennerk, Kev Bell - with the exception of Anthony, all the others are either ABMVT coaches or in the case of Kev a Professional Boxing coach with a mass of WSLVT experience and skill who assists in ABMVT training camps..so I feel we are in safe hands.

Everyone who has visited us linked to the WSL methods have been a massive help in getting us to this stage so a great thanks go out to all of them and I have many friends from Wing Chun circles who do not perhaps follow my views or these methods that I plan on staying in touch with.

I cannot make it a concern of mine what others are doing or saying, teaching or learning from as that is their choice, there's enough petty politics and squabbles out there already.

 I can only concentrate on my journey and development as a coach for my own piece of mind and that of anyone who wants to be coached by me.

I also feel that we are not a million miles away method wise and that any tweaks to our current understanding/forms should be minor ones - its not an alien system from another planet, its Wing Chun/Ving Tsun - although I'm honest enough to admit I may be wrong and open to adjust as required 

For those perhaps questioning why I chose this over my initial interest in Philipps VT - it was simply a matter of accessible support from coaches I know of, I am not in the position to drop or pass on my current coaching commitments that clash with Desmond Spencer's sessions and cannot jet off around Europe all year following Philipp wherever he holds seminars.

I urge my guys to check out the "Argentina Interview Series by ABMVT" on YouTube which will give a good idea of Ernies ethos in the ABMVT way 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS6b-X85ZNU&list=PLC001DEE6333C6E86

Also support any ABMVT Facebook groups to keep upto date as I will be with any training camps, video footage, information etc.

http://wslwingchunlondon.com/about-2 - Jason Gowan - ABMVT London page

http://wslwingchunlondon.com/630-2 - Ernie Barrios Bio

Lastly, once this is truly underway and we're up and running with Module content to work on I will be holding free ABMVT Development Days for our existing member base on top of usual training sessions to supplement and bed in any tweaks to our current skill base.

Any questions or queries please message me or talk to me at training, if I cant answer you're question I'm sure Ernie, Jason or any of the ABMVT coaches will be able to.

Exciting times ahead - lets develop together as a team and get to work!!!!