not so private lesson on stances

[tjwingchun]

Just me being masochistic here but it is the only video that I have prepared for YouTube until I get my system sorted and can start producing more 'professional' footage.

Here are sections from a private lesson with my student Mike discussing the structure and use of energy through the legs, just interested in how it translates outside the session as it was not meant as a promotional thing, simply him recording his class so he could review it later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoCn1ZI5t-w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=020nklHTG6E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUgmOz6l-FY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWGBOeYE0KQ

Already had a comment:-

"How can two be bull sh@ting so much on nothing? You don't shift your center of gravity to your front leg, unless you get to the stage where you are qualify to learn BJD. Basically I am witnessing two half ass chiefs talking about how to turn authentic Chinese banquet dishes into Chop Suey!"

So not expecting too much approval lol. No, seriously I would like whatever criticism there is out there as how can I improve errors if I am not made aware of them.

Cheers and dare say as Arnie said "I will be back!"

Trevor

[SamuraiGuy]

Just from someone who spends alot of time trying to remove someones base and get them off their feet.

From what I watched (most of the first one and bits and pieces of the other three) your saying to have tension in the front of the lead leg, and back of the rear leg.

You show that if your just driving forward with both rear legs, you'll just have your momentum used against you and that is true.

But when your putting the weight on both of your legs your in a rather statuesque position. Where is the movement, at one point your gonna have to drive forward, another point your gonna have to pull back (assuming you ever get into a grappling situation on the feet).

But even then, where is the movement, in one of the videos descriptions it talks about lines of attack or angles of attack, think it was lines. How are you creating lines of attack with such a.. rigid base.

I know this is chinese martial arts that your doing here (presumably because its in the chinese section), but just from all the judo and boxing I've done, and the little bit of triangle footwork I've encountered, it seems your placing too much emphasis on making sure you dont over commit to anything. It seems to me that you are in fact over committing to that philosophy then. Judo and boxing use relatively the same footwork, dont bring the feet to high (footsweeps) dont cross your feet (get knocked out/down or thrown real easily), but when you do commit to your hip throw your pulling back and committing to the same pressure on both legs, or when you attempt your trip your driving forward, when you throw that right cross your twisting the hips and driving forward and through with that hand.

Just some thoughts, I think your trying not to over commit, but most of the time you have to.

[marcus_p]

Hi TJ,

Thanks for sharing your clips. I'm no expert, but I think your student is a scrapper and probably has some fighting experience. He's very probing. I found it interesting that he asked about self-preservation and coverage.

Here's something for your consideration - my SiFu explaining the idea of coverage. (At 1:35 it gets into kwan sau.) His idea of Chi Sau emphasises "coverage" How to attack your opponent without getting hit in an exchange, with out relying on superior speed, strength or size.
[YOUTUBE]http://youtube.com/watch?v=wktuTZc6y5I[/YOUTUBE]

Enjoy,
Marcus

[tjwingchun]

But when your putting the weight on both of your legs your in a rather statuesque position. Where is the movement, at one point your gonna have to drive forward, another point your gonna have to pull back (assuming you ever get into a grappling situation on the feet).

I can understand you view but what I am trying to represent is the moment just before the fight has actually started, once the confrontation has reached the point of no return then there is two possibilities, either they will move in to attack me or I make the decision to enter into range and attack them.

Now until the very last moment I do not want to be using a stance that can be read, so pre-contact I prefer not to give anything away in my posture.

But even then, where is the movement, in one of the videos descriptions it talks about lines of attack or angles of attack, think it was lines. How are you creating lines of attack with such a.. rigid base.

From moving out of that position! from the square stance I still have two choices of leg to use and 360 degree movement options. I define the 'line of attack' as being from either of my heels to the opponents centreline, depending upon what the situation is, whether defensive or offensive, will dictate where I move my foot to and which line I will open up, until I am faced with a specific situation I cannot say how I will move, there are too many parameters in reality to define "you will do this/that/other"

it seems your placing too much emphasis on making sure you dont over commit to anything. It seems to me that you are in fact over committing to that philosophy then.

