| "Don't Play the Attacker's Game!" | | | | speak. Start striking hands, forearms, and wrists. Make |
| We hear this all the time -- now. I remember when only | | | | your attacker afraid, or at least hesitant, to reach in for |
| a few people, like Steve Golden (original Bruce Lee | | | | contact. |
| and Ed Parker student), were offering this sound piece | | | | 3) And speaking of Wrists ... |
| of advice. | | | | On more than one occasion, I have heard wing chun |
| As I said, nowadays we hear it all of the time. So, why | | | | practitioners say, "We don't do wrist locks in our style." |
| do so few of us follow this sagely suggestion? | | | | Perfect ! |
| Because it takes work -- you have to practice | | | | Remember, at the beginning of the article, I talked |
| defeating other styles, while avoiding their pet | | | | about folks being "bound to their system?" |
| techniques. | | | | Well, there you go. This is "the" example of a system |
| If you think about it, this isn't as hard as it sounds, | | | | with blinders on. |
| especially when you go against someone who is | | | | Note: Even though this article discusses methods for |
| bound to his (or her) system -- more on this in a | | | | defeating certain wing chun practitioners, I am not |
| minute. | | | | implying that Wing Chun is a bad system. In fact, it is |
| Tips for taking on a wing chun artist: | | | | one of my favorites -- something I practice daily. Keep |
| 1) Inside-Outside Hands | | | | in mind that all systems have weaknesses. We are |
| Many of the novice to intermediate 'wing chunners' | | | | exploring strategy, not condemning a style. |
| don't like being on the inside (between the opponent's | | | | Just because most wing chun artists don't use wrist |
| arms) with their hands. And even some of the more | | | | and joint locks, doesn't mean we can't 'practice some |
| advanced artists work their hands automatically to an | | | | of our locks on them." [Smile] |
| outside position (back of your right wrist touches back | | | | Which wrist locks work best? |
| of opponent's right wrist, for example). | | | | Glad you asked. |
| Once your opponent makes contact with you, don't be | | | | If you ever find yourself 'rolling' with a wing chun artist |
| surprised if he uses the other hand as a check with | | | | in chi sao (sticky hands), don't play the wing chunner's |
| the first hand, to get a 'better' (in his opinion) position. | | | | game. |
| This a great opportunity for you to surprise your | | | | On the hand that is rotating, try either the Basic Lock |
| opponent. | | | | when you see the hand open up (tan sao), or try a |
| Catch the wing chun artist as he (or she) makes a | | | | Double Ninety (see 'Wrist Locks: Fromt Protecting |
| change. especially if the practitioner breaks contact | | | | Yourself to Becoming an Expert') if you see the |
| and leaves an opening to the body. | | | | rotating hand go into a bent-arm position (bong sao). |
| 2) Beat On the Hands and Arms | | | | If you are new to chi sao, my advice would be to |
| Long ago, Dan Inosanto used to come to Eugene to | | | | avoid locking the fook sao hand. Your opponent's wrist |
| give seminars. | | | | rests on top of yours. |
| At his first seminar, he told me/us "you wouldn't be | | | | This hand just tracks. |
| afraid to fight Mohammed Ali, if he didn't have any | | | | As a beginner, you probably won't be able to effect a |
| hands, feet, arms, or legs, right?" | | | | lock before the hand finds an opening to your body. |
| His tactic was to beat on anything that invaded your | | | | Stick with the rotating hand. |
| "personal body bubble." If a punch came in, you | | | | And remember, don't play the other guy's game. |
| pounded the punch itself with a solid phoenix eye | | | | Other Fighting Tactics |
| (knuckle strike). | | | | Of course, there are other tactics to use on wing chun |
| A side kick racing at you was the perfect excuse to | | | | artists. |
| take out your opponent's shin with another phoenix | | | | I want your radar to turn on, any time someone says, |
| eye. | | | | "We don't do that in our style." |
| Imagine using this against a 'wing chunner.' A wing chun | | | | The very technique that they don't do, could be the |
| artist loves contact -- his or her wrists touching yours. | | | | perfect move to use on them. At least it's worth |
| Why don't you make your opponent 'gun shy,' so to | | | | further examination.... |