Repetitious, static, mundane, routine...BORING. Such are the terms of endearment used when viewing Wing Chun drills and the forms.
Sil Lim Tao (our main form containing the Wing Chun Concepts and Techniques)
Pak / Da drill (slapping hand / punching hand drill) where we stand static and basically play paddy cake.
Dan Chi Sau (single handed drill consisting of 3 basic "sticking" movements)where we move in a pre set fashion over and over and over.
Reflex Drills (using our techniques to redirect and counter incoming attacks)where we start from an unrealistic position to take overly telegraphed attacks and counter them.
And tons more...
Why do we do these drills? Why do we bother with forms? Bruce Lee didn't teach forms...
I read an article which stated Bruce Lee didn't teach forms because Westerners were impatient and did not understand the value of training something statically to see it's relationship for applicability. So we can thank ourselves for that.
The reason for training forms and drills is to set up understanding of yourself in the hierarchy of fighting skill and NOT to learn a set of movements for overtaking an enemy.
To learn yourself and your foundation you must perform these movements in the air over and over and over. These movements are your tools and you have to learn to use them.
If you were new to the trades field and you showed up to your first day on the job with your tool box and didn't know the difference between a Phillips screwdriver and slotted, you'd be fired. You must learn your tools. Furthermore, you must learn the variation of these tools.
We all know that a flat head screwdriver was made for slotted screws. But haven't some of us use the same screwdriver as a scraper or pry bar to open things? You have to understand that there is a difference between TRAINING and APPLICATION.
In training Sil Lim Tao we use our Tan Sau "sky palm block" in a certain fashion. Our centerline is in control, the Tan Sau is at a certain trained angle with elbow, wrist, hand and fingers in control...yet when we use our Tan Sau in a live action drill, at times it looks nothing like how we train it. The elbow may flair out a bit, the hand and wrist may be angled... Hence understanding the difference between training the tool and applying it.
Why do we train these pre set drills such as reflex drills? When do we take punches we know we can block and counter? Why learn to move in a certain way? Over and over and over and over? We do this for reaction. We learn to put our tools into human contact while keeping an understanding of ourselves...NOT our enemy.
One of my favorite things is to watch a new student do a movement over and over. I will have him / her do their Tan Sau with Punch to show me they understand what they are doing.
After diligent training, they will execute a sharply shifted punch with a surgically precise Tan Sau in the air. No falter in the balance, no waiver from centerline...perfect. Then I will feed them incoming energy with a punch...and watch their form and execution go to hell.
Human contact throws everything out the window. So, now we must practice more...
Drills give us an insight to ourselves.
We link these drills to Dan Chi Sau and in time Chi Sau.
Most Wing Chun practitioners confuse Chi Sau with the epitome of their training...the top level of their skill. Chi Sau is merely another, never ending, learning tool to improve our fighting ability.
The most dangerous place to be in a fight is the point between you and your enemy where there is no contact. Chi Sau enthusiasts forget that we willingly make contact with our partners and our enemy will not enter our world's so kindly.
Hence, why we train more. To react.
We train drills to end fights in one fast, decisive, effective, devastating and violent act. This, of course, is if we must fight.
Energetic drills are fun to learn and fun to show our level of understanding our own bodies in relation to others, but it is just that...a test of controlled skill.
Fights are chaos personified and will not afford us time to test our skill. We must drill, drill, drill to react with certainty.
Chi Sau and drills are not the fight, but they are the path to the fight and we must understand this.
Train the drills with the intent that you are not learning to block or counter, rather you are learning to better understand your body during the movement, you are improving your output of power, you are increasing your confidence in your ability and you are learning to react without planning or thinking in a fight.
Nothing can replace the importance of drills.
We have all heard it, "I do not fear the man who has trained 10,000 things 1 time, rather the man who has trained 1 thing 10,000 times."
Train we must.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Self Defense for Chicago and the NW Suburbs
Friday, September 16, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
I have a very closed mind.
There is nothing better than Wing Chun. PERIOD.
I started as a Wrestler and progressed in my training these last 25 years. I drifted to Boxing for a short while, Shotokan Karate and looked at a few others.
I stumbled upon Wing Chun Kung Fu over a decade ago and have not looked back. It is the greatest martial arts system the world has ever known...FOR ME.
I attended the 2nd annual Katipunan seminar in Chicago yesterday and was blown away at all the amazing skill showcased at the event.
Now, I will qualify what my viewpoint is. For me, Wing Chun absolutely works best in a combat circumstance for hand to hand application. When other objects come to play, I absolutely know that Wing Chun is highly applicable as well. However, after getting to know some of these amazing systems out there such as Kali, Escrima, Arins...it is foolish of me to say that learning these arts will not enhance my current skill.
As a martial artist I think it is essential to hold on to the passion for our beloved art...fight for it just as you would fight for your life. I love the balance of my inner mind when people talk to me about martial arts. I love how my blood boils when they pick apart Wing Chun and talk about how their art has secrets for beating mine...but I also love the fact that inside my mind I acknowledge that they aren't advocating their art as much as their are advocating themselves...which is exactly what I am doing. So, the brotherhood (and sisterhood) is rooted in a common denominator for one thing...PASSION.
I want to get heated in a debate, I want my passion to get fired up and my inner killing spirit to shine through! This makes all of us excel at what we do! As my former Wrestling Coach used to tell us, "Fear no one...but respect everyone."
This holds true to our passion for our martial arts.
If you are in the Chicago area and want to find passionate and amazing instructors, please search the following people.
Randy Siordia www.wolfmartialarts.net
Mike Eugenio www.garimot.com
Joe 'Mas' Judt www.studiogaruda.com
Sue Gartski www.kravmagaillinois.com
www.defensormethod.com
Edwin Rivas www.bosenchicago.com
Train with Passion.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
www.izzo-training.com
I started as a Wrestler and progressed in my training these last 25 years. I drifted to Boxing for a short while, Shotokan Karate and looked at a few others.
I stumbled upon Wing Chun Kung Fu over a decade ago and have not looked back. It is the greatest martial arts system the world has ever known...FOR ME.
I attended the 2nd annual Katipunan seminar in Chicago yesterday and was blown away at all the amazing skill showcased at the event.
Now, I will qualify what my viewpoint is. For me, Wing Chun absolutely works best in a combat circumstance for hand to hand application. When other objects come to play, I absolutely know that Wing Chun is highly applicable as well. However, after getting to know some of these amazing systems out there such as Kali, Escrima, Arins...it is foolish of me to say that learning these arts will not enhance my current skill.
