A lot of people are skeptical about Wing Chun’s practicality, because no practitioners of Wing Chun have performed well in MMA. To dissolve this skepticism, I think it is important to shed some light on this topic. All martial artists are limited by their perspective and the way they train. It is often said, “never box a boxer and never wrestle a wrestler”. If you fight an opponent on his turf, he is likely to win. A lot of people have asked me: “do you think a top Wing Chun practitioner could beat a top MMA practitioner?” The answer is simple; it depends on the terms. In a cage or a ring, under MMA rules, the MMA practitioner will most likely win. The MMA practitioner can make use of the cage or ring and keep the distance and attack from the outside or take the fight to the floor where he has superior experience. But in a small room or a crowded place, the Wing Chun practitioner has the advantage. He can make use of the lack of space so the MMA practitioner cannot keep his distance and use feints or surprise attacks. He can keep the MMA practitioner at punching distance, where he has superior experience. MMA strategies favour moving in and out of range, bobbing and weaving, using feints for takedowns, ground-and-pound and submissions. If the MMA practitioner is out of reach, the Wing Chun practitioner can think of using the battlefield and improvised weapons or he can move to an area with less space to move around. To really get the full perspective, you have to understand the way MMA and Wing Chun differ and what they have in common. Commonalities between Wing Chun and MMA: This comparison is based on high quality Wing Chun and high quality MMA. It requires an understanding of both fighting systems. 1 – Both systems take into account the distance/range of an unarmed fight, even though their preferences are different. 2 – Both focus on the most effective way to fight under the expected terms. 3 – Both share many of the same training parameters e.g. positioning, control, precision, balance, stability, flexibility, relaxation, endurance, power, force, coordination, speed, distance, timing, momentum, fluidity, adaptability, agility, creativity, tactile and visual reflexes and breathing. 4 – Both include the mental aspects e.g. positive expectations and staying in control of your inner dialog and your behaviour. 5 – Both focus on economy of motion and on using the whole body as a tool for offensive and defensive moves. 6 – Both focus on continuous effective attacks to vulnerable targets. 7 – Both focus on exploiting advantages, positioning and manipulation of the opponent’s balance. 8 – Both use adaptability to handle the opponent’s superior power or positioning. 9 – Both focus on optimal body mechanics in their techniques. 10 – Both focus on a safe distance and surprise attacks. Differences between Wing Chun and MMA Wing Chun’s reputation has suffered due to poor representation on the Internet. Three things have been misunderstood. First, people think that the low quality Wing Chun they see on the Internet represents the true art. There is also a lack of understanding of the fundamental principles of the system as well as the strategies and biomechanics behind the techniques. Finally, there is lack of exposure of quality masters using it in combat. It is difficult to show Wing Chun’s true effectiveness without really hurting somebody, and no one should be sacrificed to make a point. If people are really interested, they can understand Wing Chun’s effectiveness by spending time testing it with a high level Wing Chun practitioner. As a metaphor; “you don’t have to shoot somebody to prove a gun works, you just have to understand how the gun works”. This is one of my goals – to help the world see the efficiency and effectiveness of this amazing close combat system, and to make it accessible for anyone with the right attitude and mind-set. Things Wing Chun can learn from MMA You have to integrate some kind of full contact situational sparring to get a sense of how it feels physically and mentally when the opponent does not hold back. You also have to train against somebody who is skilled in the kind of attacks you most likely will encounter in a real fight e.g. feints, circular kicks and punches, throws/ takedowns and ground fighting. This does not mean that you should use these techniques. But you should train against somebody who knows how to use them. Things MMA can learn from Wing Chun The Body mechanics of Wing Chun´s defensive tactics in punching range could have great benefits if adapted within clinching / trapping range (Chi Sau principles). At this range, Wing Chun has ideal structure for stability, mobility, shock absorption, short power generation, redirection of force and structure manipulation. The punching distance can then be a controlled distance which can provide an advantage for the fighter with less weight, reach, power or speed, provided he has trained to mastery. Economy of motion such as, simultaneous movements with short power generation could also be adapted. In todays MMA, most stand-up fighting techniques are inspired by Boxing, Kick Boxing or Muay Thai, where the techniques are based on strikes and blocks, wearing boxing gloves. Then you have bare-knuckle arts like full-contact Karate, where punching is primarily aimed at the chest. All of these arts have a similar paradigm when it comes to striking distance. They rely on visual reactions and not in controlling the “bridge”. Their attempt at control is the clinch or the takedown, because their game is largely inspired by Wrestling, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. This is another one of my goals – to help talented and skilled MMA fighters integrate principles from Practical Wing Chun in their skillset. This would allow them to take their opponents into unfamiliar territory and beat them there. It is not about changing the MMA fighter’s skillset, but more about increasing
