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Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Only MMA Fighters get to Reap, We only get to Sow
When it comes to why we train martial arts, we all have very personal motivations. For me, the internal side of Wing Chun and it's applicability towards helping me lead a fulfilling life is primary. This answer is very common amongst us martial artists.
The goal of martial arts, to my understanding, was for self improvement. If this is an internal aspect for training, then one can only assume that the need for martial arts training is to learn how to better interact and contribute with others during our time on this planet. The argument can be made that self defense is the external side and is by default, means for self improvement is achieved by not getting killed by an enemy.
From the outside and ignorant world, martial arts is an achieved skill set of physical application for fighting. Martial Artists train hard, rank in belts, sashes, patches, all in chase of a goal of physical skill.
Drills, forms, sparring, chi sau, katas, etc... All for...?
When it boils down to the hard and long hours, days, months, years, lifetime of training...what are we using it for?
The worst reality check is that we as martial artists can never truly test our skill. Me for example, I train in Wing Chun Kung Fu, an art focusing on killing or maiming any enemy who trys to harm me. God willing, I will never be attacked in my lifetime to have to use my Wing Chun.
But in my past I have used my Wing Chun. Several times in fact. As a police officer, I have used my Wing Chun every single time I went "hands on" with a subject. I have been involved in countless bar fights and even used my Wing Chun while I was an amateur boxer. Had I known Wing Chun during my Wrestling years, I would have taken State all 4 years.
But never have I "unleashed" my Wing Chun. There can never be a true demo of Wing Chun. To do so would be fatal to your demo partner.
All these years and the many to come that I will train in Wing Chun and I will most likely NEVER get to use it. Now, from an internal side, that in itself is a gift. After all, he who avoids a fight is truly invincible.
So, when we look at the physical perspective of not being able to fully use our training and art, we negate 99% of all the "my martial art is better than your martial art" arguments.
But the pressing thought in my mind lately is that there is one medium which does get to fully use their training, and I may be envious of it...MMA.
Mixed Martial Arts is not a passion of mine. Nor is it a focus or ambition. To tell the truth, I have maybe watched 10 MMA fights since its inception. I will admit, being a former Wrestler, I miss and crave competition, but there is my dilemma...I train for a different reason now and it is not competition.
But the MMA Fighters of today get to do something we as Traditional Martial Artists do not. They get to apply their craft FULL SPEED and ALL OUT! I classify Boxing and Wrestling in the MMA category as those being able to go all out, as they are also forms of combat.
But, it is an acknowledgment from my end that the MMA medium is a far superior one to Traditional Martial Arts training in that they get to test their theories of applicability in full action.
Insert the "within the guidelines and rules" disclaimer and throw in the "MMA is a Sport" argument and we will have a level playing field.
So, hats off to you MMA Fighters! Bravo for being able to test your skill and walk away knowing you gave it your all in the ring. I just pray you never have to meet any of us in the street. Cheers!
Dominick Izzo
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
Wing Chun Kung Fu - Chicago
www.izzo-training.com
The goal of martial arts, to my understanding, was for self improvement. If this is an internal aspect for training, then one can only assume that the need for martial arts training is to learn how to better interact and contribute with others during our time on this planet. The argument can be made that self defense is the external side and is by default, means for self improvement is achieved by not getting killed by an enemy.
From the outside and ignorant world, martial arts is an achieved skill set of physical application for fighting. Martial Artists train hard, rank in belts, sashes, patches, all in chase of a goal of physical skill.
Drills, forms, sparring, chi sau, katas, etc... All for...?
When it boils down to the hard and long hours, days, months, years, lifetime of training...what are we using it for?
The worst reality check is that we as martial artists can never truly test our skill. Me for example, I train in Wing Chun Kung Fu, an art focusing on killing or maiming any enemy who trys to harm me. God willing, I will never be attacked in my lifetime to have to use my Wing Chun.
But in my past I have used my Wing Chun. Several times in fact. As a police officer, I have used my Wing Chun every single time I went "hands on" with a subject. I have been involved in countless bar fights and even used my Wing Chun while I was an amateur boxer. Had I known Wing Chun during my Wrestling years, I would have taken State all 4 years.
But never have I "unleashed" my Wing Chun. There can never be a true demo of Wing Chun. To do so would be fatal to your demo partner.
All these years and the many to come that I will train in Wing Chun and I will most likely NEVER get to use it. Now, from an internal side, that in itself is a gift. After all, he who avoids a fight is truly invincible.
So, when we look at the physical perspective of not being able to fully use our training and art, we negate 99% of all the "my martial art is better than your martial art" arguments.
But the pressing thought in my mind lately is that there is one medium which does get to fully use their training, and I may be envious of it...MMA.
Mixed Martial Arts is not a passion of mine. Nor is it a focus or ambition. To tell the truth, I have maybe watched 10 MMA fights since its inception. I will admit, being a former Wrestler, I miss and crave competition, but there is my dilemma...I train for a different reason now and it is not competition.
But the MMA Fighters of today get to do something we as Traditional Martial Artists do not. They get to apply their craft FULL SPEED and ALL OUT! I classify Boxing and Wrestling in the MMA category as those being able to go all out, as they are also forms of combat.
But, it is an acknowledgment from my end that the MMA medium is a far superior one to Traditional Martial Arts training in that they get to test their theories of applicability in full action.