As a martial artist I think it is essential to hold on to the passion for our beloved art...fight for it just as you would fight for your life. I love the balance of my inner mind when people talk to me about martial arts. I love how my blood boils when they pick apart Wing Chun and talk about how their art has secrets for beating mine...but I also love the fact that inside my mind I acknowledge that they aren't advocating their art as much as their are advocating themselves...which is exactly what I am doing. So, the brotherhood (and sisterhood) is rooted in a common denominator for one thing...PASSION.
I want to get heated in a debate, I want my passion to get fired up and my inner killing spirit to shine through! This makes all of us excel at what we do! As my former Wrestling Coach used to tell us, "Fear no one...but respect everyone."
This holds true to our passion for our martial arts.
If you are in the Chicago area and want to find passionate and amazing instructors, please search the following people.
Randy Siordia www.wolfmartialarts.net
Mike Eugenio www.garimot.com
Joe 'Mas' Judt www.studiogaruda.com
Sue Gartski www.kravmagaillinois.com
www.defensormethod.com
Edwin Rivas www.bosenchicago.com
Train with Passion.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
www.izzo-training.com
Friday, September 9, 2011
Wing Chun Punch / Krav Maga Punch
This blog is in regard to position of the punch and not power.
One of the key benefits of the structure of the Wing Chun straight punch is the recovery position it leaves you in after you miss your target.
With other punches, such as the Krav Maga punch, the punch is driven off the rear leg, the heel rises off the ground and the fist is delivered in a rotational fashion with the end result having the fist in a horizontal position. Having the rear leg's heel elevated is indicative of the front leg bearing a majority of the weight in the delivery and aftermath of the punch.
The power of this punch is unmistakable, as the practitioner is driving all of their body mass into the punch. It is a knockout punch.
The Wing Chun punch, in contrast, is delivered from the rear leg as well, however the heel does not rise. The punch is delivered in a vertical fashion with no rotation of the fist as it meets it's target.
The main difference is in the recovery of the Krav Maga punch versus the Wing Chun punch.
Having your heel remain rooted allows the Wing Chun practitioner to have a 50/50 weighted balance stance. Having such a even weight distribution allows for the Wing Chun practitioner to utilize the principles of facing and redirecting energy with a better efficiency as there does not have to be a change in balance after the extension of the punch. Granted, we are talking about fractions of a second and theory in application. This is not to say that a Krav Maga practitioner cannot smother and overwhelm their enemy with their recovery attacks; this simply points out stactic structure reference.
Having a 50/50 stance versus a 60/40 stance also keeps the Wing Chun practitioner's head a few inches away from the enemy as well.
Granted, neither Krav Maga or Wing Chun will "stay" in the position after throwing the punch, but the split second recovery is key in being able to deliver a follow-up strike after we miss or our strike is blocked.
The main difference in the Krav Maga punch and the Wing Chun punch is the stance delivery and the rotation of the fist or lack of. The guard position from where the two punches are thrown is considerably different as well. The Krav Maga guard is tight and close to the head, ready for the hands to protect the head. The Wing Chun guard is extended and ready to intercept an incoming attack or launch an attack at a closer point of contact to the enemy.
Having said this, there is no discussion about the power behind either punch, as power is indicative of height, body weight, understanding of structure are varied between student to student. However, the recovery and position we are left in after Krav Maga and Wing Chun deliver their punches is noticeably different due to stance and skeletal structure.
For more information on Wing Chun classes in the Chicago area, visit www.izzo-training.com
For more information on Krav Maga classes visit www.kravmagaillinois.com
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense for Chicago and the North West Suburbs
One of the key benefits of the structure of the Wing Chun straight punch is the recovery position it leaves you in after you miss your target.
With other punches, such as the Krav Maga punch, the punch is driven off the rear leg, the heel rises off the ground and the fist is delivered in a rotational fashion with the end result having the fist in a horizontal position. Having the rear leg's heel elevated is indicative of the front leg bearing a majority of the weight in the delivery and aftermath of the punch.
The power of this punch is unmistakable, as the practitioner is driving all of their body mass into the punch. It is a knockout punch.
The Wing Chun punch, in contrast, is delivered from the rear leg as well, however the heel does not rise. The punch is delivered in a vertical fashion with no rotation of the fist as it meets it's target.
The main difference is in the recovery of the Krav Maga punch versus the Wing Chun punch.
Having your heel remain rooted allows the Wing Chun practitioner to have a 50/50 weighted balance stance. Having such a even weight distribution allows for the Wing Chun practitioner to utilize the principles of facing and redirecting energy with a better efficiency as there does not have to be a change in balance after the extension of the punch. Granted, we are talking about fractions of a second and theory in application. This is not to say that a Krav Maga practitioner cannot smother and overwhelm their enemy with their recovery attacks; this simply points out stactic structure reference.
Having a 50/50 stance versus a 60/40 stance also keeps the Wing Chun practitioner's head a few inches away from the enemy as well.
Granted, neither Krav Maga or Wing Chun will "stay" in the position after throwing the punch, but the split second recovery is key in being able to deliver a follow-up strike after we miss or our strike is blocked.
The main difference in the Krav Maga punch and the Wing Chun punch is the stance delivery and the rotation of the fist or lack of. The guard position from where the two punches are thrown is considerably different as well. The Krav Maga guard is tight and close to the head, ready for the hands to protect the head. The Wing Chun guard is extended and ready to intercept an incoming attack or launch an attack at a closer point of contact to the enemy.
Having said this, there is no discussion about the power behind either punch, as power is indicative of height, body weight, understanding of structure are varied between student to student. However, the recovery and position we are left in after Krav Maga and Wing Chun deliver their punches is noticeably different due to stance and skeletal structure.
For more information on Wing Chun classes in the Chicago area, visit www.izzo-training.com
For more information on Krav Maga classes visit www.kravmagaillinois.com
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense for Chicago and the North West Suburbs
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Wing Chun and Wrestling
You will hear quite often that there is a substantial link between Wing Chun Kung Fu stand-up fighting and grappling's ground game.
Within the last decade, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Wing Chun have met on common ground, with some ground practitioners, such as the late Carlson Gracie, having shown support for Wing Chun (Grandmaster Samuel Kwok's Wing Chun in the Double Impact Seminar).
First off I must state that I have ZERO exposure or training in BJJ and am not qualifying my knowledge as anything more than what I have seen in MMA fights or what others have shown me in technique exchanges. However, I am a veteran collegate style wrestler with almost 30 years of training.
The essential link between the two is the transition between standing up and taking, or being taken, down to the ground. It must be stated that as far as Wrestling and BJJ are concerned, there is a tremendous difference in the fact that BJJ is comfortable on their backs and Wrestlers are trained to avoid being on their backs. This reflects competition differences. Obviously in a street fighting context, being on your back is not a bad position, thus where most people will argue that BJJ has the edge over Wrestling in this circumstance. In this discussion, however, we are talking about transitions.