Just some thoughts, I think your trying not to over commit, but most of the time you have to.

Strange that when I do seminars and show entry tecniques from this stance the main comments I get are that I look too commited, but I can understand what you are getting at.

I basically what I have in my mind is that until the fight has actually started and that can be a psychological beginning rather than a physical act, why should you give any information away but if it has started what are you waiting for?

If you wait for something to arrive, it will! by that I mean if you wait for a boxer to get into range and throw their punch it will hit you, the same for a kicker and also a grappler, play their game and suffer the loss, by understanding your ranges and reading the movements of the attacker/assailant you can make decisions about which direction to step to close their line of attack and open yours.

My belif is that once a fight has started if you are not commited then you risk losing and when your life is on the line you might never get a second chance.

Thanks for sharing your clips. I'm no expert, but I think your student is a scrapper and probably has some fighting experience. He's very probing. I found it interesting that he asked about self-preservation and coverage.

You are not wrong about Mike, he is a great student to have as he keeps me on my toes and never complacent. He has many years of fighting both in Ju Jitsu and on the street, though these days is trying to become more at ease with himself I enjoyed the footage of your Sifu, I have seen several of he YouTube videos that he has up there and recognise someone who knows what they are talking about.

It is pleasing to see that there are several top Wing Chun instructors letting themselves be known that are not merely money orientated and self-promoting to the detriment of Wing Chun as a whole, I myself stayed out of the public domain for many years for several reasons, the main one being the politics, but since the opening of the Yip Man museum in Foshan and the goading of students, Sifu and Sigung, I have decided to make my presence known, by organising holidays in Majorca, seminars and the internet.

When I get my system sorted I will be producing more intructional footage rather than just the archive video that I have going back over 20 years.

[Troll Virus]

So not expecting too much approval lol. No, seriously I would like whatever criticism there is out there as how can I improve errors if I am not made aware of them.



Trevor

I think a casual glance at the clips would lead many to simply roll their eyes and dismiss.
It would seem to some, to be overly analytical.

What I personally saw, were some awkward questions asked, an initial effort to respond to those questions made, but acknowledgement that 'awareness' of structure and alignment were being developed.

Not fighting, but the exploration of leverage and opportunity.

[tjwingchun]

I think a casual glance at the clips would lead many to simply roll their eyes and dismiss.
It would seem to some, to be overly analytical.

What I personally saw, were some awkward questions asked, an initial effort to respond to those questions made, but acknowledgement that 'awareness' of structure and alignment were being developed.

Not fighting, but the exploration of leverage and opportunity.

Me over analytical, NEVER, lol.

It was person tuition not an instructional video, so I can understand how some have had problems comprehending the content, nevermind my accent.

With Mike having such a experienced background he already has much of the knowledge of application energies simply through the personal experience of doing it, what I am trying to give him is a more defined set of reference points that relate back to the forms so that when he is teaching students there are reminders within the forms that will help him to pass onto his students the knowledge and so enable them to achieve his level of understanding without having to live all of his life experiences.

It has taken me over 30 years to get to my level of self-awareness via Wing Chun and living life, what I try to achieve is an accelerated learning curve for my students so that they can take on the simplicity of what makes sense without having to take the wrong turns or go down the many blind alleys that I did.

Like Theseus getting out of the Minotaur's labyrinth with the help of Ariadne's ball of thread it makes more sense to follow a path that has already been trodden than run around like a headless chicken looking for the way, all you need is the trust and belief that your guide is both honest and knowledgeable.

I always strive to be honest and my knowledge I intend to put up for all to discuss and through that process hopefully learn where my faults lie and methods to correct my errors.

[Troll Virus]

Me over analytical, NEVER, lol.

In the context of a private lesson, could it be any other way?

It was person tuition not an instructional video, so I can understand how some have had problems comprehending the content.

I know.
I was re-inforcing that.

nevermind my accent.

