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!

City Wing Tsun!

New post, back dated to event date of 2013 July 27th!

Bustling crowds on 7th... 1028, 1026, aha.  Found it.  I extend my neck and gaze upwards, searching for the large banner draped across a background of bricks.  Yes this was the right place.  The cool NBA-esque logo.

A full-fledged WT gym in North America is hard to come by. How about one with 2 floors? Yes, that's right... City Wing Tsun in New York, run by Sifu Alex Richter.

Since I happened to be in NYC for a mini-vacation, I wanted to visit this famous school.

Greeted by Sifu Nicole on the 1st floor, I was then led up to the 2nd floor with the Big A$$ fan (literally!) to say hi to Sifu Alex.

I could picture 30, 40 plus bodies just sweating it out, training hard... and trying to keep cool.



We took this photo.  I promised I wouldn't use this photo to claim that I had received 100 hours of private instruction from Sifu Alex Richter.  Rather, it was truly really taken after he taught me the super-secret concepts and techniques of the 4th WT form... all within that 10 minute visit.  J/k, it was a good chat, and I got some tips about good eats in NYC too!

The next time I'm in NYC, I hope to actually train and visit group classes, and have some non-imaginary private instruction.

If you ever have a chance to visit City Wing Tsun and do some training, I'd be jealous!

Wing Tsun 2012 Review Seminar - Part 1

This past seminar in April by Sifu Ralph Haenel of Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver, hosted by Si-Hing Philip of Golden Monkey Martial Arts Club, was once again enlightening.

Great training partners as usual, with Mike, Sia, Sifu Steve. And such warm sunny weather, making it all the more enjoyable.

A proposal:

All of the "moves" in Wing Tsun with the word 手 ("sau", hand) should be replaced with the word 身 ("sen", body).

Time and time again at various seminars and classes, Sifu Ralph repeats concepts about using the body, sinking the weight, being mindful of the anchors to the ground, etc.

What does this all mean?

In 2008, after a Wing Tsun seminar in Calgary by Sifu Ralph, the blog entry was about "moving the body." The main points in that post were about freeing yourself and not being shy about moving. In this blog post about the most recent seminar, "moving the body" can mean two concepts:

1. Having your body weight behind your technique
2. Moving or shocking the core body weight of the opponent

"Moving the body" can also mean:
3. Slipping through the barriers
4. Giving way but eating up space
5. Utilizing the 3 axes of rotation and 6 degrees of freedom
...

So, a tan sen or lan sen should be formed not only by the hand but with the body as well, and having structure behind it. A gan sen or gwat sen should shock the opponent's core, A pak sen or a fak sen should move the opponent's body. Just some examples.

That's the proposal. All the 手's being changed to 身's!

Except perhaps 黐手 ("chi sau"), because that would mean we train 黐身 ("sticky body")... and even if we do train "sticky body" with our shoulders or chest for example, that name is just not appealing and wouldn't attract too many students...

Defending against the roundhouse punch

This seems to be a common topic of discussion for many self-defense situations. The search for solution is apparent in many youtube videos from WC to VT to WT.

Examples:





I definitely like the ideas and have trained similarily.

In fact, I remember initially learning about the body mechanics of training against a roundhouse punch. Chum kiu step, palm strike or punching with the inside hand, and the outer tan/fook sau as a barricade. The key was to be close and driving the center. Later on, I've also learned about driving into the source of the punch at the shoulders, shocking the opponent's core, etc.

But - it's hard to do! Especially with a strong opponent.

Also, I've realized that a good roundhouse puncher would not necessarily telegraph that obviously. If in close quarters, with a short turn of the waist and boom, the punch is there!

And, sometimes, the force is so great that the arm may just loop around, hinge at the elbow and clip you in the face, with a good amount of force there still.

Demos of defense against a telegraphed roundhouse punch are similar to demos of defending against an ugly poorly timed slow spinning back kick. Yawn.

It's hard to defend when done the attack is done well.

Here's a good video by a WT practitioner I've only met through some recent videos this year - Sifu Riis:



Here's another video of him:



That video reminded me of meeting Sifu Ralph for the first time, when I learned that the classical WT defensive starting position can be too "perfect".

Sifu Riis seems to impart a similar sarcastic humour as Sifu Ralph:



Happy training!

If I were to learn a martial art for self-defense...

I have been attending a teaching course, the most recent one being about effective presentation skills. One of the recent assignments was to do a 10 minute talk on a topic of our choice.

I decided to do a talk about Wing Tsun Kung Fu. It was a combination of powerpoint slides to outline the history of WT, a short demo of the four principles of combat and strength, and a worksheet/handout.

One of the pre-presentation questions on the worksheet was to complete the following sentence:

If I were to learn a martial art for self-defense, I would want it to be...

These were the answers from the group:
- non strength dependent
- easy to learn
- proven effectiveness
- non-violent
- easy to apply

And also a footnote: *in an unfit person

Does your training fit with this small survey of answers?

Happy training!