Insert the "within the guidelines and rules" disclaimer and throw in the "MMA is a Sport" argument and we will have a level playing field.
So, hats off to you MMA Fighters! Bravo for being able to test your skill and walk away knowing you gave it your all in the ring. I just pray you never have to meet any of us in the street. Cheers!
Dominick Izzo
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
Wing Chun Kung Fu - Chicago
www.izzo-training.com
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Wing Chun is Not for Everyone
Please don't read the the title of this blog as a statement of elite-ism or as my tone being promotional towards a member-only-club mentality. I thought long about what to write about and the glaring topic of Wing Chun being a frustrating martial art, keep popping up in my head.
My second Sifu used to say all the time, "Wing Chun is an educated man's martial art."
As much of a backhanded compliment as that is, there is some truth to it.
Wing Chun, unlike many other martial arts, is not a "monkey see, monkey do" martial art.
I tell my students that there are four stages to learning.
Imitation: This is the monkey see, monkey do part. This is where you mimic, copy, frame, drive your technique to look exactly like your teacher's movement. This is basic learning.
Application: Once you have learned the movement, you must apply it in action.
Adaptation: Once you apply it, you have to ask yourself if the technique works for you. My second teacher was 6'3" and I am 5'7". This lead to many issues where I had to adapt certain techniques to meet my needs and not his.
Evolution: This is the ultimate goal. This is where you keep what works for you and discard the rest. As simple as this last step seems, you must first go through the growth of all the learning before it.
This is where I say that Wing Chun is not for everyone.
I have so many variances of learning capabilities in my students and each one is an amazing challenge. There are some students who understand movements to their perfection, yet cannot grasp their adaptation. A specific example is one of my students who spent hours, days, months learning and understanding his centerline.
He trained to have his Tan Sau (Sky Palm Block) fed directly down his center with his wrist dead on line with his sternum. The day I gave him a concept behind the Tan Sau movement was a very frustrating one for him.
I advised him that Tan Sau does not have to be directly in front of his centerline. Furthermore, I had him align his wrist with his shoulder and asked how it felt. After he advised that he felt less stress, I informed him that he was now aware of his true structure. He argued and debated about Wing Chun being obligated to using the centerline. It became more frustrating when I showed him how my Tan Sau during training was true structure, almost a perfect 45 degree angle, yet in my use of it full speed, my Tan Sau was almost at 90 degrees and had a bend in my wrist.
He and I spent 30 minutes of his lesson talking about the difference between training and application. It was having to "think on his own " which frustrated him. Having once stood in his shoes, I understood.
Wing Chun application is very much like the flow of any grappling art; once you understand the movement or technique, you have to modify it to fit your opponent (within reason...if you apply a true structured technique which is reinforced with concept, IN THEORY, your application should never fail.) Based on the proximity that Wing Chun excels in, one could say that Wing Chun is a stand up-grappling art. But that is for another blog.
The bottom line is that when you train your forms, drills, even chi sau, you must realise that you are in perpetual exploration of YOUR Wing Chun, not your teacher's Wing Chun. Emulate and even copy what you like, but make it fit your needs. Economy of Motion (one of the main concepts of Wing Chun) tells us this. If I threw the exact same strike as my former 6'3" instructor did, I doubt my 5'7" frame would be in the same postion as he was for the next movement. Economy of Motion teaches to use the best tool for the next job. This is where frustration lies.
Most students want to hear you tell them what to do next versus hearing you ask, "what do you feel?"
So, if you are seeking a new martial art to learn, you might want to ask yourself if you are open to the challenge of the mental stimulus that Wing Chun offers.
Personally, I believe that this mental stimulus is a key to an amazingly active and strong mind for the later years in our lives.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
Wing Chun Kung Fu in Chicago
http://www.izzo-training.com/
My second Sifu used to say all the time, "Wing Chun is an educated man's martial art."
As much of a backhanded compliment as that is, there is some truth to it.
Wing Chun, unlike many other martial arts, is not a "monkey see, monkey do" martial art.
I tell my students that there are four stages to learning.
Imitation: This is the monkey see, monkey do part. This is where you mimic, copy, frame, drive your technique to look exactly like your teacher's movement. This is basic learning.
Application: Once you have learned the movement, you must apply it in action.
Adaptation: Once you apply it, you have to ask yourself if the technique works for you. My second teacher was 6'3" and I am 5'7". This lead to many issues where I had to adapt certain techniques to meet my needs and not his.
Evolution: This is the ultimate goal. This is where you keep what works for you and discard the rest. As simple as this last step seems, you must first go through the growth of all the learning before it.
This is where I say that Wing Chun is not for everyone.
I have so many variances of learning capabilities in my students and each one is an amazing challenge. There are some students who understand movements to their perfection, yet cannot grasp their adaptation. A specific example is one of my students who spent hours, days, months learning and understanding his centerline.
He trained to have his Tan Sau (Sky Palm Block) fed directly down his center with his wrist dead on line with his sternum. The day I gave him a concept behind the Tan Sau movement was a very frustrating one for him.
I advised him that Tan Sau does not have to be directly in front of his centerline. Furthermore, I had him align his wrist with his shoulder and asked how it felt. After he advised that he felt less stress, I informed him that he was now aware of his true structure. He argued and debated about Wing Chun being obligated to using the centerline. It became more frustrating when I showed him how my Tan Sau during training was true structure, almost a perfect 45 degree angle, yet in my use of it full speed, my Tan Sau was almost at 90 degrees and had a bend in my wrist.
