I’ve finally had enough of wing chun. I’ve trained for a 8yrs but feel unsatisfied at my current progress and have no motivation..It seems the instructor that I was training with seems to hold things back and I’m unimpressed by the other wing chun instructors in my area.
Thinking of taking thai boxing and escrima.Any of you wing chun guys practice these arts? Do you use “wing chun concepts” when you practice these arts?
After 8 years in ANY MA, you should be able to kick ass and take names.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;956391]After 8 years in ANY MA, you should be able to kick ass and take names.[/QUOTE]
But what if your 147 lbs and 5ft 9 and not a natural athlete ?
One of the things that attracted me to wing chun was the idea that a smaller person could beat a bigger guy but this is more difficult in practise !
[QUOTE=IRONMONK;956395]But what if your 147 lbs and 5ft 9 ?
One of the things that attracted me to wing chun was the idea that a smaller person could beat a bigger guy but this is more difficult in practise ![/QUOTE]
(Note to self, and to sanjuro ronin, do not get involved in another size doesn’t matter argument)
You might find you use aspects of your wing chun in Thai boxing, (especially in the clinch work were any sensitivity you have gained will be a big help) but ultimately they are different styles so at the very least if you are fed up it will be a change and might be just what you need
Where are you based? Find another teacher further afield?
!!!
Good and knowledgeable wing chun teachers are not easy to find.
As far as sensible dialogue on many subjects specially martial arts and most specially wing chun- this quote is perceptive:
“The velocity and volume on the Web are so great that nothing is forgotten and nothing is remembered,” says Leon Wieseltier, the literary editor of The New Republic. “The Internet is like closing time at a blue-collar bar in Boston. Everyone’s drunk and ugly and they’re going to pass out in a few minutes.”
Start your engines!
joy chaudhuri
[QUOTE=IRONMONK;956390]I’ve finally had enough of wing chun. I’ve trained for a 8yrs but feel unsatisfied at my current progress and have no motivation..It seems the instructor that I was training with seems to hold things back and I’m unimpressed by the other wing chun instructors in my area.
Thinking of taking thai boxing and escrima.Any of you wing chun guys practice these arts? Do you use “wing chun concepts” when you practice these arts?[/QUOTE]
First: I’m really sorry. I went to a karate/kung-fu mix of a school. They watered things down and held me back for 8-9 years. It wasn’t until I got more martial arts exposure and matured in my early 20’s that I realized that I hard partly wasted my time. I feel your pain!
Like SR said, 8 years is a bit much. When you look at more of the ‘pressure-tested’ arts, you’ll see that within 1-2 years, you’re banging with the big boys. I can see the issue…if you get back into Wing Chun, you’ll want to fast track and make it work. And part of you has been let down, so it honestly might be easier to just switch arts.
So the way I see it, you’ve got a few options:
Wish you all the best in your journey,
K
[QUOTE=IRONMONK;956395]But what if your 147 lbs and 5ft 9 and not a natural athlete ?
One of the things that attracted me to wing chun was the idea that a smaller person could beat a bigger guy but this is more difficult in practise ![/QUOTE]
I’m 6’1 and 150lbs. I started Wing Chun in 97. I trained for 5 years, and was feeling pretty good about my striking skills, then promptly got demolished by an internal stylist. So I checked out Tai Ji, Xing Yi, and Ba Gua. It was cool, and I took some classes, but the instructor kept mentioning this guy in town who did a form of Zi Ran Men, and eventually suggested that I go train that. So I found the guy, and boy am I ever glad I did!
From my experience, training in another art will not “degrade” your Wing Chun; on the contrary, I find that the more I learn, the more perspective I get on what Wing Chun is and how it’s meant to develop skill.
Wing Chun was often described to me as an art that you would traditionally learn once you had a strong MA/fighting background. It’s only somewhat recently that Wing Chun has been taught as a base art/skill set.
My recommendation: If you have any internal schools in the area, check them out… otherwise, your Muay Thai/MMA idea sounds good! Maybe consider Judo as well?
I don’t feel my training has been a complete waste of time ..i think i’ve got a decent punch(used to be extremely featherfisted) and have used it successfully in a streetfight.
However, the last few years it seems that the instructor is holding back on the advanced techniques etc and as a result my progress has stagnated IMO
[QUOTE=IRONMONK;956434]I don’t feel my training has been a complete waste of time ..i think i’ve got a decent punch(used to be extremely featherfisted) and have used it successfully in a streetfight.
However, the last few years it seems that the instructor is holding back on the advanced techniques etc and as a result my progress has stagnated IMO[/QUOTE]
What sorta of advance techniques do you feel your lacking?
Also do you know all three hands forms?
You may need to begin to meditate, drill, test, and spar with new techniques.
