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The Freebie
This article was a discussion in class a few days ago and I liked it so
well , we are going to put it on the net.
The freebie starts with the concept that is rooted in most martial arts,
and is part of the Wing Chun theory. In Wing Chun we teach the inside and
outside gates of the body. If a person can be taught to block not only the
first punch but the second and or third punch to achieve the goal of a
free punch or attack without getting hit this is truly a work of art.
Wing Chun teaches to look for the inside trap or the outside throw that is
to wild to control. Using this allows one to step in or to the side and be
able to deliver a devastating blow or attack .
Here we must look at the possibility of the attack and defense fighting
principal number 9 is very strong here. Wing Chun teaches that one must
train to use the yin, yin, yang idea in fighting. Where yin is blocking or
passive. And yang is attacking or aggression.
Lets look at facing a boxer or street fighter in the street. Your opponent
is going to come hard and fast throwing punches all the way in as they
attack.
Here we must by pass the afore mentioned rule a little bit and maybe wait
for the third or fourth punch. We need to use fighting principle number 18
( timing) to the best of it’s ability. Waiting for the right moment to
step forward or to shift in a tight and very fast pace situation is very
difficult indeed. But the rewards are great for he who waits.
Ok lets look at it . Your opponent approaches you and insist on something.
Money, wallet, credit cards, if you are a women maybe something more.
Anyway you say no and now you must defend yourself. Now we look for the
first attack. Usually a person will strike first with there weaker side (
left ) and than the power punch ( right ) but one never really knows. he
idea is to look for the second strike and /or third strike. We must accept
that it is not going to stop with one strike. One must look through his
attack without anticipating the next move but waiting for it to happen.
Here ones, pak da and chi sau training really takes hold. Moving through
the attack to reach the inside gate is the goal, striking the sternum at
this point or shifting to the left or right and step to the side of your
opponent is really the heart of your attack. Look at the fact that in
practice we use very little energy and it is hard to get a true feel of
movement. In reality the force (energy) of your opponent will be throwing
massive force and energy at you. This is where the wait comes in. One
needs to wait till the strike is already pass the point of no return. Than
you need to act towards that energy. In Wing Chun we teach that you should
be moving at the same time your opponent is moving. So here you must look
at the movement ( energy ) of your opponent. Your timing must be practiced
till it becomes as natural as breathing.
The wait I speak of is a little confusing to all. Lets look at the waiting
period. What is it and when is it. The waiting period is that time it
takes for your opponent to strike, and you block that strike. That half a
second, or quarter of a second, that it takes for your opponents strike to
reach its full extension, and you now move into or shift to the inside or
outside of your opponents motion. The longer one waits and than defends is
to your advantage and allows you to control that moment in time. Which
allows you to control the situation. This action is taught to oneself by
allow your opponent in Practice to throw punches and strikers at you and
you practice waiting that half a second to block this strike. This has to
be practiced all the time and continued until the strike is but a fraction
of inch from you’re face /or stomach. This is the true martial art of Wing
Chun.
Practice Practice Practice is the only way one can learn how to have the
action. Notice I say action, not reaction. That is because in Wing Chun we
act upon the opponents action. We do not react to his action, because that
time is to slow.
God Bless
Sifu Howard Unrein
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