He and I spent 30 minutes of his lesson talking about the difference between training and application. It was having to "think on his own " which frustrated him. Having once stood in his shoes, I understood.
Wing Chun application is very much like the flow of any grappling art; once you understand the movement or technique, you have to modify it to fit your opponent (within reason...if you apply a true structured technique which is reinforced with concept, IN THEORY, your application should never fail.) Based on the proximity that Wing Chun excels in, one could say that Wing Chun is a stand up-grappling art. But that is for another blog.
The bottom line is that when you train your forms, drills, even chi sau, you must realise that you are in perpetual exploration of YOUR Wing Chun, not your teacher's Wing Chun. Emulate and even copy what you like, but make it fit your needs. Economy of Motion (one of the main concepts of Wing Chun) tells us this. If I threw the exact same strike as my former 6'3" instructor did, I doubt my 5'7" frame would be in the same postion as he was for the next movement. Economy of Motion teaches to use the best tool for the next job. This is where frustration lies.
Most students want to hear you tell them what to do next versus hearing you ask, "what do you feel?"
So, if you are seeking a new martial art to learn, you might want to ask yourself if you are open to the challenge of the mental stimulus that Wing Chun offers.
Personally, I believe that this mental stimulus is a key to an amazingly active and strong mind for the later years in our lives.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
Wing Chun Kung Fu in Chicago
http://www.izzo-training.com/
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The Fook Sau Argument
One of the most debatable techniques in Wing Chun Kung Fu is the Fook Sau. The movement consists of letting your arm rest slightly parallel to the ground, slightly below 90 degrees, with your elbow about a fist and one half length from your torso and your wrist bent so your fingers can point back at yourself.
The technique itself would be considered a "crane-like" movement from animal based martial arts. The main weapon in this instance could be either the exposed outside of the wrist as a striking surface or the inside of the wrist for a hooking movement.
The CONCEPT (or idea) behind this movement is one I have seen taught several different ways.
We first see this movement in Sil Lim Tao (Wing Chun's first form called The Little Idea.) Here in this form it is taught to be in a series of movements sequenced 2 or 3 times, depending upon the teacher. My first teacher used to say, "when in doubt, do it again."
The question is always, "why do we do it 3 times?"
My first and second teachers had said that we do this movement (very slowly) to develop what is known as "elbow energy" in Wing Chun. (See my related article on elbow energy.)
Ip Man was said to have taken 30 minutes to train each movement on each side. Not for nothing, but I do not have an hour a day to do Sil Lim Tao. In a recent article in Wing Chun Illustrated it was pointed out that Ip Man, may in fact have promoted the super slow and methodical training of this movement in order to have his student's stay in the stance longer to train their legs. To me, that makes much more sense.
What about the position of this movement? I have seen some teachers start this movement at their navel height and others at their sternum.
And how about the wrist? Should it be completely relaxed or "engaged" by torquing the fingers back at ourselves?
In the Chi Sau application, I have felt several types of Fook Sau energy. Some lineages (mostly William Cheung and Leung Ting) have their Fook Sau used as a hook, tightly curved around your Tan Sau / Bong Sau hand as you roll in position. Some lineages have their Fook Sau relaxed and "flopping" all over the place as they roll. And some still, as in under my second teacher, have their Fook Sau as a total concept and place the whole of their palm on your Tan Sau / Bong Sau hand.
So far to date, the best explination of Fook Sau was written by David Petterson in Wing Chun Illustrated. To paraphrase his article, he talks about Fook Sau being a highly misunderstood concept in which we are learning the basis of simultaneous attack and defense along with the hand tools of Wing Chun.
For me personally, I try to train all the above concepts and movements of this. Seeing as some of these teachers are absolutely fantastic at their understanding of Wing Chun, it is my preference to take what is useful from them and throw away the rest. But then again, that is all of our responsibility when we truly seek to learn our beloved martial art.
Lastly, my view on Fook Sau is that unless that specific movement can be used in a true combat circumstance, it is merely an idea to focus on while in the form. I understand that people will have their statements of, "Oh, you're wrong! Fook Sau does XYZ!" And I don't mind seeing as that is the view point on most techniques, but for the most part I think we can all agree that Fook Sau, at the very least, is a pretty cool movement.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
http://www.izzo-training.com/
Wing Chun Kung Fu - Chicago and the North Western Suburban area.
The technique itself would be considered a "crane-like" movement from animal based martial arts. The main weapon in this instance could be either the exposed outside of the wrist as a striking surface or the inside of the wrist for a hooking movement.
The CONCEPT (or idea) behind this movement is one I have seen taught several different ways.
We first see this movement in Sil Lim Tao (Wing Chun's first form called The Little Idea.) Here in this form it is taught to be in a series of movements sequenced 2 or 3 times, depending upon the teacher. My first teacher used to say, "when in doubt, do it again."
The question is always, "why do we do it 3 times?"
My first and second teachers had said that we do this movement (very slowly) to develop what is known as "elbow energy" in Wing Chun. (See my related article on elbow energy.)
