I notice that when people think of Wing Chun, they instantly think of chain punches, and discussions on the merits of our “signature” attacking method inevitably develop.
However, from what I’ve learned, chain punching is actually a techniques to help one train punching and is not a technique that is used exactly as we train. By this I mean I was taught never to just try to pull of four or five straight punches at opponents but rather to always gum, lap, pak with each punch to avoid danger.
Chain punching is used in the JKD camp as a fighting technique, but as far as I know, Wing Chunners weren’t taught to use it that way. I see the advantage being that you quickly overwhelm the opponent with a flurry of aggressive attacks yet there is a chance of trading blows and opening yourself completely when chain punching away.
What are your opinions? I’m open to friendly discussion, no flaming please
I’ve been taught that it’s a great idea to “chain punch” 3-4 times if the opponent is stuned or the hands are otherwise neutriized, However rare the oppertunity.
I’ve alway thought that you fight like you train. So WC techs that you train with you fight with.
He is wrong because if you have the opprotunity to punch some one a few times in a row chain punching is the way to go…It is the quickest and most direct way to land spontanious punches…
I agree with you that chain punching should be used for training the punch , but I seriously doubt the realisticness and saneness of trusting in one punch to defeat an opponent.
Martial Joe
Chain punching works well against inexperienced fighters…good ones can take both arms and drop you into a lock or choke, kick you, or just step out of the way and punch you. Or even as you’re scoring hits, the guy could just get a shot in with EITHER free hand.
The way is never fully clear in a fight- that’s why we train trapping of an opponent’s limbs. Otherwise why train chi sao? Why don’t we just say to hell with contact and trapping, just chain punch any opponent to death?
Guys, I’m just going on what I believe currently. My opinion might change after you’ve pointed out otherwise but please try to convince me of your views. I’ve changed my views in the past so I’m open to it now as well. I just know from experience that chain punching is dangerous against experienced fighters, and punching someone once and expecting him to drop for good is too much confidence in one’s abilities for comfort. The one hit knockout doesn’t exist because there’s always somebody who can take more.
…what Sifu often calls “cumlitive blunt trama.” One good shot to the face may work, but im not gonna wait and find out. The next attack should be ready to launch as the first one hits home, and so on.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR> If you have to use more than one punch, then your punch is no good. If your punch is no good then your Wing Chun is not good.
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I’ve very little doubt that a well trained, un interupted punch could ko an ill prepared foe, but that doesnt mean that the next one isn’t still right behind the first.
Oh and the motion of (forgive my spelling) “len wan kuen” is comanly seen as chain punchs, but they could as well be palms, bius, bils
If your opponent “takes both of your arms”, then the way is not free. If he locks them, then you are not being soft enough, allowing your chi sao to work. If he steps out of the way, you should be right there with him or your footwork sucks.
all your points are valid but why open yourself up unnecessarily? you’re inviting the opportunity for you opponent to do these things when you don’t need to. Trading blows is a legit concern as most Wing Chun guys can’t take hits: “teet kiu sau, bor lay sum how” we have iron bridges but glass chests. Other styles such as Hung Gar and Muay Thai use hit conditioning as part of the style…Wing Chun practioners tend to think they can avoid getting hit if their technique is good enough. Not very realistic as even guys like Bruce Lee, Wong Sheung Leung, Joe lewis, Chuck Norris got hit. And I doubt most martial artists train like they did…
Lien Wan Kuen is the concept of consecutive striking, or chaining together a series of strikes. It is not necessarily limited to punching. I can use the concept of Lien Wan Kuen with my kicks, my knees, elbows, palm strikes, etc.
It is not just restricted to just one type of tool either. I can use a punch with the left hand, a horizontal elbow with my right arm, followed by a right shoulder butt. That is also lien wan kuen since I have strung together multiple strikes based upon what the opponent has given me. It is tied in closely with the concept of Mun Sao where each strike we do is a question. The opponent’s answer tells us what the next strike is. We decipher the opponent’s answer with our sensitivity.
Like a good billiard player who can control all the balls and the entire table, we seek to control our opponent’s center and his actions through touch so that we can set him up for each strike. Sometimes one strike is enough and sometimes we make a misjudgement, the opponent is better than we thought, or perhaps we slipped on some wet grass. In any case, we need to forget about the previous attempt and move on to the next one. Only with a clear mind and control of both ourselves and the opponent can we accomplish this. When our sensitivity detects an opening, we unleash the floodgates so that the little crack is wedged open with our body structure and cannot be closed again. Maintain the pressure so that the opponent cannot recover and is always one step behind in retreat.
Too often lien wan kuen is expressed solely as chain punching which is only one view of the concept. Worse yet, in the majority of WC that I have seen, it is expressed as an entry technique before contact has even been established or any openings have been made. I have been guilty of this during the earlier stage of my WC training.
IMHO.
regards,
Dz
[This message was edited by dzu on 07-15-01 at 11:34 PM.]
…are highly effective. Seen it myself. Someone pissed off a Wing Tsun practicioner (they tried to rob him). He chain-punched first man back, setting him up for a stomp kick to the knee and another chainpunch up against a lamp post put out potential robber #2.
That’s what I call effective… At least against untrained opponents. Might not work as well against other people with combat training.
As I see it,the wing chun punch is designed to attack and defend at the same time by occuping the centerline.It does not mean it is wise to open the machine like a sub-machine gun!(two or three punches are already hard to score) We should always remember to “hit when you should…do not hit when you should not!”…Fight with your mind first!
What’s up, Fellas? Been off the forum lately because of a busy work schedule. Wanted to throw in a couple before returning to work.
The chain punch can definitely be used in a street fight, but not the way some people use it - charging in from across the room chainpunching IMHO is wrong. These people get knocked out. The one way to ruin a nice technique is through lousy application. There is a time and place for everything.
My opinion (which has worked for me) is to chain punch after initial contact is made (close range) and sticking to your opponent by “pushing the horse” at the same time until the opponent is subdued. Two to three solid punches is usually adequate, unless the person you’re fighting is a real beast who can take multiple punches in the face.
