Here’s something for you to consider, supe…(from a thread I started some time ago entitled WING CHUN BOXING):
"I’ve been using certain techniques and principles that resemble boxing somewhat…and yet are still very much Wing Chun in orientation.
It concerns NOT trying to simply attack the “center” of the opponent. But rather to also look upon both of his arms (particularly near his shoulders)… as vertical centerlines running down toward his legs.
I’m in a front stance - whatever front stance. Could be a left front stance vs. his left front; or it could be my left front stance vs. his right front.
Either way, my two arms are matched up against his (ie.- my left arm vs. his right arm) - and it is fighting his right arm for CONTROL of the vertical centerline that I just described…while my right arm is fighting his left arm for control of the other vertical centerline.
(All of this is being done IN ADDITION TO my main centerline that runs down the actual center of my body).
So at the moment I’m talking about 3 centerlines…with special emphasis on the two outside lines.
It’s as if I’m dueling with a foil in each hand against his two foils simultaneously.
BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT I’LL CONSTANTLY JUST CHASE HIS HANDS…
On the contrary, - suppose he just dropped his right hand lead from his guard position right down to his side - I wouldn’t chase his arm/hand - I would simply punch into the line that is now completely open with my left fist (but I’d probably throw a low to medium height punch - not a head shot - so as to maintain control (and occupy) the line if he decided to immediately come back up again with that hand that he dropped.
Furthermore…I would NOT be moving toward him with my MAIN centerline directly facing his center…I would be in a more basic boxing type pose - which means that - in the example I just gave of him dropping his right arm down - and I was in a left lead stance…the left punch I would throw would look like a boxer’s stiff straight lead - with body torgue and with the punch being thrown horizontally. (Not the vertical wing chun sun punch).
Because I’m assuming that the distance would require this type of punch (for extra reach). I’m not assuming that I’m already in a very close limb-to-limb contact or trapping range.
Which is a whole other issue - distancing and footwork from a longer than typical “wing chun” range. What’s needed is a more up-on-your-toes type of footwork coupled with low kicks in order to bridge the gap quickly.
So I’m using a long range “wing chun boxing” type strategy as a means to get closer to the inside close quarter position - while hopefully also landing punches (and possibly kicks)…as well as maybe beginning to trap, pin, pak, or lop an arm…but most of all - by CONTROLLING, OCCUPYING, AND GOING FORWARD on a “centerline”.
In other words - I’m establishing a bridge through the use of longer range boxing technique - BUT GUIDED BY WING CHUN CENTERLINE PRINCIPLES.
(Or central line principles…take your pick. But’s it’s still Wing Chun).
And yet it’s also something a little different than what some may have considered Wing Chun to be in the past.
One more note:
I will also oftentimes purposely throw horizontal longer range boxing type punches into the very lines that he may be covering with a tight defense so as to purposely create a bridge (and a “centerline”) to try and take control of. I’m forcing his arms to either engage mine or run the risk of taking a hit to the body or head - because the punches are directly on one (or both) of these outside centerlines - and are therefore the shortest distance between the proverbial two points."
