Do you think wing chun is a good martial art to learn?

Question

i want to learn it as my first martial art. do you think it will help me in alot of ways? thanks

Answer 1

ANY martial art is a good one to learn.

I would usually tell parents of 5-8 yr olds to do judo first (good rough nd tumble), then maybe Karate/Kung Fu etc when they are able to concentrate for longer eg 7/8 yrs onwards

Answer 2

Kickboxing/muay thai,

this martial art is not only the most violent with use of explosive power and bone shattering kicks its also known as the best for self defence due to the sheer confidence learning it gives you..

Answer 3

Yes!

An excellent style for self defence I'd say.

Answer 4

It will definitely help you, but in the long run it depends on what you want to do with it.  Wing Chun is an art that demands you have a very solid center of gravity and good balance, and excellent upper body conditioning for strikes, blocks, etc.  Because your body tends to be square to your opponent in many cases, the body's center line is left open (defended with hands mainly).  This leaves you vulnerable to many things, but mainly low outside attacks like Muay Thai leg kicks, and leaves you open for takedowns.

Wing Chun uses a lot of trapping techniques (blocking, hand imobilization, obstacle removal) that are more practical against un-trained opponents than skilled fighters.  It relies on speed and accuracy more than strength / power to accomplish striking the target.  So a Wing Chun practicioner will respond to a straight punch with a block, punch (tan sao da) or a slap-hand punch (pak sao).  This moves the opponents strike aside and opens them for the counter-strike.  A fantastic art, but you have to be REALLY fast to be effective.  Bruce Lee studied Wing Chun but adapted it and began studying other arts once he realized the shortcomings of Wing Chun.

It is not an athletic art either - cardiovascular training and strength training is simply not as important as technique and conditioning (tough forearms, knuckles, etc.)

Don't get me wrong, Wing Chun is an awesome art if you are quick, agile, and balanced - technique is everything in this art.  But it is much less effective against a larger, stronger opponent, or an opponent that takes the fight to the ground.

Answer 5

Everybody Wing Chun tonight.

Answer 6

without getting into a detailed analysis:

1- wing chung is a striking only art- don't believe the "anti-grappling" claims. "anti-grappling" doesn't work (unless you re-define the term to include, sprawling, pummeling- etc. but then technically you are grappling).

2- ANY art is only as effective as its training methodology- focus on finding an art (wing chun or otherwise) that promotes and uses realistic training methodology that is designed to teach you to apply the techniques against a fully resisting opponent.

see that is always the measuring stick because if you aren't training that way- how the h**l do you think you will get it off against someone who is outside of class? do you think they will do a "co-op" drill with you under your classes ruleset to "let you get the move?".

3- to the first poster Hoser:  "everybody wing chun tonight" its WANG CHUNG.

as many times as i've tried to get that joke to work- it just doesn't.  too many people forgot that song already....