Tag: self defense

Self Defense Programs: Find the Best One Near You

Posted on by Madison Schubert

Everyone’s physical capabilities are different, whether it be size, strength, speed, or overall fitness level. There are strengths and limitations each of us has compared to the next person. So it’s important when searching for self defense programs to take these differences into consideration. How do you find the right program? Choosing self defense programs, and some red flags to keep an eye on.

Do the self defense program focus on real world applications or “the art”?

This is the biggest distinction from one martial arts school to the next. Especially when it comes to self defense in particular. Many martial art schools focus on what people commonly know as training for “the art” or “philosophy” of martial arts.

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This is appropriate for students looking for mental wellness and even to increase their fitness. Not for those seeking real world self defense applications. Gyms that focus on “the art” tend to heavily focus on forms. Choreographed attacks, individual training (not against or with partners), and the theory behind the martial arts.

Discover the Best Self-Defense Programs Near You Today!

Those interested in real-world fighting applications and self defense techniques. To find what you can actually use, there are a few indicators to look out for. The biggest one is do they encourage sparring, and does the sparring actually utilize the techniques the instructors are teaching?

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Sifu Justin Och, Trapping, Striking, Jut Sau, Wing Chun, Kung Fu, Sifu Justin Och Wing Chun, Florida Wing Chun

Many times people default to basic boxing or MMA techniques when in a sparring scenario. That’s useful, but do they teach those techniques in the program?

How to Choose the Right Self-Defense Program for Your Needs

Usually a good indicator that the self defense training is quality stuff. It’s actively used in sparring sessions, which then translates to use “IRL” if a student ever needs it in a real fight. The key is muscle memory. Does the program teach techniques that become instinctual and usable when in real-world fighting scenarios. 

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instructor teaching realistic self defense classes with knife techniques with student

Another thing to look out for is versatility. This means, does the program focus on training for multiple scenarios? Does the self defense program focus on a single vs multiple attackers? What should you do if you’re grabbed or shoved? Does it prepare students for what to do when faced with an attacker who has a knife or a gun? 

All of these scenarios are very common in fights. Any self defense programs you decide to go with offers versatility and mixes up the training regime. To make sure students are confident and well-rounded enough to tackle whatever may come their way.

self defense classes demonstration in downtown lakeland

What measures ensure safety and prevent injury in the self-defense program?

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Training practical skills for self defense can be dangerous. While most instances won’t be especially harrowing. It’s important to recognize that any self defense training program does come with its own sets of risks and potential to cause injury. When searching for self defense classes near you. It’s important that the instructors know how to keep people safe.

They put measures in place to keep students from injuring themselves or each other.

Is safety gear required when sparring or facing an opponent in class? Common pieces of equipment include padded gloves, mouthpieces, helmets, shin guards, arm guards, and chest guards.

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This will change depending on the type of program you join. The basics (gloves and mouth-pieces) are a bare minimum must-have when training in self defense.

Master Self-Defense: Find the Best Classes Near You

Do instructors moderate and monitor fight training to make sure the focus is on building skill? Oftentimes sparring can devolve into “beating” the opponent by any means necessary. This mentality usually creates bad and dangerous habits. It’s important that an instructor moderates training sessions to make sure attacks are gratuitously hard, hazardous, or incorrectly utilized. This is not only to teach good habits/skills but to prevent students from injuring themselves or each other. When looking for a self defense program near you. Make sure the instructor(s) are active on the training floor at all times.

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Are there students who have been training for more than a year?

This is generally just a green flag to look out for. Similar to a job, if there’s a high turnover rate of people, that’s usually a sign that something is wrong. When finding a self defense program near you. Take the opportunity to check the place out prior to joining. Watch a class, or join a trial period to learn about the training environment. See how instructors teach, and more importantly, talk to other students. 

See what they have to say about their training journey. About other students, how the instructors have taught them. You could even get training tips. A sign of a good teacher is when students have the ability and willingness to teach those junior to them.

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If someone has been training at a place for more than a year. They should have acquired enough skill in self defense to be able to actually use the techniques. They’ve been taught and are well past the “basics” stage. This can be a good way to gauge on where your skill level might be. If you decide to stick with that program and provide you with a nice aspirational goal to work towards.

Are the instructors approachable and willing to answer your questions?

While the social aspect isn’t a make or break quality for good self defense classes. It’s important that an instructor be willing to answer your questions and address concerns. Do they feel approachable and non-judgmental? Are they patient and showcase a desire to really answer your questions? 

beginner wing chun student practicing a martial arts technique in class
woman holding her fists up moving in lakeland kickboxing class

Like learning any skill, there will be times where you’ll get stuck, frustrated, or struggle. With a particular technique and it’s important that you feel comfortable talking to your instructor not only in regards to training.

