For the last three weeks I’ve been walking past my heavy bag (38kg) and practicing the “uprooting” technique that goes through the wrist into the fist but does not travel forward much at all. I get in my stance & just practice it, and I can send my heavy back rocking back with minimal movement, trying for about one inch. Been having a bit of success.
So yesterday I’m at work with my brother, and we’re talking about generating power from different ranges. I thought “Why not?” and asked him to put a phone book against his chest & set himself. My brother weighs nearly 120 kgs & is very solid. So I set my fist up touching the phone book, and not even so much as drawing it back from the book, I sort of “drive” (can’t think of a better word) my force through him while uprooting him at the same time. There was no way that my fist travelled more than an inch (if that) but my brother travelled about 5 and a half feet before he could get his balance.
Even if this isn’t the classical Wing Chun one inch punch, it sure as hell worked. I was too shocked to even try it again. My brother (not knowing anything about WC) said that there was no way he was sparring me-if I could generate that much power from that range, what could I do from a full armed swing?
I am totally stoked. I think that I’ve got the principle down, now all I need is for someone to teach me the form properly.
Wing Chun rules!
Are you sure it wasn’t a push?
Try repeating the punch - then whack your brother (through the phone book with a hammer) - I bet the hammer doesn’t knock him back much - which do you think would hurt more ?
It definately wasn’t a push. I couldn’t physically push my brother back that far from a 1 foot push, let alone a one inch one. My brother is really solid, and has a good foundation.
As to which would hurt more, up until yesterday I would have said the hammer.
But now I’m not so sure…
Are you skilled at the 1 inch punch popsider? Have you ever worn one? I’m not posting this to bring glory to myself, as I’m sure that 99% of the Wing Chun community can do it, but I’m just really surprised at the effect it had. And really happy.
I wouldn’t have gotten so excited over a push 
I heard that bruce lee one inch punched a boxer, and he went flying out of the ring. Is that true?
If its about Bruce Lee it must be true LOL:D
Nat from UK
1 inch punch
There is a common misconception about the so-called 1 inch punch. First of all, wing Chun teaches close power, but optimally about 4-6 inches is as close as you want to get unless you have no choice.
Bruce Lees 1 inch punch was mostly for show and there were some structural and mind tricks involved. He did at one point use it on a larger person and they fell over but that was probably due more to recieving a strong punch to the sternum, which would cause anyone to flinch. If Bruce Lee used a full power punch, he would have to have done it from a few more inches away probably, and the guy would have probably gotten hurt.
Anyone who understands the structure of Wing Chun can transfer that energy in a short distance, its what WC is all about! Short power!
I dont mean to sound critical Straight Blast but if you dont know the form properly, you are probably not doing the punch correctly.
Ouch! The hammer always wins! You can’t pop a hole in a skull with any punch! Anyways, I hear the one inch donkey punch is a doozy!
Red5angel
I couldn’t agree more!