Basic Wing Chun technique. Wing Chun Chinese martial art Wing Chun strikes

Basic Wing Chun technique

The most important component of any martial arts style is the basic technique. This is the foundation on which the entire technical arsenal of the school will subsequently be built.

Mastering the basic techniques of Wing Chun begins with studying stances, positions and methods of movement.

The term “stance” refers to the position of the legs as a whole, from the feet to the hips. When they talk about position, then, as a rule, we are talking about the overlap of all parts of the body. Position is a state of balance between the attack and defense phases.

The essence of each position is to always be ready to change the situation. In any position, the fighter must be able to include the whole body in the blow, as well as quickly move to another position. At the same time, it is necessary to remain stable, since loss of balance very often leads to a fall and, as a consequence, to defeat in a fight.

The first stance studied in the Wing Chun style is the front stance “Yi Chi Kim Yen Ma” (Fig. 2). This is a training stance that is used in all pairs exercises and when practicing formal technique.

The front stance is characterized by an even distribution of body weight on both legs. The knees are slightly bent and directed inward. The overlap of the feet resembles the shape of a triangle - toes in, heels apart.

The distance between the middles of the feet is 35-40 cm, the pelvis is slightly tilted forward, the hips are slightly tense. The body is straightened, the head is located in line with the body. The arms are bent at the elbows, the hands are clenched into a fist and located near the armpits.

To correctly assume a front stance, you need to move from a natural stance (feet together, legs straight, arms down) to clench your hands into a fist and pull them to your armpits, bending your arms at the elbow joints. Next, you should spread your feet with your toes apart 30° from the original position, after which, bending your knees, spread your heels apart. In this case, the socks will be directed inward (Fig. 3).

After taking the stance, you need to remain in it for about five to seven minutes in order to get used to this position of the whole body. Subsequently, the time spent in the frontal stance must be increased to half an hour. The purpose of this exercise is to develop the correct structure and strengthen the muscles, ligaments and joints of the lower extremities.

At the same time, while studying “Yi Chi Kim Yen Ma”, turns to the sides are practiced on the spot. This exercise develops the ability to evade enemy attacks using a minimum of effort and time. The turn also serves as an impulse to create additional force, which increases the force of the hand strike.

Assuming a frontal position, rotate your left foot to the left. In this case, the body weight is transferred to the right leg, and the torso turns to the left. Make sure that the distance between your knees does not change while turning. In this way, the skill of protecting the groin from kicks in this area is trained. Having completed the turn, you have taken a side front stance. Now turn to the right and assume the original frontal stance. Perform a similar turn to the right, with the left foot remaining stationary while the right foot turns to the right. In the final position, both feet should be parallel. Along with the rotation of the body, the body weight shifts to the left leg. Thus, a side frontal stance is adopted.

Turn to the left, taking the initial front stance. Repeat the exercise several times. After each turn, stay in the stance for 5 seconds, checking that you have taken it correctly. At first, make turns slowly, focusing mainly on the correctness of the movement. Then, you should increase the speed, but this must be done gradually.

Next, you should move on to mastering the turn without taking an intermediate position in the main frontal stance. In this case, the body rotates not 45° as before, but 90°. The feet also rotate 90°, remaining parallel to each other in the final position. This type of movement should be given special attention at the initial stage of training. It is recommended to perform at least 100 turns per workout.

To increase efficiency, it is advisable to use additional weights in the form of a belt with lead inserts.

Main mistakes:

1. When turning, the body weight is evenly distributed on both feet.

2. The heels or toes of the feet lift off the surface of the ground, resulting in loss of balance.

3. The distance between the knees is not maintained. Due to straightening the legs or bending them excessively.

Now we need to move on to studying the fighting positions used in the Wing Chun style. First, let's look at the correct hand position. In Fig. 4 shows this situation.

In this case, the right hand is extended forward, the hand is open, the fingers are directed forward and upward. The elbow of the right hand is located at a distance of 15 cm from the body. The left hand is also open, fingers pointing upward. The hands of both hands are located on the central line, which is parallel to the central axis of the body, dividing it into symmetrical parts (Fig. 5).

This hand position is optimal for defense, as it makes it possible to repel any attacks. The hand located in front can be the first to block an attack, as well as deliver pre-emptive strikes. The other hand, covering the body from the front and side, is also used to neutralize attacks and carry out counterattacks.

There are two positions: right-hand (Fig. 6)

and left-handed (Fig. 7)

frontal positions. In the right-hand position, the right hand is located in front, and in the left-hand position, the left hand. The use of a particular position directly depends on which hand is stronger. Typically, a right-handed person takes a left-sided stance, while a left-handed person takes a right-sided stance. Sometimes there are exceptions.

The body position described above is not yet a fighting position. To accept it, you need to follow some steps. From the position shown in Fig. 6, turn and take a side frontal right-hand stance (Fig. 8).

If you turn to the right from the position shown in Fig. 7, then you will take a lateral frontal left-side position (Fig. 9).

In some versions of the Wing Chun style (direction of William Chen), these positions are considered combat positions and are used as a starting position before the start of a fight.

We have come to study the forward combat position. In order to accept it, it is necessary from the previous position (Fig. 10) to transfer the body weight to the left leg, and then move the right leg along an arcuate path forward, taking a fighting front right-hand position (Fig. 11).

Similarly, the combat front left-side position is adopted (Fig. 12), while the left leg is put forward. The foot movement diagram is shown in Fig. 13

In the front combat position, the body weight is shifted to the rear leg. The feet are located almost parallel to each other. The legs are slightly bent at the knees and tense. The knees are directed inward and seem to be attracted to each other. The body is turned to the side by 30-45°. The hands are in the basic defensive position. The body is straightened. The head is slightly lowered, the gaze is directed forward.

In the forward fighting position, the front leg should be almost completely free from the pressure of the body weight. This is necessary for quickly moving forward, delivering stopping or pre-emptive strikes, as well as for blocking attacks with legs at the lower level.

Any fight is a dynamic action, accompanied by movement of the body in space through various types of steps. In the Wing Chun style, movement has a special place. In fact, reliable defense and effective counterattack depend on a timely step (leaving the attack line, reducing the distance). The basis of the correct step is a stable position. Loss of balance eliminates the ability to move in the right direction and at the right time.

Correct movement is one that provides the ability to quickly move from one technical action to another, while maintaining balance, mobility and control of the situation.

Movement is the most important means of tactics. All actions and combinations, almost without exception, are based on various movements. Therefore, the ability to move easily and correctly is given exceptional importance. The main type of movement in the Wing Chun style is the side step. It is used to get closer to the enemy during an attack and break the distance to prepare a counterattack.

The basis of the side step is made up of “sliding” steps.

They allow you to constantly maintain balance and a comfortable body position during a fight and easily create the starting position for strikes.

In order to move forward, take a right-sided combat forward stance (Fig. 14).

With your right foot, take a sliding step forward, stepping from heel to toe (Fig. 15).

As soon as your right foot touches the surface of the ground, take an extension step with your left foot, which is also placed from heel to toe (Fig. 16).

The position remains the same, that is, if you started moving from the right-sided position, then you should come to the right-sided position.

Hands do not change their position during movements. The stride length should not be too long.

When moving backwards from the front fighting right-hand stance (Fig. 17), the left leg takes a sliding step first (Fig. 18), and then pull up the right leg (Fig. 19), taking the starting position.

Moves to the sides are performed in the same way. If it is necessary to take a step to the left from the front fighting right-hand position (Fig. 20), the left leg moves first (Fig. 21), after which the right leg is pulled towards the left leg (Fig. 22).

