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 are many different styles of Wing Chun. The most well known style, made popular by Bruce Lee, is the Yip Man line, which includes 3 solo forms, 2 weapon forms, a wooden dummy form, and plenty of partner training exercises. What many Wing Chun practitioners do not know is that not all Wing Chun styles include the same training methods. Some styles don't have any forms at all, some don't use the wooden dummy, some have a different type of wooden dummy, etc. But, they all have similar concepts, structure, and basic techniques. In Hertao we use many of the concepts and techniques found in Wing Chun.
Wing Chun Techniques and Training Methods
Trapping
Wing Chun is particularly well known for its trapping, unique among martial arts. Trapping refers to jamming or controling an opponent's limbs to create an opening for your attack, prevent your opponent from blocking your attack, and to prevent your opponent from launching an attack of his own. There is a good bit of controversy in martial arts circles regarding trapping, most of which is due to the unrealisitc training found in so many Wing Chun schools today. Here is an example of my own improper trapping practice prior to 2000:
The problem with the first clips in the above video is the lack of realistic footwork. In real fights people move, a lot. By not incorporating dynamic movement into training, all sorts of complex trapping combinations become possible, most of which will fail in real self defense or MMA style fights. With that said, good trapping is highly effective in self defense, and can be used even in a mixed martial arts environment. For realistic trapping, see the basic traps and combinations below, along with the following video on integrating trapping and boxing:
* Wing Chun Trapping - Application Video
Basic Traps
- Lop Sao or Pull and punch- Pak Sao or Press and punch/chop/hack
- Double Pak Sao or Press, press, elbow
- Double Biu Sao or outward block, head control and knee
- Bong Sao to Lop Sao
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, blast
- Press and punch (opponent slaps on outside), punch jaw, blast
Wing Chun Forms
In the most common Wing Chun styles there are 3 solo empty hand forms. Because 108 is a lucky number in some schools of Chinese thought, each form 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. In fact, I don't think it's necessary to practice prearranged solo forms at all, and some Wing Chun lineages are in agreement with me here.
The purpose of Wing Chun forms should be to assist in learning the techniques of the style. The best way to do that of course is with a training partner! For times when you do not have a training partner and would like to practice drilling technical form or combinations, you can drill them one at a time or make up your own order of combinations each practice. The reason I prefer this is so that practitioners do not get caught up in the idea that only certain particular orders of techniques lead to proficiency.
One easy method of solo drilling I teach my students is to do a few repetitions of Wing Chun style punching, a few repetitions of a particular "block" or trap, then to do the block or trap simultaneously with a punch or strike, and then to do the simultaneous block/trap and strike followed by a blast. This method of drilling is easy for anyone to do at home, and doesn't require learning illogical sequences of 108 movements.
Interception Drills
An excellent concept prevelant in Wing Chun is the interception. Striking 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
For more applications of Wing Chun in self defense see our self defense eBook.
