Wing Chun Combat Theory “A to Z”
A = Arrow and Vee are the Yin/Yang References
B = Borrow Powerto multiply force
C = Cutting Angleblocks control the Centerline
D = Dead Side is most vulnerable - Facing
E = Economy is everything - Leen Siu Dai Da
F = Footworkis the key
G = Glass Head, Cotton Body, Iron Bridge Hand
H = His Power is borrowed through proper Timing
I = Immobilize your opponent through Trapping
J = Jahng Dai Lick
K = Kicksnever miss
L = Loy Lau Hoy Soang, Lut Sau Jick Choong
M = Multi-Directional Movement
N = Negate his Power by “Giving him butter” - Sinking Bridge
O = One hand Bridges two – “Yut Fook Yee”
P = Pre-empt his motion withLong Bridgetechnique
Q = Quantum improvement of Power is gained with Double-Pull
R = Reinforce your motions with the Lever and Fulcrum
S = Sweeping and Throwingcuts your opponent down to size
T = “Take the Triangle”to put your strength against his weakness
U = Unite the waist and stance to support the hands - Boh Lay Ying
V = Vector the opponent’s punch with your own Centerline punch -Inclusion/Exclusion and Center-Breaking
W = Wrist snapsfocus Chi
X = “X” marks the spot- Centerline/Horizontal Centerline Theory
Y = Your Wing Chun works on the ground - Day Ha Gwoh Sau
Z = “Zone Fire” approach - Multi-Purpose Sequences
THE SNAKE AND THE CRANE
Many practitioners of Wing Chun Gung Fu have been told throughout the years of the art’s legendary beginnings, when either Yim Wing Chun (for whom the art was named) or Ng Mui (a Shaolin nun, if we are to believe she existed) witnessed a fight between a snake and a crane. She then incorporated the ideas of each into a new fighting system specifically designed for a smaller and weaker woman to be able to defeat a man in mortal combat. Another more likely version is that someone took the two Shaolin animal styles that were the least reliant upon size and strength (the snake and the crane), and created an entirely new combat system that would focus on scientific concepts and principles to overcome someone larger and stronger, possible even skilled in the other animal styles of Shaolin and other Gung Fu styles that were in existence at that time in China. Some of those concepts included Reference, borrowing power, Cutting Angle blocking, Facing, Economy of Motion and Time, Footwork, Timing, Trapping, Multi-Directional Movement, Lever and Fulcrum, Body Unity and Centerline Theory. Each of these are topics covered in the Combat Theory A to Z essay in Volume VI of this series. But for now, I would like to explore further into Wing Chun’s snake and crane roots.
We often read that Wing Chun uses snake and crane motions, but the discussion usually ends with the mention of the Boang Sau Wing Arm Deflection to represent the crane’s wing, and the Biu Jee Finger Jab illustrating the snake. Instead of stopping there as most usually do, I am going to discuss here many more of the characteristics of the snake and the crane that influence CRCA Wing Chun.
Characteristics of the Crane
Use of Wings – Due to its small size and light weight, rather than using forceful blocking motions, the crane relies instead on expanding its wings to deflect attacks with their sharp, bladed edges, as well as to cut into the opponent in attack. Like the crane, the Wing Chun fighter also uses 45-degree “Cutting Angle” blocking, as well as bent arms to attack and defend with the elbows, which can do maximum damage with very little weight or muscular force necessary.
Simultaneous Attack/Defense – Another skill Wing Chun takes from the crane is the idea of blocking and striking at the same time. In this way, the Wing Chun man can hit the opponent sooner, and with borrowed power. In other words, if two punches come, and you respond with Block-Block-Counterstrike, you will hit the opponent back on the third “syllable” with only your ownpunching power. But if instead you block the first punch, then simultaneously block the second AND strike at the same time, you will hit him sooner (on the second “syllable”) withboth your own power as well as power “borrowed” from his forward momentum. This will maximize the effect of the counterstrike when fighting someone bigger and stronger. In more advanced stages, a kick can also be delivered with the counterstrike, thus exemplifying the Wing Chun maxim “Som Jiu Chai Doh” – “Execute three motions at once.”
Use of its beak – Anyone observing a crane in combat will immediately notice that it will use its beak repeatedly to sharply peck at its opponent. Many of those attacks are to the eyes, the most vulnerable point of the human body in combat. Just think, what other part of the body could you touch with so little force as to cause so much pain, damage and injury as the eyeball? And since we as humans do not have a beak, in CRCA Wing Chun, we interpret this characteristic in a few ways; as a Headbutt, or to use the sharp points of the fingers and nails to attack the opponent’s eyes –if he can’t see, he is a much less effective fighter and the threat is reduced. It doesn’t take muscular force to effectively attack the eyes of a larger, stronger opponent. And when grappling, the thumb and index finger can create a formidable twisting pinch, similar to the bite of a crane in a technique known as the “Phoenix Eye.”