When moving to the right, from the front fighting position on the right side (Fig. 23), the right leg takes the first step (Fig. 24), and then the left leg pulls up to the right leg (Fig. 25). With any type of movement, it is necessary to ensure that the body does not sway from side to side, does not rise or fall. It is also necessary to control the length of the step. Both legs must take steps of the same length in order to end up in the correct stance.

There are several ways to practice the extension step.

1. Perform one movement back and forth, left and right, first slowly, then quickly.

2. Perform two consecutive movements back and forth and left and right.

Change your stance and perform the exercises described above.

After the side step has been mastered and becomes natural, to increase the effect of the training, it is advisable to use weights attached to the ankles of the feet. The weight should be small - 1-2 kg. This type of training gives good results and after a while you will feel how fast and easy your steps have become.

In addition to the side step, other methods of movement are studied in Wing Chun. However, acquaintance with them begins at the second stage of training, so they will be discussed in the next book.

From the book of Wing Chun. Level 1 technology by Weihan Liu

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The history of Chinese martial arts can be traced back for one and a half thousand years. It is full of ancient traditions, documentary stories about masters, incredible stories and poetic legends. This is a world whose numerous sparkling facets attract with their alluring beauty.

In the depths of centuries, a legend was born about a girl with the poetic name Wing Chun, translated into Russian as “Blossoming Spring”. The name of a gentle young creature, comparable to a lovely flower, is forever and closely associated with an entire direction in martial art that bears her name - Wing Chun. Incomplete genealogies of the style, given in books and passed on from mouth to mouth, are replete with inconsistencies, revealing to students only individual branches of its family tree, the roots of which are hidden in the shadows of centuries, and the crown is lost in the family clans of Chinese and Vietnamese masters, hiding the Truth under the cover of Time .

Wing Chun was first learned about 300 years ago, during the reign of the Manchu Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The Manchus, who ruled China, pursued a policy of bloody reprisals, which led to popular uprisings during different years of their reign.

The Manchus at that time made up only 10% of the total population and, in order to stay in power, they pursued a policy of bloody reprisals, cultivating fear and anger in the hearts of people. The indigenous Chinese were forced to submit to unjust laws that violated their rights and humiliated their dignity. High government positions were closed to them, and obstacles were created in moving up the career ladder. To depersonalize the Chinese people and spiritually devastate the growing generation, the Manchu rulers banned martial arts. The sacred Shaolin Temple became the guardian of the spiritual Chinese culture. No cruelties or prohibitions could break the spirit of the proud inhabitants of Shaolin. Like the wind that kindles a fire, the injustice of the Manchu rulers kindled in their hearts the desire to fight for the freedom of the people. The Shaolin Monastery became a center for training people's fighters for the future uprising. Monks who survived the battles flocked to the walls of Shaolin. The Manchu rulers hated the monastery because it gave strength to the people to rebel against injustice and violence, and was a symbol of rebellion and hope in the struggle against foreign domination.

It took 10-15 years to learn the traditional method of fighting. Five monks gathered together, discussed and selected the most effective techniques for experimental training, which was reduced to 5-7 years. They selected their students carefully. The new method had not yet spread when the Manchu troops began the punitive operation of Shaolin, which became a symbol of the will and independence of the Chinese. Their goal was to destroy the kung fu masters. The monks and disciples fought steadfastly and repelled all the attacks of the emperor's army, but the most difficult thing was to resist meanness and deceit. A group of traitors set fire to Southern Shaolin, located on Mount Jialianshan in Fujian Province, and opened the gates of the monastery to the detachment of General Tran Van Hoa. The Manchus mercilessly suppressed resistance, killed hundreds of monks and burned the rebellious monastery to the ground. The invading army brutally crushed the resistance, drowning it in blood, but five monks managed to escape. Their names are Ti Tin Tin Si (Good Will), Miu Hin Lao Si (Immortal Cat), Bat Mi Lao Si (White Eyebrow), Fung Dao Duc Si (Politeness-Education) and Ngu Mai Lao Ni (Flower Mai - Five Petals). ). Ngu Mai went to Bat Hak (White Crane) Temple on Dai Liu Si (Big Mountain) Mountain in Tu Xuen Province. She mourned with all her heart for the destroyed monastery and the dead brothers. But, despite the pain that settled in her soul, the fearless and wise woman continued to persistently improve her martial arts technique. She also did not forget about the Manchus, who wanted to kill her, and the thought of the conceived new style did not leave her mind for a minute. Ngu Mei decided to independently create a more advanced style of martial art, taking as a basis the Shaolin set of exercises taught by Abbot Zhishan. After the defeat of Shaolin, he moved to the province of Canton and began teaching monks at the Monastery of the Light of Filial Piety (Gongxiaosi).

At this time there lived a man named Nim Niy. His wife died and he was left with his only daughter, Nim Wing Chun (Eternal Spring). They went to Tu Xuen Province and opened a shop there. Nim Niy promised to marry his daughter to a man named Lien Bak Chu. But the girl was so beautiful that one influential official wanted to take her by force as a concubine. Nim Niy could not resist such a rich and influential master, and Wing Chun, not wanting to become his wife, fled from home to the Bat Hak monastery. There she met Ngu Mei. Wing Chun told the nun about her grief. Ngu Mei felt sympathy for the girl, who was not afraid of the anger of an influential official, and decided to take her as a student. Ngu Mei took Wing Chun to the mountains to help her escape and began teaching her martial arts.

It was said that one day Ngu Mei accidentally witnessed a bloody fight between a crane and a snake. The snake wrapped its body around the long legs of the bird and tried to sting, and the crane, using its strong wings and sharp beak, beat the snake with them. They fought standing in one place, striking each other with lightning-fast and accurate blows. This scene was so impressive that it was forever imprinted in the nun’s memory and did not leave her alone. While training, she began to imitate either a dexterous snake or a brave bird, and soon developed a system of combat techniques that combined the movements of a crane and a snake. Within three years, this technique was also passed on to Wing Chun, Ngu Mei's favorite student.
After the nun's death in 1726, Wing Chun continued to improve her body and soul. One day she went into the forest and heard the menacing growl of predators. Carefully parting the branches, she saw that a tiger and a leopard were fighting. They fought on a narrow path in the gorge over the booty lying on the mountainside. The tiger was fearless, courageous and cruel, and the leopard was cunning, dexterous and flexible. Both animals were forced to stay close to each other because of the danger of falling off the cliff into the abyss, and used short steps, quick blows, dodging the enemy’s paws.

This battle between the tiger and the leopard prompted Wing Chun to create two more styles of martial arts. When, returning to the temple, Wing Chun combined the techniques of snake, crane, tiger and leopard, she realized that the time had finally come to fulfill the cherished dream of her teacher Ngu Mei and create a new style designed for the flexible and dexterous body of a woman. After much searching, a perfect technique was created that combined the values ​​of the Shaolin school with new images of animals. According to legend, there are 5 symbols of this technique: dragon, snake, tiger, leopard and crane. It also corresponds to the five petals of the blossoming Meihua flower, always reminiscent of the first Teacher, and implies the five foundations of Eastern philosophy: Generosity, Devotion, Decency, Intelligence, Faith, and the five states of a fighter: Hardness, Gentleness, Intelligence, Calmness and Courage.

Wing Chun has developed a special type of striking that does not require much physical strength. The fist was struck in a straight line from the center of the chest, and blocks were performed in the form of stands and overlays of palms on the attacking limbs of the enemy. She also created a new battle tactic - she came close to the enemy, thus depriving him of the opportunity to “accelerate” his blow and take advantage of superior physical strength, and in order to fetter the attacker’s movements and kicks, she learned in a special way to place her legs under the opponent’s legs and strike the shin area.

