Wing Chun

Wing Chun is a very unique martial art known for attention to and control of the centerline, trapping, vertical chain punching, and sticking hands (chi sao). There is a great deal of contraversy regarding different styles of wing chun and the trapping techniques, forms, and training methods used in the majority of wing chun styles. My personal opinion is that much of the controversy regarding wing chun 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.

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, or multiple traps before striking, 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. The solo drill is useful for practicing the basic techniques of wing chun when you don't have a partner. Use the interception drills and sparring progression when you do.

I avoid using wing chun terminology whenever possible. However, some techniques such as the "bong sao" and "tan sao" have no easy English equivalents.

Traps

1. Pull and punch
2. Press and punch/chop/hack
3. Press, press, elbow
4. Double outward block, head control and knee

Combinations

1. Pull and punch (opponent slaps on inside), press and blast
2. Pull and punch (opponent slaps on inside), blast
3. Press and punch (opponent slaps on outside), grab and chop, blast
4. Press and punch (opponent slaps on outside), solar plexus punch, press and blast
5. 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

1. Punch
2. Tan Sao
3. Down Block
4. Press
5. Outward block
6. Bong Sao

Section 2

1. Tan w/ punch
2. Down w/ punch
3. Press w/ punch
4. Outward w/ punch
5. Bong w/ pull and hammer

Section 3

1. Blast
2. Tan w/ blast
3. Down w/ blast
4. Press w/ blast
5. Outward w/ blast
6. 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.

1. Press and punch vs. press and punch (singles and doubles)
2. Outward block and punch vs. hook
3. Downward block and punch vs. low stab
4. “Lop Sao” drill to work pull and bong

Sparring Progression

1. Press and punch vs. alternating single straight punches
2. Outward block and punch vs. alternating single hooks
3. Press/Outward and punch vs. alternating single hooks or straight punches
4. Press, press, elbow
5. Anything vs. multiple punches
6. Bong sao entry vs. the jab
7. Integration into boxing base