That being said, Wing Chun tactics absolutely work from a position from under an enemy while on our backs. The point of this article is again, the transition from being on our feet to being on the ground.
It has been stated that 99% of all street fights or self defense circumstances end up on the ground. I agree with this statement considering that this is an issue of fighters not knowing how to stay on their feet. Wing Chun is effective in that the foot work is almost more important that the hand work.
Youtube and other video sites will show the fast and explosive hand movements of Wing Chun. It is important to note that although our Wing Chun hand speed is explosive and devastating, without proper foot work, it is completely useless...like building a skyscraper on marshland.
Although striking is the primary tool in the Wing Chun arsenal, Chi Sau (an exercise used to develop sensitivity and reflex) shows us that our arms do excel within the grappling space of Wrestling and BJJ. Should a Wing Chun practitioner find him self in the midst of a tie up situation, the nature of Chi Sau teaches us the correct body position and sensitivity to find our way out of the static position and back to the attack.
The major difference between Wrestling transitions and Wing Chun transitions is the method of delivery of our intent. For the most part, the intent is placed on controlling the body. Wrestlers do this by focusing on the hands / wrists / arms to manipulate the body. In Wing Chun, all we "see" is the body and core. Even when we "feel" the other person's wrists / hands / arms, what we really feel is their core movement. Our focus for pathways lie in the delivery of our intent and energy getting from our core to our enemy's core and taking control of it.
Wing Chun training gives us better body mechanics, positional awareness and "flow" to take such control.
Having trained Wrestlers, the benefit of Wing Chun for Wrestling application has been substantially evident in that it has improved their reaction time and their ability to find openings for takedown shots. Their conservation of energy has also greatly improved as they have learned how sensitivity allows a greater ability to absorb and re-direct energy, thus having their opponent tire out while they increase their attacking.
Wing Chun is not a style, rather it is a complete system having ranges from kicking to ground application.
Wing Chun concepts are meant to compliment training from various styles. A double leg takedown may not be in the Wing Chun structure, but Wing Chun concepts can help to improve it.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun for Chicago and the North West Suburbs
Within the last decade, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Wing Chun have met on common ground, with some ground practitioners, such as the late Carlson Gracie, having shown support for Wing Chun (Grandmaster Samuel Kwok's Wing Chun in the Double Impact Seminar).
First off I must state that I have ZERO exposure or training in BJJ and am not qualifying my knowledge as anything more than what I have seen in MMA fights or what others have shown me in technique exchanges. However, I am a veteran collegate style wrestler with almost 30 years of training.
The essential link between the two is the transition between standing up and taking, or being taken, down to the ground. It must be stated that as far as Wrestling and BJJ are concerned, there is a tremendous difference in the fact that BJJ is comfortable on their backs and Wrestlers are trained to avoid being on their backs. This reflects competition differences. Obviously in a street fighting context, being on your back is not a bad position, thus where most people will argue that BJJ has the edge over Wrestling in this circumstance. In this discussion, however, we are talking about transitions.
That being said, Wing Chun tactics absolutely work from a position from under an enemy while on our backs. The point of this article is again, the transition from being on our feet to being on the ground.
It has been stated that 99% of all street fights or self defense circumstances end up on the ground. I agree with this statement considering that this is an issue of fighters not knowing how to stay on their feet. Wing Chun is effective in that the foot work is almost more important that the hand work.
Youtube and other video sites will show the fast and explosive hand movements of Wing Chun. It is important to note that although our Wing Chun hand speed is explosive and devastating, without proper foot work, it is completely useless...like building a skyscraper on marshland.
Although striking is the primary tool in the Wing Chun arsenal, Chi Sau (an exercise used to develop sensitivity and reflex) shows us that our arms do excel within the grappling space of Wrestling and BJJ. Should a Wing Chun practitioner find him self in the midst of a tie up situation, the nature of Chi Sau teaches us the correct body position and sensitivity to find our way out of the static position and back to the attack.
The major difference between Wrestling transitions and Wing Chun transitions is the method of delivery of our intent. For the most part, the intent is placed on controlling the body. Wrestlers do this by focusing on the hands / wrists / arms to manipulate the body. In Wing Chun, all we "see" is the body and core. Even when we "feel" the other person's wrists / hands / arms, what we really feel is their core movement. Our focus for pathways lie in the delivery of our intent and energy getting from our core to our enemy's core and taking control of it.
Wing Chun training gives us better body mechanics, positional awareness and "flow" to take such control.
Having trained Wrestlers, the benefit of Wing Chun for Wrestling application has been substantially evident in that it has improved their reaction time and their ability to find openings for takedown shots. Their conservation of energy has also greatly improved as they have learned how sensitivity allows a greater ability to absorb and re-direct energy, thus having their opponent tire out while they increase their attacking.
Wing Chun is not a style, rather it is a complete system having ranges from kicking to ground application.
Wing Chun concepts are meant to compliment training from various styles. A double leg takedown may not be in the Wing Chun structure, but Wing Chun concepts can help to improve it.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun for Chicago and the North West Suburbs
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Perfect one thing at a time.
As Americans we have this fantastic sense of entitlement in the notion of "instant gratification."
Kung Fu means skill developed through hard work. Kung Fu is NOT instant gratification and when choosing a self defense program, you as a student have the responsibility to keep that in mind before you walk through the door of someone's school.
You have to be willing to dedicate yourself in exerting effort toward learning a new skill.
Take pride in knowing that the basic movements and techniques you will be initially learning are no different than when an art student first learns how to hold and use a paint brush.
Through time, dedication, patience and practice, the artist learns his or her own ways to use the brush, paints, lighting all to create what they see as art.
It is the same with Martial Arts.
In my Wing Chun classes, my students learn the Wing Chun Centerline Punch on their first class. It is the very same punch that they will be doing throughout their Wing Chun training even if years pass.
Students must understand that like the brush, the punch is only one of many tools the artist has at his / her disposal and must learn different techniques for using it.
Come to class with an open mind, but more importantly a strong drive to master one thing at a time.
If you have a brush but no paint, you cannot express yourself.
The same holds true for Wing Chun training. Master the punch, the stance, the footwork and all the tools we use in Wing Chun. Master the concepts. The time spent training should be something we look forward to as advancement in our skill...and not the advancement itself.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense in Chicago and Northwest Suburban Area
Kung Fu means skill developed through hard work. Kung Fu is NOT instant gratification and when choosing a self defense program, you as a student have the responsibility to keep that in mind before you walk through the door of someone's school.
