The Truth About Techniques - part 1
Wing Chun is known for having very fast and direct hand techniques that are often showcased in movies such as those starring our cover boy here Mr Yen.
On screen these techniques appear explosive and devastating leaving a bewildered opponent completely overwhelmed without even a chance to escape. We have seen Ip Man, Jason Bourne and Sherlock Holmes, among many others, display this kind of destructive application of the techniques of close quarter fighting.
The problem is that the dramatic effectiveness of these attacks has led to many practitioners of Wing Chun believing that the techniques themselves are magical, Wing Chun secret weapons!
The truth about techniques in Wing Chun is that they eventually become the LEAST important aspect of practice, even though they must be practiced and practiced until they are perfected in the beginning.
Bruce Lee said that initially a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick. Then, when you set about developing the application you discover there is a lot more to it, many more nuances than you first imagined or realized. Finally, when you master the technique you realize that a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick.
How does it make sense that you must practice until perfect and then forget the technique?
You must first learn to perform the techniques correctly, the you can develop the skill to apply the techniques effectively.
Too many of us are at the initial 'punch is just a punch' phase but think we are at the final stage. This is where people find they stick and stagnate in their performance and then they blame it on the art, it's not effective, it's not realistic, it doesn't work in 'reality'.
A bad workman always blames his tools - that's an old saying that's very fitting here. We ALL go through this phase, at least we SHOULD go through this phase, some don't make it and drop out. I found this to be very true around my third year of real practice and it was a steep but completely worthwhile learning curve, without which further progress would have been impossible.
The major reason people find difficulty applying techniques and end up blaming the art itself is because as I said earlier they think the magic is in the techniques themselves. This is very common for beginners because it feels like magic the first time a more experienced practitioner traps you, or hits you while you still think you are hitting them etc.
However, for your technique to be effective against a non compliant person, a stiff training partner or someone who just doesn't know what they are doing there are a multitude of things that must be happening as you apply the technique.
Did you take the line? Did you move them off the line? Did you use both hands together at the same time? Did you use whole body unity? Did you maintain proper structure? Did you step in with your footwork correctly? Did you control with one hand while hitting the other? Did you try to hit a 'dead gate'? Did you have square shoulders aimed at their center line with them off the center line?
Do you even know what these things are? If you don't you're right, the technique didn't work, but that's YOUR fault not the technique. Granted some lines have different terminologies but these elements, whatever they are called have to be included.
How many times have we seen people charge in with one hand, standing high in their stance, trying to force the attack hand through even while it is still in contact with a partial 'block' from the opponent, and then say the art is not effective?
Learning and applying the factors mentioned above is CRITICAL to your development. It takes more than 5 minutes to learn so maybe you're not a kung fu killer after 2 years and maybe that's why so many lose faith and quit early.
However, spend some time practicing and perfecting these qualities and I GUARANTEE your Wing Chun will improve exponentially, not just your technique but your whole art and your appreciation of your art.
With experience Wing Chun practitioners come to understand that the techniques are really the best way to MOVE from one position to another. This is especially true when you also consider the need to maintain proper STRUCTURE throughout the movement.
Once you learn this you will understand that techniques are an excellent starting point but perhaps the least important part of your Wing Chun education.