Keep in mind that most instructors train WC as their lively hood. its a business. Plus they may not even have the advance techniques you seek. But you know what it doesn’t mind. So they may or may not want to give out all their trade secrets. If they even have any. Ha Ha. But after a while many techniques should be revealed to you by simply practicing, meditating and sparring with different people.
Seek out other WChunners in your area. Attempt to context with them and learn from one another. Also the video thing is good. Since you have a strong foundation you can look at videos and read insightful books on WC to increase your knowledge of your art.
[QUOTE=IRONMONK;956395]But what if your 147 lbs and 5ft 9 and not a natural athlete ?
One of the things that attracted me to wing chun was the idea that a smaller person could beat a bigger guy but this is more difficult in practise ![/QUOTE]
In 8 years of training in ANY MA that actually involves fighting, you should be able to fight, regardless of size.
If he’s holding back after all this time, get out of there.
If you’re not doing some serious contact sparring (including headshots) on a very regular basis, ie.- at least once a week, get out of there.
If you’re over the “I’m a small guy who’s looking for the silver bullet in order to beat bigger guys” idea (that lots of wing chun instructors try to sell), then get out of there and get into a Muay Thai, boxing, or kickboxing school that spars regularly.
This third option might be the best idea, as some exposure to other striking systems like the ones I mentioned would be good for you sooner or later anyway - as it would expand your striking horizons for the better even if you were satisfied with your present school.
Are you at liberty to say who the Sifu is? Have you sat down and talked to your Sifu about how you feel? If so, what was his response? Do you do anything more than just attend class - hang out at his house, get together with others after class or other days?
I don’t agree that after 8 years you should be anything but yourself. Time goes by quickly. I have seen those claiming to be in martial arts for over 10 years and they can’t fight at all. Keep in mind that you train martial arts for a goal. You should be charting milestones. There are good instructors and bad ones. but make sure you have made yourself heard. Remember, your Sifu has many students but you have only one Sifu.
Do you have any relationship with a Sihing who can show you these “advanced” techniques you think the Sifu is holding back?
What is being withheld?
[QUOTE=IRONMONK;956390]I’ve finally had enough of wing chun. I’ve trained for a 8yrs but feel unsatisfied at my current progress and have no motivation..It seems the instructor that I was training with seems to hold things back and I’m unimpressed by the other wing chun instructors in my area.
Thinking of taking thai boxing and escrima.Any of you wing chun guys practice these arts? Do you use “wing chun concepts” when you practice these arts?[/QUOTE]
A famous Wing Chun Sifu has said many times if you don’t have a good WC teacher in your area learn from whatever style you can find that has a good teacher. Whats good for one person isn’t good for another.. so try the thai boxing and escima see if you like it. I know a few people that do kali or whatever its called.. I can’t figure out the differences.. but they both have triangle style footwork and many similarities .. but also many differences. It really depends on the style of WC you are leaving.. The thai boxing personally from experience will be hard. The footwork is very different. Depending on the style of Thai boxing you may be doing allot of different things. Thai boxing may be more for you.. keep a open mind.
[QUOTE=chusauli;956485]What is being withheld?[/QUOTE]
the more finer details
for example every time i ask about short power he will give a vague explanation
And you’d be wise to take that vagueness at face value, regardless of his motivations.
Because focusing on short power is just that: short. On practicality. Because you need to develop power in all kinds of strikes, whether they be short, medium, or long range. It’s not practical to think that short range power is all you’ll need.
For example, the one inch punch is nonsense. And throwing chain punches from just 6-8-10-12 inches away is also limited in what it will do for you. Throwing any kind of punch that never travels more than 12 inches or so will never cut it.
You want to be able to fight well?
Then you better develop power with all kinds and ranges of punches (and other strikes).
If you have not developed strong confidence in your fighting skills after 8 years, I seriously doubt that Thai boxing or some other fighting form is going to be any better for you. If you feel as if your fists are feathery, buy yourself a pair of brass knuckles. They add lots of power to your punch.
If you looking for MA where you can use your WC skills… you would need closerange internal/external art…hmmmmmmmmmm what comes to mind … Five Ansestors (WuZuQuan http://www.wuzuquan.com/homepage.asp)
If you intersting PM me for details I try and find info on clubs near you…
[QUOTE=Lee Chiang Po;956512]If you have not developed strong confidence in your fighting skills after 8 years, I seriously doubt that Thai boxing or some other fighting form is going to be any better for you. If you feel as if your fists are feathery, buy yourself a pair of brass knuckles. They add lots of power to your punch.[/QUOTE]
I have confidence in my skill and I still like wing chun but I’m paying money for classes when I could get the same training effect just by training myself and with a training partner.