Soon Wing Chun returned to her father’s house, which stood near Mount Lun Tai. There she again met the servants of an influential official, who did not give up hope of making her his concubine. This was the first time that Wing Chun had to use martial techniques to fend for itself, and she won without difficulty.

After this, father and daughter returned to Canton, where Wing Chun became the wife of Lyen Bak Chu, who had been waiting for her all these years. Soon, her husband became the first student of Wing Chun, and she passed on all her knowledge of martial arts to him. When she died, Lyen Bak Chu decided to perpetuate the memory of his only and beloved wife, naming the most advanced military equipment after her.

Lien Bak Chu passed on the secrets of Wing Chun to a man named Liang Lang Quai, who made Huang Huabao his student. He was an actor in the Guangdong Red Junk Opera Company and often traveled on tour in different parts of the country. Thanks to this, one day he met a student named Liang Erdi. They became friends and began to exchange their knowledge of martial arts. Around the middle of the 19th century, Huang Huabao and Liang Erdi left the acting troupe and moved to Foshan, where they trained the pharmacist Liang Zan.

This man, from a very worthy family, was the owner of a pharmacy and was a well-educated man. His business flourished, and his patients were very pleased with his activities. Liang Jian devoted all his free time to literature and martial arts. But he didn't really like styles that emphasized physical strength. He wanted to study some kind of system, the effectiveness of which would depend only on technology.

Liang Jian borrowed all the best from Shaolin methods, discarding their shortcomings, and in numerous fights he tested their real combat effect, thereby enriching and developing Wing Chun, strengthening its combat capabilities.

Liang Jian did not have a formal school and taught Wing Chun right in his pharmacy. He devoted his life to studying the secrets of Wing Chun and achieved such a high level of mastery of the technique that among the masters and experts of martial art he was awarded the title of “King of Wing Chun.” Because of this, many fighters challenged him and during numerous fights he was able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Wing Chun.

Liang Jian raised several students, including his sons Liang Chun and Liang Bik. Among his students was one capable young man nicknamed “Va - Wooden Hands.” He received this nickname because his hands were strong and hard as wood. Often during training, he would break the “arms” of a wooden dummy (mokjeong).

Next to Liang Jian's pharmacy there was a money exchange shop. Its owner was Chen Wa Shun, nicknamed “Wa the Money Changer,” who, knowing that Liang Jian was an excellent specialist in the Wing Chun style, wanted to become his student. At that time, it was impossible to learn kung fu for money, as is common now, and Chen Wa Shun deeply doubted that a master would teach him. Therefore, when he finished work, he tiptoed to Liang Jiang's pharmacy and watched through the crack in the door as he taught his students. Liang Jian was his idol, and every day Chen Wa Shun admired him more and more. One day he gathered his courage and decided to turn to Liang Jiang with his request. As he expected, the master politely refused. This disappointed Chen Wa Shun, but he did not lose hope.

One day, when Liang Jian was away, “Wa – Wooden Hands” brought Chen Wa Shun to the pharmacy. When the pharmacist's son Liang Chun found out that this man was studying the Wing Chun style by peeping through a crack in the door, he became terribly angry and decided to demonstrate the “sticky hands” technique to Chen Wa Shun in a very harsh manner. However, he, without calculating his strength, dealt Liang Chong such a blow with his palm that he fell straight onto Liang Jiang’s favorite chair, and so unsuccessfully that he broke off one of his legs. Fearing that the teacher would be angry and punish them for this, the young people decided not to talk about their fight. And so, when Liang Jian returned home and wanted to relax on his favorite chair, it suddenly turned over, and the surprised master fell to the floor. Liang Jian decided to find out what happened here in his absence. Then Liang Chong told him everything in detail. After listening to his son’s story, Liang Jian asked “Wa – Wooden Hands” how Chen Wa Shun could learn Wing Chun. And Va explained that he himself taught him some things, and he learned the rest himself, peeking through the crack in the door. Liang Jian asked Wa to find and bring his friend to him. “Wa – Wooden Hands,” remembered that he was forbidden to teach without the teacher’s permission, so, thinking that they might be punished for such a violation, he advised his friend to hide. When “Wa – Wooden Hands” returned alone, Liang Jian was very surprised why Chen Wa Shun was not with him. In the end, Liang Jian guessed that the student had misunderstood him. He then explained that he just wanted to see what his friend had learned from the Wing Chun style and what his abilities were. “Wa – Wooden Hands” was very happy about this, quickly found his friend and brought him to the master. Having appreciated Chen Wa Shun's talent, the master immediately agreed to take him on as his student.

After Liang Jian's death, his sons Liang Bik and Liang Chun went to Hong Kong. Their fellow classmate, Chen Wa Shun, stayed in Foshan and began teaching the Wing Chun style.

Ip Man's father was a Hong Kong businessman, and his son was forced to help him. In Hong Kong, Yip Man met Liang Bik and soon became his student. Chen Wa Shun, before his death, appointed Yip Man as his successor, who began teaching Wing Chun in Hong Kong at the age of 56. This is how the Hong Kong branch of Wing Chun arose.

As Ip Man's fame spread, so did the number of his students. One of his students was Bruce Lee.

Modern ideas about Wing Chun are associated with the Hong Kong branch founded by Yip Man, the Vietnamese branch founded by Te Kong and the Chinese branch led by Liang Guangman, followed by a whole galaxy of masters developing this martial art in many countries

Wing Chun is a style of kung fu that emphasizes hand-to-hand combat, quick strikes, and all-out defense to defeat an opponent. In this form of traditional Chinese martial art, the opponent is destabilized by fast footwork, defense and offense that occur simultaneously, and by redirecting the opponent's energy towards himself. It takes years to achieve mastery of this complex form of kung fu, but beginners can begin learning Wing Chun by understanding its principles, mastering the theory, and mastering the basic skills.

Steps

Part 1

Principles of Wing Chun

    Learn about centerline theory. The basic principle of Wing Chun is protecting the center line of the body. Imagine a line that starts from the middle of the crown, runs along the middle of the chest and lower body. It is the center line of your body that is most vulnerable. She must always be protected.

    • According to this theory, one should always attack the center line and perform techniques at the level of the opponent's center line.
    • The basic open stance in Wing Chun is based on the center line theory. In an open stance, you need to look in front of you, bend your knees, and turn your feet slightly outward. If the enemy is in front of you, then you will be able to attack in the best way, proportioning your strength.
  1. Use your energy wisely and sparingly. The key principle of Wing Chun is that during a fight, energy should be used sparingly and with restraint. Use your opponent's energy by deflecting or redirecting blows.

    • Move prudently and intelligently. The idea is that the body, when coming into contact with the enemy, must travel the shortest distance in the minimum period of time. This allows you to save your own strength.
  2. Stay relaxed. Strength is wasted if the body is in a tense state. Keep your body relaxed and you will feel more at ease.

    • If you have experience with other martial arts (especially "hard styles"), you will have to "empty your glass" or unlearn bad habits. Wing Chun is a soft style with many neutralizing techniques that require you to be "soft" and relaxed. Changing muscle memory and developing relaxation habits can be difficult and time-consuming, but it will benefit you in the future.
  3. Hone your reflexes. A warrior who uses the Wing Chun technique, thanks to well-developed reflexes, acts in battle in such a way as to interrupt the attack and continue the fight on his own terms.