Your overall health and wellness since these are aspects very closely intertwined with self defense training. A good instructor will not only recommend things to improve your self defense skills. Many are also well versed in overall fitness training, food & diet programs, recovery/injury management, and all things fitness related.

two women having fun in wing chun martial arts studio while training in self defense

Do you feel comfortable training with the other students?

While the quality of the training program is the top priority, the social atmosphere is a close second. It’s important that you feel relaxed, comfortable, and open. To engaging with the students on the training floor as they’ll be a great resource for working through similar struggles. Overall just a great sense of camaraderie. 

group photo of sifu justin och and his students at his downtown lakeland martial arts studio

Why Local Self-Defense Programs Matter: Find Yours Now

The gym, and any sort of fitness class can be intimidating to start, so knowing that the people you’ll be training with are open and judgment free can go a long way in making your training journey a lot smoother and stress free. Depending on their own training journeys, your fellow students could be a great resource in overcoming issues, techniques you might be struggling with, fitness hurdles, or even just a buddy to hit the gym with.

A good gym/martial arts studio will foster a social atmosphere that encourages connection and removes ego from the training process. When looking for a good self defense program near you, see how the students interact with each other, and with new/potential students just coming into class. The social environment will be a good indicator on the potential longevity for you training in a particular place.

Find the Best Self-Defense Training: Options Near You!

While these aren’t the end-all-be-all signs to look for, it is important to keep some of these questions in mind when looking for self defense programs near you. There are many gyms out there looking to make a quick buck, or martial art studios that don’t focus on real-world applications, so it’s important to find a balance when choosing the right program for you. 

If you’re interested in getting started, we here at Sifu Och Wing Chun offer self defense training, kickboxing & fitness, for kids and adults. We know it’s important to make sure the training program is a good fit, so feel free to get in touch and get started with our limited 2-week trial offer. We hope to be the place you call home for your fitness and self defense training journey.

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4 Ways to Intercept

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

Intercepting is always better than blocking. We are going to look at what the definition of intercepting is before we give some practical ways of accomplishing that. Webster’s dictionary defines intercepting as “to stop, seize, or interrupt in progress or course or before arrival”. The best way to view intercepting is that last part of the definition, “interrupt”. Not only is the attack itself being interrupted, but the timing of your opponent should be as well. And that is the key, the timing. When timed properly your opponents attack will be nullified and you will be primed to launch a second attack (in theory before his second) or you would have already hit him. Now that we have addressed what intercepting as a concept let me provide you with 4 Ways to Intercept your opponents attacks using Wing Chun.

4 Ways to Intercept

Intercepting Fist

Intercepting Fist

The first technique we will go over is the Intercepting Fist. Made famous by Bruce Lee, this technique is typically taught fairly early on in student’s training. The idea is to counter the opponents punch with a punch of your own. By keeping your elbow down and pressing from center mass you are elbow to offset your opponents strike. This can quickly be follow up a flurry of punches we refer to as Chain Punches. Keeping the strikes down the center you are able to maintain control of your centerline.

When you substitute a Paak Sao with an intercept you will find it can be much easier to deal with a second and third punch. Part of this is due to the fact that you are returning the opponents punch with a punch. They will be slightly less confident with their next punch as opposed to when you simple deflect their initial punch with a Paak. Second to that, the Intercept automatically covers your opposite side incase of a second attack. Whereas the Paak leaves you more open. 

Turning Punch

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Turning Punch

The Turning Punch basically the other side of the same coin referring to the Intercepting punch. The Intercepting fist is typically used to refer to the lead hand being used with the lead foot to interrupt the opponent. This is illustrated in the first photo above.

Turning punch is simply using the the same structure but opposite hand to accomplish the same goal. Since the punch is coming from the back foot, the turning punch will have more power and torque then the straight Intercepting. However, much like the Paak punch, if not used properly, can leave you open on the inside for an attack.

Tan Sao

Tan Sao

The Tan Sao is a very effective and sound way to intercept a strike. You have not only nullified the attack but you have also almost guaranteed a strike of your own. Tan and the actual punch are the exact same shape. The only exception is what the hand is doing at the end. You can see here in the photo the Tan Sao is an hand open towards the ceiling. By opening the hand the focus of the technique is diverted to the elbow. The Punch itself can be delivered to the head, or for a taller opponent you can strike the ribs.

Since the Tan extending through the strike towards your opponent, it makes stopping a second strike fairly straight forward. You can transition to a Paak Punch if the Strike is down the center. Or, you can continue pressing forward with a Bui Sao against a hook punch.

Paak Punch

 

Paak Punch, Kick

Our last technique for this article on intercepting attacks is the Paak Punch. Clearing the attackers hit with Paak good, but combining it with straight punch is better. Since the Paak is coming off of the back foot there is a lot of power and structure with this counter. The Paak is also quite diverse.