Ip Man was said to have taken 30 minutes to train each movement on each side. Not for nothing, but I do not have an hour a day to do Sil Lim Tao. In a recent article in Wing Chun Illustrated it was pointed out that Ip Man, may in fact have promoted the super slow and methodical training of this movement in order to have his student's stay in the stance longer to train their legs. To me, that makes much more sense.
What about the position of this movement? I have seen some teachers start this movement at their navel height and others at their sternum.
And how about the wrist? Should it be completely relaxed or "engaged" by torquing the fingers back at ourselves?
In the Chi Sau application, I have felt several types of Fook Sau energy. Some lineages (mostly William Cheung and Leung Ting) have their Fook Sau used as a hook, tightly curved around your Tan Sau / Bong Sau hand as you roll in position. Some lineages have their Fook Sau relaxed and "flopping" all over the place as they roll. And some still, as in under my second teacher, have their Fook Sau as a total concept and place the whole of their palm on your Tan Sau / Bong Sau hand.
So far to date, the best explination of Fook Sau was written by David Petterson in Wing Chun Illustrated. To paraphrase his article, he talks about Fook Sau being a highly misunderstood concept in which we are learning the basis of simultaneous attack and defense along with the hand tools of Wing Chun.
For me personally, I try to train all the above concepts and movements of this. Seeing as some of these teachers are absolutely fantastic at their understanding of Wing Chun, it is my preference to take what is useful from them and throw away the rest. But then again, that is all of our responsibility when we truly seek to learn our beloved martial art.
Lastly, my view on Fook Sau is that unless that specific movement can be used in a true combat circumstance, it is merely an idea to focus on while in the form. I understand that people will have their statements of, "Oh, you're wrong! Fook Sau does XYZ!" And I don't mind seeing as that is the view point on most techniques, but for the most part I think we can all agree that Fook Sau, at the very least, is a pretty cool movement.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
http://www.izzo-training.com/
Wing Chun Kung Fu - Chicago and the North Western Suburban area.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
My Sifu has Energy Like a Ghost...
Ah yes, the typical statement made by a Wing Chun student about his/her teacher in regard to the tactile sensations of pressure given off by their teacher.
Typical, and in some ways ignorant.
Let me qualify: My teacher, Sifu Syed Ahmad of Eternal Spring Martial Arts, has amazing, elusive, scary energy. You never know where his attack will strike from. It truly is incredible to train against. Even my Kung Fu Brother, Sifu Ryan Parmelee, on his best day will complain about having "heavy energy" yet his tactile pressure creates an unease and fear of the unknown.
In many circles of Wing Chun, this is what students chase as a goal; the ability to go unfelt, undetected and unmatched. The problem with this is most students do not see that what is happening is still in a controlled chaos and is simply an aspect of training.
Rest assured, when Sifu Ahmad or Sifu Parmelee turn up the heat in their chi sau play, the pressure is felt, but the factors of unknown and undetected can still be felt. Even when I played chi sau with Grandmaster Samuel Kwok, his energy was absolutely felt and I still felt overwhelmed. He was not a ghost at all, rather a very much alive man who was about to kick my ass.
As a teacher, it is my job to teach levels of progression. For this energy sake, we must stick to chi sau as Wing Chun is mostly known for this training method. As I teach, I am in control. This has everything to do with the fact that I am the teacher, I am "better" and I am setting the tone and pace for what the student needs to develop their Wing Chun skill.
For the most part it becomes unavoidable for the student to always be a step behind of the teacher. This is due to skill level, emotional respect and in some ways, apprehension. I can't tell you how many students are "afraid" to hit their teachers. Some see it as, "oh my word...I just hit Sifu. Is he really that good?" Or even worse as was in my case with my second teacher, "Oh shit...I just got in on Sifu...here comes my punishment." And the pain would ensue as he would make me pay.
If two boxers enter a ring for training and one is an amateur and the other professional, wouldn't they still hit one another? No one would see the pro getting hit and think, "oh wow...he is not as good as we thought." Their "dialogue" for training IS hitting each other.
The only way chi sau energy becomes ghost like, scary or undetected is when there is a level of reservation and or non commitment...or what Wing Chun teachers forget to say what they are really doing: CONTROLLING the student. This is typically done with footwork. Watch youtube and see how many teachers are backing up while chi sauing as to not getting hit.
When you set the pace and become a ghost, the student has two choices, react or attack. Reaction obviously sets you at a disadvantage, and at this point the teacher is in control.
Acting will generate a response and for the most part even your teacher will have to respond with the appropriate amount of energy based upon the student's attack. Ghost-like energy can only be "played" during chi sau and not combat.
You can't blast in a punch at your teacher and not expect to feel his response unless he is Peter Parker from Spiderman and can see your attack in slow motion. However, you teacher's combat reactions should be so finely tuned that your lack of time to detect his actions will be interpreted as Ghost-Like. So, maybe the terminology and placement of your thinking his energy feels dead is applicable in that sense.
Keep in mind this is for Chi Sau. And Chi Sau is still a misunderstood training method even by most Wing Chun practitioners. The question must be asked, "where does chi sau training apply in a fight?" The answer is in post contact. And in the initial stages of a fight, if you plan on trying to be ghost-like and give your enemy dead energy upon his entry, you will most likely wind up being bowled over like a bull trampling over a rosebush.
A real fight has TONS of energy. Chi Sau helps you learn how to conserve it the best you can under real pressure. Chi Sau must be taught in a soft manor, hard manor, aggressive manor and instructional manor. But it must not be forgotten that Chi Sau must be taught how to hit, not how to control. Wing Chun is all about hitting, not controlling or getting your enemy to "tap out".
