The Wing Chun/Tsun Straight Punch

In Wing Tsun Kung Fu, you could identify 3-4 (maybe 5-6) different punches to train.  One of which is the Straight Punch, or Straight Blast.  It's simple to start learning, but difficult to master.  Kung Fu!

Documentary:  Wing Chun Reforged - The Wing Chun Straight Punch
While visiting Boston, I recently had the opportunity to meet Adrian Li, a martial artist who teaches Wing Chun at Boston University.  We chatted a bit, and also did some brief training together.  He is an enthusiastic individual, who at a young age, is quite skilled and has a very open and positive attitude.  I can see why his students would like his style of teaching.

During our meeting, he mentioned that he was doing a documentary about the Wing Chun Straight Punch, and asked me to answer a question on video.

Below you can see the full documentary.  Be sure to check out the other 2 parts on his youtube channel.

If the embedded video doesn't work, try:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbTIjkHALy4

Expanding on the video...
As mentioned by Danny Horgan of Wing Chun Blast, the flurry and speed of chain punches, and the deep power in a well-laid punch are both important.  In a self-defense situation, we are already behind and out-egoed by the aggressor.  The air is thin, your arms/legs may be trembling, fine motor control is all lost.  If it becomes physical, we may need to counteract the attacker by surprise, with efficient and unexpected power.  Only then can we buy some time to gives us a chance to escape.

I think we need to train everything to do with the punch, be it speed and timing, distance, mobility/fluidity, power, etc.  All part of the Wing-Tsun CoreConcepts by Sifu Ralph Haenel of Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver.  And do so with good footwork, connection of upper/lower body, and whole body motion.

Now, let's be philosophical... but practical
If we want to be philosophical about the Wing Chun punch though, then there are no absolute categories of different wing chun punches.  We should be able to punch from any angle, at any body position, at any time, and make it count.  I didn't say it was easy to do.  In practicality though, in a self-defense scenario, this may be our only choice, and only chance. 

Let's be even more philosophical...
All of the major "techniques" in Wing Tsun are simply a temporarily inhibited punch (or chan/fak sau, etc.).  Think about it.  Do you do a bong sau, or does bong sau just happen?  Did you then stop and admire your bong sau, or did your follow-up attack already happen?

The "techniques" could be thought of transition zones before the next temporarily inhibited punch.  And the next.  Until it hits.

Remember... "I do not hit, it hits by itself" -Bruce Lee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhvBTy28VJM

Happy training!

Soft pliable effective power, 4 years later

Sifu Ralph Haenel recently asked me whether or not I had any new ideas about this previous blog entry:  http://kyklosphaira.blogspot.ca/2010/12/journey-to-soft-pliable-effective-power.html

What are my new thoughts about getting to this point?

When strong to start
When we are strong, during Wing Tsun training, we are still confident, because we are successful in gaining entry through brute strength.  As most of our partners are weaker than us, we can be falsely successful.  If neither of us is aware that the "success" was obtained through direct force rather than economy of motion, then our Wing Tsun training becomes stagnant.

The problems occur when our training partner happens to be stronger than us.  Problems can also occur, if the partner is simply better in Wing Tsun, and diffuses our strength by letting us pass, or using our stiff strength against us.

When we finally realize this, we then train to become softer, and then we are surprised when we can enter the partner's space effortlessly.  And now we apply our usual strength, which again works against most partners.  But, as before, our Wing Tsun training is at risk of becoming stagnant, if we don't realize that this usual strength doesn't work on everyone.  We might be relying upon strength that is not as powerful as we originally convinced ourselves to believe.

This combination of (somewhat) softness and strength works until we encounter someone who:  a) is more powerful who can take the punch, or b) evades the entry because they are effectively softer in a Wing Tsun way.

Our next goal then becomes:  soft, pliable, effective power

When weak to start
When we are weak, during Wing Tsun training, we can fail and lose confidence earlier.  We can't gain entry by brute strength.  We try to be soft, and we collapse and lose balance altogether.  But, through more training, if we apply some of the Wing Tsun strength and force principles, we are surprised when we can enter effortlessly.  Now, when we do finally gain access past the partner's arms, we have no power behind the strike, and are merely playing tag, brushing some lint.

The problems are there from the beginning, as most partners happen to be stronger than us.  As we slowly improve through, we can enter their space.  However, the problems worsen, because we can't affect the opponent's balance nor move them, as we have not trained the appropriate strength/power.  Consequently, we train our strength by basic weight-lifting.  Upon returning to Wing Tsun, we gain entry, we can hit, it feels stronger than before, but yet... it is not powerful.