Spent a fair bit of time in 'that neck of the woods'.
Wonder if you ever came across Edmund Ng and the 'Hung Gar' schools?

It has taken me over 30 years to get to my level of self-awareness via Wing Chun and living life, what I try to achieve is an accelerated learning curve for my students so that they can take on the simplicity of what makes sense without having to take the wrong turns or go down the many blind alleys that I did.

Admirable, but like your own experience, sometimes people have to learn from their own mistakes.
Sometimes, they'll come up with different solutions.
All you can do, is what you do.

I always strive to be honest and my knowledge I intend to put up for all to discuss and through that process hopefully learn where my faults lie and methods to correct my errors.

The student eternal?
Be nice to meet you some time TJ.

[tjwingchun]

In the context of a private lesson, could it be any other way?

Not in my books, my opinion is that the time you spend with a teacher you should not waste and be learning not repeating what you already know, press-ups, sit-ups and distance running you should do in your own time or join a fitness class, I teach people to understand their personal body mechanics related to violent confrontation via Wing Chun, simple really, lol.

I know.
I was re-inforcing that.

I know and I appreciated the comments, I was re-iterating for the scanners.

Spent a fair bit of time in 'that neck of the woods'.
Wonder if you ever came across Edmund Ng and the 'Hung Gar' schools?

I met Edmund when he first came over to the UK, and it is Choy Le Fut that he teaches as far as I know, he was invited into our school, would have been around 1975/6 and gave some lessons for a few weeks but I could not get away with the style, too flamboyant for my liking, I also know a few tales about him as well, a colourful character indeed. He is still teaching and has his school running from the Chinese community centre on Stowell Street in China town in Newcastle, his top student Johnny is a good friend.

Admirable, but like your own experience, sometimes people have to learn from their own mistakes.
Sometimes, they'll come up with different solutions.
All you can do, is what you do.

A guide not a dictator.

The student eternal?
Be nice to meet you some time TJ.

When I grow up I will be able to tell you when I will graduate.

Where are you and if I am in the area I will let you know and we can meet up.

[Troll Virus]

Not in my books, my opinion is that the time you spend with a teacher you should not waste and be learning not repeating what you already know, press-ups, sit-ups and distance running you should do in your own time or join a fitness class, I teach people to understand their personal body mechanics related to violent confrontation via Wing Chun, simple really, lol.

Amen brother Trev.

I met Edmund when he first came over to the UK, and it is Choy Le Fut that he teaches as far as I know, he was invited into our school, would have been around 1975/6 and gave some lessons for a few weeks but I could not get away with the style, too flamboyant for my liking, I also know a few tales about him as well, a colourful character indeed. He is still teaching and has his school running from the Chinese community centre on Stowell Street in China town in Newcastle, his top student Johnny is a good friend.

My bad. Don't know why I wrote Hung Gar, knowing full well it's CLF.
I was down in Newcastle covering the International Lion Dance championships a few years back.

A guide not a dictator.

Absolutely.
Too many people seem to think they will be taught, therefore they will know, without engaging any grey matter of their own.
That's why you get shit comments about Chi Sau not teaching you how to fight. Let's not start that again though eh.

Where are you and if I am in the area I will let you know and we can meet up.

Prety fixed up in Scotland these days, but I used to travel a lot in my previous job, with a sales territory from Birmingham to Inverness.
Designed and installed sound systems into a few night clubs in Newcastle.

You ever meet Pat O'Malley?

[tjwingchun]

Prety fixed up in Scotland these days, but I used to travel a lot in my previous job, with a sales territory from Birmingham to Inverness.
Designed and installed sound systems into a few night clubs in Newcastle.

I worked on doors of the Tuxedo Princess before it went to Glasgow and returned! Walkers, Planet Earth and last worked at what is now Ikon before retiring again, sick of working with violent nuggets and I don't mean the customers, lol.

I get up to Scotland occassionally mainly Edinburgh and Glasgow, visiting friends or doing seminars. Which part are you hiding in the hills?

You ever meet Pat O'Malley?

Nope never had the pleasure