Class

Sorry for no class last week.  I've been programming in a new language at work, and it's destroyed my brain.

I also skipped the week before last's blog! Well it weren't nothin' special.  Just some chi sao starting from out fighting. We'll be doing that every class from now on.  That's the best way to practice because it's the most realistic!

I've got 3 ranges down for knife throwing, and when I say down, I mean I can hit about 60% of the time :)

Saturday classes have started back! I went camping this last week though, as it's probably the last of the season.  Nothing like backpacking that trains you for kung fu. Clears the mind, and resets the soul.

Dancin'

I skipped a class!  yeesh.

I have 2 lessons now on video that I haven't edited yet :(

Both Lessons were similar anyways.  It's all about the footwork.

Often you'll hear people say that kicks do not exist in Wing Chun, or that they're not used very often. Nothing could be further from the truth.  The fact of the matter is, you are always kicking in Wing Chun.  Just like you're always punching.

In order for the triangle/wedge theory to actually work, we need to be creating a wedge with actual energy in it. To do this, you need to push your spring out to the edge of your triangle continuously. You don't necessarily have to chain punch or kick constantly, but you do need to be focused on the point of your wedge and be conscious of putting your hands and feet there. Focus.

The reason this class is titled "Dancin'", is that Wing Chun's foot work can be akin to dancing.  When an opponent steps back, depending on the distance, you either kick to fill the gap created or step forward and keep contact.  Think of your opponent like a gravity well.

Alternatively, when the opponent moves forward you do not move back.  If their center is gravity, then you begin to orbit.  The foot work here is the same as it is with the hands.  If you move your hand into your opponents arm, you have to roll your wrist around that arm to free your hand to move toward the target.  The same can be said about the feet.  If your opponent moves forward and you orbit around while continuing to move towards their center of gravity, then your foot will hit their foot or leg. When this happens, you must roll your foot around your opponent to get to your target, which is their center.

I think the reason people don't consider kicking a part of Wing Chun, is that most chunners practice Chi Sao without kicks. There might be some leg work done there, but it's usually fine tuned after the hands can work by themselves, which really takes a long time.  So often people only observe someone just starting out.

Hopefully these Fall months will be full of good kicks and Wing Chun kicking! :D

Chi Sao return

We had a great class last Wednesday! A good return for Ryan and David to the world of Kung fu.  All basic stuff and great!  I'm excited for Fall and moving into the 2nd form.

My goal for this Fall season is to learn the wooden dummy form and get knife throwing to some semblance of consistency. 

Still haven't edited all the video Tyler and Katelyn made.  Life is so busy!

No class today

There's no class today (my parents are flying in from TN), but Mike and I did some chi sao at work.  His years of Kempo really lend a hand into applying the theories of Spring. I'm interested in seeing him back in the class working with the other students after 2 weeks of micro training twice a day.

I'll be putting up a video from the last class sometime this week! Haven't had time to edit due to the parents coming up here.

Go With the Flow

Last night's drill required me to teach James how to kick properly Wing Chun style. It was definitely less of a drill and more of an open form approach to going through different fight ranges.

Out fighting
- Close the gap between you and your opponent (gap meaning the distance between where you can physically contact)
- Visually look for openings by looking for areas their hands aren't, where their weight is distributed, what stance they're in, etc...
- Maintain your structure, spring, and isolation as you move in
- Angle your attack so that when you move in, you've put further distance between yourself and one of your opponents sides (so move to the right or left to lower the threat of one of their arms/legs)

In fighting
- now you're in punch/elbow/knee kick/etc range of your opponent
- once you've closed the gap, stick to your opponent by keeping your intent/spring/forward energy on your attacker's center and keeping yourself balanced and straight up and down
- attack through your center-line to defend yourself and stay offensive
- never stop moving around your opponent (why would you want to ever face your opponent straight on when you can attack their back?)
- imagine the end of your center-line as a fulcrum that you rotate around your opponent with

Grapple (head grabs/arm bars/knee control/etc...)
- once you have adequately moved your structure into your opponent, there are soooo many options.
- depending on where your arms/legs end up when you move into your in fighting, you can move your opponent by using leverage, grabbing their head, dropping your weight, headlocks, ankle breaks, knee kicks, arm bars, etc...

While talking to Mike at work, a great way to describe how your spring should be applied towards an opponent was discovered.  If your opponent were incorporeal while also being a source of gravity, then throwing an object at them would go through them, then come back at them from the other side. It's not complete, but it's a good approach.

In other words, if you were to punch your opponent without being blocked, you would essentially move your hand through your opponent, effectively knocking whatever you hit back. (i.e. the head/torso/etc...) then your hand would reset to where it belongs, but not without being tugged on by the gravity of your opponent, which in turn pulls you into them again.  This is chain punching 101 all the way up to grand master.  The spring is so hard to understand in motion, and even harder to put into practice. Always applying energy toward your opponent is so counter intuitive to what is instinctual to our survival.

Also, I got a dummy made of steel.  It belonged to Ed Hart, which was Bruce Lee's 2nd student.  Does that mean Bruce got a shot at it? I would like to think so :) Kung Fu artifact gives +1 to learning.

Knife throwing and interrupting attackers

Wanna see the nerdiest Kung fu trainer in the world? Watch the video attached hahah. Music is from Mulan. High socks with shorts is from white guys everywhere.

http://youtu.be/XEQ1RRJGuWM

We practiced throwing knives today, and it was pretty great. Everyone did exceptional with the help of mike, who lent us his 11 years experience with kenpo! Thanks buddy :)

The Kung fu drill was a bit secondary, as the knife throwing was just too much fun, but I did make up a good drill to light practice multiple attackers. 

Lap Sao interruption:

1. Start your hand over hand

2. Have someone else punch you

3. Step out of the range of the first attacker while creating a new centerline that wedges out the new attackers punch

4. Return to hand over hand! Viola

Super thanks to katelyn and Tyler, who shot and edited everything!

Light Chi Sau

David is incredibly unlucky.  He has been sick more than anyone I know this summer :( He still showed up though!

We did light chi sau last night. My buddy Mike from work showed up, which was incredible.  He has a wealth of knowledge coming from kempo, and it was interesting to watch his interaction with the rest of the guys.  There is such a marked difference between wing chun and other styles (particularly our wing chun).  I can't wait for more sparring and outsider interaction.

What people understand about wing chun but have a hard time implementing:
1. spring - energy emanating from your solar plexus towards opposing energy
2. structure - keeping your hands in your center (not pulling them back or to the side/etc..)
3. isolation - the best way to keep your balance is to keep you spine straight up and down
    - I noticed in videos that I struggle with this! My natural posture is to hunch slightly.  I think it's cause I'm so lanky

It sounds easy, but making your default action come from these theories takes time, understanding, and devotion.