    Change your combat strategy depending on the enemy and surrounding conditions. The opponent can be tall or short, big or small, male or female, and so on. The same applies to the conditions of the battle, which can take place in the rain, in the heat, in the cold, outdoors, indoors, and so on. Be prepared to adapt to any battle conditions.

    Learn about Wing Chun forms. Wing Chun is divided into six successive forms, each of which is based on the previous one. In each form, you need to know the correct stance, body position, arm and leg movements, and the balance of forces. These forms include:

    • Siu Lim Tao;
    • Cham Kiu;
    • Biu Ji;
    • Mook Yan Chong;
    • Luk Dim Boon Kwan;
    • Bat Cham Dao.

    Part 2

    How to Learn Wing Chun
    1. Find a Wing Chun school. Martial arts schools often focus on one style of martial arts, especially for serious students. Wing Chun schools or clubs may be affiliated with a martial arts association. Search the internet or phone book for the number of your local Wing Chun school.

      • Check with your local martial arts schools to see if they teach Wing Chun. They can only teach the basics, and if you are interested in learning Wing Chun in depth, you may have to look elsewhere for advanced classes.
      • Meet the sifu (instructor) and ask about his qualifications. How many years has he been practicing? How did he learn Wing Chun?
      • Take a Wing Chun class. Get a feel for how Sifu conducts classes and how other students react.
      • Personal Wing Chun training is the most preferred method.
    2. Learn Wing Chun via the Internet or DVDs. Many websites have lessons for self-learning Wing Chun. They typically have videos for various skill levels, as well as flexible subscription prices depending on your level of experience (beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc.) and access to materials. This can be useful if there are no qualified Wing Chun instructors or schools in your area. They can also improve your personal training if you are already attending a Wing Chun school. Choose a DVD package or online course taught by a Grandmaster or Wing Chun Master.

      Designate a dedicated study space. Find a place in your home where you can practice Wing Chun. There should be enough space for you to move in all directions. To check this, you can wave your arms and legs. You don't want your movements to be hampered by room furniture.

      • Ideally, there should be a mirror in the room so that you can observe your movements.
    3. Find a partner to train with. Studying the movements on your own will do little good. Sooner or later you will need to start learning how your movements connect with your opponent. Having a partner will make it easier for you to understand how to react to the other person's movements. He could also encourage you and make comments.

    Part 3

    Siu Lim Tao

      Find out about Siu Lim Tao. Siu Lim (or Nim) Tao, or "little idea", is the basis for many Wing Chun movements. Siu Nim Tao is the first form of Wing Chun and it is here that you will be taught proper stance, body control, relaxation and basic hand movements.

      • First you need to master each section of Siu Lim Tao, and then move on to the next section and start learning other techniques.
      • Every movement of the primary form matters. This includes tempo, use of tension and release, angles and distances. The form does not contain methods.
    1. Master Gong Lik. Gong Lik is the first section of Siu Nim Tao and focuses on good organization and relaxation. You will learn how to take an open stance with your face facing your opponent. Work on keeping your body relaxed.

      Master Fa Jing. Fa Jing is the second section of Siu Lim Tao. Fa Jing allows you to develop the release of power. Here you will learn how to apply force and how to maintain strength and energy. Focus on staying relaxed until your hands are ready to strike.

      Learn basic skills. The third section of Siu Lim Tao teaches the basic skills of hand movements and blocking, which is the basis for learning other Wing Chun techniques.

    Part 4

    Cham Kiu

      Learn about Cham Kiu. Cham Kiu, or "finding the bridge", introduces full body movements to complement what has already been learned in the basic form of Siu Lim Tau. From Cham Kiu you will learn how to move your entire body correctly and efficiently, paying attention to weight distribution and stability. Foot movements such as turning and kicking are covered here.

      • Before moving on to the next section and learning other techniques, you must first master each section of Cham Kiu.
      • Before learning secondary form, it is necessary to have a good practice in turning the stance (shifting the horse's form from side to side). In the primary form the position is static, so this is very important.
    1. Master the first section of Cham Kiu. The first section, June, focuses on rotation, stability and structure. In June, in order to beat effectively, the student begins to pay attention to what is around him, even what is behind him. It features moderately difficult hand moves such as Jeep Sau (arm break) and Foot Sau (eye hit).

      Master the second section of Cham Kiu. In the second section, or Ser, Cham Kiu, the main emphasis is on evading the enemy's attacks and redirecting that energy towards them. You will learn to first move your arms and legs as a unit, and then independently of each other.

      Master the third section of Cham Kiu. The third section of Cham Kiu focuses on the application of force along with arm and leg movements. It also uses a combination of tense arm movements and relaxed body movements to accommodate different fight scenarios. Here you will also practice turning your body to the right and left to develop stability while finding your center line during the fight.

Triangulation


Strength in Wing Chun comes from understanding the theory triangulation. Triangle and pyramid shapes are simple and easy to understand.

Triangle theory is very easy to understand and apply because our body is designed that way. The stand is straight and strong due to triangulation (see section on stands); this in turn supports the core, which gives a firm base to the arms, which represent the sides of the triangle.

We need to make the arms act like a wedge.

This will direct the attacks in one direction. (Fig. 2)

Rice. 2. Seeing the body represented in geometric shapes will help you better understand the principles of Wing Chun and speed up the learning process.


We can then direct this wedge to the center (see Center Line Theory section) or the bottom level of the opponent's defense.

When done correctly, triangulation will allow us to use the strength of the angles instead of overexerting our muscles.

This method is excellent because it allows the arms to remain relaxed, changing positions quickly and freely without any muscular tension.


Neutralization of force


The body should act like a rotating cylinder. If a force is applied to it, it will spin in the same direction as it.

Remember that when one side of the cylinder moves backward, the other goes in the exact opposite direction - forward.

When force is used against a Wing Chun practitioner, his body and arms rotate in the same direction as the attack. When turning the body, one side of it moves away from the enemy, while the other, on the contrary, approaches. A counterattack is carried out precisely with the help of this movement; body weight is added to the power of the attacking arm. The hand going back holds back the attack, usually using a short, sharp jerk (also with the help of a turn), which forces the opponent to lose balance and remove his hands from the line of the oncoming strike (see section “Lop sao”). Turning also removes your center of gravity from your line of attack. In this way, one can disperse the opponent's power and strike back.

During the turn, the spine must be straight so that the turn is quick and clear. Footwork when turning consists of quick, short steps: they are especially important if the opponent is moving very quickly.

The body should move clearly around the point of contact.

Direct your opponent's attack below the original level, using force only to control his hand or throw it off course.

Leave the line of attack (choose the path of least resistance) and counterattack from the new center.

Make sure your weight is in your heels rather than your toes as you turn (this kills speed) and that your hips rotate freely.



Rice. 3. Turn around and attack from the new center.

The turn must be fast, strong and confident. You must learn to perform it under pressure.


During the turn, keep your head straight, your hips should be relaxed and slightly forward (see stances)

If the attack is off-center, the direction of rotation is clear (move the attacked side out of the line of attack).

If the attack is directed towards the center, the turn can be made in any direction.

The direction of movement can also be chosen under the influence of the position of the arms or legs.


Centerline theory


Turning is easier to do once you understand the centerline theory. This line (in its simplest sense) is an imaginary straight line or plane drawn from your center in the direction of your gaze (usually towards your opponent/partner). It can also be called the direction of your attention or action.

Before the fight begins, both hands are front, extended for defense, and back, ready to attack ( By Sao), are on the center line (Fig. 4).