When used, you can use the Paak to press forward and crush the attackers structure. You can guide his hand downward if he is taller. You can also use it to setup a baiting for the second punch.

Bonus: The Paak Punch is also a great attack to throw in a kick along with it. By doing this you maximize Wing Chun’s ability to use multiple weapons at once. You can see here in the photo, Sifu Justin used the Paak, Punch, and Kick. He uses the kick just before the punch clears the arm to finish the attack.

 

Final thoughts

When it comes to Intercepting timing is everything. You can have GREAT structure, technique, and power. But, if you do not practicing your techniques in LIVE sparring scenarios you will get hit no matter how good you think you are. There is no substitute for hard work, and good punches to the face. Train hard and never give up.

Afterschool Kung Fu Fun

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

When it comes to teaching children anything it can be either a complete drag, or the most fun you will have the whole day. Your attitude will determine whether or not the clock will slowly inch it’s way to the next minute or run out before you realize class is done. I will explain here in Afterschool Kung Fu Fun the three ‘E’s  to actually enjoy teaching a kids class no matter the age.

Afterschool Kung Fu Fun

Establish Discipline

Lakeland little lions kids preschool martial arts kickboxing karate kung fu ages 3 - 5 years oldThe first thing that must be done is to establish a line of discipline with the student’s. Without discipline there will be utter chaos in the class. No matter how fun the class is there will always be some sort of disruption. In my article Afterschool Martial Arts: Showing You Care I explain in details a few details about establishing discipline. Understanding the line between fear and respect is crucial. Contrary to belief you cannot force someone to respect you. You can make them act a certain which may be perceived as respect.

 

Respect is only achieved when the student’s know that you truly care about them. “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” This is a phrase I live by. Before class starts I try to speak to as many of them as possible. I can build individual relationships with them and they can connect with me. We build trust and respect this way.

Embrace Your Inner Kid

Once you have established your discipline your class will go much smoother than without. A focused energy rises in the class when discipline is held across the room. You must capitalize on this energy. To use it you must embrace your inner child. If your 12 year old self were to be in this class what would make it fun? Answer that question over and over and you will find you are making new and exciting ways to do drills. You will find yourself looking forward to class. It becomes a chance to really have fun with your class.

By “becoming a kid” again you’ll see that you have the ability to take the same workouts and put a new spin one them that the kids will love. A perfect example is around Christmas time. At Sifu Och Wing Chun we have the kids to military crawl for part of the warm. The spin I tell them is that they are the Grinch and they have to sneak through the house without getting caught. Another fun warm up spin is something I call “ninja mode”. The students pretend to be ninjas while I give them instructions. Whether it is running quietly or jumping to avoid the incoming “sword”. They are able to get a good workout hidden under the guise of pretend.

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Explain Quickly

The last thing that must be done is crucial. You must learn to be efficient with your explanations. Since their young minds have trouble focusing you must be potent with your talks. Clear and concise are your best friends. If you are able to explain techniques quickly you can spend more time drilling, working on their focus and persistence. Long explanations can also wear them out. While you don’t want to skimp on good info you have to find the balance or their little legs won’t be able to handle standing still for too long.

Summary

To wrap things up. Three keys to having a good kids class: Establish discipline, Embrace your inner kid, and Explain quickly. If you can put all of these things together you will really enjoy teaching your kids class no matter the age.

 

Unlock Potential: The Incredible Strength of Wing Chun Martial Arts

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

The Strength of My Wing Chun Journey: By Ryan Beck

The Strength Behind Wing Chun: Techniques to Empower Your Martial Arts Journey

Wing Chun is different for each practitioner: how they move, when they flow and even the strength used. Each person is trained and trains differently; they all have different weaknesses and advantages. There are skills we all must learn and others that must be figured out individually.

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Gains can come fast while mastery takes years to achieve. After approximately three years, I have seen these gains made by myself and others which means you can gain these as well.

My Wing Chun Journey: The Start

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When I first started training with Sihing Garret in Tampa, I was the only regular student. His boxing background, plus his time training in Wing Chun under Sifu Och really set his skills apart. After the first class, I told myself, that no matter what, I would commit to training for at least one year, at that point I would re-evaluate. Not even two months later, I came to the realization that Wing Chun was in my soul and I was hooked. With any form of martial arts, there are typically two types of gains: physical and mental.

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Physical goals are the easiest to see. I noticed I was moving faster, able to go longer, and could even tell my eyes where processing information faster. Slowly, was becoming a better fighter. I believe this primarily has to do with my instruction, training and dedication. These physical gains are generally noticed fairly consistently by all. You get out what you put in. These are the gains that pushed me through my first year.