Sifu Freddy Wong My Life with Traditional Wing Chun
At the age of 18, I traveled to study for my Bachelor in Business in Melbourne, Australia. During my younger years, I had many experiences in street fights in Hong Kong, China and had never lost to any challengers. Because of that, I believed my skills were exceptional and I was ready to challenge anyone, at any time and at any given day. It was then that I decided I wanted to further my skills to deal with any martial artist or any fighter in combat. At the time, I remembered hearing about a Grandmaster in Wing Chun located in Melbourne, Australia. I decided I wanted to see how Wing Chun dealt against my street fighting ability. When I met Grandmaster William Cheung, he was in his office room. I told him about all my years of street fights in Hong Kong, and that I wanted him to show me some moves in Traditional Wing Chun (TWC) that could counter my fighting style. I remember that day very clearly. He didn’t say a word. He smiled and asked me to follow him. As I followed him to another room, we entered a conference room and he started moving all the chairs and tables away. Then he asked me to stand in my fighting pose, so I decided to use my Sanda stance. In a split second, he quickly came and executed an entry technique. Before I could react or comprehend his speed, he had already caught my elbow, taking my balance away. All I can remember is seeing his shadow split into 2, while I was stunned and shocked from the experience. After that, he asked me to throw any strike I wanted ,so I decided to hit him with an upper cut. When I went at him, he quickly countered it with a Gum Sao, after which I could not move my arm. As I looked at my arm, I saw three hand strikes on it and it was so painful internally that I couldn’t fight anymore. He smiled at me and said to come back again for training if I wanted to. That day, I decided I wanted to learn from him for the rest of my life. When I started my training, I attended Master Dana Wong’s classes to learn the first form of Wing Chun, the Siu Lim Tao form. Not long after that ,Grandmaster Cheung asked me to train solely under him. It was a great opportunity to learn this unique TWC System. To learn from him , I needed to pay full attention. It wasn’t easy to understand the meaning behind all the movements, but once you can grasp the solid foundation, you can understand why he does things differently to conventional Wing Chun systems. Many people think that his Wing Chun is somehow very different to Ip Man Wing Chun, and yes, there are differences, but in my opinion it’s only a different approach. The destination is the same. For example, centerline theory: In TWC, there are 4 centerlines. If you count the back as a centerline, that makes it the fifth centerline. As for TWC, your own axis is the first centerline and underneath your elbow, we draw a horizontal line as the second centerline to define your 4 gates. The upper & middle gate. In addition, if you cross both your hands up and down and across with 135-degree angles, that creates another centerline. You need to maintain this during Chi Sao. Lastly, when you are in a fighting position, the fourth centerline is what we call the central-line. The fourth centerline (central-line) teaches you to easily use both arms at the same time, for counter attack purposes. TWC uses BOEC (balance, opening, elbow & cross arm) as a fighting strategy. It enables the fighter to fight effectively on the blindside, as well as controlling someone who is much stronger, faster and more skillful than you. TWC emphasizes to not fight through the middle but instead fight using the blindside to control the situation. For Chi Sao, sensitivity is the main quality one tries to cultivate. You should never use any technique to over come strength, but rather to understand leverage of the human structure and use it to control, subdue, and limit your opponent’s movements and get him off balance. Like a bamboo that absorbs, deflects and releases its energy back. If you can understand the logic behind that, you can see things more clearly than others. As for weapons, I will briefly say that this training comes only after you master all the empty hand forms and have extensively trained in a deeper layer of the TWC system. To train your internals and to become strong, you must train your stance. You must learn to transfer the incoming force to the ground and then it will automatically be redirected back to them. To get to this level, you will need to put in a lot of effort, training and time. This is known as Gung Lik – the internal aspect of your body mechanics. From all my years of training, I have learned a lot from my Sifu, Grandmaster William Cheung. I would like to respectfully and honorably say a special thank you to him for having taught me Traditional Wing Chun as a way of life . Ω 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Viber 0 Whatsapp 0 Telegram 0 Email
Interview with Sifu Alan Orr
Sifu Orr, you have a new book out called “Structure of Wing Chun Kuen (B&W): Awakening Force Flow”. What led you to write this book? The book really came about for a few reasons. I am always asked how I came to learn Wing Chun and what are the key differences to what I teach. So the start was kind of a bio and a record of my learning. Then the basic structure of what I teach and why I teach it. But it soon became a lot more. I started to reflect on the things I had learnt and the impact others had had on me,as well as the achievements my students have had from the path we have taken together. I could see clearly that the old saying that “it’s the journey not the destination”, was really true to my story. I was aware that many people start martial arts to overcome problems and issues. So I decided to share how it helped me overcome many of my own problems and issues. The book became an insight into my learning curve with the story of my student’s