You have to be willing to dedicate yourself in exerting effort toward learning a new skill.
Take pride in knowing that the basic movements and techniques you will be initially learning are no different than when an art student first learns how to hold and use a paint brush.
Through time, dedication, patience and practice, the artist learns his or her own ways to use the brush, paints, lighting all to create what they see as art.
It is the same with Martial Arts.
In my Wing Chun classes, my students learn the Wing Chun Centerline Punch on their first class. It is the very same punch that they will be doing throughout their Wing Chun training even if years pass.
Students must understand that like the brush, the punch is only one of many tools the artist has at his / her disposal and must learn different techniques for using it.
Come to class with an open mind, but more importantly a strong drive to master one thing at a time.
If you have a brush but no paint, you cannot express yourself.
The same holds true for Wing Chun training. Master the punch, the stance, the footwork and all the tools we use in Wing Chun. Master the concepts. The time spent training should be something we look forward to as advancement in our skill...and not the advancement itself.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense in Chicago and Northwest Suburban Area
Wing Chun is boring?
In the past I have had students tell me, "I am having second thoughts about training...its moving so slow, and is, well...kind of boring. When will I get to the good stuff?"
Ah, America...land of instant gratification!
Wing Chun is a martial art, and like any art form, takes time to learn to use the tools required to express human movement and emotion.
Make no mistake about it, but fighting is absolutely a form of human emotion and must be expressed. Bruce Lee, a former Wing Chun student himself, formed countless philosophical theories based on this idea.
That said, we must learn the base of our art form before we use the tools on the canvas.
Conveying this to students is a task well entrusted to teachers with integrity. It is the teacher's responsibility to understand that there are those who want to learn to run before they can even crawl. In martial arts this can be dangerous for several reasons.
The first and most important is that as the teacher, if rushed, you are misrepresenting the art itself. As instructors, we have the responsibility of teaching what we know and we know that a 2 month Wing Chun student is not even remotely ready for chi sau.
Unfortunately, some students see the chi sau phase of Wing Chun as the epitome of where the want / need to be and rush to get there.
So, how do we tell students that learning Sil Lim Tao (The Little Idea form) and the centerline punch are two very important and training tools and must be practiced over and over and over again?
Rushing into exciting looking drills and chi sau without a solid foundation is dangerous as it gives students the worst aspect of hasty training...the false sense of security that they can defend themselves.
I had the very fortunate experience of learning this first hand as a student myself.
It was upon meeting my teacher Syed Ahmad that I was humbled and reminded that Wing Chun is about foundation.
I meet with my Sifu for the first time after talking extensively about training, theory, Wing Chun and our passion... My Sifu and I are within years of the same age, same height, same physical build and same years of Wing Chun training. I had left a former Wing Chun school with a massive amount of confidence in my chi sau and Wing Chun skill as being one of the top students; yet upon training with Sifu Ahmad for the first time, I was unbelievably humbled and not only his ability, but the ability I lacked in the form of basics. This was true of his students; my now Wing Chun brothers and sisters. They had an unbelievable ability due to their foundations.
Sifu Ahmad has spent countless hours refining, exploring, listening, feeling and living his Wing Chun basics. Doesn't matter if it his centerline punch, footwork, Sil Lim Tao, etc. Sifu has done his homework over and over. Under Sifu Ahmad, I have had to return to basics and have noticed that my Wing Chun has not only improved, but I understand Wing Chun better than I had under any previous teacher. And this is all due to patience and basic training.
Wing Chun must be learned and the process respected as being one of diligence and patience. As teachers we must be able to recognize that some students will request speeding up their training, or they will leave. It is the nature of the beast. But as Wing Chun artists, we must not compromise structure and integrity for money or student base. This will only hurt our schools, students and future reputations as well.
Is Wing Chun boring? Depends how you want to look at it. As one Chinese saying puts it, "I do not fear the man who has practiced 10,000 techniques one time; rather the man who has practiced one technique 10,000 times."
Dominick Izzo
Lead Instructor
www.izzo-training.com
Ah, America...land of instant gratification!
Wing Chun is a martial art, and like any art form, takes time to learn to use the tools required to express human movement and emotion.
Make no mistake about it, but fighting is absolutely a form of human emotion and must be expressed. Bruce Lee, a former Wing Chun student himself, formed countless philosophical theories based on this idea.
That said, we must learn the base of our art form before we use the tools on the canvas.
Conveying this to students is a task well entrusted to teachers with integrity. It is the teacher's responsibility to understand that there are those who want to learn to run before they can even crawl. In martial arts this can be dangerous for several reasons.
The first and most important is that as the teacher, if rushed, you are misrepresenting the art itself. As instructors, we have the responsibility of teaching what we know and we know that a 2 month Wing Chun student is not even remotely ready for chi sau.
Unfortunately, some students see the chi sau phase of Wing Chun as the epitome of where the want / need to be and rush to get there.
So, how do we tell students that learning Sil Lim Tao (The Little Idea form) and the centerline punch are two very important and training tools and must be practiced over and over and over again?
Rushing into exciting looking drills and chi sau without a solid foundation is dangerous as it gives students the worst aspect of hasty training...the false sense of security that they can defend themselves.
I had the very fortunate experience of learning this first hand as a student myself.
It was upon meeting my teacher Syed Ahmad that I was humbled and reminded that Wing Chun is about foundation.
I meet with my Sifu for the first time after talking extensively about training, theory, Wing Chun and our passion... My Sifu and I are within years of the same age, same height, same physical build and same years of Wing Chun training. I had left a former Wing Chun school with a massive amount of confidence in my chi sau and Wing Chun skill as being one of the top students; yet upon training with Sifu Ahmad for the first time, I was unbelievably humbled and not only his ability, but the ability I lacked in the form of basics. This was true of his students; my now Wing Chun brothers and sisters. They had an unbelievable ability due to their foundations.
Sifu Ahmad has spent countless hours refining, exploring, listening, feeling and living his Wing Chun basics. Doesn't matter if it his centerline punch, footwork, Sil Lim Tao, etc. Sifu has done his homework over and over. Under Sifu Ahmad, I have had to return to basics and have noticed that my Wing Chun has not only improved, but I understand Wing Chun better than I had under any previous teacher. And this is all due to patience and basic training.
Wing Chun must be learned and the process respected as being one of diligence and patience. As teachers we must be able to recognize that some students will request speeding up their training, or they will leave. It is the nature of the beast. But as Wing Chun artists, we must not compromise structure and integrity for money or student base. This will only hurt our schools, students and future reputations as well.
