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