development as well as a study of the structure of Wing Chun and its many layers via the 6 Core Elements we use. The feedback has been amazing and I am very happy to see the book helping so many people. Can you explain what the term “Force Flow” is? Is it related to what some people call “Mind Force” in Wing Chun circles? Force Flow is part of the 6 Core Elements. My teacher Robert Chu really introduced the term ‘Body Structure’ to the Wing Chun world over 20 years ago. It was a term his teacher Hawkins Cheung used. My teacher really focused on what it really meant to Wing Chun and as he developed his system by researching all the branches of Wing Chun to cross check, compare and contrast styles and teachings. He looked at all the Ip Man branches plus many older incarnations of the style, such as YKS Wing Chun. He has been close friends over the years with Hendrik Santo who has himself researched Yik Kam Wing Chun from the 1700’s. Hendrik introduced the Six Core Elements which explained the layers of Wing Chun Body Structure in a very logical way and allowed us to breakdown the Key elements that build the art into a system. My teacher brought the principle of structure into vogue many years ago, with his articles on Body Structure testing. The term structure is now really misused and misunderstood greatly. So using the 6 Core Elements to break down the different components of each layer allows us to explain that Body Structure is not just the body position, as many seem to think. Force Flow has many layers but the basic understanding is about learning the correct reaction force and the timing of its use within the vector structure of the Wing Chun frame. But that is just the start and it is only part of a bigger whole. Once you have that foundation you are then not ruled by elbow position or vectors. The sequencing of the 7 bows of the body, allow a deeper level of control and frees one from just fixed structures. Mind Force is not the same as force flow. Force Flow is a physical skill which requires the mind but has nothing to do with Mind force. We have the Mind Element as part of the 6 Core Elements, but again, it’s not the same as Mind Force. In terms of Qi (energy), some people talk about Qi as if it’s magic. But when you look at what they are showing, it’s just demos in slow motion – if he does this I could do that and press here and I can control you etc. It just will not hold up under real live pressure. Everything we do is pressure tested live; otherwise it doesn’t fit into the model of martial arts being martial. The art is the understanding of momentum handling. If one can do things under pressure then it is real skill. Qi is energy, so it is real. It is not magic as some think. The error most make is that internal training is all mind and Qi movement. Look at all the monks that train and you will see they do a lot of physical exercise, strength and conditioning work. They engage in hours of stance training and lifting weights to develop grip and tendon strength. They also train breathing to strengthen the diaphragm, which is an important part of iron shirt training. So internal is as much strength work as it is breathing. But that’s for development of the body. The mind element is about the sequencing and momentum handling skills. When these 6 core elements are mastered then you can say it’s internal. Otherwise you have Strength only and it’s just using muscle. You have mind only and it’s just an idea, you have movement only and it’s just light weight, you have Qi development but no vehicle to use it. So all these elements balanced and developed, work together. Roll with a black belt in BJJ or a good wrestler – they feel stronger than normal, they feel soft and can move like a snake, they can deal with pain and pressure, they can roll without getting tired, they have great timing and balance, they are hard to control – sounds like internal skills to me You often talk about the Key 6 Core Elements of Body Structure. Can you explain what these are? Chu Sai Lei Wing Chun Kuen has always been a classical system, from layers within our forms to focus on Qi Gong, structural positioning and dynamics. So when Hendrik Santo started introducing us to the 6 Core Elements of Yik Kam Wing Chun, we had a fuller description of the key practices we used under the one term ‘Body Structure’. YIK KAM
The Three Centres of Gravity
內家拳三個重心 It doesn’t matter what you do, Wing Chun, Tai Chi or Judo; when interacting with an opponent, there are 3 COGs you have to be aware of: 1. Your own COG: Keep your COG centralised and you will never fall over. Be free, but never compromise your COG. 2. Your opponent’s COG: take his COG away from his base and he will not be able to balance. Without balance and without base, he will not be able to generate power. 3. The Combined COG; i.e., the COG that appears when you are interacting with your opponent. Your opponent is not dumb. He is not going to give away his balance. To destroy his balance/structure, you can yank his COG off his base by force. To do this, you will have to be stronger than him, and you risk compromising your COG. The other way is to manipulate the Combined COG. Because your opponent is interacting with you, the Combined COG behaves as if it is attached to both you and him like a rubber band. Move this Combined COG, and he will be drawn off balance. The more he tries to fight it, the worse it gets. 與敵交手，有三個重心，你必須知道的： 1. 你自己的重心：保持你的重心中定，你將永遠不會翻倒。保持靈活，但絕不可以敗勢。 2. 你對手的重心：把他的重心引出，使他失去平衡。沒有平衡，他將無法發力。 3. 綜合重心;也就是說，當你與你的對手交流互出現的重心。 你的對手不是傻的，他不會自願放棄自己的平衡。要破壞他的平衡/結構，你可以用勁把他的重心推出。但要這樣把他打出，你必須比他強。而你自己也會失中。 另一種方法，就是靠操縱這綜合重心。當對手與你互動，綜合重心就好像有橡皮筋一般把你和他的重心連著。這綜合重心操縱得好，你就可以無聲無形地把對手的重心帶走。他越想反抗，破壞力就愈大。 Article By Dr John Fung www.kulowingchun.comwww.kulowingchun.comwww.kulowingchun.com www.facebook.com/Kulo-Wing-Chun-22-Sansau 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Viber 0 Whatsapp 0 Telegram 0 Email
Time for a New Approach?