So the next time you are in awe of your Sifu's amazing ghost-like energy and brag, "oh man...I can't feel anything he does!" Ask yourself, did you feel the aftermath? Did you feel with he went from 0-100mph and then kept it at 100mph until you were toast? That is the effect we want to achieve. Going from no contact to destruction. The only difference in Chi Sau is that we start in contact. It is my job as a teacher to play my game undetected as if there was no contact...and then make you feel my all.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
http://www.izzo-training.com/
Typical, and in some ways ignorant.
Let me qualify: My teacher, Sifu Syed Ahmad of Eternal Spring Martial Arts, has amazing, elusive, scary energy. You never know where his attack will strike from. It truly is incredible to train against. Even my Kung Fu Brother, Sifu Ryan Parmelee, on his best day will complain about having "heavy energy" yet his tactile pressure creates an unease and fear of the unknown.
In many circles of Wing Chun, this is what students chase as a goal; the ability to go unfelt, undetected and unmatched. The problem with this is most students do not see that what is happening is still in a controlled chaos and is simply an aspect of training.
Rest assured, when Sifu Ahmad or Sifu Parmelee turn up the heat in their chi sau play, the pressure is felt, but the factors of unknown and undetected can still be felt. Even when I played chi sau with Grandmaster Samuel Kwok, his energy was absolutely felt and I still felt overwhelmed. He was not a ghost at all, rather a very much alive man who was about to kick my ass.
As a teacher, it is my job to teach levels of progression. For this energy sake, we must stick to chi sau as Wing Chun is mostly known for this training method. As I teach, I am in control. This has everything to do with the fact that I am the teacher, I am "better" and I am setting the tone and pace for what the student needs to develop their Wing Chun skill.
For the most part it becomes unavoidable for the student to always be a step behind of the teacher. This is due to skill level, emotional respect and in some ways, apprehension. I can't tell you how many students are "afraid" to hit their teachers. Some see it as, "oh my word...I just hit Sifu. Is he really that good?" Or even worse as was in my case with my second teacher, "Oh shit...I just got in on Sifu...here comes my punishment." And the pain would ensue as he would make me pay.
If two boxers enter a ring for training and one is an amateur and the other professional, wouldn't they still hit one another? No one would see the pro getting hit and think, "oh wow...he is not as good as we thought." Their "dialogue" for training IS hitting each other.
The only way chi sau energy becomes ghost like, scary or undetected is when there is a level of reservation and or non commitment...or what Wing Chun teachers forget to say what they are really doing: CONTROLLING the student. This is typically done with footwork. Watch youtube and see how many teachers are backing up while chi sauing as to not getting hit.
When you set the pace and become a ghost, the student has two choices, react or attack. Reaction obviously sets you at a disadvantage, and at this point the teacher is in control.
Acting will generate a response and for the most part even your teacher will have to respond with the appropriate amount of energy based upon the student's attack. Ghost-like energy can only be "played" during chi sau and not combat.
You can't blast in a punch at your teacher and not expect to feel his response unless he is Peter Parker from Spiderman and can see your attack in slow motion. However, you teacher's combat reactions should be so finely tuned that your lack of time to detect his actions will be interpreted as Ghost-Like. So, maybe the terminology and placement of your thinking his energy feels dead is applicable in that sense.
Keep in mind this is for Chi Sau. And Chi Sau is still a misunderstood training method even by most Wing Chun practitioners. The question must be asked, "where does chi sau training apply in a fight?" The answer is in post contact. And in the initial stages of a fight, if you plan on trying to be ghost-like and give your enemy dead energy upon his entry, you will most likely wind up being bowled over like a bull trampling over a rosebush.
A real fight has TONS of energy. Chi Sau helps you learn how to conserve it the best you can under real pressure. Chi Sau must be taught in a soft manor, hard manor, aggressive manor and instructional manor. But it must not be forgotten that Chi Sau must be taught how to hit, not how to control. Wing Chun is all about hitting, not controlling or getting your enemy to "tap out".
So the next time you are in awe of your Sifu's amazing ghost-like energy and brag, "oh man...I can't feel anything he does!" Ask yourself, did you feel the aftermath? Did you feel with he went from 0-100mph and then kept it at 100mph until you were toast? That is the effect we want to achieve. Going from no contact to destruction. The only difference in Chi Sau is that we start in contact. It is my job as a teacher to play my game undetected as if there was no contact...and then make you feel my all.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
http://www.izzo-training.com/
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Wing Chun; The Police Officer's Saving Grace
The one thing I am more qualified than any other Wing Chun Sifu out there to do is to talk about how Wing Chun Kung Fu is essential for Cops to learn.
In 2001 I sat in front of my former Deputy Chief and Lieutenant for my second interview and was asked a good question. My DC simply asked, "do you feel you are able to protect yourself if hired?"
I was 26 years old, very in shape, very strong and a 15 year veteran collegiate wrestler. I answered, "yes" without hesitation. What I should have been asked was, "do you feel like you can protect yourself while being limited in what you can do to someone who is trying to harm / kill you?"
What Law Enforcemnt does well during training is addressing the Use of Force Scale. This is a pyramid of escalation and limits of what a cop can and cannot do based upon the actions of the subjects they are interacting with on a daily basis.