Rice. 4 (a, b).The central line is an imaginary plane that moves simultaneously with us. It helps us achieve triangulation


It is used to detect or establish the direction of an opponent's attack and decide which way to turn and which hand position will be most appropriate. If the center line is defended correctly, the opponent will be forced to attack from the wrong angle, in other words, the attack will come to the right or left of your center. This will determine your next maneuver and the correct defensive stance. In such a situation, the only correct solution for your opponent is to try to force you to open up, using force that you can easily extinguish by turning. Mastering the center line also gives you the ability to carry out any of your attacks along the shortest path.

So, our movements must remain calm and smooth, based on basic principles, even when facing an aggressive opponent. If we follow the rules and clearly defend our center line, the opponent will fly into confusion and try to redirect the attack, which will give us the necessary time and required information to carry out our own. Such a system will work even under pressure.

When rivals whose strengths are equal in a duel meet, its outcome depends on which of them forces the other to make a mistake, either by changing the direction of attacks or defense, or by making such a quick and clear movement that the opponent will not have time to defend himself before the moment when he It is too late.

A blow delivered from a stable stance may be so powerful that it cannot be stopped without force. The enemy can be much stronger, and such protection will not save you.

It becomes clear that it is necessary not only to defend the center line, but also to attack the enemy with blows to the center (just below the center line). This is not easy, since almost all vulnerable points are located below the center of the body.

When we hit an enemy, we want the blow to have maximum effect. We want all our strength to reach the goal. And in order for the opponent to experience the full brunt of the blow, we must not allow him to spin freely, extinguishing and dissipating the force. This is the meaning of attacking the center.

If the blow is directed to the center of the body, it receives all its energy and leans back; such a blow does not lose power when turning. It is important to note that the line of attack is drawn from the point of application of force to the center of the opponent’s body (or spine). Its angle does not coincide with the angle of a line drawn through the frontal plane, unless the attack is directed directly at the body (Fig. 5).



Rice. 5. Strikes should be aimed at the center of the opponent's body to prevent him from turning around. This will allow the blows to have maximum effect.


In Wing Chun style, a straight punch can easily reach the target if its direction coincides with the inside line. If such a blow is carried out from under the partner's arm, it will hit the center at a slight angle, depending on the width of the attacker's shoulders and the direction of the line of attack in relation to the center of gravity. We must be sure that our attack penetrates the enemy's center of gravity. Glancing blows are ineffective. An example of this would be billiards: when a player wants the white ball to stop after hitting the colored one, the shot must be struck at a right angle (for now we do not pay attention to the rollback). If the blow is struck at an angle, the white ball will continue its movement without transferring all its energy to the colored one.



Rice. 6 (a, b). Combining the three principles we have covered, we see that: during a turn (or departure) from the attack line, the counterattack goes either in the direction of the new center line or below its plane. Triangulation helps redirect an opponent's attack while maintaining a stable position


Using your elbows


Wing Chun masters often talk about “elbow strength” and focusing energy in the elbows. This method will help you understand how to use your hands correctly and not put unnecessary strain on them.

Elbows in Wing Chun are used primarily to defend and redirect an opponent's attacks (see. Bong sao, Phuc sao And Tang sao), as well as for striking, grabbing and controlling an opponent's limbs (see Synchronized attack and defense). When attacking with the back of the hand, the palm or fist is in a straight position, this effect is achieved due to the significant strength of the elbow. If your hand is on the outside of your opponent's hand, the elbow should protect the center, which results in the palm or fist pointing vertically downward. Notice the difference between the palm strike at the end of the first and the beginning of the third Xiu Lim Tao.


Efficient use of energy or force


Wing Chun masters are renowned for their speed and ability to achieve tremendous effectiveness in close combat. The essence of this art is the correct use of muscles and tendons, applying just enough force to achieve the goal.

If you ask someone to tense their arm, they will most likely tense all the muscles, biceps and triceps, so that all the musculature is immediately visible. It looks impressive, but there is absolutely no real strength in this, because the muscles are antagonists, some bend the arm, while others extend it. And here it would be appropriate to ask the question: where is the power?

When a person does a push-up, their biceps are relaxed, allowing the triceps and pectoral muscles to work at full strength. The direct strike in Wing Chun does not use the strength of the biceps, except in cases where it is necessary to stop an arm that has penetrated too far or to quickly change the position of the body. Any excess tension in the upper arm will slow down the speed of the punch and dampen its power.

The positioning of the elbow of the throwing arm (along with the shoulder, wrist and fingers) and the application of energy or tension at the moment of contact also helps give greater force and precision to the strike. After the impact, the hand should immediately return to a relaxed state.

This correct and effective use of muscles and ligaments is studied in the forms of style (see. Xiu Lim Tao) and is used in every technique and position.


Explosive power and short kick


Wing Chun is known for its legendary short kick. As mentioned above, the arms must be relaxed in order to quickly change position or direction. Therefore, the ability to gain strength in any position, especially in close combat, becomes vital.

By training regularly, it is not difficult to develop a short punch in a relatively short amount of time. However, it is important to understand where the force required to strike comes from in order to use its full power (see also the chapter on stances). A simple and systematic approach to practice will help you easily develop the right skills.

If you can get the muscle tension, joint alignment, and body position right, you will be able to throw punches using your entire body weight, not just arm strength and speed, and they will become truly powerful.

Using a stance to increase your punching power will give maximum effect with minimum effort. Your legs are strong enough to support your body weight and propel it forward, increasing the power of your punch. Understanding the connection between your blade and your swing is very important (see the chapter on stances).


Learn to hit


1. Start by developing the ability to accelerate from a relaxed, arched arm position. The palm should be open, the elbow down. Do not lean back during the strike, and do not move your body (the stance must be stable). At the end of the movement there should be relaxation (Fig. 7).




Rice. 7 (a, b). Learn to hit quickly and sharply from the elbow.

First, completely relax your hand, then tighten your fist at the end of the movement.

The hand should return naturally


2. Then learn to tense your fist at the end of the movement, making sure that the two lower fingers are also tense and the movement comes from the elbow. The fingers "curl" as the hand moves forward.

3. Get your body moving with the punch. This can be achieved by turning slightly or by taking a small step forward from the starting stance. This is where a punching bag can be very helpful to make sure you don't lose strength in your joints (wrist, elbow and shoulder) and also stay on target with your punch.

4. Work with a partner or punching bag. When working with a partner, use a suitable protector (you can use a telephone directory or a thick book strapped to your chest) to avoid unnecessary bruises and bruises. Touch it with your fingers and start practicing the blow. Imagine that there is no obstacle in front of you and throw a quick, relaxed punch, as if you were punching the air.

Visualize your punch as strong throughout.

Keep your fist tense.


Useful tips


Don't push your partner, although this may help you get the hang of the idea at first.

Do not hit the tread surface, the impact should be penetrating.

Your punch should go through the same stages as if you were punching the air, it will help if you are working with an experienced partner.

Once you get the hang of it, make sure the training takes place in a safe place, i.e. with adult consent and away from glass doors and other dangerous objects (ideally, an impact could throw a person several meters).

After striking, your arm and fist should immediately return to a relaxed state to be ready to strike again or perform any other movement.

The short palm strike is used along with the fist, but you must ensure that the palm moves away from the elbow.

This can be practiced on a punching bag. Make a slight turn and direct your weight towards the target. At the same time, apply a short, sharp blow aimed slightly upward. Don't lean back or lose strength in your joints. If you don't have a blower, you can use (only carefully) sturdy walls or hinged doors.

