Principles of
Wing Chun
The tenets of Wing Chun are practicality, efficiency and economy of
movement. This core philosophy becomes a useful guide to
practitioners when modifying or refining the art. New techniques
which do not conform to these principles are often discouraged and
discarded.
Practicality
Wing Chun was designed purely for fighting rather than artistic or
sport applications. As such, its techniques emphasise practicality
and effectiveness over aesthetic or athletic value. Most strikes
are fatal and target vulnerable areas of the body such as the
throat, groin, eyes and lower torso.
Following this utilitarian approach, the names of Wing Chun
techniques are purely descriptive. For example - palm-up hand (tan
sau), wing arm (bong sau), slapping hand (pak sau). Wing Chun
terminology is traditionally rendered in the Cantonese dialect of
Chinese.
Efficiency
Wing Chun believes in using the least amount of required force in
any fighting situation because it is a more efficient use of the
body's energy. Wasted or unnecessary movement which does not
produce a combat advantage is discouraged.
Wing Chun believes that small movements, properly timed and
correctly positioned, can and should be used to defeat large
movements. This is achieved through balance, body structure and
relaxation. The famous Chinese "8 taels to move 1000 catties"
(referring to an old Chinese measurement system) is appropriate
here in describing how a small amount of force, precisely applied,
can repel large attacks.
Strictly speaking, there are no blocks in Wing Chun because they
are believed to be inefficient. It is better to deflect the force
(as opposed to meeting it head-on) and counter-attack at the same
time. The practitioner uses parries to deflect the incoming strikes
and offset the attacker. A parry usually requires a very small
amount of energy when compared to harder block. A parry can be used
to deflect the strike of the opponent and launch a counter-attack
at the same time. Also there exits an idea to offset the striker's
balance and attack vulnerable points.
Economy of Movement
Wing Chun believes that the shortest path between two points is a
straight line. Thus, most Wing Chun movements are linear and
initiated along an imaginary line of attack, or the centerline. The
Wing Chun punch, for example, is delivered centrally from the
practitioner's chest rather than diagonally from the shoulders in
the first two forms. This helps teach the centerline concept, but
in later forms the punch is delivered from the practitioner's
shoulder to the centerline, because the distance is shorter than
bringing the hand from the shoulder to the center of the chest, and
then to travel down the centerline at your opponent. Also, as an
expression of one's skill and experience, the punch is delivered
from any starting point in time and space, to a specific finishing
point in space where both the centerline and your opponent meet.
This is achieved through successful negotiation of the centerline
through any weakness found in your opponent's pressure.
Wing Chun uses all four limbs in fighting because this offers the
practitioner more options in selecting the best limb for the
task.