Is Wing Chun boring? Depends how you want to look at it. As one Chinese saying puts it, "I do not fear the man who has practiced 10,000 techniques one time; rather the man who has practiced one technique 10,000 times."
Dominick Izzo
Lead Instructor
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Centerline Punch
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line... hence one of the reasons we embrace the Centerline Punch in Wing Chun Kung Fu.
Wing Chun uses linear movements due to the very nature that a straight punch to the face of an enemy will get there faster than that of a hook punch.
The effort of a hook punch does have a very "satisfying" feeling of delivery as one can definitely feel the power behind it... but when compared to the Wing Chun Centerline Punch, it's distance, timing and placement is outmatched by the speed and accuracy of the Wing Chun Centerline Punch.
The Wing Chun Centerline Punch uses elbow placement, elbow "power" and skeletal structure to reinforce its delivery in place of brute strength.
Picture holding a baseball bat...your enemy has one as well. As he winds up his to swing it at you, you thrust yours forward and jam it in his face. This is just one of the concepts behind the Wing Chun Centerline Punch.
Izzo Training Systems of Chicago teaches Wing Chun Self Defense.
For more information, visit www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun uses linear movements due to the very nature that a straight punch to the face of an enemy will get there faster than that of a hook punch.
The effort of a hook punch does have a very "satisfying" feeling of delivery as one can definitely feel the power behind it... but when compared to the Wing Chun Centerline Punch, it's distance, timing and placement is outmatched by the speed and accuracy of the Wing Chun Centerline Punch.
The Wing Chun Centerline Punch uses elbow placement, elbow "power" and skeletal structure to reinforce its delivery in place of brute strength.
Picture holding a baseball bat...your enemy has one as well. As he winds up his to swing it at you, you thrust yours forward and jam it in his face. This is just one of the concepts behind the Wing Chun Centerline Punch.
Izzo Training Systems of Chicago teaches Wing Chun Self Defense.
For more information, visit www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Tan Sau Block
In Wing Chun Self Defense we do not block. All of our movements serve a purpose of recovering from a "screw up" in a fight. In other words, based on the nature of what Wing Chun is, (simple, direct and attacking self defense)our centerline punch attack should begin and end the attack. However, as most of us who train know, the fight has a strong chance of not ending there...i.e. someone may block, deflect, slip or move out of the way of our attack. Or they may even fire their own attack back.
As I said before, Wing Chun does not have "blocks" as we do not like to think of them as defensive, but for the sake of dialogue, we shall call Tan Sau the Palm Up or Sky Palm Block.
One of the common mistakes taught by Wing Chun instructors is that the Tan Sau is a block that can withstand energy from a hook punch or round house.
This may be true for some people, however height has a part to play in this as far as structure goes.
Tan Sau by nature is found in the Sil Lim Tao form in the first section and is noted to have the same principle as the centerline punch...elbow down and energy forward. Therefore Tan Sau is a wedging block which thrusts forward to intercept incoming and direct energy such as a push, straight punch or any energy that is direct to our mid level.
Tan Sau wastes it potential if we veer it off to the side for incoming side energy as by the nature of being a forward attack, it swiftly becomes our next weapon which is closest to the target.
The first form, Sil Lim Tao, teaches us everything about the Wing Chun fighting system. If your form is good, your technique will be good. Do not try to re-invent the wheel. Stick with simplicity, structure, directness and adhere to the Wing Chun concepts.
For Wing Chun Self Defense classes in the Chicago area visit www.izzo-training.com
Dominick Izzo
Wing Chun Self Defense Instructor
www.izzo-training.com
847.875.0458
Self Defense Classes in the Chicago Northwest Suburban Area
As I said before, Wing Chun does not have "blocks" as we do not like to think of them as defensive, but for the sake of dialogue, we shall call Tan Sau the Palm Up or Sky Palm Block.
One of the common mistakes taught by Wing Chun instructors is that the Tan Sau is a block that can withstand energy from a hook punch or round house.
This may be true for some people, however height has a part to play in this as far as structure goes.
Tan Sau by nature is found in the Sil Lim Tao form in the first section and is noted to have the same principle as the centerline punch...elbow down and energy forward. Therefore Tan Sau is a wedging block which thrusts forward to intercept incoming and direct energy such as a push, straight punch or any energy that is direct to our mid level.
Tan Sau wastes it potential if we veer it off to the side for incoming side energy as by the nature of being a forward attack, it swiftly becomes our next weapon which is closest to the target.
The first form, Sil Lim Tao, teaches us everything about the Wing Chun fighting system. If your form is good, your technique will be good. Do not try to re-invent the wheel. Stick with simplicity, structure, directness and adhere to the Wing Chun concepts.
For Wing Chun Self Defense classes in the Chicago area visit www.izzo-training.com
Dominick Izzo
Wing Chun Self Defense Instructor
www.izzo-training.com
847.875.0458
Self Defense Classes in the Chicago Northwest Suburban Area
Elbow Fighting Range
Without a doubt, the elbow strike is one of the most powerful attacks in the Wing Chun arsenal of weapons. The biggest issue when using the elbow is the distance (or range) in which is it used.
To get the most out of the elbow, it must be engaed with the hips and legs, leaning forward while throwing the elbow will throw you off balance and allow your enemy to take advantage of the opening.
Don't "reach" your target with your elbow. Only use the elbow when you have control of the enemy's arms and a clear opening to use it. This will ensure a safer recovery for you if your strike is not as affecting as projected.
Practice elbow strikes in the air just as you would your Wing Chun Centerline Punch. Time the strike with your hip and engage the adductor muscles to control the shift and stopping power for balance.
Dominick Izzo
www.izzo-training.com
To get the most out of the elbow, it must be engaed with the hips and legs, leaning forward while throwing the elbow will throw you off balance and allow your enemy to take advantage of the opening.
Don't "reach" your target with your elbow. Only use the elbow when you have control of the enemy's arms and a clear opening to use it. This will ensure a safer recovery for you if your strike is not as affecting as projected.
Practice elbow strikes in the air just as you would your Wing Chun Centerline Punch. Time the strike with your hip and engage the adductor muscles to control the shift and stopping power for balance.
Dominick Izzo
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Footwork
As Americans we have this fantastic sense of entitlement in the notion of "instant gratification."
Kung Fu means skill developed through hard work. Kung Fu is NOT instant gratification and when choosing a self defense program, you as a student have the responsibility to keep that in mind before you walk through the door of someone's school.
You have to be willing to dedicate yourself in exerting effort toward learning a new skill.
Take pride in knowing that the basic movements and techniques you will be initially learning are no different than when an art student first learns how to hold and use a paint brush.
Through time, dedication, patience and practice, the artist learns his or her own ways to use the brush, paints, lighting all to create what they see as art.