Wing Chun Journey: My Second Year

When my one-year marker hit, I looked back on all the gains I had made. The surprising part about this reflection was the mental and lifestyle achievements. These types of gains are much harder to identify. I saw my temper cooled, I was eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle. The craziest part was that these changes, these gains started to become evident, when I saw the people around me changing as well. They were growing through my growth. My wife and our two daughters started eating healthier, drinking water and working out. In addition, my wife and our girls are on their own martial arts adventure too.

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The only limitation Wing Chun has to personal growth, is people’s willingness to grow. It’s not always easy to train. Let’s be honest, it’s hard work. After a long and hot day at my job, I don’t always want to train. We can always find a reason. I will never forget my Sifu once said, “instead of an excuse, just say it’s not a priority.” This is something I strive to apply to all aspects of my life. The interesting part is that once I am at class, I am always glad that I went. This is true in life, it’s never as bad as we thought it was going to be.

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Wing Chun for Life: I will never quit.

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Over the course of my Wing Chun journey thus far, I have found three strong reasons why I will never quit Wing Chun. The first reason is my family, I see the change in them and they look to me for guidance in life. Without martial arts, I am not sure I would know what direction to take them. The second reason is the tradition and culture, I have always been interested in the history and where Wing Chun comes from – not only the fighting, but the lifestyle as well.

Wing Chun: A History bigger than myself

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There is such a history, that every time I Chi Sao, I feel like I am a part of something bigger than myself. The third and final reason I will never quit Wing Chun is the personal and physical aspect. I have grown tremendously since starting Wing Chun. The best part is how much growing I still have left to do. I know I can be faster, I know I can be even more technical and I know I have a lot more to learn and for me this is exciting!

My Wing Chun Journey could be yours

Gains can always be made in Wing Chun as long as goals are being set and matched, as long as a person is dedicated to train and as long as the community is strong. Wing Chun is limitless! If I can train hard even when I don’t want to or kick open new doors when I am too tired to, then there is nothing I can’t do, in life or in Wing Chun.

Start your Journey with Sifu Och Wing Chun

Are you ready to discover the transformative power of Wing Chun? Begin your journey with Sifu Och Wing Chun today! Fill out our contact form to start your journey and take the first step towards enhancing your martial arts skills and personal development.

Join Sifu Och Wing Chun Kung Fu – Fill out our contact form to start your journey

A Letter To Myself-Marcus Morales

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

In this Article: “A Letter To Myself-Marcus Morales”, Marcus tells us his story of how he started his Wing Chun Training. We hope you enjoy this little story!

A Letter To Myself-Marcus Morales

Do you know the feeling you get when you are about to do something and you do not know what the outcome is going to be? It happens all the time. For example, imagine it is the middle of summer, you are at the local pool cooling off along with a bunch of other people, and suddenly you decide you want to dive off the platform and continue to develop your patented cannonball dive. There you go, walking past everyone and you climb to the first level.

But, You realize that there are steps that will take you to the second tier and you follow them up another level.Then you see there is yet another set up steps and they take you to the very top platform. Somehow, you have managed to get up there, where no one else dares to go. There you are, standing at the highest level at the public pool with your lucky red bathing trunks. The ones with yellow rubber duckies on them. You look down and see that you are on the edge, staring at the crystalline blue water, deciding whether or not to jump.

The Jump

That is exactly how I felt when I was standing outside the door of Sifu Justin Och’s Martial Arts school. I was standing there, watching everyone doing all kinds of crazy things. Trying to decide whether to step inside or just keep walking. I must confess that I only knew a little about Wing Chun. I consider myself to be a bit of a tough guy; grew up in some tough neighbor hoods. I also served my country for six years and finished my obligation with an honorable discharge. During that time I even came back from a major injury in the Army. Suffice it to say, I thought I was tough enough. But something kept urging me to step inside, so I did.

In the Water

Wing Chun, Self Defense, Sifu Och Wing ChunOnce inside, I was intimidated by all the people there, knocking each other around. I stood there, at that ceramic tile square at the entrance to the school. And the, Sifu came along and welcomed me in. He was not what I expected. Truth is…I didn’t know what to expect. But he walked up to me, with a thousand-watt smile on his face, and made me feel right at home. I didn’t know this until later, but he had just finished wrestling on the floor with some of his students.

One more thing I did not expect. I was still a little defensive, mostly because I didn’t know much about how things worked. All Sifu did was invite me to join in on the class he was conducting and then he would get back to me to see whether I wanted to be a part of it, so I accepted the invitation. I have not left the school since.

Learning How to Swim

From the very First minute you become a part of the school’s family and its culture. I was automatically being grabbed and tossed. I even received a stiff punch to the face, and just like that I was absolutely drawn to the scene. Somehow, despite all the punches and tosses, the sore bones and sprains, I have become more and more involved in the art. Sifu is there, with a smile on his face, teaching you everything you need to know about the art. And this is not a man who is boastful or driven by a sense of superiority. No… this man truly loves to tach, he wholeheartedly love the art, and he absolutely enjoys his students.

