Wing Chun Elbow Energy

One of the most argued points of Wing Chun is the "Elbow Energy" development, or even having "what it is" defined.

All of us know that the first section of the first form, Sil Lim Tao, has the Fook Sau / Wu Sau Section and this is where we learn to develop this energy.

But what is the energy and how do we learn and / or develop it?

My second Sifu used to sit there with his head cocked to one side, look at me out of the corner of his eye and say, "well, you know...no one really knows how to truly develop it."

A very well respected Sifu in my area and I had a lengthy conversation once and his explanation, which came from Ip Ching, was that tension, or "spot projected" focus is placed on every part of the arm between the wrist and elbow; which is why we go so slow on that section.

A recent article in Wing Chun Illustrated stated that Ip Man may have in fact "tricked" us into thinking there is elbow energy in that section just so we would stay in the stance for longer periods of time in order to train our legs.

In a recent YouTube video, I posted my personal proof of elbow energy. If you go to my YouTube channel www.youtube.com/izzotrainingsystems you can see a short clip of me using a Hammer Strength Bench Press machine and moving 450 lbs for 3 repetitions...and I am only 5'7" and 165 lbs.

I also routinely bench press with 110lbs dumbells in each hand and do rowing movements with 100lbs dumbells as well. This is all due to elbow energy.

How did I "discover" this? I focused on my anatomy.

Take a gallon of milk...hold it to your chest and you can hold it there all day long. Extend your arm fully, and it gets really heavy, really fast. So, one of the first things you learn is proximity within your own body and where structure resides.

How this applies is understanding the joint which pushes and pulls your hand; your elbow.

If you take a pool cue and strike a cue ball, you understand that the handle of the cue is doing the work and not the tip. This is the same concept for your elbow and fist.

Another consideration is the difference between strenght and explosive power. Obviously the mechanics are the same, however the muscle fibers involved differ as does the speed which the movement is activated at. A Wing Chun student does not stand and "bench" his strength into his enemy, rather explodes from point A to his enemy's face within a fraction of a second.

Although these applications of speed and power differ from practical strength, you have to understand your body before you are able to do so.

So, for me, I cannot say to my students, "just let the development of elbow energy come to you...do the form over and over and it will appear."

The only think I can say is how I discovered elbow energy. I listened to others, took what they had said and either applied or discarded what was useful for me. And I suggest you do the same.

My suggestion is you pay close attention to the relationship between your elbow and the rest of your body. Your elbow is involved in everything from balance to tying your shoes. Check out the next time you push yourself away from the table to get up or open the door to walk out of it...your hands are placed on the table or the handle, but your elbow is the primary driver to move it...IF you focus on it.

The same holds true for the rest of your body. The more you learn how your legs are involved in things like the bench press, the sooner your stance will recruit devastating power in all your techniques.

The body is a unit and no part is greater than the other.

Discover "Wing Chun's Elbow Energy" and understand how it works for you. Then apply it to your techniques and watch what happens.

For information on Wing Chun Kung Fu classes for Chicago and the NW Suburban areas, visit www.izzo-training.com or call 847-875-0458 for class structure and cost.

Dominick Izzo
Chief Instructor
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts

www.izzo-training.com

Wing Chun's Concepts for Life

We say it all the time that Wing Chun is a conceptual martial art who's techniques are worked best within the realm of being studied, rather than taken for truths.

I have found, over the course of my Wing Chun study, that these concepts or principles, are much more for life than fighting.

In Wing Chun we "Face" our enemy. So must this be in our lives.

In Wing Chun we absorb and re-direct incoming negative energy instead of meeting it with our own force.

We attack that which attacks us in Wing Chun.

A Wing Chun student must learn to be relaxed to see and feel everything that his/her enemy is doing so that they may have the right response.

We use angles to attack, we stay balanced in our foot work and we never back up.

All of these are Wing Chun foundations which allow a Wing Chun student to find the means to better understand the techniques learned. So must this be in life...Learn to never back up at our struggles. Change the angles, or way we look at problems and relax in times of stress so we may find the right solution.

All of these and more are truly more than fighting methods in Wing Chun...they are lessons for Life.

Dominick Izzo
Izzo Tactical Combat Martial Arts
Wing Chun Kung Fu / Street Self Defense

Chicago and the NW SUburbs
www.izzo-training.com