It is the same with Martial Arts.
In my Wing Chun classes, my students learn the Wing Chun Centerline Punch on their first class. It is the very same punch that they will be doing throughout their Wing Chun training even if years pass.
Students must understand that like the brush, the punch is only one of many tools the artist has at his / her disposal and must learn different techniques for using it.
Come to class with an open mind, but more importantly a strong drive to master one thing at a time.
If you have a brush but no paint, you cannot express yourself.
The same holds true for Wing Chun training. Master the punch, the stance, the footwork and all the tools we use in Wing Chun. Master the concepts. The time spent training should be something we look forward to as advancement in our skill...and not the advancement itself.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense in Chicago and Northwest Suburban Area
Kung Fu means skill developed through hard work. Kung Fu is NOT instant gratification and when choosing a self defense program, you as a student have the responsibility to keep that in mind before you walk through the door of someone's school.
You have to be willing to dedicate yourself in exerting effort toward learning a new skill.
Take pride in knowing that the basic movements and techniques you will be initially learning are no different than when an art student first learns how to hold and use a paint brush.
Through time, dedication, patience and practice, the artist learns his or her own ways to use the brush, paints, lighting all to create what they see as art.
It is the same with Martial Arts.
In my Wing Chun classes, my students learn the Wing Chun Centerline Punch on their first class. It is the very same punch that they will be doing throughout their Wing Chun training even if years pass.
Students must understand that like the brush, the punch is only one of many tools the artist has at his / her disposal and must learn different techniques for using it.
Come to class with an open mind, but more importantly a strong drive to master one thing at a time.
If you have a brush but no paint, you cannot express yourself.
The same holds true for Wing Chun training. Master the punch, the stance, the footwork and all the tools we use in Wing Chun. Master the concepts. The time spent training should be something we look forward to as advancement in our skill...and not the advancement itself.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense in Chicago and Northwest Suburban Area
Fighting Range
In today's world of self defense training you have what we call "ranges".
There is kickboxing range; a range where you are several feet from your attacker, allowing you to use your longest weapon, your kicks.
Close Quarter Range; where you get to use strikes and elbows while in a balanced standing position and your attacker is also standing.
Clinch / Tie Up Range; the range which gets you closer to your opponent allowing you to "tie up" and hold your attacker, transitioning into taking him down.
Ground Fighting Range; grappling and striking while on the ground.
Broken down these ranges can absolutely be trained within their specific conceptual ideas... but the problem becomes the "concern" a student has then on capitalizing on a specific range in actual application of techniques.
In other words, if you break down these ranges for your students, teach them the very nature of each one as a separation from the whole (the fight itself) the student loses the fluidity of the whole and focuses on what his or her strengths are, thus giving them an insecurity in one or more ranges. I.E. why I disagree with most Women's Self Defense programs starting their female students on the ground rather than on their feet. One nationally known instructor commented on the fact that women should practice on the ground because that is where they will end up. My question, is why plant that seed of insecurity in your student's head instead of turning their weakness into strength?
Example:
When I was a collegiate wrestler I knew that the "whole" was the 6 minute match and the outcome of me winning or losing. The "ranges" were NEUTRAL (take down range) TOP or BOTTOM where either myself or my opponent was on top of the other. I excelled at bottom, I was keen on feeling the movement of my opponent and had the ability to use his movement against him to generate a reversal for points or a pin. I was recognized as one of the most tactical bottom wrestlers in my region because of my ability. I used my explosive leg power, strong back and positional awareness to win. But why was I only able to use these tools on the bottom? Were they not applicable in all three ranges?
The psychology of that was when the first whistle blew, I wasn't thinking about taking down my opponent for the win, rather how I would get to the bottom position so I could use my strengths.
If I had take the same tools that I had successfully employed in the bottom position (leverage, sensitivity, foot position, etc.) and applied those to the neutral or even top positions, I would have been a more well rounded wrestler.
The issue was that when broken down I was defeated mentally in a specific area...NOT the whole, rather the area; the range.
Students must understand that the nature is to win the fight at all cost.
I understand that lesson plans and outlines break this goal down to a training point. However, this is where Wing Chun Chi Sau training is elite self defense training amongst all other forms of training.
If you have an enemy who is 5'7" another one who is 6'2" and one more who is 6'5" would you train to fight them differently?
Some may answer of course.
But I propose this; you will always be the height and physical structure you are (based on physical maturity of aging.) Your three enemies all have to use their weapons (hands, feet, elbows) to reach you. Your enemy must adapt to you...you must not fight their fight, rather make them fight yours.
You need to be confident that no matter what the range, your physical dynamics will remain the same and ALL your tools of fighting can be used in ALL the ranges you train in. You must discover how to use these tools.
Wing Chun allows students superior understanding of their ability better than any other training system available.
Ground or standing up, Wing Chun gives the student the skills and understanding of those skills and furthermore the creative evolution of their skills for any fighting circumstance.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense in Chicago and the Northwest Suburban Area
www.izzo-training.com
There is kickboxing range; a range where you are several feet from your attacker, allowing you to use your longest weapon, your kicks.
Close Quarter Range; where you get to use strikes and elbows while in a balanced standing position and your attacker is also standing.
Clinch / Tie Up Range; the range which gets you closer to your opponent allowing you to "tie up" and hold your attacker, transitioning into taking him down.
Ground Fighting Range; grappling and striking while on the ground.
Broken down these ranges can absolutely be trained within their specific conceptual ideas... but the problem becomes the "concern" a student has then on capitalizing on a specific range in actual application of techniques.
In other words, if you break down these ranges for your students, teach them the very nature of each one as a separation from the whole (the fight itself) the student loses the fluidity of the whole and focuses on what his or her strengths are, thus giving them an insecurity in one or more ranges. I.E. why I disagree with most Women's Self Defense programs starting their female students on the ground rather than on their feet. One nationally known instructor commented on the fact that women should practice on the ground because that is where they will end up. My question, is why plant that seed of insecurity in your student's head instead of turning their weakness into strength?
Example:
When I was a collegiate wrestler I knew that the "whole" was the 6 minute match and the outcome of me winning or losing. The "ranges" were NEUTRAL (take down range) TOP or BOTTOM where either myself or my opponent was on top of the other. I excelled at bottom, I was keen on feeling the movement of my opponent and had the ability to use his movement against him to generate a reversal for points or a pin. I was recognized as one of the most tactical bottom wrestlers in my region because of my ability. I used my explosive leg power, strong back and positional awareness to win. But why was I only able to use these tools on the bottom? Were they not applicable in all three ranges?