If done correctly, you will be able to feel some tremors in your body.

Strength can be taken from most of the major joints of the human body - elbows, shoulders, legs, knees and even heels.


Simplicity


Another aspect of the Wing Chun style that has brought it so much success is its simplicity: rather than developing a huge number of techniques, Wing Chun practitioners try to understand how to apply the style's simple techniques to different situations.

The main positions are given in the third part of the first complex Xiu Lim Tao(small idea) which refers to simple hand exercises. These ideas are further developed in the second technique - Chum Kyu(finding the bridge), which introduces turns, steps and kicks along with the synchronized use of both hands leading to technique Lop sao.

Chi sao allows us to consider in detail all possible combinations and techniques of movements. This learning process gives students an easy understanding of the goals to strive for.

When a student reaches one level, the skills acquired help him freely comprehend the next.

The most common techniques are: Bong sao, Tan sao And Phuc sao.


Basic forms

Bong sao (wing hands)


bong sao- a soft technique in which the forearms should not be tense (keep your fingers free). The shoulder muscles should support the elbow in the correct position, with the upper arm parallel to the center line and the elbow of the defending arm slightly higher than the elbow of the attacking arm.



Rice. 8. Basic Wing Chun positions: Bong sao, Tang sao and Fuk sao. Turning disrupts the attack, establishing a new center


bong sao works both outward (right bong, left hand) and inward (right bong, right hand). In the second case, you need to be careful not to injure your elbow.

bong sao can be used as a connecting bridge. Its application is the same as in the second part of the second complex ( Chum Kyu). In our case, the hand can be directed forward to grab the opponent's hand while the defender moves away from the line of attack. While the hand is looking for the opponent's hand, you need to take a small step to the side. On contact hand bong sao can go to Lop sao or keep control of your opponent's hands.

These variations bong sao use different positions and points of application of forces, giving different perspectives of the center line, it would be useful to become familiar with each of them.

bong sao begins with turning the elbow inward and forming a wedge with the arms to protect the center. After the practitioner neutralizes the attacker's force by turning, the aggressor is forced to change the direction of the attack or stop it. Final stance bong sao brings us to the starting position for Lop sao or a direct blow from By sao(Fig. 9).



Rice. 9. Elbow defense in Bon Sao. Here By sao allows you to go into Lop sao or strike


Tang sao (palm block)

Tang sao- a very strong form, it can be considered the opposite bong sao(Fig. 10). The essence Tang sao- in moving the arms forward from the elbow with support from the triceps and internal deltoids, which makes it very strong throughout. The biceps are used to rotate the palm in and out. Tang sao- an excellent position for transition to techniques Lop sao or Pak sao.

Tang sao blocks attacks both inward (right Tang, left hand) and outward (right Tang, right hand).

Excessive force when performing Tang sao(through the center) will make the movement weaker or cause it to change into another form like bong sao.




Rice. 10. Tang sao blocks an attack both inward and outward while the free hand attacks the center


Notice that the defender's hand starts on the inside and ends on the outside of the opponent's hand, while contact and control are not interrupted for a moment. This sequence of movements can also go in reverse order, when Bong sao, continuing in a spiral, turns into Tang sao.


Phuc sao (arm bridge)


Phuc sao used to externally control the position of the opponent's hand. The energy again needs to be concentrated in the elbow and upper forearm. The hand should not press down or forward.

The elbow is again used to control the center line.

When the direction of attack is identified, the practitioner turns to the safe side, by the elbow (Fig. 11).



Rice. eleven. Fuk sao is used to control the opponent's hand from the outside.


If the free hand remains active, this movement facilitates the transition into Lop sao, Yut sao or Pak sao.

Fuk sao can also "evolve" or move into other hand positions - such as Yum sao(see Sticky Hands) or Hien sao(ring hands). Once again I will say that during these transitions constant contact and control is necessary. Other hand positions such as Gong sao(Fig. 12) can also be used for external exposure.



Rice. 12. Gong sao can also be used to repel attacks from the outside line


All defense in Wing Chun is based on these principles, and it is imperative to gain a deep understanding of their essence; that is, not only to understand how and when they can be used, but also to recognize how they can transition from one to the other, when to use tension during these transitions, and how turning or footwork can increase their effect.

A clear understanding of the situations in which these principles can be applied leads to skillful and effective Wing Chun. This may seem super simple, but in fact, it takes years and decades to fully understand the hidden aspects of these three forms and achieve mastery in their use.

Please note that when the hand is not performing a task, it remains in the position By sao(guardian hand). By sao is located on the center line, covering the throat, chin and nose in cases where the enemy's attack penetrates the defense. By sao is also a position of readiness, the hand can, on occasion, attack from the center or take any other position.

The Wing Chun practitioner tries to achieve a position of maximum power and the best angle of attack with every simple movement. During any defense, attack, footwork or change of stance, there must be strict control of the center line, which deprives the opponent of advantages and forces him to attack or defend from a bad angle.

During training, each movement can be considered separately to choose the best option. Then the individual movements can be fused together into an individual complex, where they smoothly transform into each other. Learning the correct posture and direction of action can be difficult: one must first gain a clear understanding of stances, hand positions and center line, and then reinforce this through the practice of Chi Sao.

Another aspect of the simplicity of the style is that the main goal of Wing Chun is to capture and hold the center. So the goals of the style and its general idea are quite simple.


Contact reflexes


Thanks to the penetrating system of the Wing Chun style, built on the speed of reaction (see also “Training”), the technique is imprinted deep into the subconscious of the practitioner and becomes reflexive (bypassing the process of thinking). This gives the student the opportunity to react much faster than with a visible reflex. The correct reflex works instantly.

Contact reflexes also give the mind more time to choose battle tactics and allow one to easily reach high levels in the art. Without mastering them, the student will be forced to constantly retain in memory all possible variations of attacks and make a choice each time. He will need to see and understand the meaning of each attack, choose the right defense and then act according to the situation. When mastering contact reflexes, this process goes much faster.

The theory and process of autonomous reflexive acts are not yet fully understood. It is believed that subconscious reflexes (including everyday activities such as walking, driving a car or riding a bicycle) are recorded either in the cerebral cortex or in the spinal cord.

The study showed that there are two levels of movements recorded in the body: the first - for choosing a specific program of action, and the second - for implementing and monitoring the progress of its implementation.

The practitioner can think through the sequence of movements in advance (see “Training”) and simply wait for the signal to perform the action.

Exercises and training in Wing Chun develop the strength and sensitivity of the hands, allowing them to sense the direction, force and speed of an attack. Our movements and hand positions are a direct result of the opponent's actions, so it is necessary to ensure that the defense fully matches the attack. And remember that the transition from one movement to the next is just as important as the final position.

Our arms and body should act like shock absorbers.

It is possible that the opponent’s movement will be so fast that we will not have time to leave, or, on the contrary, so insignificant that no reaction will be required at all. In this case, we will have to restrain ourselves until we are sure of what is happening and can act correctly.

It is also possible to store strength in reserve for a while before directing it in another direction. This can be likened to a drawn bowstring or a cocked catapult at the moment when the launched projectile flies towards the target. However, it should be noted that immediate and precise use of force is more effective.

This kind of mobility is achieved through regular training in Wing Chun, as well as the practice of “sticky hands” or Chi Sao.


Synchronized attack and defense


The simultaneity of attack and defense does not only mean that while defending with one hand, you attack with the other. This phenomenon is an integral part of the Wing Chun style. Synchronized attack and defense also means that one hand can perform both actions at the same time.

