Six and a Half Point Pole...Close combat?

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Wing Chun
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[QUOTE=Shaolinstudent;968218]The Six and a Half Point Pole, who incorporated this staff technique into the wing chun curriculum? How is this particular form considered a ‘close combat’ technique?[/QUOTE]

According to my kung fu studies there is no purely close combat style of kung fu as there is no purely long range TCMA system. The Chinese have a way of balancing things out (read yin and yang, among other things). Of course, various systems will emphasis different ranges and so Wing Chun emphasizes short range fighting.

However, the various ranges are represented in the unarmed techniques. Example of long range unarmed techniques (in the lineage that I practice, Siu lam Wing Chun) include the long side punch, the side kick and the turning kick.

The weapons reflect these ranges as well. The butterfly knifes the short and the pole the long range. Some lineages (including mine) include among their weapons the darts. Very long range.:wink:

While having stated the above, I am also in agreement with Sihing as regards weapons trainings’ benefits to the unarmed aspect of Wing Chun. I will also add that the mastery of these weapons will help you use substitudes in the event of a self defense emergency.

HW8

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I found this here. http://www.awcaonline.com/forms/lukdimboonkwun.html

Who knows how accurate it is, but it’s a possible start for further research.

"The history of how the long pole was introduced to Wing Chun is much clearer than that of the knives. Aboard the red junk (a boat of opera performers that would travel from harbor to harbor) were Wong Wah Bo (a master of Wing Chun), Leung Yee Tai (the poler of the red junk) and Master Chi Shin, a surviving monk from the burned down Shaolin monastery.

Showing a great interest in learning pole fighting techniques, Leung Yee Tai learned this skill from Chi Shin. Meeting and befriending Wong Wah Bo, Leung Yee Tai showed Wong Wah Bo the pole techniques while, in exchange, Wong Wah Bo taught Leung Yee Tai the art of Wing Chun.

Altering the pole movements to fit the Wing Chun theory, as well as adapting the stances to fit the length and weight of the pole, the Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun was born and became the first of only two formal weapons in the system."