The psychology of that was when the first whistle blew, I wasn't thinking about taking down my opponent for the win, rather how I would get to the bottom position so I could use my strengths.
If I had take the same tools that I had successfully employed in the bottom position (leverage, sensitivity, foot position, etc.) and applied those to the neutral or even top positions, I would have been a more well rounded wrestler.
The issue was that when broken down I was defeated mentally in a specific area...NOT the whole, rather the area; the range.
Students must understand that the nature is to win the fight at all cost.
I understand that lesson plans and outlines break this goal down to a training point. However, this is where Wing Chun Chi Sau training is elite self defense training amongst all other forms of training.
If you have an enemy who is 5'7" another one who is 6'2" and one more who is 6'5" would you train to fight them differently?
Some may answer of course.
But I propose this; you will always be the height and physical structure you are (based on physical maturity of aging.) Your three enemies all have to use their weapons (hands, feet, elbows) to reach you. Your enemy must adapt to you...you must not fight their fight, rather make them fight yours.
You need to be confident that no matter what the range, your physical dynamics will remain the same and ALL your tools of fighting can be used in ALL the ranges you train in. You must discover how to use these tools.
Wing Chun allows students superior understanding of their ability better than any other training system available.
Ground or standing up, Wing Chun gives the student the skills and understanding of those skills and furthermore the creative evolution of their skills for any fighting circumstance.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense in Chicago and the Northwest Suburban Area
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun, Wing Tsun, Ving Tsun...
A student stated in class the other week, "why is it that there are variances in all the YouTube videos I see in Wing Chun forms?"
I keep saying it, Wing Chun is art, not just a martial art, therefore we all have our own means of expressing it.
Think of all the great artists who use different kinds of medium to create works of art. We can consider Wing Chun artists as those who use oil paints, Karate artists as those who use chalk, and Grapplers as those who use clay as their material.
All of them are artists, however they follow their own mediums to create works of art within their own style. Within each individual means of art there are several ways to use their tools. Think of all the artists who have used oil paints...do they all produce the same looking works? No.
Same holds true for Wing Chun. Why then is Wong Shun Leung different from Leung Ting? Why is Emin Boztepe different from William Cheung? Why is it that even the very sons of Ip Man, Ip Ching and Ip Chun are different!?
The reason is because we are all different humans. As long as we follow the conceptual foundations of Wing Chun and the ideas of the movements, we are "correct." Centerline, linear movement, economy of motion, simple, direct and efficient... Wing Chun is all this.
It doesn't matter who adds, removes or changes the section of their wooden dummy forms. It matters that we adhere to the strict guidelines of what Wing Chun is.
Keep this in perspective when training. Polish your tools and learn to use them for you. As Wong Shun Leung had said, "do not become a slave to the art."
There are many amazing Wing Chun instructors out there. I myself know that my Sifu, Syed Ahmad, is by far one of the most intuitive Wing Chun instructors and he is someone who I model my Wing Chun after; but that does not mean I do not read, watch and even exchange conversation and ideas with other instructors out there.
Keep an open mind and embrace the art of expression that Wing Chun is.
Dominick Izzo
Lead Instructor
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Classes in Chicago and the North West Suburbs
I keep saying it, Wing Chun is art, not just a martial art, therefore we all have our own means of expressing it.
Think of all the great artists who use different kinds of medium to create works of art. We can consider Wing Chun artists as those who use oil paints, Karate artists as those who use chalk, and Grapplers as those who use clay as their material.
All of them are artists, however they follow their own mediums to create works of art within their own style. Within each individual means of art there are several ways to use their tools. Think of all the artists who have used oil paints...do they all produce the same looking works? No.
Same holds true for Wing Chun. Why then is Wong Shun Leung different from Leung Ting? Why is Emin Boztepe different from William Cheung? Why is it that even the very sons of Ip Man, Ip Ching and Ip Chun are different!?
The reason is because we are all different humans. As long as we follow the conceptual foundations of Wing Chun and the ideas of the movements, we are "correct." Centerline, linear movement, economy of motion, simple, direct and efficient... Wing Chun is all this.
It doesn't matter who adds, removes or changes the section of their wooden dummy forms. It matters that we adhere to the strict guidelines of what Wing Chun is.
Keep this in perspective when training. Polish your tools and learn to use them for you. As Wong Shun Leung had said, "do not become a slave to the art."
There are many amazing Wing Chun instructors out there. I myself know that my Sifu, Syed Ahmad, is by far one of the most intuitive Wing Chun instructors and he is someone who I model my Wing Chun after; but that does not mean I do not read, watch and even exchange conversation and ideas with other instructors out there.
Keep an open mind and embrace the art of expression that Wing Chun is.
Dominick Izzo
Lead Instructor
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Classes in Chicago and the North West Suburbs
Wing Chun Concepts
Concepts and thoughts of Wing Chun Self Defense.
Keeping in mind that when we refer to "defense" in Wing Chun, it is somewhat contradictive in that we never really defend. Even our movements which are defensive, we still apply the mindset that we are attacking an incoming attack. Hence on of our concepts, "Attack the Attack".
Also, the concept of exploding energy (your strike) from ANY position. In a real fight, you will not have time to wind up or crank your fist back before launching your strike, so you must develop this skill. This means having the ability to fire a punch from any distance, be it 2 feet or 2 inches. Anyone who has seen Bruce Lee do his 1 inch punch would marvel at someone who can do such a transference of energy...but know that you have the same ability.
Train over and over, and SLOW. The slower you train the more you will understand your capability and speed will become a byproduct.
Also, your mindset when we train must be relaxed YET aggressive at the same time. The more you train, the more this concept will make sense.
Wing Chun is a very internal art in that you must concentrate on YOU more than the attacker or the incoming attack. The more you focus on your structure, form, centerline, concepts and principles, the more you will negate incoming attacks with ease and economy of motion...and fire off counter attacks with devastation and ruthlessness.
I cannot stress it enough...Please, PLEASE, do the form. Pick it apart, do it section by section over and over. Sil Lim Tao is everything. It equips and prepares you with the tools and understanding of how to use them. Trust yourself, train and be patient...in time everything will just click and make sense.
Dominick Izzo
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense for Chicago and the North West Suburban Areas
Keeping in mind that when we refer to "defense" in Wing Chun, it is somewhat contradictive in that we never really defend. Even our movements which are defensive, we still apply the mindset that we are attacking an incoming attack. Hence on of our concepts, "Attack the Attack".
Also, the concept of exploding energy (your strike) from ANY position. In a real fight, you will not have time to wind up or crank your fist back before launching your strike, so you must develop this skill. This means having the ability to fire a punch from any distance, be it 2 feet or 2 inches. Anyone who has seen Bruce Lee do his 1 inch punch would marvel at someone who can do such a transference of energy...but know that you have the same ability.
