Wing Chun
Wing Chun is a unique martial art known for attention to and control of the centerline, interceptions, trapping, vertical chain punching, and sticking hands (chi sao). There is a great deal of controversy regarding different styles of wing chun and the forms, trapping, and training methods. My opinion is that much of the controversy is based on a lack of understanding, as are most controversies. All that aside, there are a number of techniques, training methods, and concepts in wing chun that are valuable for self-defense. In Hertao we use the following trapping, striking, and blocking from wing chun:
I avoid using wing chun terminology whenever possible. However, some techniques such as the "bong sao" and "tan sao" have no easy English equivalents.Wing Chun Techniques and Training Methods
Trapping
Although simple trapping is not quite as effective in a competition with both participants wearing gloves, it works fairly well in a no gloves environment. Complex trapping may work against a completely unskilled and uncoordinated attacker, but not against an athletic person or a good fighter. For self-defense or mixed martial arts it would be wise to stick to simple trapping. Trapping is best used to open up a path to a target, to prevent an opponent from blocking a strike thrown to an already open target, to prevent the opponent from using a limb to attack you, or any combination of the three.The basic traps below are the ones that we use most in Hertao. The trapping combinations are all possible to pull off in hard sparring in the right situations, but are more for developing the ability to use the simple traps at the right time, and get used to the idea of trapping.
* Wing Chun Trapping - Application Video
Basic Traps
- Pull and punch- Press and punch/chop/hack
- Press, press, elbow
- Double outward block, head control and knee
Combinations
- Pull and punch (opponent slaps on inside), press and blast- Pull and punch (opponent slaps on inside), blast
- Press and punch (opponent slaps on outside), grab and chop, blast
- Press and punch (opponent slaps on outside), solar plexus punch, press and blast
- Press and punch (opponent slaps on outside), punch jaw, blast
Wing Chun Solo Drill
In most wing chun styles there are 3 solo empty hand drills. Because 108 is a lucky number in some schools of Chinese thought, each drill has 108 movements. Unless you also believe that practicing a drill with 108 movements is more beneficial than a drill with 107, 98, or 66 movements, my feeling is that it's not necessary to practice the drills exactly as they are traditionally taught. Most wing chun practitioners would surely disagree with me! Anyway, the drill below is one that I teach. It contains the most useful techniques from wing chun in a format that makes more sense related to self-defense.Section 1
- Punch
- Tan Sao
- Down Block
- Press
- Outward block
- Bong Sao
Section 2
- Tan w/ punch
- Down w/ punch
- Press w/ punch
- Outward w/ punch
- Bong w/ pull and hammer
Section 3
- Blast
- Tan w/ blast
- Down w/ blast
- Press w/ blast
- Outward w/ blast
- Bong w/ hammer and blast
Interception Drills
An excellent concept prevelant in wing chun, and trained in sections 1 and 2 of the above solo drill is the interception. Stiking first, at the same time, or trapping/blocking and simultaneously striking is the only way to effectively deal with a combination attack. The following drills are meant to train this concept with a partner.- Press and punch vs. press and punch (singles and doubles)
- Outward block and punch vs. hook
- Downward block and punch vs. low stab
- Lop Sao drill to work pull and bong
Sparring Progression
- Press and punch vs. alternating single straight punches- Outward block and punch vs. alternating single hooks
- Press/Outward and punch vs. alternating single hooks or straight punches
- Press, press, elbow
- Anything vs. multiple punches
- Bong sao entry vs. the jab
- Integration into boxing base