Sifu Och

One other thing that Sifu Och strives for at his school is the development of a community within the school. He is constantly coming up with events for the school, activities designed to strengthen the camaraderie within the student, to help foster positive relationships between the students, ones that they can potentially carry along wit them throughout their lives. I have come to believe that his desire to develop and nurture these positive relationships is at the core of the most successful martial arts school. Creating bonds not only between student and teacher, but between students, strengthens the school itself.

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Sifu’s Students

The students at the school are without a doubt the greatest assets Sifu has at his disposal. From the Green Sashes all the way to his instructor level students. They understand Sifu’s philosophy when it comes to helping everyone who start training. They

 

 

Sal Ficaro: Ageless Training

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

Sal Ficaro came to Sifu Och Wing Chun about one year ago. He tried one of our classes and got very frustrated with himself and decided to leave. Sifu Och was able to talk to him and arrange for private lessons instead to help him through those first steps of learning. When I took on Sal and his private lessons I knew this would be a difficult task. Sal was not used to Wing Chun and it’s movements. However, I knew that it could be done because Sal had the right mindset. In this article, Sal Ficaro: Ageless Training, Sal will tell a little bit about himself and his training here.

Sal Ficaro: Ageless Training

“Hello, my name Salvatore Ficarro I am 58 years old. I’ve been training at Sifu Och Wing Chun it’s been a learning process. Timothy Kittelstad is one of the trainers at this studio and he is absolutely wonderful. Even though the journey has been tough I absolutely love it.

If anybody is in the 40s or 50s age and would like to learn some self-defense they should not hesitate. They should come down to Sifu Och and start their own journey! Your age shouldn’t hold you back. I’m 58 but that is just a number. I don’t allow that to be an excuse to not learn something new. Life can be very hard. And many times you want to just give up. But the wonderful things in life take some time to learn.

When you are working hard to learn something you may fall a little short. And when that happens, as long as you get back up and come back stronger that day was a success. There are days I feel I’m only at maybe 60% where I should be. But if I leave at 61% that means I am improving. Then next time maybe I’m at 70% or 80%. As long as you work hard and improve, no matter how small the improvement, you will always be able to grow. The staff at Sifu Och Wing Chun are the best trainers I’ve ever seen. They are their to help you. All they want is for you to be your best. And I want you to succeed. I feel if you give it a try your will fall in love with it.”

Age doesn’t Stop Hard work

Sal shows that now matter your age you can accomplish anything with hard. Day after day Sal comes into class and puts in a hard days training. Starting from private lessons he has been able to work himself into the group classes. The most impressive thing about Sal is his determination. He doesn’t care about belts, or awards, or flashy techniques. He simply wants to know that he can take care of himself. Each day he comes in and builds himself from the last class.

Age is just a number. Everybody has hurdles they have to learn to overcome. Everyone has their own life story. Once you learn to accept your story and do the best you can with what you have you can start to really learn new things.

Instead of complaining about his age, or “not being able to move like he used to”, Sal trains his body to move the best it can right now. Because that’s what matters, the now. Not the past, not the future, but right now. What are you doing right now to make a difference in your life? If nothing than you should find the reason why. And then find a strong reason why you need to change that. Sal is a great example of someone who tackles life no matter what happens.

 

The Kickers Guide A-H (Part I)

Posted on by Sarah Lister

Kicking is hands down one of my favorite things to do. It’s just so versatile. Once you learn how to use your legs, a whole new world of possibilities opens up. And it is a beautiful world. But this world is full of complexities and a ridiculous amount of different kicks. Not to mention the fact that almost every martial art will perform each kick slightly differently. These two facts combine to make learning kicks more difficult than it needs to be, but we are here to help clear some of that confusion. The Kickers Guide A-H (Part I) is a nearly comprehensive list of kicks known to the martial arts world:

The Kickers Guide A-H (Part I)

Axe Kick

An axe kick is usually preformed either to someone already on the ground or to the collarbone/sternum of a standing opponent. Use a straight leg to come in a downward motion striking with the heel. The two biggest variances are in the load of the kick: some people perform axe kicks by swinging a straight leg up into the air and back down again, while others bring their knee to their chest, kick up, and then drive down. The first is easier to perform and more common. The second offers a more controlled technique and is better for attacking a standing opponent.

Back Kick

Also known as a donkey kick, this kick attacks an opponent that is directly behind you. This kick is more commonly used in fights where there are multiple opponents, as for a general rule you would not want to turn your back on an opponent.

