S'been a while.

I'm getting older. My reflexes are nowhere close to where they were when I was in my 20's, having just been promoted to instructor. (The equivalent rank in other martial art systems would have been Black Sash 1st Degree.)

Back to the story. I'm getting older. It's only now that I have come to realize how many of the techniques I know are empty. I'm not belittling the knowledge, only hoping to refine it. In my earliest studies in Wing Chun, I learned all of the characteristic techniques that define our method of study, pak da, bong lop da, lin wan choi, lut sau, and others. Now that I no longer have the speed to place these techniques out there, I must rely on a fundamental knowledge of the inherent structure of my own body and speed of my mind. I understand now that techniques were NEVER the point of my lessons, but they were a means to grasping the true knowledge in the forms.

The first form is not called "Dragon Slays the Village" or something scary and threatening like it, but "Littl Idea." The form is better understood as HOW to place the hands instead of WHERE to place them. It is the seed of all kung fu power, speed, and thought. The most advanced kung fu I know is found in its opening three movements.

1. Root yourself to the ground.
2. Let the hands seek the target propelled outward by the power of the rooted stance.
3. Define the length of your reach.

All techniques are based on these thoughts. If they are present in your practice, the techniques you use will not need to be fixed positions with prefabbed follow-ups. Thus, the non-techniques will be harder for your opponent to counter.

Thoughts about defense

I was explaining to a business colleage of mine that studying a martial art is quite rewarding but that there is no need to do so if your goal is purely survival in the real world. I have conducted personal protection (rape prevention) seminars for the last 15 years, and it amazes me how many people think that they are learning some ancient Chinese secret when I teach self-defense tactics.

A person can protect himself or herself without knowing the secrets of the ages. Most of the techniques that are touted in the corner martial arts academy are little more than tricks that work. Please do not think that I disapprove. Tricks that work are good to know. Tricks that save your life still save your life. I only want the casual student to know that it would be best for you to aquire one or two tricks to keep in your arsenal and to work on them from time to time with the mindset that this trick may save your life.

Straight-forward Art

Many people in Wing Chun circles talk about the importance of keeping the hands on the center line of the body when practicing first form. I, on the other hand, have found that this idea of placing the hands on the center is secondary to the idea that they hands should be moving (or have the intension of moving) forward at all times. Please, don't get me wrong. The idea of occupying the center line of an opponent is another foundational idea in the Wing Chun system, but it is not the first idea expressed in the first form.

Many teachers and students of Wing Chun have over-rated the importance of placing the hand on the center line in such a way as to make its placement uncomfortable, unnatural, and even impractical. If your first concern is to place your hand on the center, you miss the energetics required to correctly practice chi sau training. I have touched hands with people so concerned with pinching the elbow into the center line that they can not extend their hands forward as required by the drills that lead to entry level chi sau.

If the first idea is to move forward, toward the center of an opponent, the hand will be placed on the opponent's center line, but its placement will not impede the power to penetrate the center and thus move the opponent. Elbow position is not to be pinched toward your own center, but pointing in a downward direction. With the elbow pointing down and the wrist on the opponent's center, your body has all of its mass behind the strike as it extends freely forward.

Why start a Wing Chun blog?

I have, for some time, been teaching Ving Tsun (also spelled Wing Chun) kung fu. This art continues to teach me, and I still find its lessons fascinating. My students are few, but loyal, and very accepting of my philosophy toward learning and teaching martial arts.

I teach from my home, charging a poultry amount. I learned some time ago that if I charge nothing, nobody comes to class. My students do not earn ranks or titles, but are there to continue to build strong kung fu. As a matter of fact, the way that they do this is to help each other build strong kung fu. We take our study very seriously, but we have a lot of fun (as is often the way in a small family) and try to train in a light-hearted and comfortable environment.

I teach from my home in Lawrenceville, GA. I am finishing out my basement with the studio as the centerpiece. I will be glad to discuss teaching anyone 18 or over who wants to learn. Please call me at 770 876-3771 or email me Steven@LittleIdeaLLC.Com to ask any questions. If you post questions here, I may be able to try to answer them.