Standing on one leg - One of the most prominent characteristics of the crane is its ability to stand for long periods balanced on one leg. Known in Wing Chun as Dook Lop Ma, the Independent Single Leg Stance is used when Kicking, multiple “Invisible” Kicking, leg blocking, Stopkicking, sweeping, evasion and Sticky Foot training.
Use of its talons – When cranes fight, they use their claws for grabbing and scratching aggressors. This gives birth to the Wing Chun idea of Trapping while striking, which helps when going against a stronger opponent, especially when pulling them directly into a strike to “borrow” their power. At Biu Jee level, the fingers are used as nerve-shocking joint, flesh and hair grabs.
Angular Attack – When a crane fights, it will attack relentlessly, but when overwhelmed with too great a force, it will fly backwards momentarily and then re-engage from another more effective angle. This inspires CRCA’s use of footwork to add power, change the distance, improve Facing and to add or relieve pressure.
Loyalty – Chosen by the Japanese as the symbol for marriage, the crane is known for its extreme loyalty, as cranes mate with only one single partner for life. Taking inspiration from yet another of the crane’s traits, the Traditional Wing Chun Rules of Conduct encourage loyalty to country, family, instructor, fellow students and one’s own students.
Characteristics of the Snake
Fighting on the ground – As a snake lives its entire life on the ground, it must of course be comfortable and proficient in combat from the ground. So must the CRCA Wing Chun practitioner be well-versed in Groundfighting techniques and concepts. I have long been a proponent of what I call Day Ha Gwoh Sau – Wing Chun Groundfighting, even many years ago when others criticized me harshly for it. But modern MMA contests have proven the necessity for a Wing Chun trainee to develop one’s “ground game” in order to keep up with today’s ever-changing combat technology.
Shooting/Speed – Snakes are very well known for their extreme speed, which can at times be in excess of 8’ (2.4 m) per second. In Wing Chun, Speed = Power. In other words, a bullet is just a small piece of metal. If you throw it at someone, it may hurt. But if you shoot it at them, it will possibly kill them. The only difference? The speed. Your fist is much larger than a bullet, and although it cannot travel quite as fast as a bullet, the faster you get it moving, the more power you will generate. A popular saying of the Wing Chun “Seventeen Musts” is “Chuet Kuen Yiu Fai” – “The fist must be fast.”
Biting - Like the crane, snakes are known to bite. A CRCA Wing Chun practitioner is also trained to bite in life-or-death combat situations, when no other escape may be possible. Even a small, weaker person can cause extreme pain to a much larger enemy, possibly causing him to release a lock or choke.
Spitting – Just as the crane pecks at its opponent’s eyes, snakes are known to spit into the eyes of an attacker or prey. The CRCA Wing Chun fighter will use this same tactic in close range combat situations as when fighting on the ground or against an armed opponent. This may serve as a sufficient distraction to allow a quick counterattack and/or escape.
Choking/Envelopment – Certain snakes, such as Anacondas and Boa Constrictors are known to choke or squeeze an opponent to death. Using principles of leverage, some are even able to generate up to 6-12 pounds of pressure per square inch when constricting. In CRCA Wing Chun, we use a variety of chokes and envelopments to choke the enemy from many positions as well as to envelop the arms, legs or body to break bones using the Lever and Fulcrum principle to create “a thousand pounds of force with four ounces of effort,” as the Chinese proverb goes.
“Snaking” – Just as a snake will slither and slide around its prey, the Wing Chun fighter will use the same idea in “Sticky Hands” to control the opponent’s arm(s), leg(s) or body and thereby create safety zones from which to counterattack from improved angles of Facing with borrowed power. Two other Wing Chun proverbs say, “Chee Ging Leen Sing Wai Lick Sahng” - “Sticking Power, when achieved, is a commanding force,” as well as, “Chee Joke Hahng Kiu Wai Jee Woot” - “Sticking to and controlling the opponent’s Arm Bridge while shifting hand position shows versatility.” Also, some snakes move in a lateral “side winding” motion, which inspires certain sideward steps in Wing Chun.
Intimidation – Snakes are known to use intimidation in combat. Cobras inflate themselves to appear more intimidating and sway back and forth to hypnotize their prey. Other snakes also make hissing or rattling noises to frighten or distract their enemies. In CRCA Wing Chun, use of intimidating actions or words prior to a fight is known as “Emotion Trapping.”