Our next goal then becomes:  soft, pliable, effective power

Summary
I now think that there is no ideal starting point, in terms of being strong or weak to start.  But, if we don't have a good attitude and strive to improve upon our faults, it doesn't matter where we begin.  I believe that we need to train softness and power at the same time.

"Your attitude determines your altitude." - Zig Ziglar

We are all good in some ways, and have deficits in other areas.  What we should do is to maintain or improve upon our strong points, and simultaneously push ourselves to work further on our weaker areas.

There will always be someone who is better than us.  Our limits are set by ourselves.

"having no limitation as limitation" - Bruce Lee

Happy training!

P.S.  4 years later, I have not yet achieved the soft pliable effective power.  The journey continues...

Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver Bart Cham Dao Seminar

What a year.  First the WT long pole exercises and form, and then...

Sifu Ralph Haenel of Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver held the first Canadian seminar on the WT Bart Cham Dao (八斬刀, or Baat Jam Do I suppose), and boy oh boy, what can I say... well, nuthin'.  Still scratching my head, but that was expected.  Can't become a Master overnight.

Some believe that weapons training changes one's empty-hand methods, whereas others believe that it is a weapon form only and nothing else.  I think it does change how we move our body and limbs, both physically and mentally.  You have no choice in the matter.  If you believe in choice, then believe that with any new skill/knowledge you obtain (in WT or anything else in life), try to compare and contrast it to things you already know.

Knives in one's hands

Not everyone knows how to punch or chop with the fist or hand, parry or wedge with the forearms, etc.  When given a knife though, most people basically know what to do with it.  From fileting a fish to chopping a watermelon, I think you get the idea.  Granted, some do it more smoothly than others, of course.

Remember how even a fish can be a weapon with soft, sardine strikes?

Get to the "point" you say?

WT partner exercises with small knives/dowels

Enter the Bart Cham Dao (八斬刀).  Well, at least one idea I have about it, from training briefly with it.

We've all done other training with some type of hand-held weapon, with it or against it.
1) If you can't quite get the movement of a strike e.g. fak-sau, try doing the same motion with a small plastic knife or wooden dowel in YOUR hand.  Suddenly, the body and limb movements start to make sense; 

OR

2) If you find your legs stiffening up and not moving enough, give your PARTNER a small plastic knife.  Suddenly, you are moving much more (perhaps too much), trying to evade any strike.  Important Note:  this is different training against an actual knife, which is actually very dangerous against anyone who truly knows how to use a small knife with short cuts/slashes.  It's not that simple, and they don't attack like this.

Sorry, am I keeping you on the "edge" of your seat?  Well, it's not really that exciting.

From swords to empty hands

Going back to Bart Cham Dao, we now have one sword in each hand.  Ready to face other weapons.  There is an intensity that is different while holding that sword.  You feel more powerful.  You are going forward more.  You are holding your hands out further, rather than collapsing them putting you at risk of cutting yourself.  You are moving your 7 WT joints.  Links are made.  Neurons are firing.  Muscle memory develops.

Virtually all the movements from SNT, CK, and BT are all in the form.

Here's a thought:  try doing the Bart Cham Dao form with the swords, and then with empty-hands.  Do it as often as you do your long-pole exercises/form (cough, every day...).

Now, do your SNT, CK, and BT forms.  Also, go back to your regular training.  Are you now feeling more powerful, going forward more, with more intensity?  Do your fists/hands/forearms actually feel as though they were the swords themselves?

Did it improve your overall performance?
Whatever you are learning in life, are you improving yourself?

Are you going to be a "cut" above the rest?

Happy training!

Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver Long Pole Seminar Part 2 - Review

Unbelievable.

I never thought I'd have the opportunity to learn about the long pole Luk-Dim-Boon Kwun (Six-and-a-Half-Point Long Pole), 六點半棍.

In the second of the 2-part 2014 series of this seminar by Sifu Ralph Haenel of Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver, we went over:
1) Long pole form... basically a sequence of moves incorporating all of the exercises from the last seminar (previous reviews here and here.)
2) Partner exercises

How Sifu Ralph Haenel teaches
There is never just one answer in Wing Tsun.  And that's how Sifu Ralph teaches.  It is apparent from his teaching that he has studied Wing Tsun in great detail.  There may be differences in the exact micrometer of fingernail placement between lineages of WC/WT/VT, and more often than not there are arguments of which one is the most "traditional".  Sifu Ralph passes on his understanding of various methods/movement patterns, but keeps the core principles the same.  He may teach/show seemingly contradictory movements, but shows that in the right scenario or purpose, both can be correct.

