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Understanding the Purpose Of Cross Arm Don Chi – Wing Chun Training

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Wing Chun is an amazing martial art. It has a very colorful history, throughout the years people have held to the idea that less is more. There are lots of politics in Wing Chun, though I am sure there are lots of politics in all the different martial arts.

What I believe separates Wing Chun from other martial art systems is that it relies on a persons skill to work rather than a persons strength.  If there is anything I learned in my own Wing Chun training it’s that patience is a virtue.

Often times I tell my own students that if you took someone who was doing MMA style fighting, they might fair better than someone who does TMA style fighting not because one is superior than the other, but because the MMA way of fighting is to get in the ring and start working it out. The TMA style of training is more interested if foundation is strong.

When I first started training, I struggled when I sparred against MMA (type) martial artist, I say type because many styles make up MMA… I only knew a handful of techniques in my first 5 years of training.  My sensitivity was still at a baby stage.  There is much more to this story that I will share at my other blog. For now though check out a new video we uploaded on the basics of Cross Arm Don Chi Sau

 

3 Things To Consider When Looking For A Wing Chun School

Learning How To Do The Wing Chun Jut Sao or Sau

 

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Chen Tai Chi (Taijiquan) Live Energy Resistant Partner

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It’s seems all over the internet you can find someone slamming traditional martial arts saying how they are outdated and non effective with today’s standards. It’s refreshing to see that traditional martial arts like Tai Chi holding it’s own against modern day martial art styles.

I am sure there will be some people that say this doesn’t look real. Or they may something along the lines of I would do x, y and z so that stuff wouldn’t work. Rather than trying to convince someone that what they are seeing is the real thing. I invite the person not to judge based on one or two personal experiences.

Martial art skills takes a life time to master. Learning to develop internal martial art skill takes much longer to truly develop than does learning external martial art skill. Some would say why waste time learning something that takes many years to be good at.

The reason is because being fast and strong will only take you so far in combat. At some point someone will be bigger stronger and faster than you. This video clearly demonstrates the difference between brute force vs internal martial skill.

Notice in the video how the big guy is breathing very very heavily while the smaller guy doesn’t even look a little winded.  I am the type of martial artist that believes you should have an open mind when your training. That you should really use all the tools at your disposal.

There is merit in developing your external skills as well as your internal skills. The martial artist that limits themselves to following only one way of thinking limits their own martial art growth.

Maybe 100 years ago you where limited to what you could learn.

 

…Now It’s Your Turn

What has your experience been dealing with internal martial arts?

 

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3 Things To Consider When Looking For A Wing Chun School

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I recently got an interestingly email the other day from a subscriber who asked me how if there was a way to tell the difference between a watered down Wing Chun school vs a *Real Wing Chun School. Interestingly it’s not the first time I’ve heard this questions.

Here is what you need to consider when looking at schools:

1. Is the basis of training internal or external. Another words can the techniques being taught be effective if you where a 5ft 2in 103lb lady? If there is one thing that I see often it’s that many of the technique’s taught today would not be effective for a small woman.

2. It all comes back to energy. Does the “Sifu” understand how energy works with the body and can that person express it within their actions? When I first met Sifu Phu Ngo I was taken back not because he hit me really hard. Not because he was fast or flashy. It was because he was able to take any amount of energy/force I threw at him and easily control it and me. He didn’t have to hurt me to get his message across.

3. Linage really doesn’t matter. What matters is that the “sifu” is in a constant state of growth. I’ve been doing martial arts my whole life and I am always learning new ways to do things.

The essense of Wing Chun is “Simply To Simplify”. Real wing chun isn’t flashy. It’s quick and efficient. Pretty much all Wing Chun linages can be effective. It really does come down to the person teaching it.

Look for a person who can explain the how’s and why’s. One final thought is this. If you feel like the only reason someone is beating you is because they are bigger or stronger than you. Then you are not learning proper Wing Chun.

Ultimately you won’t know what you are getting yourself into until you take a class or two and “FEEL” out the instructor. It’s important that where ever you decide to go train that you take the time to learn what is being taught to you.

A good teacher will teach you based on your personal ability. Even a good teacher can’t help a bad student. Always do your part and train &  practice hard.

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