Train over and over, and SLOW. The slower you train the more you will understand your capability and speed will become a byproduct.
Also, your mindset when we train must be relaxed YET aggressive at the same time. The more you train, the more this concept will make sense.
Wing Chun is a very internal art in that you must concentrate on YOU more than the attacker or the incoming attack. The more you focus on your structure, form, centerline, concepts and principles, the more you will negate incoming attacks with ease and economy of motion...and fire off counter attacks with devastation and ruthlessness.
I cannot stress it enough...Please, PLEASE, do the form. Pick it apart, do it section by section over and over. Sil Lim Tao is everything. It equips and prepares you with the tools and understanding of how to use them. Trust yourself, train and be patient...in time everything will just click and make sense.
Dominick Izzo
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense for Chicago and the North West Suburban Areas
My Wing Chun is Better than Your Wing Chun...
The never ending debate of who's Wing Chun is "real" or "better" will never go away, nor will it help you in your journey for making yourself the best martial artist you can be.
In the Wing Chun community, we are all victims, and sometimes contributors (myself included at one point) of the mud slinging game of saying, "oh his/her Wing Chun is wrong...its garbage!"
I have been exposed to some fantastic Wing Chun and some sub par Wing Chun. What makes it fantastic or sub par? My opinion and my opinion only. And this is something that we should all keep in mind when we continue our training.
I have had great training experiences in Wing Chun. Who is to say that person A's Wing Chun is better than person B's? And if one person's is better than the other, is it Wing Chun or is it the practitioner?
Keep in mind, that styles and systems do not make fighters...fighters make fighters.
Just like art, the artist uses paint to create the image of his or her expression. In doing so, how can we accuse him or her of using the paint wrong?
Yes, in Wing Chun we have certain guidelines to follow...obviously throwing a hook punch cannot be called a centerline punch, and if someone shifts with their weight placed on their front foot, we cannot consider this correct... But how can we say that someone's Wing Chun is bad or wrong simply because our perception of it is wrong?
Master Michael Wong of youtube fame has a great philosophy...he has no opinion.
Some would consider that his Wing Chun, in point, is wrong... And in some frequent cases I agree. He mis-translates what some terms mean, uses drills that do not make sense for Wing Chun and has forms that aren't exactly traditional. But, his goal is to make people fighters.
He uses the core concepts of Wing Chun to promote fighting and self defense...and his fighting ability is impressive. So, is his Wing Chun wrong or is it HIS Wing Chun?
Or Leung Ting and how people criticize him openly for saturating and demeaning the art... Has he not directly or in part produced some of the most deadly Wing Chun fighters?
Ip Man taught several students... Why do each of them have different abilities? Wong Shun Leung did the same and so on. Why are each of us open to the interpretation of Wing Chun, yet people still will say, "Oh, his Wing Chun is bad?"
Personally, I do not care who a person trains under, I care their ability and understanding. One of my former Sifu's had an impressive Wing Chun resume...however a man who is 6'3" can never understand the needs of Wing Chun for shorter person, therefor his understanding was muddied. My current Sifu does not train directly under Ip Chun or Ip Ching as others do plaster their resume with...yet my Sifu's ability is second to none in direct combat applicability, his reflexes are surgical and deadly and his Chi Sao is devastating.
Wing Chun is for Self Defense and Combat. I enjoy Chi Sao greatly, however Chi Sao is the tool and not the goal of Wing Chun and many of us forget that.
In David Peterson's book about Wong Shun Leung, he commented how his Sifu evolved his Wing Chun through constant thinking, training, and expression. That is your responsibility as well.
We must criticize ourselves so that we never end the journey of our training.
All of your opinions help me to become a better Wing Chun fighter and I hope to do the same in return.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Self Defense Chicago and the Northwest Suburbs
In the Wing Chun community, we are all victims, and sometimes contributors (myself included at one point) of the mud slinging game of saying, "oh his/her Wing Chun is wrong...its garbage!"
I have been exposed to some fantastic Wing Chun and some sub par Wing Chun. What makes it fantastic or sub par? My opinion and my opinion only. And this is something that we should all keep in mind when we continue our training.
I have had great training experiences in Wing Chun. Who is to say that person A's Wing Chun is better than person B's? And if one person's is better than the other, is it Wing Chun or is it the practitioner?
Keep in mind, that styles and systems do not make fighters...fighters make fighters.
Just like art, the artist uses paint to create the image of his or her expression. In doing so, how can we accuse him or her of using the paint wrong?
Yes, in Wing Chun we have certain guidelines to follow...obviously throwing a hook punch cannot be called a centerline punch, and if someone shifts with their weight placed on their front foot, we cannot consider this correct... But how can we say that someone's Wing Chun is bad or wrong simply because our perception of it is wrong?
Master Michael Wong of youtube fame has a great philosophy...he has no opinion.
Some would consider that his Wing Chun, in point, is wrong... And in some frequent cases I agree. He mis-translates what some terms mean, uses drills that do not make sense for Wing Chun and has forms that aren't exactly traditional. But, his goal is to make people fighters.
He uses the core concepts of Wing Chun to promote fighting and self defense...and his fighting ability is impressive. So, is his Wing Chun wrong or is it HIS Wing Chun?
Or Leung Ting and how people criticize him openly for saturating and demeaning the art... Has he not directly or in part produced some of the most deadly Wing Chun fighters?
Ip Man taught several students... Why do each of them have different abilities? Wong Shun Leung did the same and so on. Why are each of us open to the interpretation of Wing Chun, yet people still will say, "Oh, his Wing Chun is bad?"
Personally, I do not care who a person trains under, I care their ability and understanding. One of my former Sifu's had an impressive Wing Chun resume...however a man who is 6'3" can never understand the needs of Wing Chun for shorter person, therefor his understanding was muddied. My current Sifu does not train directly under Ip Chun or Ip Ching as others do plaster their resume with...yet my Sifu's ability is second to none in direct combat applicability, his reflexes are surgical and deadly and his Chi Sao is devastating.
Wing Chun is for Self Defense and Combat. I enjoy Chi Sao greatly, however Chi Sao is the tool and not the goal of Wing Chun and many of us forget that.
In David Peterson's book about Wong Shun Leung, he commented how his Sifu evolved his Wing Chun through constant thinking, training, and expression. That is your responsibility as well.
We must criticize ourselves so that we never end the journey of our training.
All of your opinions help me to become a better Wing Chun fighter and I hope to do the same in return.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Self Defense Chicago and the Northwest Suburbs
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