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The purpose of Wing Chun Kung Fu is to lead you to be free and relaxed. This can never be achieved if you are tied physically and emotionally to techniques. You must free yourself from dependence on mechanical expression and trust your body, your Kung Fu, to protect yourself…
- Moy Yat (Wing Chun Grand Master)
As previously stated in my last blog, the purpose of these particular posts is the pushing and pulling from Northern and Southern Kung Fu Styles to find what best builds upon my strengths and give continuous awareness tothe weaknesses of my personal kung fu expression. Today's two styles are Tai Chi (Chuan) and Wing Chun.
From Tai Chi I pull the theory of balancing one's internal/external or one's hard and soft. The external t focusing on power and strength; the internal focusing on calm/piece/the continuous balance of the kung fu/warrior spirit. It reminds me to focus on my stillness, breathing, and not getting caught in the pull and impatience of my aggression.
I pull a lot from Wing Chun; it was the first kung fu system i seriously undertook. Many other styles focus on circular flow. Wing Chun is aggressive, linear, with a high focus on the efficiency of movement. (like me) My legs are my weaker expression of kung fu fighting; 60% of Wing Chun attacks are of the hands, focused on in fighting. Being a smaller man, I do not have the length of extension that other martial arts practitioners do. The focus on the efficiency of hand movements helps me focus on the openings extended attacks create so that i can use then to find/exploit the attacks of my oppnents.
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Tai Chi Chuan
-the yin and yang of combat
soft flowing yin
hard fast yang
Origins
-uses the yin/yang theory to form a high level internal martial art
-founder (popular legend) Taoist Priest: San Feng
-early Yuan Dynasty
-he observed a bird and snake engaging in a fight to the death
-impressed with the relaxation of both animals
-sometimes soft and gentle
-sometimes soft and fierce
-both focused on breathing
Chen Style
-two forms: old & new
-old style had difficult kicks and hard external actions (not suitable for the old/infirm)
-it was revised for those in the "new form"
3 Major Tai Chi Styles
-Chen: hard, soft, and recognizable kung fu patterns
-Yang: large/graceful circles (more easily understood)
-Wu: smaller circles, more throwing/pushing
(also a seldom used "Sun" Style)
-founder: Sun Lok Tang
-combined hsing-i/pa kwa
Commonalities Between All Styles
-soft is learned first (internal/flexibility)
-second, hard/fast/combative
-final stage is the combination of both
Thirteen Principles Common to All Styles
1. Peng (ward-off)
2. Lu (roll-back)
3. Chi (press)
4. An (push)
5. Tsai (pull-down)
6. Lieh (split)
7. Chou (elbow strike)
8. Kao (shoulder strike)
9. Chin (advance)
10. Tui (retreat)
11. Ku (look left)
12. Pan (look right)
13. Ting (center)
Tai Chi Push Hands
-two types: single handed toy sao & double handed
-both exercise 4 stages of power:
-ting ing "listen to the force"
-feel your opponent next to (across) from you
-"dong ging "
-understand and know their force
-"fa ging"
-disolve your opponent's force
-"fat ging"
-release your own attacking force
Body Mechanics
-power comes from the waist
-whole body must be relaxed
-elbows are always relaxed and down
-shoulders are dropped down
-hips are tucked in (pelvis lifted up)
-chest is relaxed/concave
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Wing Chun
-the shortest distance between two points
short straight strikes to the center-line of the opponent's body
Legend
-girl named Yim Wing Chun wanted to learn martial arts
-caught the attention of the Shaolin Nun: Ng Mui
-Ng Mui was impressed with Yim and agreed to teach her
-the shaolin she taught her had only 3 forms/was only self-defense techniques
The System of Wing Chun
-there are several different styles within the system
-the 3 common/popular styles seen today:
-"slant body" (practiced by Bruce Lee/Ip Man)
-3 hand forms/1wooden dummy
-"side body" (Sifu Fong Sun)
-"pao fa lein" (Liu Ta-Sheng"
-10 hand forms/4 wooden dummy
Efficiency
-aggressive
-concentrates on center-line attacks
-blocks are (essentially) attacks/redirection of opponent's energy for counters
-very close in-fighting position
-no circular movements
-60% of attack techniques are hand techniques
-40% feet (focuses on short low kicks)
Sticky Hands
-Chi sao (think push hands of tai chi)
-two practitioners face each other
-connect forearms/wrists in small circles
-a focus is to develop sensitivity in these areas to
in order to stay connected and therefor predict an
opponents attack
Weapons
-traditional forms contain few weapons
-staff & butterfly knives
-pao fa lein contains the general kung fu aresenal
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