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"To attack is to defend" is a famous saying used in Wing Chun. Students are taught to do the latter by means of the former, using their limbs to attack and defend at the same time. They train their sensitivities so that they sense and respond to the opponent's attack without conscious thought. Since Wing Chun is a close-range fighting art, the practitioner is in ongoing contact with his opponent.
Additionally, the techniques were designed so that students of less strength could still quickly anticipate an opponent's vulnerable openings and use their position, structure, sensitivity, and timing. Emphasis is placed on elbow strength (the "immovable elbow") with sensitive, antenna-like hands. The movements are flowing and direct, characterized by their amazing speed and effectiveness.
Technically, Wing Chun is based on linear attack and low kicks. Wing Chun blocks are different from many martial arts systems, emphasizes intercepting, trapping and redirecting and borrowing the opponent's energy, instead of clashing with brute strength. It is also unique for its partner exercises, such as "sticking hands," and forms.
Stance
To coordinate the hands and feet and maintain balance, the body must be
aligned correctly and naturally. There are two basic stances in Wing Chun:
the "2 character goat clamping stance" (Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma),
with the weight symmetrically balanced on both legs, and the "turning
horse stance" (Juen Ma), with all the weight on the back foot so
that the front foot is free to fight with.
Juen
Ma
There
are five basic guidelines to proper posture:
- Kim
sut: Knees "clamping" or pressing inwards,
forward and downward. This knee strength in the legs corresponds to
the elbow strength in the arms
- Lok
ma: Lowering the stance through the knees give "rootedness."
Knees lowered, providing support and strength to the body's stance
- Ting
yu: Back straight, pelvis slightly tucked inward and
forward, filling the hole at the small of the back
- Dung
Tao: Head is head upward and straight, helping to straighten
the spine
- Mai Jiang: Elbows pressed inward and, forward extending the energy from one's center through the forearm and hand
Proper
Kim Yeung Ma
Strikes
The
majority of Wing Chun arm attacks are practiced by sending a straight
force through the opponent, targeting his center-line.
The Wing Chun straight punch (choong kuen) is perhaps the most famous
since it uses a straight, squeezing motion of the elbow and develops a
great deal of power in as short a distance as one inch. The fist is shot
out loosely, not tightening up until the moment of impact. It is uniquely
held in a vertical manner and only the bottom three knuckles are used
to punch. Position, body structure, technique and mind power are what
propel the strike, not arm power. When one hand hits, the other is behind
it to continue protecting the center-line. Additionally, the forearms
are often used as a hitting surface. Various "open palm" techniques
are also used in Wing Chun. Although delivered to the opponent by means
of the hands, the attack's strength comes from the ground, through the
waist, and out through the elbows, bypassing the shoulder or upper body
strength, and into the hands.
Kicks
Wing Chun leg kicks are performed quickly, never extending above waist
level. The kicks are coordinated with the hand movements; Wing Chun students
are often known for fighting with three limbs - two hands and one leg
- at once. Kicking actions are direct without the "chambering"
found in many martial arts. Two of the basic kicks are described below.
Front
Kick
The knee is raised off the floor and the heel is driven into the opponent's
stomach, groin, leg, knee, or shin.
Front
Kick
Side
Kick
The body is turned sideways to the partner. The foot closest to him is
raised and driven down into the opponent's knee.
Side
Kick
Deflection
and Redirection
In Wing Chun, students intercept and redirect attacks; they do not "chase
hands," but rather try to attack and maintain the attack until the
opponent cannot defend against the counterattack. Wing Chun fighters are
known for the simultaneous attacks and defenses, instead of alternating
them as is done in many martial arts. "Bong sau" is one of the
common deflections used in Wing Chun. The following pictures show the
sequence in which a person deflects and redirects the incoming energy.
He then follows by borrowing the energy and using it in his strike.
Demonstration
of Bong Sau
Like challenges? Take the Wing Chun Quiz.
Images
in the Java Applet of "Demonstration of Bong Sau" from.
Brenner, Kris, krisbrenner@hotmail.com. Aug. 2001. Email message.
Images
of "Juen Ma", "Proper Kim Yeung Ma", "Front Kick"
and " Side Kick" from
http://photos.yahoo.com/n_kitagawa
n_kitagawa@yahoo.com.
Aug 2001. Email message.