By protecting the center line instead of chasing your opponent's hands, you can, using only one hand, disrupt your opponent's attack and attack his center. This can often happen when you block your opponent's arm with your elbow, leaving your hand and wrist free to launch an attack. Tanbu sao in complex Chum Kyu- here is an excellent example of such a movement. The bong sao can also transition into a short elbow strike if you simply close the distance and use the power correctly.


The importance of stance and posture


The basic Wing Chun stance is often confusing because at first glance it appears too awkward and immobile. However, as with other aspects of art, once the mechanics and theory are clearly presented, there is much more to understand.

Understanding the connection between the base (legs) and arm action is critical to freedom of movement and the ability to effectively attack and defend. Of course, both of these phenomena are unthinkable without the other, but we need to clearly establish what happens when we take a certain stance, what benefits are realized in different positions and how to quickly move from one stance to another without stopping or freezing.

Boxers punch with their entire body, adding body rotation to the power of their punching arm and gaining extra speed through shoulder movement.

Karatekas kick from the stomach using the force of rotation of the hips. Wing Chun masters achieve tremendous speed, precision and power through proper stance and footwork, without placing much emphasis on body weight (other than maintaining balance).

We've already discussed the use of twists to neutralize the force of an attack, as well as the proper use of energy and elbow strength, but these skills are meaningless without a strong and mobile base.

Any stance is strong in two directions, so it is very important to understand how to achieve it correctly and be able to smoothly transition from one position to another. We must stand so that the back leg can move forward freely, and also firmly enough to withstand the opponent's attack without turning or ducking. At the same time, the front leg should freely support our weight so that the stance is level and not skewed.

Properly adopted, the basic Wing Chun stance is stable enough to withstand outside pressure. This is why in the early stages of learning Wing Chun, special emphasis is placed on triangulation, freedom of movement and turning. During an attack, we must turn in the direction from which it comes. It is extremely important to maintain a strong stance during this time. It must be stable and sustainable.

For a Wing Chun practitioner, steps and turns should become as natural as walking. You must learn to change stances and throw punches and kicks, always maintaining the most appropriate distance (Bruce Lee was the Hong Kong cha-cha champion), no matter what the opponent does.

Remember that the distance between you and the position of your body should change based on your stance and the position of your hands. Practicing Chum kyu, wooden mannequin technique, and Chi sao, you will be able to understand the essence of footwork.

Another important issue is the position of the legs: some say that the knees and toes should be turned slightly inward, others say that the legs should be parallel. The difference is that with turned toes, you can turn using only one foot and leaving the other in the same position. This may give your stance more stability.

If your legs are parallel, then turning requires their synchronized movement. This gives the turn a slightly different feel. Practicing the exercises, and especially the complex Chum Kyu, you will eventually find the best position for you, and also understand in which situations it is better to use one or another form.

When performing a turn, the body weight should be on the heels (Fig. 13), this can be achieved by slightly throwing back the head and keeping the back straight (look down at the opponent, as it were!). The knees should move with the feet. This will avoid extraneous pressure on the knee joint and prevent possible injuries, and at the same time protect the groin area.

Your pelvis should be slightly forward and remain that way throughout the entire swing (allowing you to throw using your body weight). The balance point in a normal stance is located between the legs. The stance should be springy and mobile, and not stiff and limiting movement.




Rice. 13 (a, b).Maintain your balance and do not lean back; your body weight should be on your heels. If you lean on your toes, your body will sway, making precise movement impossible.

Also your attack will become weaker


Notice that after the turn we end up in a front stance, facing the side (this depends on where we draw the center line). When performing a turn, like any other movement in the style, we must feel the strength of the opponent. Any turn must be changed or canceled under the influence of circumstances.

The initial movement of the body, as much as possible, should come from the legs, knees and hips (and the waist at an angle greater than 45 degrees), and not from the back or shoulders, which can lead to loss of triangulation.

Before starting an attack, you need to distribute your weight so that the balance point is between your legs, this gives the movement speed and ease.

The back leg connects us to the ground, allowing us to move forward or backward, accelerating or absorbing external force or pressure from an opponent. The front one protects us from jerking forward and does not allow our hands to drop.

The leading leg acts as a brake, stopping the body's progress when moving forward, and can be used as a push leg when moving backwards or changing direction. The strength of any attack, as well as defense, largely depends on a stable stance.

Without it, we are deprived of the opportunity to strike clearly and strongly.

The power of the blow depends on the speed, movement and weight of the body and technique. The mass cannot be changed. Speed ​​can be developed by using and training your muscles correctly. But technique can only be improved by understanding the source of power in the stance. The ability to use body weight comes from the surface on which we stand.

To better visualize this, try the following little exercise.


Rack test


While in a normal stance, ask your partner to push against Tang sao and feel the power hidden in your stance (Fig. 14).



Rice. 14. Rack dynamics. Jerks and jerks can be overcome if you stand correctly and firmly


By slightly changing the form of the exercise, you can push your clenched fist against the pressure of your partner (Fig. 15). This will test the stability and effectiveness of your stance. If your partner suddenly lets go of his hand, it will shoot forward and strike. The left leg protects the body from excessive forward movement.

The leg behind is slightly tense, this elasticity is transferred to the one in front and comes out through the arm.



Rice. 15. Push vs Impact: Test Your Resilience


Then ask your partner to pull you towards him, grabbing you Tang sao or your neck. Don't let yourself fall or turn around.

Feel the tension enter your front leg.

Push your feet back, as if you were tug-of-war. If you start to tip over, take a small step forward and move your front leg, moving your back one to gain balance.





Rice. 16a, 16b, 16c. Don't weaken your stance by bending at the waist


As you move, your legs should spring slightly and act like shock absorbers, but you need to stay at the same height and not bounce up and down or try to penetrate your opponent's defense to strike. Instead, try to act like a wedge (using triangulation) aimed at the center of the opponent's body, forcing him to use force and open up.


Footwork


When moving from a straight stance to a forward one (Fig. 17), you must remember that pushing from the supporting leg will help you get closer to your partner or strengthen your position without an initial step, without making unnecessary movements. This gives you the opportunity to change your body position without giving your opponent away your intentions. Pushing off your front foot will also improve your evasive technique.




Rice. 17 (a, b). A push from the back leg allows us to step immediately, without preliminary movement.


Circular step in Byu Dze also allows you to circle your opponent and confuse them with feints. Such maneuvers are very useful if you want to deliver a clear, strong blow (using, for example, Pak Sao), but the angle of attack or distance does not allow this.

Some students reject traditional footwork and prefer to take lateral or circular steps like the movements used in Bagua styles. When an opponent attacks, instead of turning, the defender takes a step forward at a 45-degree angle, like a tennis player receiving a serve. This detour of the attack dissipates the enemy's power, just like a turn, making it possible to move further and faster.

This side step is also very useful when you are parrying an attack head-on: the defender moves to the side while throwing a punch.

Remember that side steps give you a lot of movement from side to side, but they are not very effective if you want to catch up with a retreating opponent. This happens because any attack you undertake will twist your body and will obviously not be successful (to attack, take a small step forward, moving into a front stance).


Kicks and sweeps


Although a Wing Chun practitioner spends most of the fight on two feet, keeping them on the ground, he needs to know when and how to use his strikes. Before learning footwork, you need to develop basic stances, steps and turns, achieving a proper understanding of the balance and dynamics of the legs and hips.

In Wing Chun style, kicks are used in Cham Kiu and working with a wooden mannequin. They are sometimes called "shadowless". These strikes are executed accurately and quickly, their main targets are the feet, shins, knees (front, back and side), thighs and groin.