One revelation of long pole training
One of the problems that I have with building the right structure and function of Wing Tsun is connecting the legs, core/trunk, and arms together.  Another issue is keeping the forearm at the right balance of relaxation vs. tension, and not only reacting with the arms, but with the entire body (see sticky body).

The visualization that I try think about is pretending as if I had no arms at all, amputated at the elbow, forcing use of the upper arms, shoulders, and back.  But this visualization does not always work, and I find myself tensing up too much in the forearms at the contact point, falling victim to the partner's attacks.  Or I move too much at the arm with nothing else from the shoulder and back/waist, legs.

Interestingly, one revelation I had about the long pole partner training, was that I had no choice but to "read" the force with the inanimate long pole.  The long pole does not have any sensory nerves, and it cannot be tensed up like my forearm muscles.

In the partner exercises with the long pole...
1) If I used only my arms, then I would fail.
2) If I hiked up my shoulders, then I would fail.
3) If I did not move at my waist, then I would fail.
4) If I didn't have good grounding, then I would fail.
etc.

With the long pole exercises... I had to have a good stance.  I had to use my core.  I had to drop my shoulders.  I had to move my body.

This is just one of many benefits of long pole training for Wing Tsun.

What do you think?

Happy training!

Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver Long Pole Seminar Part 1 - Review

 

Imagine going to a day-long workshop about weight-lifting, an orientation to a new gym. You learn how to properly use each and every machine in the gym. For the next 6 hours, you do multiple sets of 14 different exercises until you are exhausted.

 

The question is, are you now a grandmaster genius of all things related to weight-lifting and strength-training?  Are you now suddenly bulked up and strong, ready to do a circuit or two of exercises?

 

On March 29th, I attended the Inaugural Wing Tsun Long Pole Seminar by Sifu Ralph Haenel of Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver.  My first review here.  We were taught about the long pole and how to do all the exercises. In fact, I can say I have "a full day" of training with it under my belt. I think I'm going to put the long pole skill in my pocket and call it a day.  Done and done.  Finito.  The next time anyone asks me, "Do you know the Wing Tsun Long Pole?", I can scoff and say "Yes, indeed!"

 

 

 

Gasp!  Wait a sec!  I know OF the long pole now...  I know how to hold it, and also some exercises.  But that's about it for now!  We must be careful in Wing Tsun training (or any training in life or work for that matter), that we don't succumb to the notion that after being taught a new skill we have mastered it.  Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how often we think this way, especially in the world of martial arts.  We can be taught something but not actually know it thoroughly and completely.  Am I all done with Chi Sau Section 1?  Um, yes.  Then why do I still get facepalmed by Sifu?

 

Anyways, the answer to the question "Do you know the Wing Tsun Long Pole?" is really, "Yes I know what exercises I can do with it, but the practice/training is ongoing, and I'm still trying to figure out how to maximize my skill with it and translate its training effects into my Wing Tsun."

 

Long pole training can benefit your Wing Tsun in many ways, for example:

- Power training:  wrists, elbows, arms, shoulders, back, waist, etc.

- Flexibility training:  I found it helpful especially for the shoulder blade

- Balance training:  including not only the stance but the whole body as a unit

- Shock power training

- Mobility training

(wait a minute... many of these sound like part of Sifu Ralph's WingTsun-CoreConcepts, fancy that)

- And of course, Feel cool-like-a-kung-fu-warrior training

Have I been diligent with my daily long pole exercises for the planned 4 weeks after the first seminar?  I must admit, no!  It took me a week to finally get to Home Depot for something to start practicing with. And then I found out the most difficult barrier that happens with any exercise:  It can be hard to keep up with 30 minutes of long pole training on my own!  The good thing is that the pole is starting to feel lighter with repeated training and (hopefully) better technique.

 

Have YOU been diligent with the exercises?  Because we are in for a treat, for the second seminar with the Long Pole Form on April 26th!  If we can't even lift or use the pole properly, how are we going to even do the form?