Butterfly Kick

This kick is often more for demonstration than practical self defense. It comes from either standing, or a running step in. The body twists as both legs come off the ground, one after the other, with the entire body more or less parallel to the ground. Striking occurs with the heel coming down on the opponent. A very beautiful kick.

Fish Kick

A flick like kick done with pointed toes, typically aimed at the groin. The kick comes up in a snapping motion, with the strike occurring somewhat like the flick of a fish’s tail. This kick also targets the head during fighting combinations that end with the opponent being pulled down to knee height.

Front Kick (Push/Snap)

A front kick refers to either an upward snapping motion (striking under the chin), or a forward thrusting motion (pushing with the ball of the foot). Either way, the kick comes in a direct line in front of the body, usually with the hips squared. This kick is often used to push opponents away, or as an entry move to a follow up technique.

Half-Moon/Crescent (Reverse Half-Moon/Crescent)

This kick starts with the knee brought up and into the chest. The foot is then thrust out and around, from the outside of the body in. The reverse kick comes from the inside out. This kick is primarily used as an entry move to get past an opponent’s guard, but can also strike to the side of the face or body.

Half Crescent/Tong Kick

A forward thrusting kick done with the foot and knee tilted at a 45° angle to the outside of the centerline. Directed toward the knees, hip, or ribs. The Tong kick is similar to the Half Crescent Kick, except the foot and knee are tilted at a 45° angle to the inside of the centerline. This can be aimed at the diaphragm or chin.

These kicks and more make up the bottom half of our martial art strikes, keep an eye out for our next article on the second half of these kicks!

Wing Chun Entry Techniques

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

The ability to close the distance with an opponent is essential to any Wing Chun practitioner. You must be able to quickly respond to an opponents attack and shut them down to avoid follow up attacks. Different ranges call for different responses. That being said we will cover a few Wing Chun Entry Techniques here in this article. Before reading this article we suggesting checking out our previous article Wing Chun Vs Jab, Cross, Hook Takedown Combo. We explain the difference between committed and non-committed strikes which is essential to your training.

Hand Entries

Paak Slip

In our previous article Wing Chun Vs Jab, Cross, Hook Takedown Combo we touch on the idea of using the Paak to simply slip off the first punch. Connected is a video of Master Sifu demonstrating this technique. He explains how to utilize the Paak to deflect the initial blow and then glide off into a strike. A very effective and quick technique.

Paak Punch

The Paak Punch is a very effective combo to use. Instead of trading blow for blow with an opponent, the Paak Punch allows you to strike and defend at the same time. When countering a cross or straight punch this is a definite must. You are able to either crush a punch and counter above it with a punch of your own. Or, you can slip the punch and strike the ribs. Either way you are able to immediately counter straight punches and close the distance.

Paak into Bui or Tan

If an opponent does not throw a committed strike it can be very difficult to throw a counter. In this case it would be prudent to defect the first punch with a Paak and then counter the second punch. Two great choices would be either a Tan Punch or Bui Sao Punch.

A Tan Punch would be a great choice against any sort of straight punch. Since the Paak would have simply deflected the first punch you can use this as a set up for the second punch counter.

If he throws a haymaker or wide hook the Bui Sao Punch would be the best choice. The curved shape of the Bui Sao would match the trajectory of the hook allowing for maximum protection.

Kick Entries

Shadow Kick

If facing an opponent that moves a lot, pushing off the front foot, a Shadow Kick may be a option to consider. Our article Kung Fu Kicks goes into more detail about this kick. The idea is to crush into your opponents leg with a stomping motion. Typically aimed to blow out the knee the lead hand will typically drop as a result opening up an nice window for an attack.

Crescent Kick

Finally, the Crescent Kick. One of the most effective ways to use this kick is to the ribs when they extend their punch. This has the same shape as the Shadow Kick but instead of going down it strikes forward. You must thrust your entire body behind the kick. When this is done the head usually comes down as a result of the body caving into the kick. This allows for an easy strike to the head.

The Key to Closing the Gab

All of these techniques are futile if you do not close the distance with the right timing. You can only develop timing with hours of practice. Doing techniques in lines are a great way to build the structure for them and speed. However, if you do not consistently keep up your training your timing will be off an no amount of skill will help you if you do not time it correctly.

Women in Martial Arts

Posted on by Sarah Lister

As a female martial artist of over a decade, I’ve noticed that women are generally treated differently than their male counterparts. This shouldn’t be a surprising statement and isn’t always a bad thing. Our bodies are structurally different, and those differences should be considered in certain situations. But not all, and certainly not most where martial arts is concerned. In this article, Women in Martial Arts, we will go over some of these considerations.

When Gender Matters in Martial Arts

Usually I tend to err towards equality in all situations, especially when it comes to training. But there are a few notable differences that should be addressed when a woman is training in the martial arts.

