A Different Point Of View (Part 1)

What is your opponent thinking?

 

In these two blogs I would like to offer you some alternative trains of thought for your training, starting with that of trying to view the drill, the Form or the combat training, from the other persons perspective.

 

In a game of cricket, no one wants to be the fielder, standing alone in a field waiting to see if anything happens, or in a game of football, rarely will anyone say, “Please can I go in goal?”, but here is the issue, that fielder and that goalie are crucial to the success or defeat of that team.

 

So make time to respect the little things in your Wing Chun, appreciate the drills and the basics, for it is these that will define your long-term development.

 

 

Take one small cog out of a watch and it will cease to work.

 

 

To give an example of this, when you are running Pak Sau drills and you go for the Pak, on occasion stop, just before you make the Pak, and see if your partner is flinching, preparing themselves to be hit.

 

This happens a lot, either almost jamming the Pak without knowing it, purely because they (or their ego) do not wish to be moved, or through allowing their arm to drop in anticipation, therefore absorbing the power of the Pak.

 

What I am saying is that it is not so easy to do nothing and still remain focussed, just like that of the fielder or goalie.

 

When playing Dan Chi Sau, from the Tan position, how many of you are truly aiming for the chest with the palm strike?

 

‘Luk Sau Jic Kuen’ (Lost hand, straight punch), whether that palm strike is stopped by the Jum or not, this should never deter you from what your initial goal was, to strike, therefore when playing the Fook Sau side of this drill, do not block every palm strike, only then will you know if the intention was actually there.

 

This is the same for Lap Sau exercise, after you Lap, are you truly thinking of going for the punch and following a direct path, or are you simply trying to regain a contact with your partners Bong Sau?

 

This is the difference between good and exceptional, searching for perfection in whatever you do, no matter how insignificant it may sometimes appear.

 

So do not cut corners by rushing the things you consider not to be important, it may just make all the difference.

 

In Part 2 we look at your attitude to trading blows in Chi Sau, is it good or bad and should it be allowed or not?