Wing Chun

[bloodstrike75]

Alrighty...just a little run down of what I'm thinking here before I get to my point:

I just started a subscription of Netflix. My son and I have been watching last years episodes of Fight Quest...mainly just the ones I missed. We both enjoyed the Wing Chun episode.

I am heavily into TKD...but I know as I get older, I won't be able to perform the way that I want in about 5-10 years. My goal is to get to 3rd degree or 4th degree because my father acheived 3rd degree in Karate while he was in the Army.

Anyway, I thought about looking into Wing Chun. I know it's a couple years off, but I'd like to start my reasearch and maybe quite possibly train a little on the side (not sure about this one yet.) My instructor knows Wing Chun and has been showing us a little here and there in our last few "fight" classes.

I was wondering what you all tought and also what you thought of this school/Sifu that I found. Or any other recommendations for a school and what to look for.

North Florida Wing Chun - Martial Arts & Kung Fu in Jacksonville Beach

[TKD&JKD]

I think wing chun would be a good mix with TKD, because in general TKD people have good kicking skills but our hands can be a little lacking.

I am probably going to test for my 2nd dan and find another style to round my skills out. One of the factors is because I'm moving and am not real crazy about finding another Dojang. I would rather use moving as a way to transition to another art or style.

My three most likely canidates

MMA
Krav Maga
Jeet Kune Do

[Chad]

Ideal MA, especialy (god forbid) if you go blind. I would also suggest Aikido/Aiki-jutsu because this is also very efetive and anybody can do it Good luck in your training!

[WC_Lun]

Wing Chun and TKD are about as polar opposites as you can get within striking arts. The movement and kicking mechanics of most TKD is an anathema to Wing Chun practitioners and what we learn about stability and structure. There is a reason that Wing Chun does not incorporate a lot of kicking, though we do have kicks. If you go into a quality Wing Chun school with the attitude that you are augmenting TKD (especially sport TKD) with the striking of Wing Chun you are absolutley not going to understand what is being taught. There is so much more to Wing Chun than striking with the hands.

Chad, it is interesting you mention the blindness thing. My instructor's sifu was blind. He didn't actually start studying Wing Chun until after he was blinded. In the word's of my sifu, "When you exchanged with him it was plain scary!" Just for reference, my instructor is Sifu Dale Vits (Chinese family name of Song) and his instructor was Sifu Robert K Smith.

Bloodstrike, I don't know of the people mentioned in the web site, but I'm a long way from Florida. I do like the whole concept and self defense science thing on the first page. That is absolutley true of quality Wing Chun. I didn't see any large red flags, so this place would definitley be a good place to check out for further info.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about Wing Chun and I'll do my best to answer them. There's a few other people that have Wing Chun experience on this forum that would be good resources too.

[TKD&JKD]

Originally Posted by WC_Lun

Wing Chun and TKD are about as polar opposites as you can get within striking arts. The movement and kicking mechanics of most TKD is an anathema to Wing Chun practitioners and what we learn about stability and structure. There is a reason that Wing Chun does not incorporate a lot of kicking, though we do have kicks. If you go into a quality Wing Chun school with the attitude that you are augmenting TKD (especially sport TKD) with the striking of Wing Chun you are absolutley not going to understand what is being taught. There is so much more to Wing Chun than striking with the hands.

Is it because wing chun has a much different base or fighting stance that is less conducive to kicking?

[WC_Lun]

Originally Posted by TKD&JKD

Is it because wing chun has a much different base or fighting stance that is less conducive to kicking?

Both defense and striking in Wing Chun uses the entire body structure. This cannot be accomplished with many of the kicks TKD uses. Then there is the decreased mobility of when you are standing on one foot or in the air as the case of jumping kicks.

The concepts used in these arts are just a lot different. I think a large part of this is due to TKD using large motion body mechanic techniques and WC not so much.

[bloodstrike75]

Originally Posted by WC_Lun

Wing Chun and TKD are about as polar opposites as you can get within striking arts. The movement and kicking mechanics of most TKD is an anathema to Wing Chun practitioners and what we learn about stability and structure. There is a reason that Wing Chun does not incorporate a lot of kicking, though we do have kicks. If you go into a quality Wing Chun school with the attitude that you are augmenting TKD (especially sport TKD) with the striking of Wing Chun you are absolutley not going to understand what is being taught. There is so much more to Wing Chun than striking with the hands.

Chad, it is interesting you mention the blindness thing. My instructor's sifu was blind. He didn't actually start studying Wing Chun until after he was blinded. In the word's of my sifu, "When you exchanged with him it was plain scary!" Just for reference, my instructor is Sifu Dale Vits (Chinese family name of Song) and his instructor was Sifu Robert K Smith.

Bloodstrike, I don't know of the people mentioned in the web site, but I'm a long way from Florida. I do like the whole concept and self defense science thing on the first page. That is absolutley true of quality Wing Chun. I didn't see any large red flags, so this place would definitley be a good place to check out for further info.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about Wing Chun and I'll do my best to answer them. There's a few other people that have Wing Chun experience on this forum that would be good resources too.

