Thank you to Pavlov and his trusty dog companion. Because of that wonderful little pooch, we understand the idea behind classical conditioning. Doing something enough times, generates a stimulus and creates a reinforcement of a habit.
Applied to fighting, getting hit more, will make you get hit less.
Wing Chun's Chi Sau training is superior to all other forms of reflex training, in that it requires not just technique, but positioning, reflex, sensitivity, and energy.
All of these components allow us to greater improve our ability to protect our centerline as well as attack our opponent's centerline.
One of the biggest mistakes Wing Chun students make is "chasing the arms" while in a real life type application. When sparring, there is no bridge between you and the opponent and you must somehow make the bridge. Many Wing Chun students forget their training when no bridge is available. They quickly revert to the kickboxing or boxing type dancing around in order to feint or jocky for position in order to get the bridge...this only sacrifices your foundation and footwork. The person to move first is usually the person to get hit first. This is why you see good Wing Chun students waiting patiently for their opponent to make the first move. Granted, there are always exceptions to moving first, but this is situational as well as proximal. However, waiting until the bridge is gapped and or punching when in doubt to bridge the gap, shows how Wing Chun is an multi ranged combat art and a complete fighting system and not a style.
The other mistake students make is trying to block arms or redirect as the initial point of attack in order to use their Wing Chun in combat application. You must remember that we are perpetually seeking to protect our centerline and destroy our opponent's centerline. Anything else is a byproduct of the sensitivity and reflexive action we gain from chi sau. Chi Sau is NOT fighting, rather it is a tool used to improve our fighting once ANY physical contact is made.
Even though our hands are the main focus in Chi Sau, our legs are involved. You can feel where the opponent is if he fires a low kick to your legs. Your chi sau skill will simply remind your body where you are in relation to him and allow you to move right in.
The more you get hit, the more you will understand what you did incorrectly and learn to avoid the attack. We can never control our enemy, we can only seize the opportunity they create to attack and destroy them.
Chi Sau must be seen as a tool to use all of your skill. Using 5 movements to do the job of 1 movement is good for the movies or to impress your friends. Next time you chi sau and commit to an attack, ask yourself if the technique you applied has the proper position and opening to use maximum power if it were needed. Anything less is just the "paddy cake" that critics accuse Wing Chun of being.
One well placed strike is more efficient than 20 tapping strikes. I have said this before in regard to the "straight blast". Although rapid, it is an annoyance and will most likely not be effective in eliminating an enemy. But a well placed shifting punch which has been trained and developed with proper Yiu Ma (core energy) will either kill or knock unconscious an enemy.
Embrace when you get hit and learn to understand what you did to cause the strike and how you can prevent it.
We have Wing Chun classes in the Chicago area every Tuesday and Thurs night at 8750 W Bryn Mawr from 7 to 9pm and Saturdays at 236 E Irving Park Rd in Wood Dale from 11am to 1pm. For more information, visit www.izzo-training.com
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense in Chicago and the NW Suburbs
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Adrenaline, The "Dump", Fear and Combat Stress Training
As fun as our Wing Chun Self Defense classes in Chicago are supposed to be, the need for realistic training will forever be something that is a necessity.
I want my students to always leave with a sense of accomplishment from classes; furthermore I want my students to leave with the emotional security and confidence that should something go "wrong" or threaten their safety...they will overcome.
Honestly, I have no intent on training my students to be able to "defend" themselves; my mindset and approach is to enable my students to destroy, obliterate, demolish, wreck, or kick the living hell out of anyone who threatens their safety or the safety of their loved ones.
Once a student has become fairly confident in their ability in class, I introduce training methods which help to improve their foundation. Think your Wing Chun Chi Sau is good? I will have you jump rope for 60 seconds then Chi Sau someone bigger and stronger who is fresh.
I will make even the newest students Chi Sau with a blind fold, or obstructed glasses which allow you to only partially see what is happening.
We turn up the music to an annoying level to tax the sense, or Chi Sau outside in the cold while wearing thick coats.
Train for incoming attacks while your back is to the wall with no way out.