 

Finally, a PG-13 long pole joke, but also a reality:

Do you know why Sifu Ralph is such a good teacher?  Because he teaches us how to fish.  And this time he taught us how to fish with a long pole...

 

Happy training!

WT Vancouver Long Pole Seminar Review

ldfs of ng perw... I mean here is my short review of the long pole seminar by Sifu Ralph Haenel of Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver.

I can't type, because my hands, wrists, and shoulders are so tired.

I can't use speech recognition software, because I am also speechless.

Until next time... see the following for inspiration:

How to be a Ninja Warrior

Happy Training!

Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver 2013 Year-End Seminar

At the 2013 year-end seminar, I was gently reminded by Sifu Ralph Haenel, that my last blog post was in April 2012 about "sticky body"!  (I have several drafts waiting from 2012-13, but I haven't gotten around to it).

The absence from the blog actually mirrors my absence in WT for the last year.  Only intermittent training, but not enough.

So, here it is... the first published blog post for this year.  Thanks for reading!

2013 Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver Year-End Seminar
During seminars, classes, and private lessons, as always there are multiple images and concepts that come up during the instruction and training.  I will just choose one for this post, and of course keeping all the other secrets to myself.

Sifu Ralph mentioned something about training the motion before adding strength or speed.  This reminded me about a figure from the textbook Clinical Sports Medicine, about rehabilitation from injuries.

Motor re-education and muscle activation
During a rehabilitation program, once pain is controlled appropriately, we start essentially with this pyramid.  If you notice, the bottom pillar is motor re-education and muscle activation.  Hence we work on forms, partner-supported isometric chi-sau exercises (copyright Sifu Ralph Haenel).  And we activate muscles including the core and ones we don't normally use (lats, upper back muscles, abdominals).  All of structure makes everything above better, and actually work.

Proprioception, Strength, Flexibility
In rehabilitation, after the muscles are re-educated and activated, we work on proprioception (definition:  ability to sense the position and location and orientation and movement of the body and its parts), as well as strength/flexibility.  One could argue that neuromotor control can fit together with proprioception and comes before strength and flexibility.  This may be true, but they are all inter-related and probably need to be worked on in a cycle.

In training, we try and learn new motions and make them fluid, and later add strength, speed, plus working on each of the 10 core concepts (also copyright Sifu Ralph Haenel).  The force and fighting principles too.

Skill acquisition
If you also notice, skill acquisition is higher up.  This is similar to acquiring new techniques in martial arts.  Interestingly enough, we tend to focus on acquiring new techniques to put in our pockets.  Being a collector of techniques is completely different than actually performing them with the right neuromotor control, proprioception, balance, strength, speed, flexibility, etc.  But learning new techniques is enjoyable, and it gives us a framework to work on those qualities we want to achieve.

So, here we are.  Learning lat sau programs.  Learning chi sau programs.  Sure, perhaps I can go through and demonstrate all of the chi sau programs (with some cueing!), but I'm not to the point of truly knowing and applying them.  I can maybe even make it look cool and smooth with a partner, but to do it with substance is an entirely different level.

For better or worse, many of us are in the "I want it now" mentality.  No patience for horse stances, conditioning, wax on / wax off, building structure... before acquiring the skills.

But, it's confusing right?  We might need to learn the techniques in order to practice the motion / neuromotor control and then add in strength/speed.  Then go back to the techniques again and work on applying them.  Cycling through the pyramid.

Return to sport
The very top.  The golden arch.  The holy grail.  Let's say return to sport is like applying WT, anything from sparring to actual self-defense.  Well, returning to sport after injury also includes returning to drills, then non-contact scrimmaging, then contact practice games, and only then returning to regular season games plus/minus playoffs/tournaments.  Truly applying WT in a real-life self-defense scenario maybe more akin to a crucial scoring chance in triple OT during a Game 7 NHL stanley cup final, when your adrenaline is rushing and it really counts.


Progressive Wing Tsun Kung Fu Training Program
And so, here is a proposed pyramid for WT training:

Yes, we do work through all of these levels in all aspects of our training.  But think of it like any pyramid concept, wherein the bottom foundations support the top.

To finish off, I'll list important aspects of rehabilitation listed in that same textbook:
- muscle conditioning
- flexibility
- neuromuscular control (balance, proprioception)
- functional exercises
- sports skills
- correction of abnormal biomechanics
- maintenance of cardiovascular fitness
- psychology
I'll just leave them here, for your own thoughts about about how these aspects may also relate to your WT training.

Happy training!