The aim of this piece is not to critique any particular martial arts system or the pedagogy favoured in a particular sector of the economy; rather I hope the reader will pause for thought and re-examine the methodologies used in a training and assessment context with a view to finding innovative and novel ways to apply those very same tools in the learning environment. Firstly, let us examine what we are trying to achieve in the learning environment. Essentially, we are aiming to bring about a change in the student’s attitude, knowledge and skill as without change there can be no improvement. The mantra of “practice, practice and more practice” has been repeated ad nauseum. The premise being – that practice makes perfect and once perfection (mastery) has been attained – the technique or task will be performed naturally and/or instinctively. As educators, instructors, trainers etc. we therefore use drills as we seek to “drum it” (techniques) into the student until their basics become second nature. Herein lies an assumption I feel is worth examining, at least as it relates to human movement. Many martial arts systems state natural movement as a foundation or key principle, often accompanied with the rationale that “natural is best” What does this mean in a learning context where human movement is concerned? To be precise, the focus of training would shift from “learning” to one where the student is encouraged to rediscover – or remember rather – their first nature. “Learning” would be reserved only for that which is counter-intuitive (if advantageous) or for which no natural movement exists e.g. learning how to play a musical instrument. The possibilities are endless (and exciting) if we were to begin to reconnect with our first nature, something the old and wise masters of bygone eras wrote about in many a great, classic text. In the first instance it would invariably change the practice of basics, allowing for greater individuality and potentially self-assessment even. For example, if your basics weren’t coming naturally, then the way you’re doing them would need to change. Specifically, an assessment framework would subsequently verify decreased timeframes in attaining competency with the added benefit of reduced injury rates. However, rather than dictate or define (and thereby limit) what such a learning environment would resemble, I sincerely hope trainers, coaches and facilitators etc. will experiment with and create new methodologies of their own. For readers outside of Australia who may be sceptical as to the usefulness of unorthodox, seemingly irrelevant and somewhat abstract training, I encourage you to watch an excellent series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation entitled “Redesign My Brain”. To conclude, I wish to share the last paragraph of this article which is widely applicable beyond the realm of science: “Of all the limits on expanding our knowledge, unexamined, misplaced assumptions are the most insidious. Often, we do not even know that we have them; they are essentially invisible. Discovering them and investigating them takes curiosity, imagination, and the willingness to risk looking ridiculous. And that, perhaps, is one of the hardest tasks in science.” About the Author: Nick Pappas has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of learning and development roles assisting individuals and organisations improve their performance. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and is member of the Australian Institute of Training and Development. 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Viber 0 Whatsapp 0 Telegram 0 Email
William Kwok
William Kwok began training in Martial Arts at age seven. Born in Hong Kong, he is Grandmaster WAN Kam Leung’s Closed Door Disciple. He is the first official instructor of Wan Kam Leung’s Practical Wing Chun to teach in America. A Harvard graduate and a former business professor, Sifu Kwok established Gotham Martial Arts in 2007, in New York City. In September 2014, he was honored by the Martial Arts History Museum in Los Angeles as a recipient of the “Museum Honor Award” for his excellence in the martial arts and his contributions to the local community. In December 2014, he was honored with the martial arts titles “Grand Master in Wing Chun” and rank “7th Dan Menkyo/ Grand Master in Martial Arts” by the World Personal Martial Arts Federation. In January 2015, Sifu Kwok received the “Silver Lifetime Contribution Award” at the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Honors in Atlantic City. And most recently, in May 2015, he was honored with a “Community Leadership Award” by the US President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Despite his many achievements, Sifu Kwok is a humble and respectful man. We are proud to have had the chance to interview him, and we thank him for his openness and generosity in sharing his vast knowledge with us. Sifu Kwok, you experienced many different martial arts and styles before learning Wing Chun. What about Wing Chun attracted you to it? Did it offer something that your previous styles did not? I have experience in over ten different martial arts systems, from a novice level to a master level, since I was seven years old. After practicing a variety of martial arts, I noticed that many techniques rely mainly on the strength of the practitioner, so a larger person would always have more advantage than a smaller one. In my mid 20s, I realized that no matter how much I trained, it would be hard to defeat someone bigger or stronger than me. So I decided to explore a martial art that a smaller person could use to fight a larger opponent in a real life situation. When I first encountered Wing Chun I was drawn to the style because it addressed this issue, but I did not truly see its full potential until I began practicing under my Sifu, Grandmaster WAN Kam Leung. I like my Sifu’s Practical Wing Chun system because it is very scientific and logical. All techniques in the forms serve like different building blocks that can be