Anything we can do SAFELY and CONTROLLED to increase your heart rate and mimic the adrenaline dump you get in a real fight will help you react when you need it most...outside of class in the real world.
Making class fun is key, however stress is high during a combat situation and the fight or flight motor response must be kicked into high gear and called upon to act when needed!
Fear is good! Fear is that little guy who lives in us and says, "hey...you're alive and I am going to help you stay that way."
Using fear, adrenaline, sensory overload and any other natural means for training to help you improve is a very useful tool to helping you improve while making classes fun!
Our Wing Chun Self Defense Classes are weekly in Chicago and the NW Suburbs.
Tuesday and Thursday Classes are held at 8750 W Bryn Mawr in Chicago near O'Hare from 7pm to 9pm.
Saturday afternoons from 11am to 1pm at Goality Fitness in Wood Dale, 236 E Irving Park Rd.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
I want my students to always leave with a sense of accomplishment from classes; furthermore I want my students to leave with the emotional security and confidence that should something go "wrong" or threaten their safety...they will overcome.
Honestly, I have no intent on training my students to be able to "defend" themselves; my mindset and approach is to enable my students to destroy, obliterate, demolish, wreck, or kick the living hell out of anyone who threatens their safety or the safety of their loved ones.
Once a student has become fairly confident in their ability in class, I introduce training methods which help to improve their foundation. Think your Wing Chun Chi Sau is good? I will have you jump rope for 60 seconds then Chi Sau someone bigger and stronger who is fresh.
I will make even the newest students Chi Sau with a blind fold, or obstructed glasses which allow you to only partially see what is happening.
We turn up the music to an annoying level to tax the sense, or Chi Sau outside in the cold while wearing thick coats.
Train for incoming attacks while your back is to the wall with no way out.
Anything we can do SAFELY and CONTROLLED to increase your heart rate and mimic the adrenaline dump you get in a real fight will help you react when you need it most...outside of class in the real world.
Making class fun is key, however stress is high during a combat situation and the fight or flight motor response must be kicked into high gear and called upon to act when needed!
Fear is good! Fear is that little guy who lives in us and says, "hey...you're alive and I am going to help you stay that way."
Using fear, adrenaline, sensory overload and any other natural means for training to help you improve is a very useful tool to helping you improve while making classes fun!
Our Wing Chun Self Defense Classes are weekly in Chicago and the NW Suburbs.
Tuesday and Thursday Classes are held at 8750 W Bryn Mawr in Chicago near O'Hare from 7pm to 9pm.
Saturday afternoons from 11am to 1pm at Goality Fitness in Wood Dale, 236 E Irving Park Rd.
Dominick Izzo
Owner, Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Chi Sau for Caliore Burning!? Oh Yeah!
One of the coolest things about learning Wing Chun Self Defense in Chicago is progressing to the point where you do Chi Sau as a regular part of your training.
Although Chi Sau is high on the upper echelon of Wing Chun training, it is not Wing Chun itself; rather, merely a tool to help with your Wing Chun.
Anyone can look on youtube and see varied methods of Wing Chun's Chi Sau, along with varied views and arguments of who's is right or wrong.
If what matters to you most is not right or wrong, but health, fitness and fun, then look no further.
First off...the brain hates routine. Ever drive your car home from work and not remember the trip? Studies show that if you do cross word puzzles all the time and get better, you are not actually getting smarter, but more efficient at that particular kind of puzzle.
The same goes for routine. The brain actually becomes good at the same thing over and over.
Chi Sau, in some ways, cannot be controlled, yet is reacted by your subconscious. After doing 1,000s of hours of repetitions in our basic training, our subconscious brain reacts to new stimulus given by our training partner when Chi Sau is introduced. The more training partners you have, the more stimulus you receive and the more active your brain becomes!
Fitness...Working out can be BORING. Although working out can be very routine, it is a necessary evil in our lives for our health and longevity. Heart rate training for cardio respiratory training is essential for a healthy heart. If you want a new and fun way to do cardio interval training, you have to check out Chi Sau.