First off, the way that certain moves are performed may need to be adjusted – depending on the woman. For instance, many schools perform drills that require the non-punching hand to pull back with as much force as the punching hand. This sometimes results in the woman hitting her own breasts as hard as the object she is punching. Which may cause some women to have major problems performing the pull back of a punch due to breast size. On another related topic, breasts are unfortunately a very wide target area while sparring. Though most people at least try and avoid that area, there are always the unintended (or otherwise) slip-ups. Thankfully this can be easily rectified through the use of chest gear.

Another prudent difference is in the necessity of rape defense. Though male rape victims do exist, women are ten times more likely to be raped. This makes learning rape defense a good idea for anybody, but a necessity for women. This includes both wall defense and ground. Learning to escape from being pinned to the wall, or mounted from the ground. As well as education on warning signs and situational awareness.

When it Shouldn’t

While we have established that there are in fact scenarios where women should be treated differently, the vast majority of the time that is not the case. Too frequently are women partnered with men who “go easy on them,” thinking that they are doing the woman a favor. But what so many people don’t realize, is that every time a man “goes easy” or throws light punches, a woman doesn’t get to train. If women are only given the opportunity to train against easy punches, they will never be able to defend themselves.

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And there is also the consequence of having an inflated and unfounded sense of security. I once believed that I was an excellent grappler, because I was always able to defend myself against the guys I fought. I didn’t find out until later when some guy swept the floor with me, that they had been babying me the whole time. When I went back and talked to those same guys, and they were incredulous saying, “of course we went easy on you.” Which is all well and good until the day that I actually need to defend myself.

My Perspective

Being a woman in the martial arts, however, also has its advantages. Women tend to be more flexible, making them less prone to injury due to overextension or pulled muscles. In addition, their wider set hips allow for more mobility as far as performing kicks is concerned.

Martial arts throughout the years has evolved and changed to meet the needs of each generation. Although martial arts may be primarily a male dominant activity, women still make up a large percentage of its participants. In fact, Wing Chun was actually created by a woman. While she may have faced different struggles in the 17th century, we are all just looking to be able to defend ourselves.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/335439-range-of-motion-in-men-vs-women/

Cardio, Lifting, and Martial Arts

Posted on by Sarah Lister

It should come as no surprise that cardio and weightlifting can both greatly improve your abilities as a martial artist. People have been using cardio and weightlifting to supplement their martial arts for as long as martial arts itself. The health benefits they provide are beneficial to every aspect of life, but what do they do specifically for the martial artist?

Cardiovascular Exercise

Treadmill vs Sparring

Doing any martial art will include a good amount of cardiovascular exercise. In fact, one study showed that performing martial art kata’s and engaging in sparring increased heart rate to a higher level than that of running on a treadmill (Iide et al., 2008). This is mostly due to the fact that kata’s and sparring engage the upper body in more dynamic movements than running does. That’s not to say that running on a treadmill doesn’t add its own benefits to martial arts, because it does. The cardio performed while practicing martial arts is usually in short bursts, ranging from less than a minute to about three minutes on average. And while this (quasi-interval training) has its own benefits, the endurance gained from long distance running takes martial artists to the next level. It allows them to excel during prolonged testing periods and back-to-back sparring matches.

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Recovery

Martial arts instructors are particularly known for pushing student’s bodies to the limit in class. They want not only for you to build muscle, but also to have the ability to keep pushing even when your body wants to quit. Cardiovascular exercise after a workout can help remove some of the toxins built up in your bloodstream during that workout. Effectively reducing the muscle soreness sure to come in the days to follow (Clark, 2015). And for no other reason, if you do need to use your training in a real street scenario you have no idea hard long you will need to engage your enemy. 

Weightlifting

Adding Power

There have been countless studies done on the benefits of weightlifting, however, very few in regards to martial arts. One such study found that weightlifting has the ability to “increase punching and kicking speed, or power” (Iide et al., 2008). This same study suggests adding in twisting crunches to increase torque power behind the hip rotations so common in martial arts. Has an instructor ever told you to put more hip behind your strike? In addition, incorporating cleans and snatches could help in generating more explosive leg power for kicks and structure.

Strength Down to the Bone

But weightlifting goes beyond additional speed and power, affecting our bodies down to bone. Other studies show that lifting can improve bone density. “Not only can weigh training increase bone density, it can improve muscle mass, balance and connective tissue strength” (Seltzer, 2013). With all of these factors combined, the risk of injury in martial arts is greatly reduced. Think about all the times that you have been hit or thrown to the ground. Improved balance and connective tissue strength could make the difference between a fall and a serious injury.

Adding cardio and weightlifting will provide numerous benefits not only to your martial arts training, but also to your overall health. And if you are looking to combine cardio, weightlifting, and martial arts, consider making our kickboxing classes a part of your training regimen. Sifu Och personally explains some of our training in his article “Muscle Conditioning With Kung Fu”.