Cold-Bloodedness/Brutality – Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles with no pity, empathy or mercy for an enemy. When we refer to a person as a “snake,” we are generally saying he is sneaky, can’t be trusted, will do anything necessary to come out on top regardless of the rules, will fight “dirty,” etc. Although these might not be considered admirable qualities in a human, like a snake, the CRCA fighter adheres to the Wing Chun proverb “Goang Sau, But Goang Ching” – “In combat, show no mercy.”
As you can see, the CRCA Wing Chun practitioner derives much inspiration from the snake and the crane in combat, both in action and in principle. It is the reason I chose to include them as part of the Close Range Combat Academy logo seen here (note that the crane’s wings are actually knives).
Boas Malta,
Esta semana vamos cobrir Exercícios que podemos executar com ou sem parceiro que melhoram a nossa rapidez, a nossa precisao e a nossa cordenacao, todos este exercícios podem ser executados com parceiro de treino, na falta de um podemos executar no boneco de madeira, os exercícios no Wing Chun são extremamente importantes devido a finalidade que será o combate, ou seja aumentar todos os aspectos que falamos acima na pratica de exercícios ira de refletir no futuro da forma como poderão a ter de enfrentar um oponente e a isso chamamos aplicações de combate:
https://youtu.be/EcSr_xMw3w0
Se querem aumentar então todos estes factores que vos levam a ser rápidos, condenados, precisos e de certa forma destemidos e com confiança na sua execução tem depraticar bastantes alguns dos exercícios básicos constantemente mesmo se se consideram avançados esses exercícios básicos tem de estar sempre presentes no vosso treino diário , treino de movimentos no ar:
https://youtu.be/g95A3fEYPeU
https://youtu.be/Mn4wCiyra1w
Se tiverem um parceiro tentem alguns destes exercícios vai melhorar bastante a vossa memória muscular e vai tornar-vos mais rápidos:
https://youtu.be/Qb_P5rQQWss
Se por acaso nao tiverem um parceiro todos este exercícios podem ser praticados na mesma, ou seja utilizamos o Mook Yan Joang, o boneco de madeira:
https://youtu.be/4mN39RSwq7k
Alguma duvida nao hisitem em perguntar, bons treinos e ate para a semana, na próxima semana iremos cobrir passo a passo a primeira forma do Wing Chun e aplicações de combate para cada um dos movimentos, fiquem ligados ate la, ming.
04/03/2018
Uma das mais famosas frases de Bruce Lee :
Uma das muitas frases conhecidas de Bruce Lee e da filosofia do seu sistema Jeet Kune Do do qual a CRCA adotou através do Sifu Ted Wong que indica que o praticante de Artes Marciais deve praticar todos os dias ao contrario de praticar pouco como uma ou duas vezes por semana.
25\02\2018
Boas Malta como prometido, iremos falar esta semana do Boneco de Madeira, este instrumento tera com toda a certeza mais de 800 anos de utilização para o treino das Artes Marciais em geral e não so para o Wing Chun, acredita-se que este tipo de instrumento tenha começado a ser utilizado para se praticar no templo Shaolin, embora possa na época não ter a estética que mais tarde veio a adotar a construção de instrumentos em Madeira de modo a simular um oponente era uma pratica muito utilizada no passado, acredita-se que um dos motivos seria o facto de as pessoas poderem viver a muitos kilometros umas das outras o que dificultaria o encontro para que pudessem treinar dai a necessidade de inventarem um instrumento que substituísse um parceiro de treino, o que o tornou nos dias de hoje um instrumento muito importante principalmente para o Wing Chun e como prova da sua importância o facto de ainda o utilizarmos nos dias de hoje mesmo sendo fácil para nos de arranjarmos um parceiro de treino, o Boneco de Madeira conhecido pelos Chineses como " Mook Yan Joang Fut Yut Ling Bot", que significa "As 108 técnicas do Boneco de Madeira", como técnicas entendemos não um so movimento mas por vezes um conjunto de movimentos com um inicio e um fim, a forma do Boneco De Madeira tera então 108 técnicas no seu total:
https://youtu.be/TjGhJbjTcOU (perspectiva normal)
https://youtu.be/vW4wGkwqOcA (perspectiva de cima)
Existem muitos proverbios associados ao Boneco de Madeira mas ficam aqui 2 que considero na minha opinião bastante importantes, principalmente se nos estamos a iniciar na pratica deste instrumento:
"Lick Yau Sum Fut Sheh Joang Sum" - "A forca vem do nosso coração e e projectada para o coração do Boneco", isto significa que não podemos efetuar movimentos a 90 graus ou exactamente para o lado isto estaria errado, deveríamos sim efetuar movimentos em direcção ao centro do boneco ou seja a 45 graus utilizando o "cutting angle", desta forma quando vejo alguns videos de algumas pessoas praticar no boneco e ate ficam contentes por partir um dos braços de madeira eu considero esta acção muito errada pois a ideia não e quebrar o boneco .
