AWCA Notebook

There are two updated videos now available: Siu-Nim-Tau Section 1 and Chum-Kiu Section 1. These are down-graded videos from our members-only resource section so I wanted to make them available on AWCAOnline.

The July Video of the Month is being re-filmed tomorrow due to the previous video having some uncorrectable audio problems, so look for that either Saturday afternoon or evening.

Note: Originally posted in a previous AWCA Weblog, Tuesday, May 16, 2006

With Wing Chun being primarily a fist-fighting method, sometimes it is difficult to deal with an opponent’s kicks. So how does our method approach this?

The first element to consider is the distance itself. A kicker can only use a kick if there is room “to” kick. So, when someone kicks, explode yourself directly into them and shorten the distance. This requires a great deal of footwork training targeted for forward stepping (what many call “entering drills”).

Basically, an entering drill is getting from point A to point B as quickly, efficiently, and protectively as possible. We term this as “blasting” or “exploding” forward in order to envision the correct action, and the body’s weight distribution must be checked so that we are not sacrificing our own structure during this forward motion.

I heard a story some years ago that a famous Wing Chun ancestor spent quite a few years (yes, years) doing nothing but entering drills. And afterwards, he became undefeatable because the fight was over in a matter of seconds.

Along with stepping, we also have to consider the upper body. Closing the gap means nothing if we are getting pummeled on the way in; therefore, we have to consider this decreased distance when encountering a kick.

For example, our opponent has initiated a roundhouse kick. We exploded forward into them, thereby decreasing the distance, which in turn removes a great deal of the kicking power (without reaching extension, the kick is still in motion. It then becomes more of a “push” and has not built up the momentum necessary to release its full power).

What “should” our arms be doing? In this example, we utilize basic concepts from section 3 of the Siu-Nim-Tau, with the primary two concepts being Gwat-sau (Wiping-arm) and Lau-sau (Scooping-arm).

Gwat-sau acts somewhat like a windshield wiper, “wiping” the kick out of the path. However, the problem is that sometimes a practitioner will wait too long and then have to deal with the forward momentum generated when a kicker’s body lurches forward.

Instead, just as contact is made, it is a two-fold combinational concept: Gwat-sau still “wipes” but now the arm also immediately lifts (Lau-sau, or “Lifting-arm“).

By doing so, the defender has effectively blocked the kick and is now lifting the leg straight up, and from here a lot of things are taking place.

With the leg being driven upwards due to our lift, and because we are still blasting forward, our opponent has two choices: 

1. He can attempt to strike with his fists, or 
2. He gets dumped to the ground

While striking seems like it would be the first choice, the sheer velocity at which we are exploding forward makes this virtually impossible; therefore, we continue the forward attack and drive him up and back.

Some schools teach an additional concept, such as simultaneously stepping in with the back leg while lifting and taking the opponent over that leg to the ground (in essence, dropping him in place on his back or neck). It sounds complicated, and it does take a bit of training; but once you “got it,” you would be surprised at how easy it is employ it.

In fact, it becomes so fast and simple, you wonder why anyone would even attempt to kick above the knee or thigh (and for many, that is why they don’t, and it is also why “we” don’t, either).

Originally posted by AWCA @ 5/16/2006 03:19:00 PM

Day 1 consisted of Chum-Kiu. The form, the concepts, and movements associated with the “Arm-Seeking” form were explored in great detail, especially sections 1 and 2. With a variety of skill levels in attendance, as well as experienced practitioners in other arts, it was a great time of turning, angling, “connecting” the upper and lower bodies, and working kicks, elbow, and knees.

Some of the more interesting facets of Chum-Kiu involves how to glean the most power out of short-range actions, and this intermediate form certainly includes that. By the end of the day, everyone was drenched with sweat and worked their tails off, that’s for sure.

By far, kicking and torquing seemed to be the most well-accepted point of training. Many practitioners work the upper body so much that sometimes it seems that they forget that footwork is how we get to where we want to be, when we need to be there.

After the day’s training, that particular point was hammered home (almost literally) and everyone walked (well, sort of “limped”) away with a brand new sense of appreciation for Chum-Kiu.