combined in many different ways. It is interesting to find the most effective and efficient techniques in any given situation. It gives me a lot of room to improve and think. There are many good martial arts systems out there as long as we can find the right teacher and commit to the training. However, I prefer to study a sustainable martial art that allows me to train regardless of my age. I am in my mid 40s now but I know I can still practice Wing Chun even when I turn to the age of 70 or 80. This system is not only practical but also good for my mind and body. Wing Chun is often referred to as a scientific martial art. Why do you think that is? Wing Chun does not only utilize force against an opponent’s force, but also uses body mechanics, structure and angles to defend, counter attack, and redirect incoming force. Practical Wing Chun practitioners, for example, observe five components of the body structure (five centerlines, relaxed shoulders, sinking elbows, flexible wrists and precise angles). Without scientific reasoning behind the techniques and structure, they will fail to work properly and rely only on muscle strength. More importantly, we should constantly analyze our techniques and have an open mindset in order to ensure the continuing effectiveness of Wing Chun. My Sifu has taught me to emphasize these values to my students, so that through trial and error and analysis of the core principles, Wing Chun techniques will continue to be useful, modern, and efficient. When fighting against a bigger and stronger opponent, it is crucial that we can reach him/her in a hand-contact distance, enter the opponent’s “gate” (red zone), and destroy his/her center lines. Wing Chun is known for its ability to be used against bigger and stronger opponents. How does Wing Chun get around the problem of a bigger opponent? Wing Chun is one of the most suitable martial arts for close quarters combat. Its practitioners observe their body structure and centerlines in order to make every movement as efficient and effective as possible. Following these principles, a Wing Chun practitioner, regardless of his/her age and body size, is able to generate structural power and defeat a non-Wing Chun opponent’s attacks. When fighting against a bigger and stronger opponent, it is crucial that we can reach him/her in a hand-contact distance, enter the opponent’s “gate” (red zone), and destroy his/her center lines. This approach will immediately put the opponent in the defensive mode and increase our chance to defeat him/her. Please remember that studying Wing Chun doesn’t make us super-men. “ However, practicing Wing Chun techniques can maximize our potential and ability to protect ourselves, and reduce our chance to be defeated, even while fighting against a bigger and stronger opponent. Please explain how weapons training, which is common in so many Chinese Arts, can be used to improve one’s empty hand fighting (no weapons fighting). In Wing Chun, the two most popular weapons are the Luk Dim Bun Gwan (six-and-a-half point pole) and the Baat Jaam Do (eight cutting knives). The benefits of weapons training are beyond measure. The grip of the knives training alone can greatly improve the strength of our fingers and wrists. Also, since knives training requires very delicate and focused practice to prevent injury, it helps us develop a more serious attitude towards training. Such deliberate training can translate to better empty hand techniques, especially since the knives are considered extensions of the arms. On the other hand, the pole, because of its weight, can greatly improve arm strength, overall strength, proper body positioning and stance. In addition, weapons training helps us gain better control of the relaxation and tension of our arm muscles. Overall, the skills developed through weapons training will lead to improvement of speed and power, timing, sense of distance, structure, stability and energy extension. These elements are extremely useful to empty hand training and fighting. Are there “secret techniques” or “methods” in Wing Chun? Things that would make it impossible to learn the system properly if not
Demystifying SONG SAN TONG KONG
Song – it is not simply relax, although being relaxed is one of the components. Most of us are tensed up like tied up Christmas trees. Cut off the strings and the Christmas tree will naturally return to the Song state. San – disperse. Both energetically and physically. Once you Song, you return to the naturally dispersed state. Just like a pine tree, the branches will spread out naturally when untied. So will you. Tong – conductivity. Once you can Song San, the next step is to Tong. In Chinese, when things go through freely, it’s called Tong. It applies to electricity, flow of water, ever traffic. Tong is not one way, it also implies return and redistribution, just like a 2 way highway. During solo practice, Song San is easy. But when an opponent is applying force, if you cannot Tong, you cannot remain Song. And if you are not Song, there will be blockages and you will not be able to Tong either. So the two rely on each other. Kong – empty. This is your goal. We fall because of conflicting forces inside us. If you can Song San Tong, you are like a superconductor, nothing is retained inside you. If an opponent applies force, it will not affect you. There will be no conflict as you are empty. Train well, train correctly, and these will become the natural state of your body. And when you fight, your body will deal with forces without conscious effort. By Dr John Fung www.kulowingchun.com 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Viber 0 Whatsapp 0 Telegram 0 Email
Internal Power Training – Rib Power By Coach Davis
