Tom E

at #7379

I think it’s differentiated from explosive energy in that explosive energy is how much force you can generate in a short burst, where as shocking energy is more like when you talk about how quick you can turn it off. So in a way you can’t have shocking energy without explosive energy, but explosive energy that isn’t turned off quickly is not shocking energy.

Tom E

at #7373

I’ve actually put together a “sport medicine” kit, consisting of a small phial of Dit Da Jow (apparently a formula designed by Leung Jan), a bottle of Yunnan Baiyao, and a pouch of 10 40x.20 spring-handled needles

just in case someone gets injured or pulls a muscle in a class

Tom E

at #7111

Thank you, sifu. I will take care not to take the critisisms of others so personally.
I still would like to run those studies, though, if only for my own edification and that of other Wing Chun practitioners. Perhaps I can talk to one of my lecturers about getting set up to perform initial testing.

Tom E

at #7108

I suppose a lot of my feelings about this topic come from being so enamoured with Wing Chun, but seeing it constantly looked down upon by practitioners of other arts, and seeing other Wing Chun practitioners reduced to McDojo-esque practices and bickering about lineage.

I think a small percentage of criticisms hold validity in terms of outsiders looking in, but I believe they might be confused as to the efficacy of Wing Chun in situations of non-consentual violence given its lack of efficacy (or other arts’ proficiency) in situations of consentual violence (sparring, competition, street fights involving “squaring off”). Even though I am still only working toward my first grading, I have a (perhaps misplaced) desire to dispell some of the misconceptions held by other martial artists toward Wing Chun, and to raise its perception among those who seek to belittle it. I don’t necessarily think that they are correct, and so am not doing this out of fear or doubt (I’ve done a small amount of sparring with my fiancée as we’ve learned WC together, I know it works). I just think this art needs some positive voices and genuine, gracious proponents instead of the bickering, arrogant crab generals and prawn soldiers I see so much in the broader WC community.

Once again, I’m so thankful to have found a school that does not conform to those negative stereotypes. I am not arrogant enough to assume that it must be me who brings about change, or that the art needs saving by some hero, I merely wish to start a discussion and am glad that this discussion has been productive.

I truly believe myself to have been bettered by this art, and this conversation. This junior humbly thanks those involved for participating thus far.

I have some plans, based around my current studies of health science and chinese medicine, to perhaps run a series of research studies around WC, as the amount of scientific literature regarding it is breathtakingly small. I think it would help the perception, teaching, learning, practice, and application to have empirical evidence of the benefits and deficits of WC.

Tom E

at #7106

Thank-you for the reply, sifu. It is heartening to see that you seem amenable to the idea of pressure-testing WC when so many are dimissive of it. I’m glad that I’ve found, purely by chance, a style and school so suited to my own philosophies regarding martial arts.

I myself am learning both for self-improvement and -defence. I find martial arts to be similar to dancing or gymnastics (two groups with whom I refuse to ever fight) in developing fine muscular control, something I hold in high regard for various reasons. I have also, unfortunately, been in many situations of non-consentual violence (and have unfortunately acquired PTSD from these encounters), and so I also value highly the ability to defend myself should such situations continue to arise (god forbid).

As an unrelated aside: I recently formally started learning Kobudo, a subset of Karate focused on training the use of weapons. As I started learning the kihon, or basics, for bo I realised the base stance (fudo dachi) is just a bladed sarm bok mar. This, and that most of the basic attacks and blocks can basically be taken straight from siu lim tau seems like an extension of Karate’s origin in Kung Fu (again, particularly a (literal) sister style to Wing Chun: White Crane). The more I cross-train, the more I see Wing Chun being applied in different ways. I love this art so deeply.

Tom E

at #7101

That’s a great way of putting it, Lee. I’m fortunate enough that my fiancée has been training alongside me, so I have a partner at roughly the same skill level with whom I can freely drill and spar.

I just see a lot of Wing Chun practitioners who weakly handwave at the mere idea of actually pressure-testing techniques rather than drilling or chi sau, which was part of my original post.

I’m glad to read that you’ve been having success with both cross- and partner training. I feel like that is the method to achieving a true depth of comprehension.

Tom E

at #7093

A follow-up informed by sibling Lee C’s post: I cross train the arts I do because, like Lee, and Like Jesse Enkamp-sensei learning Muay Thai, White Crane (apparently also started by Ng Moi), Taekwondo, and so on: I see the Wing Chun within these arts. The style of Arnis I study uses the principles of simultaneous offence and defence, and Karate has a similar approach toward technique versatility “a block is a lock is a blow is a throw”.

Americans like to say the US is a “cultural melting pot”, which implies a homogeneous slurry. Canadians, on the other hand, refer to Canada as a “cultural mosaic”, a big picture made of distinct pieces. I think Wing Chun is best expressed as a mosaic rather than a slurry.

Tom E

at #6032

Hi all, warmest greetings from Australia.

I studied Taekwondo to black belt level many many years ago, and Wing Chun has reignited my passion for learning martial arts, to the point that my fiancée wanted to start training with me.

I myself am qualified in film and television production, and work as an audio editor; my fiancée is an education support worker specialising in children with disabilities. Training together gives us a great way to relax from work and spend time in each other’s company.

Tom E

at #7372

oh aye that’s what I get for posting at 1am

from what I can gather of geng ging, it magnifies the effects of most techniques, helping to disrupt balance and inflict penetrating trauma, as well as allowing a practitioner to rapidly change directions and chain techniques. Most Hakkanese arts train its use in all directions, whereas apparently most Wing Chun lineages only use it for straight punches, it’s intriguing to see it being used fully here and I’m really excited to put it to use as I learn more.

Tom E

at #7276

Not the most effective medium, but as requested here is a reminder to create a video blog entry.

Tom E

at #7271

And that last point is precisely why I’ve been studying TCM. I want to understand the physical mechanism that underpins what we’re learning here. To gain an insight into how to better myself that I may continue to learn well into the future.

Just wondering if there were any others here, too, that travel this well-trod path.

Tom E

at #7099

I understand the sentiment behind that post, sifu, but I feel like a lack of sparring leaves us unprepared for a non-compliant opponent. When I studied Taekwondo, we also were taught that we should aim our kicks at the knees and jab our fingers into the eyes. Our sparring included an exercise where the aim was to tap just beside our opponent’s eyes.

I merely feel like the scope of our training should include some exercises designed to prepare us for the situations in which Wing Chun is designed to be used – self-defence against a resisting partner who is actively trying to avoid our techniques and land their own – as opposed to “mannequin training” wherein one partner stops resisting after throwing the technique(s) relevant for the drill. If we can drill in relative safety, we should be proficient enough to spar in relative safety.

Forgive my stubbornness on this point if later sections of the syllabus do cover this.