Kicks in Wing Chun are very rarely thrown above the level of the stomach. The reason for their speed and plasticity lies in the fact that they work on the same principle as the hands, that is, they reach the goal directly, in the shortest way, without preliminary delay or withdrawal. During a straight kick, the hips remain turned forward at almost the same angle as usual.

The power of this kick comes from accelerating the movement of the leg and pushing off the ground, so any recoil forces you back into the stance. If you hit downwards, a strong impact can disrupt your stance and cause you to lose your balance.

The force with which kicks are delivered in Wing Chun is the same as when delivering short punches, only in this case it is much greater; Moreover, when kicking, it can be fully used. Usually a direct blow is thrown from a turn, most often it is a blow from above or from the side.

The leg goes in the same direction as in the circular step, only now it is turned outward and stretched. The blow gains torque and at the same time does not affect the position of the hands, since it is applied through the center of gravity.

Sometimes blows are the result of complex maneuvers of the legs or arms, such as Lop sao; this makes them very difficult to detect (Fig. 18).



Rice. 18. Turning Kick or Lop Sao


If the stance is broken, then kicking can help correct the situation. When attacked from the front, make a straight upward strike; when attacking from the flank, a side strike is best. Side kicks are also often used to release some holds (Figure 19).



Rice. 19. Side kick to release a hold


The main thing you must remember when kicking is stability, balance and most importantly, control of the opponent before attacking. Hence the saying: if you want to kick like a horse, stand on three legs! (One for ourselves and two for our opponent.) We must also have a clear idea of ​​where to hit: just strike the nearest target or the one that is most suitable for hitting at the moment and, as with the hands, be prepared to change the target depending depending on the situation.

Leg kicks are usually made possible by jerking forward and backward, and they also transfer the opponent's weight to the supporting leg, making it an even easier target. However, if you are unsure of the situation, remain firm and control your opponent with your hands.


Kick protection


There are different ways to prevent or defend against kicks; you can, for example, maintain a close distance and put pressure on the enemy. Many fighters and martial arts practitioners cannot strike effectively from the fighting distance that the Wing Chun style offers. If your opponent tries to get away from the approach, just follow him and keep pressing.

“Hit the batter” is another phrase that comes to mind.

In other words, if your opponent tries to kick you from close range, as soon as he lifts his foot off the ground (this can be practiced in Chi sao or Chi herk), lift your lead leg, preventing your opponent from pinning it to the ground, and kick his supporting (or kicking) leg, throwing it back (Fig. 20, 21).



Rice. 20. Leg block vs. round kick



Rice. 21. Hit the striker as soon as his foot leaves the ground


Other, no less effective methods of protection are the use Gum sao or Gaun sao for lower level control.

Or a simple jerk of the arm in the appropriate direction (most often downward) while lifting the opponent's leg off the ground. This throws the opponent off balance, forcing him to instinctively bring his leg back to save himself from falling.

If your opponent tries to hook your front leg, you need to bring it back to center, just like your arm, and immediately attack his supporting leg. Often in such cases, a kick can be used simultaneously with a grab, distracting the opponent's attention, or (most effectively) creating an off-axis force in the hands, which can then be used for its intended purpose.

Most of these skills are learned in Chi herk("sticky feet") or even in combination with Chi Sao, but be sure that the training is carried out under careful supervision: strong blows to vulnerable parts of the body such as the knees can be very dangerous. Regarding Chi Sao, if you constantly practice kicks while practicing this technique, you run the risk of not training your arms enough.


Distance


We said above that a Wing Chun practitioner gains a huge advantage over his opponents by mastering the ability to fight based on position. Once you have acquired this skill, it cannot be lost. Another advantage of the style is that the distance at which the fight is fought is often too small for practitioners of other styles of martial arts; this state of affairs forces the opponent to retreat, but we can only pursue him, all the time, applying pressure. But, nevertheless, not all fights are fought at such a convenient and advantageous distance for us.

In such cases, we need to make contact with the opponent, preferably without much damage to ourselves. Here it is necessary to remember that our main goal when contacting an enemy is to gain a strong center, after which our reflexes and the ability to “sticky hands” will come into play.

We must move (by turning or walking - it depends on the attack) from the line of attack, but at the same time make contact with the enemy in order to understand what battle tactics need to be chosen. A suitable method for gaining contact is Mun sao (hand of the supplicant).

Without asking for something, it is impossible to receive it. Meet your opponent's attack with due care, intercepting the attacking hand softly and smoothly, as if you were catching a tennis ball or a fragile egg.

Having established contact, we can understand how calm or tense our opponent is, what his approximate strength and speed are, and thereby determine our tactics for conducting the fight. The easiest way to do this is to move the corner of the guard slightly from the center; this will direct the attack below the intended level. When attacking, move to the right or left using a side step.

The blocking hand rushes to the center or sometimes to the opponent's shoulder. On the inside, you will have to stop moving your upper arm or stop rotating your body (Figure 22).



Rice. 22. Eliminating the distance. Block the attack, make contact and hit the center


It is better to watch the movement of the elbow, since it moves slower than the hand; this helps you have better control of your body. When the distance between the opponents is eliminated, the subsequent movements will be the same as in the Chi Sao complex.

The distance can be shortened by using any suitable hand position, i.e. Bong sao, Tan sao, Gaung sao, Gum sao etc.

As you learn to defend against a variety of attacks, you will soon understand which method is best suited to a given situation, but you will need to find your own way of making contact with your opponent smoothly and safely before practicing your hand technique.

Remember, your goal is to gain contact, control and center. To achieve this goal, your legs must move and change position very quickly (good balance). Think about a tennis player taking a serve, or remember how they played tag in school, it doesn't really matter.

According to the history that has come down to us, the Wing Chun combat system was created somewhere in the early eighteenth century by a Chinese nun named Ng Mui, who was a novice of the Shaolin Monastery. After some time, Ng Mui decided to pass on her knowledge to a village girl named Yim Yun Chun, who subsequently defeated the village boy who was annoyingly pestering her.

Until the early 50s of the last century, this system was distributed only in a narrow circle and, even more so, was inaccessible to Europeans and Americans. The patriarch of the modern history of Wing Chun is considered, and not without reason, to be the world-famous great master Ip Man. The idol of many fans of various martial arts, film actor Bruce Lee, trained with this renowned master.

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The technique of the Wing Chun style has long been recognized as impeccable. There is nothing superfluous here, all movements are extremely rational, economical and, moreover, effective. A fight in a given style is very fleeting and ends with an uncountable blow.

The highest skill is considered to be the ability to feel the opponent’s hands. Sometimes leading experts at seminars use the expression “count thoughts in your opponent’s hands.” And this is not without reason, since students pay special attention to the development of hand sensitivity. Also, naturally, all the skills that students acquire, imperceptibly for them, pass into their daily life.

You acquire the skill to feel any important situation in life, try to avoid all sorts of sharp corners, and in a non-standard situation you can always find the right solution and ultimately win. This style is classified as “internal”. Here they try not to resist force, but rather to use the enemy’s strength to achieve victory over him.

Wing Chun has earned its recognition in the world of martial arts due to its simplicity and practicality of technique, which in turn is aimed at only one thing: incapacitating the enemy in the shortest possible time. The goal during a fight of a fighter of this style is quite simple - to quickly come into close contact with the enemy and, without giving the opponent the opportunity to unleash an attack, carry out a series of crushing blows to vulnerable spots. In the final phase of the fight, knock him to the ground, depriving him of the opportunity to resist, and deliver a series of final blows.

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