Thanks, Russell. I’m doing a little better every day.
All the best to you as well!
- kj
Originally posted by old jong
Wow!..The gang phenomenom is strong!..
on both sides :o
Old Jong,
While reading the interesting posts here I felt compelled to respond. The path to understanding is continual, hence the application of your Kung Fu, in a combat sense, must truly manifest itself as part of you. Your Kung Fu is not something to turn on and turn off. In a street confrontation one can express it and win or express it and lose. But it will be expressed. The Kung Fu may not require one blow! In discussions about training, our goals must be to trust what we know and to learn and understand how to commit, words often used in a relationship. The word “trust” means without thought. It is very strong and we have to believe. We train the Chun, and as mentioned, why would we revert to something (boxing) we know less about? We must offer our best. One will do as one will.
Most of us do not go looking for a street confrontation. It will often times take us by surprise. Like a sparring match, there are many other factors which affect your ability and performance like nervousness and state of mind, emotion. However, in real life street confrontations, there is also the life or death entity, which is not a part of sparring. There is also the law, which we must be aware of the consequences of our actions. If you read some stories about Wing Chun people who have used their skill in real fights, they often say that they did not even remember what happened. They just “did”.
Maybe your question really is “Do you think your Kung Fu is good enough to use in a Street confrontation?”
“If you want your Kung Fu good, then your Kung Fu is good!”
Good luck with your Kung Fu!
Re: would you trust your punches
Originally posted by russellsherry
every time you fight be driffrent to the fight you had the last, my technique is depending of what the other guy is going to do
Russell,
Sounds like good Wing Chun to me.
Bill
Re: Re: Re: Would you trust your Wing Chun in a street confrontation?
Originally posted by kj
Recovering from yet another partial meniscectomy myself.
Kathy Jo and Tom,
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Bill
P.S. KJ, it must be more difficult with the wooden leg and all. 
Originally posted by KingMonkey
Why not either depending on range and circumstance ?
I can’t think of a “range” or cirumstance that I would use boxing techniques as opposed to WC hands.
Originally posted by old jong
Mimicking boxing would have been a better way to formulate it. Put two little boys in a schoolyard fight and they will most of the times try to imitate boxing.It is natural.
All the best with your knee Tom!
What kind of schoolyard were you in, anyway?
Do you remember the knife fight where “Mellish” was killed in the last battle scene of “Saving Private Ryan?” That kind of reminds me of what is schoolyard “natural” around here - downright ugly, and doesn’t resemble or imitate anything other than being vicious.
It’s not a real streetfight unless you spend the next several weeks looking over your shoulder for the payback - or planning it.
Originally posted by Tom Kagan
[B]Do you remember the knife fight where “Mellish” was killed in the last battle scene of “Saving Private Ryan?” That kind of reminds me of what is schoolyard “natural” around here - downright ugly, and doesn’t resemble or imitate anything other than being vicious.
It’s not a real streetfight unless you spend the next several weeks looking over your shoulder for the payback - or planning it.[/B]
AMEN to that.
-Levi
As several folks have pointed out wing chun shapes the individual- reflexes, mind. self etc— it is not a collection of techniques.
Knowing when and how not to fight as well as fight is part of good wing chun.
Per same reasoning- wing chun is not limited to a particular range or angle or distance. Admittedly, it takes a while to understand that. Not all awkenings are instantaneous.
Well first off my perspective may be a little different because I do train regular boxing.
If you dont or never have better to stick to WC.
But my thinking goes along these lines. My cross is my hardest punch, in a circumstance where I think I’ve got a clear shot or a very good chance I’ll use it.
For example…
I’m being hassled while minding my own business in a pub.
I’ve tried my verbal outs, I’ve remained seemingly uninterested in a fight and it appears things are going to get physical. If I decide to take the initiative and hit first I will more likely throw a cross as my first punch because I think I have a better chance of ending it right there.
A punch is just a punch…
Weeelll true but a little bit simplistic isnt it, couldnt we discuss the relative merits of a Ferrari vs a Ford Pinto without losing sight of the fact that they are both cars.
Could we make reasonable predictions about which would win a road race and which you would likely be able to buy for under $200.
If you have a point to make please help out a poor misguided cross trainer with something a bit more substantial.
It better work
Hello,
It seems kind of funny to me that many who study Wing Chun are not confident in their ability to utilize it in a real situation. Wing Chun is a combat art plain and simple. There should be little doubt of its effectiveness in a real life encounter. Wing Chun is not about overpowering your opponent, although the body structure can make strikes quite powerful. Wing Chun is a very efficient and economical method of brutally destroying ones opponent. When I first learned Wing Chun my instructor taught me to focus and concentrate on four target areas, the eyes, the throat, the groin and the kneecaps. The intention was to totally destroy your opponent and their ability to continue the fight.
