On Saturday 14th November 2015 - six of our group including myself travelled to the ABMVT London HQ in Sutton for our "Next Level Wing Chun - ABMVT Discovery Camp" - a 5 hour basic look into their training approach and modules/training cycles to give us a chance to see how they train their method in comparison to how we are are used to training and learn how and why it is different.
Although the journey there was a long 4 and a half hour trip via bus replacements and trains we all arrived ready to absorb as much as we could and were not disappointed.
We began with a brief full body warm up, mainly targeting the core and legs as these are used with a greater emphasis in every way than most Wing Chun/Ving Tsun I've experienced in the past.
The first element which was explored and coached was, as any VT class, the stance and guard but the way this is individual to each of us and tested through a series of checks highlighted instantly a difference from a more traditional set up to one which follows pure science and body physiology and full explanations were provided to back this up and then tested so we could feel that science wasn't simply "opinion" but proven fact.
Punch mechanics and power release using references to the kinetic chain and muscle irradiation were then covered and again tested (a painful, shocking but necessary test) utilising a "zipping up" body connection to absorb a powerful strike as well as deliver one.
This fed in nicely to Siu Lim Tau (Little/young idea) form again individualised with personal leverage lines with checks/balances with a partner to assess if we were using the correct "body mechanics" for ourselves while training the form actions.
Dan Chi (single stick) was then the focus with the ABMVT method of training this area of the foundation (Module 1) which followed naturally what we had been introduced to in SLT - terms such as scissor/spiral/shield/sink/send are used and less Chinese terms making it immediately more accessible to anyone not up to par on their Cantonese.
Footwork drills followed to fire up the engine and work the legs, short fast, balanced steps and use of the upper body frame being delivered (in a similar vein to Laan Sau/Barring arm) to move the body as one unit whether advancing or retreating without upper body force being applied
Following a five minute water break we then had a comprehensive introduction to a basic focus mitt flow and how to lead and feed the mitts (or hands) to develop mobility/timing and balance/leverage/targeting/recycling or recovery while in motion starting with the basic step hit and one/two using a full body geometric triangle and light fast footwork to deliver the hits and recycle back to a safe distance - there is a much stronger partner training relationship being fostered in this method throughout all the training cycles and especially in the mitt work with both parties working equally towards the goal of improvement, much in the same way a boxer and his coach would operate in the lead up to a fight. The mitt work is also setting us up with the tools, footwork and mindset required for controlled, progressive isolated sparring which is introduced in module 1 and built upon and developed as we progress through the modules.
Lastly we had a brief insight into the way they (now we) train their Laap Sau and Chi Sau/Poon Sau which are referred to as CPT or Connected Partner Training - these are simply used as pure attribute development and not the endless tying and trapping, jamming and subduing, chasing hand focus, fighting Chi Sau vs Chi Sau unrealistic lines of attack that are normally par for the course in most WC/VT sessions
Overall a very insightful day and a pleasure to see everyone measurably improve within the first 2 hours, all moving better, hitting harder and more accurate, recovering position quicker even without barely scratching the surface of this method. I can really feel how the ABMVT methods bring your VT to life from day one and already I feel the difference and realism within my training and coaching.
Thanks again to Jason Gowan and all the ABMVT London crew for their help, coaching and support and of course Ernie Barrios for his ever present online advice, help and support and opening his arms to welcome us into the family.
Onwards and upwards with 2016 looming and lots of training opportunities, fun, friendships and VT self development to look forward to.
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