The Use of Force Scale has ranges which include Verbal Commands up to Deadly Force applications. The two major forces in this scale are not so much as Officer and Offender, rather, Officer's Perception and Public Perception.
As a former cop, there is nothing more aggravating than watching civilians who are ignorant, by definition, getting upset as to why a cop used physical force to someone they interacted with. Thanks to the invention of the video camera, civilians are now experts in "police brutality".
The main problem with video cameras is not what they see, but what they don't "feel." (I will do a video for this in the near future.)
The one major factor I learned from Wing Chun that translated superbly into my days as a street cop, were the concepts of relaxation and sensitivity.
No, I did not Chi Sau anyone I put into hand cuffs. But from all the sensitivity training I did, I was able to focus less on the arms of the person I was trying to take into custody and more into how their core, balance, position and musculature was effecting my ability to place them into custody. Such an instance was the very first time it dawned on me to "let go" of a subject's wrist I was trying to place behind his back. The subject began to resist me and I did the obvious action of struggling with his arm in attempt to pull it behind him. I was out weighed and out sized in general and then it hit; let go of his hand and attack his core. I released his wrist, jammed his arm into his torso and shoved him into the wall. That action completely took his balance and allowed me to grab the wrist again and transition it behind his back with much greater ease.
It was a glaring quesiton to me which I took with me on every call after that one: if you are trying to place someone's hands behind their back and they tense up, are you going to keep pulling on their arm or are you going to transition to their core, and how quickly are you able to recognize the need to do so? Does your Wing Chun training have purpose?
Police brutality lies in this area as well The officer's ability to transition into his / her next movement upon the information they feel during physical contact often is the precursor to what is seen as Police Officer's being brutal.
Police brutality or unnecessary escalation in Use of Force usually happens when the cop does not know when to do so.
This is where Wing Chun is superior to all other martial arts training including BJJ. The main reason is because Wing Chun starts standing and the last thing a cop wants to do is to go to the ground with 30 lbs of gear on their body. A cop fighting on the ground has no business in law enforcement as far as I am concerned. Granted, if you go to the ground, you need to know how to get back up asap, but it is essential for cops to stay on their feet due to terrain, subject / offender purpose and or multiple opponents.
Relaxation was the main Wing Chun principle I held with me the day I was yelling at a man during a domestic battery call. He was arguing with me and I was becoming aggitated, which just happen to be his goal. Just then I recalled my Wing Chun principle to relax to "feel" more information...just then I noticed his wife behind me who was just about to jump on my back! Had I remained focused and "tunnel visioned" on him, I would have never seen her and fallen victim to an ambush.
Wing Chun teaches a person to know him / herslef before knowing an attacker / offender. The more you know yourself, the far better your abillity will be on the outcome of an attack. When a cop knows him / herself more, their ability to deal with an offender will improve vastly even with factors that greatly limit their job. This translates on the bare minimum to confidence. Being a man who only stands 5'7" tall, I never had insecurity issues nor got myself engaged at taunts by offenders...all because I was self confident in my ability.
Remember, Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics and Martial Arts are two separate beasts and unless you are / were a cop, I feel you have no business teaching cops. You just will never understand the multi sensory effects of what they do on a daily basis as well as the emotional stress, the presence of outside parties with video cameras and the Use of Force Scale which Police are held accountable to.
But Wing Chun, above all others, is the martial art needed to truly bridge the gap between officers and themselves allowing them to operate within their Use of Force Scale with greater confidence and ease of outcome.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
http://www.izzo-training.com/
Wing Chun Kung Fu in Chicago
In 2001 I sat in front of my former Deputy Chief and Lieutenant for my second interview and was asked a good question. My DC simply asked, "do you feel you are able to protect yourself if hired?"
I was 26 years old, very in shape, very strong and a 15 year veteran collegiate wrestler. I answered, "yes" without hesitation. What I should have been asked was, "do you feel like you can protect yourself while being limited in what you can do to someone who is trying to harm / kill you?"
What Law Enforcemnt does well during training is addressing the Use of Force Scale. This is a pyramid of escalation and limits of what a cop can and cannot do based upon the actions of the subjects they are interacting with on a daily basis.
The Use of Force Scale has ranges which include Verbal Commands up to Deadly Force applications. The two major forces in this scale are not so much as Officer and Offender, rather, Officer's Perception and Public Perception.
As a former cop, there is nothing more aggravating than watching civilians who are ignorant, by definition, getting upset as to why a cop used physical force to someone they interacted with. Thanks to the invention of the video camera, civilians are now experts in "police brutality".
The main problem with video cameras is not what they see, but what they don't "feel." (I will do a video for this in the near future.)
The one major factor I learned from Wing Chun that translated superbly into my days as a street cop, were the concepts of relaxation and sensitivity.
No, I did not Chi Sau anyone I put into hand cuffs. But from all the sensitivity training I did, I was able to focus less on the arms of the person I was trying to take into custody and more into how their core, balance, position and musculature was effecting my ability to place them into custody. Such an instance was the very first time it dawned on me to "let go" of a subject's wrist I was trying to place behind his back. The subject began to resist me and I did the obvious action of struggling with his arm in attempt to pull it behind him. I was out weighed and out sized in general and then it hit; let go of his hand and attack his core. I released his wrist, jammed his arm into his torso and shoved him into the wall. That action completely took his balance and allowed me to grab the wrist again and transition it behind his back with much greater ease.
