What to expect in a Wing Chun class? (Follow up to previous karate question)?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArhzvtaW5JmeWXeBRkG7pfDsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080623091030AAejDEt

That link should lead to my previous question about taking a karate class. Upon further research, I found a Wing Chun place in my town (I live in a very small town and I think there may be more places but they are not listed in the phone book here, so this is the 'biggest' place for sure). So I read that it is a close combat class. Now I am looking for someone with some Wing Chun experience who can maybe tell me some more about this style and what I should expect from a class. Of course I will check out the class before joining, but I would rather first have honest answers from neutral sources without bias to the particular studio I will be going to. I really hope this is what I am looking for! Thanks everyone in advance :-)

Answer 1

Bruce Lee started in Wing Chun.  It can be a very effective defense style that teaches you to keep control of people's arms (and legs to a small extent).  So if someone swings at you or tries to grab you, you are better able than almost any traditional art to control the fight.

It's still not the same as a combat style like brazilian jiu-jitsu, but it can make a very good base for quick hands.

Answer 2

Most important is the concept of not using force against force, which allows a weak fighter to overcome stronger opponents. Generally, a Wing Chun practitioner will seek to use his opponent's own force against him. A great deal of training is put in to this area, and is done with the cultivation of a concept called Contact Reflexes.

Also of importance are the use of several targeting ideas in Wing Chun. The Mother Line is an imaginary pole running vertically through the center of your body. From the Mother Line emanates the Center Line, which is a vertical 3D grid that divides the body in to a right half and a left half. Most of the vital points of the body are along the Center Line, and it is this area that the Wing Chun student learns to protect as well as work off of in his own offensive techniques. Also emanating from the Mother Line is the Central Line. The Central Line is seen as the shortest path between you and your opponent, which is generally where most of the exchange is going to take place. Because of this linear concept, most of the techniques seek to occupy one of the two lines and take on a linear nature.

This leads to the expression of another very important concept in Wing Chun: "Economy of Motion". The analogy of a mobile tank with a turret (that of course shoots straight out of the cannon) is often used to describe the linear concept.

Only two weapons are taught in the system, the Dragon Pole and the Butterfly swords. These are generally taught only once the student has a firm foundation in the system.

The way the art produces efficent and adaptble fighters in a relatively short time is by sticking to several core principles and constantly drilling them in to the student, as well as taking a very generic approach to techniques. Instead of training a response to a specific technique, the student practices guarding various zones about the body and dealing genericly with whatever happens to be in that zone. This allows for a minimum of technique for a maximum of application, and for the use of automatic or "subconcious" responses.

Much training time is spent cultivating "Contact Reflexes". The idea is that at the moment you contact or "touch" your opponent, your body automaticaly reads the direction, force, and often intent of the part of the opponent's body you are contacting with and automatically (subconciously) deals with it accordingly. This again lends itself to the generic concept of zoning.

Contact Reflexes and the concept of not using force against force are taught and cultivated through unique two man sensitivity drills called Chi Sao.

The concepts of guarding and working off of these lines and zones are learned throught the practice of the three forms

Another unique aspect of the system is the use of the Mook Jong, or wooden dummy, a wood log on a frame that has three "arms" and a "leg" to simulate various possible positions of an opponent's limbs. A wooden dummy form is taught to the student, that consists of 108 movements and is meant to introduce the student to various applications of the system. It also serves to help the student perfect his own skills.

Weapons training drills off the same generic ideas and concepts as the open hand system (including the use of Contact Reflexes). Many of the weapon movements are built off of or mimic the open hand moves.

There's a small feature of Wing Chun in a Human Weapon episode:

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

Answer 3

Expect to punch a guy in the nuts.

Answer 4

Jack doesn't know jack ****. Wing Chun is very effective, i took it for 1 1/2 months and i can definately see myself with that much experience beating the 6 months i was in Kempo.

Muay thai is basically Wing Chun, we use their kicks and so much more. We also use more varietys of elbows and clinch. Don't be fooled by idiots. Also Wing Chun can work on the ground to, sure we don't train on the ground, but most BJJ fighters don't train to counter strikes while they're on the ground. Just imagine the trapping techniques, it can be applied to.

Anyways, Wing Chun is an art developed by a female in the 17th or 16th century and it is meant to counter strength with leverage. It emphasizes trapping and a whole bunch of kicks and takedowns to. It is a very effective Chinese art created in the Shaolin Temple and has been proven a lot in the street to work. Ignore the new MMA wannabes and follow what you like. Find a good school, take some free classes, get to know them, then spill your heart out.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I trained in Wing Chun for a while as a kid and respect it more than Tae Kwon Do. However, over the years styles like Muy Thai and Jiu-Jitsu have shown to be more effective. In many styles like Karate and TKD, you must rely on proper distance, speed, and strength. Although this helps, you will be better off learning a good stand up technique (Muy Thai or Boxing) and a grappling technique (BJJ or possibly wrestling). Most fights go to the ground and you are in deep trouble if you don’t understand that part of fighting.

It is simple, if your goal is peace and harmony through martial arts, go ahead and do something like Thai Chi or Wing Chun. If you want to be able to defend yourself in many situations instead of ideal situations (guy stands there at 2 1/2 feet away and knows nothing), I would go with BJJ over any other and then a stand up technique. I also respect Judo.

Answer 6

I don't know much about what happens in a Wing chun class, I would imagine that it varies from school to school.

My main reason for answering this is to tell you to pay no attention to Jack D for he is obviously one of the MMA wanna be's or a UFC fanboy. These are the people who don't really train and base their answers on what they see in the UFC. I am not saying that Muay Thai/BJJ combo will not work for self defense, jsut that they are not the only ones. In fact they have many weaknesses in a self defense situation. Both teach you to stay and fight it out, where many other arts teach you to do only what is necessary to get away and survive.

People like Jack D get street fighting confuse dwith self defense. A street fight is about ego, self defense is about survival, even if it means running away or backing down.

The fact is any style can be very effective for self defense if it is taught to you right and you train it correctly.

Edit- Dude, in no way, shape, or form is BJJ a combat style. it has no strikes and absolutly will not work aginst more then one opponent. It is a sport style.