Probably the first aspect of internal power training that any practitioner will undertake is ‘connection’ training. This is the process by which we utilize the major and minor body lines and their tissue chains to tie the body together. Much like a spider web this network of tissue is used to link distant parts of the body and action in one area will have a direct consequence across all areas. In this article about developing internal power I would like to share some ideas on the role that the Ribs and associated tissues play in this network of connection, and how their action is utilized during the training. Anatomically, the chest is composed of a number of different tissues and substances including the intercostals muscles, the ribs themselves, the fascia linking the ribs to associated muscle groups, the spine, the internal organs and the muscles related to breathing. I will refer to this entire unit of muscle, fascia and bone as the ‘ribs’ from here as this is the classical term. The combination of all these tissues and their links down to the lower torso and into the arms are very important. We can say that they constitute a major portion of the deep side lines of the body as well as the deep front and back lines. As the internal power practitioner’s complex control ability increases, the ribs should become much more mobile, eventually being able to move the chest independent of the breath cycle. One of my teachers would demonstrate this with startling effect! He would ask me to put my hand on either side of his chest, at the rib level, and then drastically expand one side while collapsing the other, all the while breathing steadily and smoothly. Although simply a demonstration of ability and not something that would necessarily be a focus, this sophisticated level of control is a vital part of the process if we are to move onto the further usages of the ribs in producing Connected internal power. In the early days of training ‘rib power’ is often slightly abstract. We lack the mobility in the ribs to really be able to effect changes elsewhere in the body. However with dedicated training certain key characteristics of rib power begin to emerge. Perhaps the first is our ability to ‘sink the breath’ as a result of rib control. This means that rather than puffing up the chest every time we breathe in, and collapsing it every time we breathe out, the ribcage represents a stable structure under which the diaphragm is able to work correctly, opening the lungs downwards as they inflate. This process is one that changes the intra abdominal pressure, massaging the organs, but perhaps more importantly for combat, creating an action of support and development in the connective tissues of the lower torso. Once this primary level of Rib power has been developed, the adept may begin to utilise the opening and closing of the ribs in action. For instance, if I want to bring my arms to my body I can do so in a number of ways that actually utilize ‘rib power. Firstly, I could ‘close the ribs’, drawing the ribs together by way of the intercostals. This will lead the arms to retreat to the body with the rib action ahead of the arm motion. This is extremely useful for ‘pulling’ actions or downward movement directions. We see this action in the Chinese art of Xing Yi Quan’s Splitting Fist or Pi Quan. Secondly we could use the opening action of the Ribs to meet the closing action of the arm. In this instance as I draw my arm in I would actually open the space between the ribs creating a trapping or pinching force. This is very useful for gripping an limb between your arm and your body for instance. In both of these examples, the mobility of the Ribs is paramount, as is its independence from the breath. However both of these examples are taken somewhat in isolation. The utility of the ribs as we would see it in internal power training stretches far beyond these isolated mechanical examples. Indeed, the action of the ribs is perhaps most important in how it connects the lower half of the torso and upper femur’s to the arms. This is a complex system, but to simplify it somewhat, if we say that the connection of the legs to the torso via the pelvis is intimately related to the muscles of the lower torso like the psoas and the Illius, then we can say that the connection of the arms to the torso is intimately related to the Ribs. Indeed there is a huge amount of muscle and connective tissue attached to the ribs themselves much of it directly related to action in the arms. When trained correctly the action in the ribs will create actions in the arms and the arms can be led, pushes, pulled, raised or lowered with movement originating in the rib region. ‘Rib power’ is a term common to many arts and it is foundational if we are to be able to utilise our combative base, our torso, or spine and our arms effectively. Lack of development in this area most often will be seen in the disconnection of structure and vulnerabilities in the upper half. The practitioner with poor development will end up tilting, wobbling and generally displaying instability when forces are applied to their structure. So some focus on this area with your coaches could be worthy investment of time. For the no nonsense fundamental courses on internal power training please visit www.internalpowertraining.com 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Viber 0 Whatsapp 0 Telegram 0 Email
The Southpaw Advantage
Abstract Performers with a left-orientation have a greater likelihood of obtaining elite levels of performance in many interactive sports. This study examined whether combat stance orientation was related to skill and success in Mixed Martial Arts fighters. Data were extracted for 1468 mixed martial artists from a reliable and valid online data source. Measures included fighting stance, win percentage and an ordinal measure of skill based on number of fights. The overall analysis revealed that the fraction of fighters using a southpaw stance was greater than the fraction of left-handers in the general population, but the relationship between stance and hand-preference is not well-understood. Furthermore, t-tests found no statistically significant relationship between laterality and winning percentage, although there was a significant difference between stances for number of fights. Southpaw fighters had a greater number of fights than those using