"Moh Kiu Jee Joh Kiu " - "Quando não ha uma ponte cria uma", isto significa que todos os combates normalmente começam com os oponentes afastados sem existir desta forma um contacto prévio, pois o praticante de Wing Chun" sabe que o mais rapidamente possível tera de ir para a sua zona de conforto estabelecer uma ponte para que possa efetuar o que mais quer "trapping" e manter o oponente sobre control enquanto duma forma efeito bola de neve o atinge constantemente ate atingir o seu objectivo o mais rápido possível ou seja, sair vencedor do encontro.
Como principal uso do boneco pode-se considerar que este trabalha como um molde para nos, ou seja vai moldar as minhas técnicas para quando as executar no ar ou mesmo num oponente as técnicas estejam no local certo sem incertezas da parte de quem as executa, um combate e tao rápido que não podemos estar a pensar se a técnica X ou Y ira defender Z ataque, nesse momento ja temos de ter a certeza que a nossa técnica ocupando determinado espaço vai cumprir com o trabalho.
Algo que podemos também tirar do uso do boneco e a ideia de "Teet Kiu Sau" - "Antebraço de Ferro", ou seja com este termo podemos interpretar que com treino continuo os nossos antebraços tornam-se mais fortes e habituam-se a ter um contacto duro mesmo depois sendo com um oponente, o facto de o boneco estar estático podemos tirar o proveito de trabalhar velocidade entre técnicas e vamos tornando-nos cada vez mais rápidos na sua execução, temos varias forcas que desenvolvemos com a pratica constante no boneco e estas são:
Jerking Power (atingir o boneco com precisão e potencia)
Whipping Power (atingir o boneco com movimentos circulares ate ouvimos de certa forma a deslocação de ar com as nossas maos)
Sticking Power (em certas passagens de movimentos temos de nos manter colados ao boneco simula o não abandonar a ponte ou o braço do oponente enquanto trocamos entre técnicas)
Podemos e Deveremos utilizar o boneco sempre como pratica do nosso treino de Wing Chun, não so para executar a forma mas também para conjuntos de movimentos isolados ou mesmo técnicas de simulação de combate, fica aqui um video de alguns exercícios básicos que devemos fazer constantemente para melhoria da nossa performance fica aqui um link com alguns exercícios básicos, mais exercícios ira proceder a este video (parte 1) para que possam praticar e dar uso ao vosso boneco em casa, espero que gostem e que vos seja útil, qualquer duvida não hesitem em perguntar, Bons Treinos.
https://youtu.be/4mN39RSwq7k
Na próxima semana meados de 5 de marco iremos cobrir a primeira empty hand form do Wing Chun a Siu Leem Tau, fiquem ligados.
14\02\2018
Boas Malta,
Esta semana falaremos um pouco de um instrumento bastante importante para o Wing Chun o "Jook Wan" - "Rattan Ring":
https://youtu.be/xQ96_YnQrM4
Como podem ver no video para alem de este instrumento desenvolver importantes aspectos na pratica do Wing Chun exige muito controlo para que não caia ao chão, temos de estar constantemente a fazer duas forcas contrarias, este instrumento desenvolve também "whip Power" - "forca chicote" para projectar os movimentos futuros a uma maior velocidade, controlo muscular, cordenacao e muitos outros aspectos que vos ira melhorar no desenvolvimento do vosso Wing Chun , se tiverem perguntas de como se faz algum dos movimentos específicos não hesitem em perguntar, bons treinos...
Para a semana iremos cobrir o Mook Yan Joang - "Boneco de Madeira" fiquem ligados e pensem ja nas vossas perguntas. ;-)
05\02\2018
Boas Malta,
O proximo Seminario com o Sifu Mario Lopez esta quase a chegar será nos dias 19\20 de Maio de 2018 e serão 48 horas de grande aprendizagem e diversão marca ja o teu lugar.
29\01/2018
Boas Malta,
O Seminario dirigido pelo Sifu Mario Lopez foi um enorme sucesso, foram cobertos diversos assuntos e exercícios referentes ao Wing Chun tais como:
- Exercícios básicos com a pole e combate simulado de pole Vs. pode
- Exercícios básicos com o Jook Tan (Rattan Ring) e aperfeiçoamento da técnicas com o mesmo
- Exercícios básicos com a Bot Jom Doh (butterfly knives) e combate simulado entre knives Vs. knives e knives Vs. pole
- Técnicas de combate 2 a 2 baseadas em movimentos efetuados com o Rattan Ring
Ficam aqui algumas fotos deste excelente seminario, não faltem ao próximo, será em Portugal ja em Maio, mais noticias para breve...
Se quiserem consultar todo o percurso deste seminario o album de fotografias encontra-se na pagina do facebook da CRCA-PORTO.
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