Chi Sau is one of the best ways to actively train with your body weight and jack your heart rate up, or keep it at a controlled pace. It is completely up to you! Talk about an incredible way for all the baby boomers to keep in shape! This is a low impact, low risk way to train with phenomenal benefits to your health!
One of my goals during Chi Sau is to take a strong incoming energy from whomever I am working with, and keep my heart rate and breathing controlled. I average about 600-900 calories burnt during an hour of Chi Sau!
And talk about improved motor skills! Your reaction time, coordination, nervous system, motor development, etc, all benefit from Wing Chun Chi Sau.
Competition... Some of us miss our younger years where we were athletic competitors. The problem is the older we get, the more apprehensive we are about getting injured. Chi Sau offers a wonderful solution for this.
Unlike grappling, you wont get mat or gi burns, ring worm from rolling on a dirty floor, or your teeth knocked out from boxing. Chi Sau can be exerted upon any level of control or energy when agreed upon by your partner and you.
The bottom line is that for anyone seeking a new method to keeping themselves young, fit, healthy and their brain fresh and active, they should look into Wing Chun Kung Fu for its amazing health benefits!
For Wing Chun Self Defense classes in the Chicago Area and the North West Suburbs, visit www.izzo-training.com
We train each Tuesday and Thursday night from 7pm to 9pm at LifeStart Wellness Center, 8750 W Bryn Mawr in Chicago near O'Hare / Rosemont.
We also train every Saturday afternoon from 11am to 1pm at Goality Fitness, 236 E Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
Although Chi Sau is high on the upper echelon of Wing Chun training, it is not Wing Chun itself; rather, merely a tool to help with your Wing Chun.
Anyone can look on youtube and see varied methods of Wing Chun's Chi Sau, along with varied views and arguments of who's is right or wrong.
If what matters to you most is not right or wrong, but health, fitness and fun, then look no further.
First off...the brain hates routine. Ever drive your car home from work and not remember the trip? Studies show that if you do cross word puzzles all the time and get better, you are not actually getting smarter, but more efficient at that particular kind of puzzle.
The same goes for routine. The brain actually becomes good at the same thing over and over.
Chi Sau, in some ways, cannot be controlled, yet is reacted by your subconscious. After doing 1,000s of hours of repetitions in our basic training, our subconscious brain reacts to new stimulus given by our training partner when Chi Sau is introduced. The more training partners you have, the more stimulus you receive and the more active your brain becomes!
Fitness...Working out can be BORING. Although working out can be very routine, it is a necessary evil in our lives for our health and longevity. Heart rate training for cardio respiratory training is essential for a healthy heart. If you want a new and fun way to do cardio interval training, you have to check out Chi Sau.
Chi Sau is one of the best ways to actively train with your body weight and jack your heart rate up, or keep it at a controlled pace. It is completely up to you! Talk about an incredible way for all the baby boomers to keep in shape! This is a low impact, low risk way to train with phenomenal benefits to your health!
One of my goals during Chi Sau is to take a strong incoming energy from whomever I am working with, and keep my heart rate and breathing controlled. I average about 600-900 calories burnt during an hour of Chi Sau!
And talk about improved motor skills! Your reaction time, coordination, nervous system, motor development, etc, all benefit from Wing Chun Chi Sau.
Competition... Some of us miss our younger years where we were athletic competitors. The problem is the older we get, the more apprehensive we are about getting injured. Chi Sau offers a wonderful solution for this.
Unlike grappling, you wont get mat or gi burns, ring worm from rolling on a dirty floor, or your teeth knocked out from boxing. Chi Sau can be exerted upon any level of control or energy when agreed upon by your partner and you.
The bottom line is that for anyone seeking a new method to keeping themselves young, fit, healthy and their brain fresh and active, they should look into Wing Chun Kung Fu for its amazing health benefits!
For Wing Chun Self Defense classes in the Chicago Area and the North West Suburbs, visit www.izzo-training.com
We train each Tuesday and Thursday night from 7pm to 9pm at LifeStart Wellness Center, 8750 W Bryn Mawr in Chicago near O'Hare / Rosemont.
We also train every Saturday afternoon from 11am to 1pm at Goality Fitness, 236 E Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale.
Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
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