an orthodox stance. These results contribute to an expanding database on the influence of laterality on sport performance and a relatively limited database on variables associated with success in mixed martial arts. Laterality refers to a preference for one side of the body over the other, most commonly reflected in right- or left-handedness. Researchers have shown that the proportion of ‘lefties’ in the general population has remained stable over 10,000 years and the stability of this effect over time suggests some consistent advantage to being left-handed, otherwise evolutionary mechanisms would have removed this polymorphism from the population. Sport may reflect an environment where these advantages are demonstrated; for instance, left-handedness is associated with a greater likelihood of obtaining elite levels of performance in many interactive sports including baseball and tennis with significant over-representations of left-handed players at the highest levels of competition. The negative perceptual frequency hypothesis proposes that these players have an advantage in sports where athletes must rapidly respond to dynamic environments, such as tennis and fencing, because the decision-making heuristics athletes use to anticipate their opponent’s actions are based on an extensive duration of training and competition against right-handers with comparatively less exposure to left-handers. Support for this proposed mechanism comes from reviews showing that laterality effects are restricted to sports where performers are required to interact with opponents (e.g., tennis and ice hockey) and not in non-interactive sports (e.g., swimming, gymnastics and archery. Advantages of a left-sided orientation have also been found in combat sports like boxing, fencing and judo, presumably because of the association between laterality and evolutionary connections between fighting ability and survival . In this study, we consider whether laterality as represented by fighting stance varied with skill level and influenced performance outcomes in mixed martial arts (MMA), a combat sport that integrates grappling sports like wrestling, jui-jitsu and judo with striking sports like boxing, karate, taekwondo, and kick-boxing. Based on prior work in boxing [11], we hypothesized that a left-orientation, that is, a ‘southpaw’ stance where fighters lead with their right hand, would be associated with skill level. This would be reflected in a greater proportion of southpaws among fighters with more fights (a measure of skill level in MMA). Additionally, given the greater success of left-oriented performers in many sports, we hypothesized that left-oriented fighters would have higher winning percentages than right-oriented fighters. Materials and Methods Data for 2053 MMA fighters were obtained from a valid and reliable online data source (fightmetric.com, see website for more information regarding validity and reliability). Of these, 1468 had data for fighting stance and were retained for further analysis. Even though this study used data freely available in the public domain, all ethical recommendations regarding confidentiality and anonymity were followed when collecting, analyzing and reporting study results [12]. Variables included combat stance, wins, losses and draws. These latter variables were used to compute win percentage for each athlete. Combat stance included four orientations including orthodox, southpaw, switch, and open; however, due to low numbers in the latter two categories (totaling just over two percent), statistical analyses were limited to comparisons between orthodox and southpaw groups. In MMA, skill level is somewhat difficult to determine. Initially, we considered simply using ‘winning percentage’; however, this variable is confounded by skill level of the opponent and number of fights. Moreover, fighters who lost close decisions are often kept within the system while those who have been soundly defeated are usually removed from further opportunities for competition. As a result, we considered both winning percentage and number of fights in this sample. To ensure we did not confound our data by using winning percentage without accounting for number of fights (e.g., a fighter with 1 fight and 1 win would have a winning percentage of 100%), we compared winning percentage across groups of fighters categorized by number of fights (cf. Table 1). We created an ordinal variable that grouped number of fights into intervals of ten (e.g., 1–10, 11–20, and so on up to 70+ fights). Stance differences in number of fights and winning percentage were considered in the overall sample using independent samples t-tests. Additionally, we explored differences in winning percentages in the number of fight categories. Levenés test for equality of variances was administered and if necessary, adjustment values for the t-tests were used. Alpha was adjusted using Bonferroni’s correction (alpha<.025) and SPSS 21.0 was used for all statistical analyses. Effect sizes and test powers were calculated using G*power 3.1.6. Results The vast majority (80.3%) of MMA fighters reported using an orthodox stance with 17.4% reporting a southpaw stance (Table 1). Only 2.3% reported stances other than orthodox and southpaw. There were significant differences between stances in the number of fights, t(342.20) = 2.08, p = .02, d = .15. As predicted, the southpaw stance athletes had more fights, M = 22.01, SD = 16.52, than orthodox fighters, M = 19.69, SD = 14.26. The t-test examining winning percentages for orthodox versus southpaw stances indicated no differences, t(1433) = 0.97, p = .33, d = .06, 1–β = .17, although the winning percentage of the southpaws, M = 64.0, SD = 20.4, was slightly higher than for orthodox fighters, M = 62.6, SD = 21.3. This study extends our understanding of the role of lateral preference and performance in interactive sports. There was an increased proportion of southpaw (i.e., left-oriented) fighters overall compared to proportions of left-handed individuals in the general population (i.e., 17% southpaws versus between 10–12%