IMHO, much of the problem lies in the fact that many of us train for something other than reality. Due to the popularity of Wing Chun and the needs of a commercial school, techniques which advocate brutality, are distanced and in some cases no longer taught at all. Another issue to consider is that many today place more emphasis on Chi Sau and “play” at Wing Chun rather than actually train to use it as a brutally effective method of combat.
If one learns to apply the concepts of the system with the proper mental focus then Wing Chun is not only a viable method of combat but extremely effective. However, there is a definite mental aspect needed in order for the system to be truly effective and in many cases this is where the problem occurs. The method is there but the will to use it is not.
In answer to the question posed; I am quite sure that Wing Chun will not fail me in a real encounter. However, I can not always make the claim that I will not, in some way, fail Wing Chun.
Peace,
Dave.
Originally posted by KingMonkey
Well first off my perspective may be a little different because I do train regular boxing.
KingMonkey,
I think you have to go with what you’re comfortable with. Ultimately you need to say you used your best stuff, win or lose. I definitely understand that.
Bill
Weeelll true but a little bit simplistic isnt it,
((Skill in complexity makes things simple))
couldnt we discuss the relative merits of a Ferrari vs a Ford Pinto without losing sight of the fact that they are both cars.
((the key is the driver. A good driver can use both or either. A poor one would underusea Ferrari))
Could we make reasonable predictions about which would win a road race and which you would likely be able to buy for under $200.
((Wing chun is not about road racing))
If you have a point to make please help out a poor misguided cross trainer with something a bit more substantial.
(( I was commenting to the list. Nothing personal. If cross training is your bag- what can I say- just some basics…
understanding spatial relationships is part of extended wing chun devlopment. There is considerable variety of footwork and motion and the basic char kuen creates a whole multitude of fist work-same for palms or any other tool. Boxing is a sport a very good martial sport-can work in many cases- but is not as versatile and adaptive as wingchun. A average boxer can be taken bya good wrestler. Reverse is also true. Wing chun is a martial skill development- hasa synthesis of many sportive elements.If one is enough into wing chun - a wing chun reflexive and timed action(s) will show up. If one is more into boxing- a boxing punch will show up.
Will either work- yes- depends on circumstances- hence a punch is just a punch))
Depends against who?
Whether you can use your Wing Chun or not depends against who or what? It’s meaningless to say you can use your Wing Chun without discussing the type of opponent. Everyone has limits.
KingMonkey:
Vajramusti (Joy Chauduri) will lead you in circles if you give him half the chance - no matter how logical your arguments. He will find a way to bypass them while giving the illusion that he’s actually answering them.
So let me just save you a lot of time and trouble…the key to understanding Joy in this instance is like this…he believes that GOOD WING CHUN DOESN’T NEED BOXING…or anything else, for that matter. For his untested (and never to be tested waters) - wing chun has the answer to ANY and ALL fighting situations.
Once you understand that - you’ve got the key to understanding 90% of his posts.
But as to this…
“My cross is my hardest punch, in a circumstance where I think I’ve got a clear shot or a very good chance I’ll use it…If I decide to take the initiative and hit first I will more likely throw a cross as my first punch because I think I have a better chance of ending it right there.”
I agree with this statement totally…because good wing chun FIGHTERS must be humble enough and wise enough to borrow and adapt from other styles when the shoe fits.
crosses, hooks, and circular attacks
First in wing chun we learn/teach the elbow-down straight punch, because it is the easiest to establish the connection to the ground via the hip/footwork, once this ‘feeling’ is known you learn to use it in strikes of any angle. Besides;
Chum Kiu - ‘Lifting Punch’ = uppercut
Biu Jee - ‘???’ - hooking punch (after grabs)
They’re all WC punches when applied with WC dynamics.
Would you trust your Wing Chun in a street confrontation?
No. I’d trust Sanford Strong’s advice, which says your overriding goal as the subject of a violent assault is to ESCAPE. Winning is not the goal, surviving is.
Read Marc MacYoung’s definition of a “streetfight” and a “streetfighter” in his book “Taking it to the Streets”. No sane person would want anything to do with either, let alone become a “streetfighter”.
Your perspective on a matter of such seriousness is consistent, prudent, and refreshing, Anerlich.
Regards,
- kj