Thanks a lot for the info WC! Your info was what I was looking for. Wing Chun is sort of what I'm looking for, something with less kicking as I get older. But now, I dunno...I just watched my Grand Master at 70 years old, kick above his head live on stage at our World's opening ceremony for our largest TKD tournament. It was very inspiring, and made me wonder if I'm just not trying hard enough and coming up with excuses. I have much thinking to do.

[TRIANGLEFROMGUARD]

Lun is definetly the authority on wing chun here but, I also studied wing chun for a while and found it to be a fery good art and still use many of it's principles in what I do today. Carlson Gracie Sr. once did a seminar with a wing chun master whose name I forget and he was very impressed with him, I still sometimes use pak lop to set up an arm bar off my back.

With all that said wing chun is just as demanding as any other matial art I wouldn't look at it as a lazy mans art they just don't kick high or bounce much because it breaks the stuctueral integrity that they work. As a grappler I can say it's ussually harder to takedown a WC guy then it is to take down other TMA guys.

[tkdKaren]

Originally Posted by bloodstrike75

Alrighty...just a little run down of what I'm thinking here before I get to my point:

I just started a subscription of Netflix. My son and I have been watching last years episodes of Fight Quest...mainly just the ones I missed. We both enjoyed the Wing Chun episode.

I am heavily into TKD...but I know as I get older, I won't be able to perform the way that I want in about 5-10 years. My goal is to get to 3rd degree or 4th degree because my father acheived 3rd degree in Karate while he was in the Army.

Anyway, I thought about looking into Wing Chun. I know it's a couple years off, but I'd like to start my reasearch and maybe quite possibly train a little on the side (not sure about this one yet.) My instructor knows Wing Chun and has been showing us a little here and there in our last few "fight" classes.

I was wondering what you all tought and also what you thought of this school/Sifu that I found. Or any other recommendations for a school and what to look for.

North Florida Wing Chun - Martial Arts & Kung Fu in Jacksonville Beach

I had asked the same question as I also considered Wing Chun briefly. I study TKD now and was curious how the two compared. I'm glad to see you got some great feedback on the subject. And I figure if I can stick to TKD with all my difficulties (and at my age) then you can to!

[bloodstrike75]

Originally Posted by TRIANGLEFROMGAURD

With all that said wing chun is just as demanding as any other matial art I wouldn't look at it as a lazy mans art they just don't kick high or bounce much because it breaks the stuctueral integrity that they work. As a grappler I can say it's ussually harder to takedown a WC guy then it is to take down other TMA guys.

Yes, I agree...I hope no one thinks that is what I was getting at. I don't mean to make it sound as if it's easier. I enjoyed the show that I saw, and I enjoy the bits and pieces that my master has shown us in our "fight" class. I was just looking at another art that would be effective and not so demanding with kicking because I'm not sure how much longer my hip joints can take it.

[bloodstrike75]

Originally Posted by tkdKaren

I had asked the same question as I also considered Wing Chun briefly. I study TKD now and was curious how the two compared. I'm glad to see you got some great feedback on the subject. And I figure if I can stick to TKD with all my difficulties (and at my age) then you can to!

Thanks, Karen! I appreciate the words of encouragement.

[TKD&JKD]

Originally Posted by bloodstrike75

Yes, I agree...I hope no one thinks that is what I was getting at. I don't mean to make it sound as if it's easier. I enjoyed the show that I saw, and I enjoy the bits and pieces that my master has shown us in our "fight" class. I was just looking at another art that would be effective and not so demanding with kicking because I'm not sure how much longer my hip joints can take it.

Don't worry hips are replacable. Just ask Bill Superfoot Wallace

[bloodstrike75]

Originally Posted by TKD&JKD

Don't worry hips are replacable. Just ask Bill Superfoot Wallace

LOL! My instructor was just talking about him the other day. Apparently my Cheif Master and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace are good friends.

[WC_Lun]

There are different types of wing chun, just like every other system. Some schools the physical training is a lot more than others. What I can tell you is that quality Wing Chun does NOT rely on physical attributes or abilities. Structure replaces physical strength, positioning replaces the need for speed, effeciancy replaces the reliance on endurance, and centerline concepts make the need for agilty moot. Sure physical attributes are a positive thing and I don't think people should be lazy in training. As someone that is now dealing with physical limitations due to an illness I can say with complete confidence that you don't need great physical abilities to be a good martial artist and some arts don't require them.

Having said all the above, I can tell you that quality Wing Chun is definitley not for someone that doesn't want to work. To master Wing Chun the body must be trained to move in certain ways without thinking about it. Everything is very, very, precise and this takes a lot of practice to do. There is also some conditioning of the forearms and shins that is neccesary and that alone can be more painful than some students are ready to go through. Everything you do is supported by the legs, so you will have pretty sore legs for a while if you take it up.

[TKD&JKD]

WC what does this word Moot mean exactly? I see it's part of your vernacular.