The VIKOGA Mookto
Mookto is to VIKOGA, what the Sword is to TaiChi, the Crescent Knife is to Pakua, the Bokken is to Aikido, and Rattan Sticks to Kali. Our Mookto is derived from the WingChun 8 Hacking Knifeform, as passed down by the legendary Great Master Yip Man Sifu. Through research, study and years of teaching, we have concluded that the Vikoga Mookto is ideal for long term learning and mastering of the WingChun Kungfu system. The main purpose of the Mookto is to enhance the WingChun skills of the practitioner and to reinforce the intricacies, rules and efficacies associated with mastering these skills. This will develop the power associated with this system. Mookto is the Cantonese term for Wooden Knife; and it is a pair of wooden Butterfly Knives. Classical WingChun practitioners usually carry and train with these knives. Regular and correct Mookto training develops and refines the combative spirit of the practitioner. It cultivates timing, footwork and relative body angulation. It also enhances essential body structure and truss, to equip the practitioner to fight effectively in a real life situation, when dealing with adversaries empty handed. Nowadays, students of Vikoga learn Mookto right from the outset to ensure correct development of the desired martial elements mentioned above. Such introduction and timing of weapon training can also be found in other arts such as AIKIDO, where students learn the Bokken right from the outset to achieve similar aims. In years gone by, such weapon training was usually relegated to the latter years of a student’s martial journey. This is most probably due to fears (founded or otherwise) that such training would fall into the wrong hands and be utilised for other than correct moral reasons. It may well be for such reasons that (we suspect) the late Great Master Yip Man Sifu, did not readily teach the Knife. In his time, the 50’s and 60’s, China and Hong Kong saw a prevalence of the criminal underworld where inter-gang rivalries and feuds were often resolved via weaponised brawls, usually with knives and machetes such as the water-melon machete (Sai Gwa To). In such an environment, the concern about teaching the knife (Mookto) was that potentially, it could be quickly adopted and applied to the Sai Gwa To, thereby enabling those with malicious intent to cause greater harm. This is very understandable. Fast forward to the 21st century. We believe it is now safe and in fact sound for students to learn the weapon system at the very outset, to ensure the cultivation of the correct habits. SPECIFICATIONS OF THE MOOKTO The Mookto is an updated wooden replica of the traditional metallic WingChun knifes. Realistically, of course, the Mookto will continue to improve in specifications and quality over time, as more and more people take up and master it. At this stage, we recommend using the densest and most pliable wood to make your Mookto. Bear in mind, that the Mookto is your lifelong and regular WingChun training tool. More experienced and senior practitioners will eventually also use a heavier metallic training knife (known as Leen Kung To) to develop power. This should then be a supplementary activity. You should never give up your essential Mookto training, and should continue to benefit from its ongoing discipline for as long as your training continues. The Mookto has the following progressive phases: 1. Learning the movements of the form 2. To Tai Sun Knife leading the body 3. Sun Tai To Body leading the Knife 4. To Sun Hup Yut Knife Body as one MOOKTO TRAINING Mookto starts with using the Bart Jaam To (8 Hacking Knife) form, and has the following progressive phases. 1. Learning the Movements of the form 2. To Tai Sun (Knife leading the body) 3. Sun Tai To (Body leading the Knife) 4. To Sun Hup Yut (Knife Body as one) Mookto students also practise sub movement sets with partners. Mookto requires practitioners to exhale loudly to coordinate their strikes and stabs to their practice partners. This is in fact the same as the kiai generally exhibited by Japanese and other stylists with their training. To train up the spirit, weapon training should be realistic, very confronting and challenging. It is not a mere physical exercise nor is it just an artistic expression. Weapon training by its lethal nature, requires you to tap into your inner courage to fully benefit from the training. The desired outcome is the optimal competency to protect yourself, your loved ones, or others deserving of your help. Real life combat, particularly those with potential mortal implications, is neither peaceful, predictable nor quiet. Ditto even for ordinary neighbourhood skirmishes without weapons. “The practitioner will almost always position and apply the Mookto to cut into the enemy from the side. This means you do NOT place the Mookto or its force along your sagittal plane (the much misunderstood centre line)”. Mookto, together with other training, prepares you to deal with circumstances of such nature. MOOKTO FORM CHARACTERISTICS Mookto practice derives mainly from the ubiquitous WingChun system knifeform. Certain characteristics are unchanged. They are: 1. The Mookto (a pair) point relatively in a forward CONVERGENT (like the Chinese 8 character) structure and hack similarly, to maximize momentum. 2. The Mookto involves the blade-back, the flat of the weapon, as well as the hand guard & back-end stump to contact and hit the enemy and the attacking weapon(s). In fact, the Mookto’s pointy sharp end and the cutting edge do NOT come in until very late into the action. This is consistent with it being a Siu To (Small Knife). 3. The practitioner will almost always position, structure and apply the Mookto to cut into the enemy from the side. This means you do NOT place the Mookto or its force along your sagittal plane (the much misunderstood centre line). Again consistent with the application of a Siu To. 4. The practitioner uses a zigzag footwork (7-star footwork) so as to flank into and blindside the enemy, with