It was a glaring quesiton to me which I took with me on every call after that one: if you are trying to place someone's hands behind their back and they tense up, are you going to keep pulling on their arm or are you going to transition to their core, and how quickly are you able to recognize the need to do so? Does your Wing Chun training have purpose?
Police brutality lies in this area as well The officer's ability to transition into his / her next movement upon the information they feel during physical contact often is the precursor to what is seen as Police Officer's being brutal.
Police brutality or unnecessary escalation in Use of Force usually happens when the cop does not know when to do so.
This is where Wing Chun is superior to all other martial arts training including BJJ. The main reason is because Wing Chun starts standing and the last thing a cop wants to do is to go to the ground with 30 lbs of gear on their body. A cop fighting on the ground has no business in law enforcement as far as I am concerned. Granted, if you go to the ground, you need to know how to get back up asap, but it is essential for cops to stay on their feet due to terrain, subject / offender purpose and or multiple opponents.
Relaxation was the main Wing Chun principle I held with me the day I was yelling at a man during a domestic battery call. He was arguing with me and I was becoming aggitated, which just happen to be his goal. Just then I recalled my Wing Chun principle to relax to "feel" more information...just then I noticed his wife behind me who was just about to jump on my back! Had I remained focused and "tunnel visioned" on him, I would have never seen her and fallen victim to an ambush.
Wing Chun teaches a person to know him / herslef before knowing an attacker / offender. The more you know yourself, the far better your abillity will be on the outcome of an attack. When a cop knows him / herself more, their ability to deal with an offender will improve vastly even with factors that greatly limit their job. This translates on the bare minimum to confidence. Being a man who only stands 5'7" tall, I never had insecurity issues nor got myself engaged at taunts by offenders...all because I was self confident in my ability.
Remember, Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics and Martial Arts are two separate beasts and unless you are / were a cop, I feel you have no business teaching cops. You just will never understand the multi sensory effects of what they do on a daily basis as well as the emotional stress, the presence of outside parties with video cameras and the Use of Force Scale which Police are held accountable to.
But Wing Chun, above all others, is the martial art needed to truly bridge the gap between officers and themselves allowing them to operate within their Use of Force Scale with greater confidence and ease of outcome.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
http://www.izzo-training.com/
Wing Chun Kung Fu in Chicago
Sunday, May 6, 2012
How to Train Wing Chun
The one thing we do well in Wing Chun is to train to punch straight (Centerline Punch) and to defend against that very same straight punch.
Although this is very much a technique we train, it is also a concept.
I know, I know...everyone is tired of hearing that "Wing Chun is a conceptual based martial art." You can include me in as one of those people. Here is the rub: Wing Chun is widely seen as a marital art that is notorious for having demos with people doing blinding fast hand movements stemmed from this training method called Chi Sau.
Wing Chun is even more notorious for being defended by its practitioners as being THE most effective martial art out there, while unable to truly prove itself in demo combat. (A contradicting statement in itself.) Furthermore, Wing Chun, like almost every other martial art out there has tons of different view points from tons of different Sifus and Masters.
Here are the factual opinions from MY view: Wing Chun is the most effective martial art out there based SOLEY on its concepts. Therefore, the concepts must be used while training.
The reason we train both to fire and to defend against a straight punch so repetitiously is because that specific punch, be it a Centerline Punch, Feint, Boxing Jab, Eye Gouge, is the most common and deadly set up for entry when in a fight. If you are point A and your enemy is point B, the distance between you both must be closed, otherwise there is no fight. The straight line attack is the most practical, fastest and hardest to deal with.
This is why in Wing Chun, we train to do this and deal with this the most. But, it is still a concept. The most important thing we train in Wing Chun is our strike / punch. It is the Heart of Wing Chun and NOT Chi Sau. From what I have seen and read online, it seems that we are all caught up in the game of Chi Sau and who has better sensitivity, reflexes and fast hands. As a former cop and 4am nightclub employee, I can truly state as an expert, that Chi Sau is definitely not a fight. It is, however, a method to train for a fight...but only if you can accept that as a Wing Chun practitioner.
Time and time again we are shown how important the concept of straight line attacks are in Wing Chun. Sil Lim Tao (The Little Idea) Wing Chun first form and the Wooden Dummy, emphasise over and over again the importance of focusing on the center of mass in both your enemy and yourself. Once you are aware of both your center and your enemy's, you train the rest of your Wing Chun career to protect yours and destroy his. It's that simple!
My teacher, Sifu Syed Ahmad of Eternal Spring Martial Arts, is beyond critical of his students ability to punch and understand where the power in their punch is coming from. Sifu Ahmad is brutal in the development of our power, almost to the point where I compare him to a 17th century piano teacher who strikes your fingers when you are not focusing on scales. "Know where the power comes from," he says. And if you don't, you don't know Wing Chun.
If you know where the power comes from, you have balance and this is square one for an attack. Building upon this, we look at using that balance and attack (Centerline Punch) to attack our enemy. That attack must be at his center.
Ok, so we once again established this concept, ad nauseum. But why train students to take a straight punch over and over again? Let's do the hook punch defense! Or Let's do a combo! Here is why: It's a CONCEPT!
To this day, I train how to deal with a jab / straight over and over and over, for one reason...I don't care about it. All I care about is my enemy's center of mass. If you stand in front of me and engage me, I am going to focus, buy, own, then destroy your center of mass, all with one motion. Period.
The more I learn how to do this while training / understanding how it effects my own center, the more I prep myself to survive a fight. (Note, I said survive and not win.) When we start incorporating Hook Punches, non linear attacks and rush the student's production of fancy follow up strikes, we transition focus from the center to the arms. And this is where Wing Chun fails. When we train to take, attack, destroy the center, period. This is what make Wing Chun so damn effective. It cannot become any more simple, Wing Chun must have the ability to strike and destroy; and if your strike did not destroy, ask if you are are balanced and in a position to strike again and destroy...repeat if necessary.
Wing Chun is not fancy Chi Sau, Energy Drills, Counter Attack Training, etc. Wing Chun is Striking. Chi Sau, Energy Drills, etc are all methods to train to strike. Research your Wing Chun Sifu before training...test drive the car before buying. The same holds true for a Wing Chun instructor.
If you want fancy Chi Sau that will make you look cool against someone who willingly offers you their arm for a demo, then I can make some great suggestions in your area. If you are looking for someone who understands what a fight is and how Wing Chun is used for a fight, then I can do the same. Train for the fight and self defense.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Kung Fu in Chicago
I know, I know...everyone is tired of hearing that "Wing Chun is a conceptual based martial art." You can include me in as one of those people. Here is the rub: Wing Chun is widely seen as a marital art that is notorious for having demos with people doing blinding fast hand movements stemmed from this training method called Chi Sau.
Wing Chun is even more notorious for being defended by its practitioners as being THE most effective martial art out there, while unable to truly prove itself in demo combat. (A contradicting statement in itself.) Furthermore, Wing Chun, like almost every other martial art out there has tons of different view points from tons of different Sifus and Masters.
Here are the factual opinions from MY view: Wing Chun is the most effective martial art out there based SOLEY on its concepts. Therefore, the concepts must be used while training.
The reason we train both to fire and to defend against a straight punch so repetitiously is because that specific punch, be it a Centerline Punch, Feint, Boxing Jab, Eye Gouge, is the most common and deadly set up for entry when in a fight. If you are point A and your enemy is point B, the distance between you both must be closed, otherwise there is no fight. The straight line attack is the most practical, fastest and hardest to deal with.
This is why in Wing Chun, we train to do this and deal with this the most. But, it is still a concept. The most important thing we train in Wing Chun is our strike / punch. It is the Heart of Wing Chun and NOT Chi Sau. From what I have seen and read online, it seems that we are all caught up in the game of Chi Sau and who has better sensitivity, reflexes and fast hands. As a former cop and 4am nightclub employee, I can truly state as an expert, that Chi Sau is definitely not a fight. It is, however, a method to train for a fight...but only if you can accept that as a Wing Chun practitioner.
Time and time again we are shown how important the concept of straight line attacks are in Wing Chun. Sil Lim Tao (The Little Idea) Wing Chun first form and the Wooden Dummy, emphasise over and over again the importance of focusing on the center of mass in both your enemy and yourself. Once you are aware of both your center and your enemy's, you train the rest of your Wing Chun career to protect yours and destroy his. It's that simple!
My teacher, Sifu Syed Ahmad of Eternal Spring Martial Arts, is beyond critical of his students ability to punch and understand where the power in their punch is coming from. Sifu Ahmad is brutal in the development of our power, almost to the point where I compare him to a 17th century piano teacher who strikes your fingers when you are not focusing on scales. "Know where the power comes from," he says. And if you don't, you don't know Wing Chun.
If you know where the power comes from, you have balance and this is square one for an attack. Building upon this, we look at using that balance and attack (Centerline Punch) to attack our enemy. That attack must be at his center.
Ok, so we once again established this concept, ad nauseum. But why train students to take a straight punch over and over again? Let's do the hook punch defense! Or Let's do a combo! Here is why: It's a CONCEPT!
To this day, I train how to deal with a jab / straight over and over and over, for one reason...I don't care about it. All I care about is my enemy's center of mass. If you stand in front of me and engage me, I am going to focus, buy, own, then destroy your center of mass, all with one motion. Period.
The more I learn how to do this while training / understanding how it effects my own center, the more I prep myself to survive a fight. (Note, I said survive and not win.) When we start incorporating Hook Punches, non linear attacks and rush the student's production of fancy follow up strikes, we transition focus from the center to the arms. And this is where Wing Chun fails. When we train to take, attack, destroy the center, period. This is what make Wing Chun so damn effective. It cannot become any more simple, Wing Chun must have the ability to strike and destroy; and if your strike did not destroy, ask if you are are balanced and in a position to strike again and destroy...repeat if necessary.
Wing Chun is not fancy Chi Sau, Energy Drills, Counter Attack Training, etc. Wing Chun is Striking. Chi Sau, Energy Drills, etc are all methods to train to strike. Research your Wing Chun Sifu before training...test drive the car before buying. The same holds true for a Wing Chun instructor.
If you want fancy Chi Sau that will make you look cool against someone who willingly offers you their arm for a demo, then I can make some great suggestions in your area. If you are looking for someone who understands what a fight is and how Wing Chun is used for a fight, then I can do the same. Train for the fight and self defense.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Kung Fu in Chicago
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