Clark, S. (2015, December 30). 5 great benefits of cardiovascular exercise!. In Bodybuilding. Retrieved June 13, 2017

Iide, K., Imamura, H., Yoshimura, Y., Yamashita, A., Miyahara, K., Miyamoto, N., & Moriwaki, C. (2008). Phsiological responses of simulated karate sparring matches in young men and boys. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins), 22(3), 839-844.

Seltzer, C. (2013, December 11). Can weight lifting improve bone density?. In Builtlean. Retrieved June 13, 2017, from https://www.builtlean.com/2013/12/11/weight-lifting-bone-density/#fn-20788-3

Wing Chun vs Jab, Cross, Hook Takedown Combo

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

Wing Chun vs Jab, Cross, Hook, Takedown

Wing Chun vs Jab, Cross, Hook, Takedown was a question a beginner posted for anyone to answer on a Facebook group. He asked for the key to using Wing Chun vs Jab, Cross, Hook, Takedown Combo. Sifu Justin Och and Senior Instructor Garret Brumfield posted a video titled “Wing Chun vs Jab, Cross, Hook, Takedown Combo”.

In this article we will address some of the finer points. Stopping this combo is no easy task but Wing Chun does have an answer.

Wing Chun vs Jab, Cross, Hook, Takedown Combo

The Jab

If you are to deal with an attack you must understand it. To understand strikes you must make a distinction between committed and non-committed strikes. A committed strike could be defined as a strike that has the entire weight of the body fueling the power for the strike. Alternatively, a non-committed strike will be much faster but won’t have the power. A jab is a non committed strike. That being the case, the counter must be equally fast. As you can see in the video Sifu Och uses his paak sao but immediately follows up with a straight punch. This allows for quick adjustments where needed.

The Jab, Cross

If your opponent crosses immediately after his jab you may not have time to follow up off the initial strike. Sifu chose is one of the most direct options to counter although there are many variations. The hand that was used to paak the initial strike simply follows its trajectory to the face. In conjunction, the back hand paaks the next strike. This results in and immediate strike to your opponents face.

The Jab, Cross, Hook

Let’s say that your counter does not damage your opponent enough. As a result, he follows up again with a hook. The hook that Sifu Och Demonstrates is a very tight “rabbit” hook. Theses types of hooks are very hard to deal with. A Bui Sao, Bui Jee, Man Sao will be very hard to execute in this scenario. You must be able to fully extend these techniques for them to become effective. When the opponent throws this hook, it will be very tight to the body with a lot of torque. Torque equals power, and if you are unable to fully extend your technique it will crumble. In this scenario Sifu chooses to utilize upward elbow to cover the opponents strike. He is now able to strike with is other hand and move on with his attack.

The Jab, Cross, Hook, Takedown

wing chun vs jab cross hook

Finally, we moved on to dealing last part of the combo. None of your counters have successfully stopped your opponent but because you are in so tight he feels the need to shoot in and take you down. There are two scenarios to be address when an opponent shoots in on you. If he gets under your elbow or not.

If he does not get under your able a you can simple remove the foot he is attacking and stop his forward motion with a Gum or Jum Sao to the neck\head. This is addressed in our article Fighting Footwork where we go into a little more depth. However, if he does get behind one of your elbows you must sprawl back or you will be taken down. Once you have sprawled you can then establish a line of defense again with your Jum or Gum Sao. This line allows you to regain your structure and move on with your attack.

End the fight

At each stage of the attack your goal as a Wing Chun practitioner should be to the end the fight. When you respond to an attack you should be immediately seeking to follow it up to finish your opponent. You would only utilized these counter techniques if you are unable to flow into and 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. follow up. So in theory, your opponent will never get to his takedown, or his cross for that matter. However, that is why we as martial artists should always be prepared. If the worst happens, you will be ready.

Fighting Stances Across Martial Arts

Posted on by Sarah Lister

Structure is literally the foundation of any martial art, making it exponentially important to just about everything we do. It dictates the amount of power we can expend in our punches, what areas of the body become more vulnerable and open, and how easily we can throw in kicks. Most martial arts will include a variety of different stances yet will usually rely on one in particular as their fighting stance. Every possible fighting stance has its own advantages and disadvantages and complements the individual art. Though there are countless variations, the most prominent fighting stances fall into the categories of side and front stances.

Side Stance

In this stance, the practitioner turns their body sideways so that they are essentially perpendicular to their opponent. Both feet are on one line with the majority of the weight shifted toward the back leg. Some of the martial arts that favor use of this stance are Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Judo. Martial artists who use this stance do so for a few reasons. Primarily, they claim that there is less of a target area for the opponent to exploit when the body is sideways instead of full on. Another advantage is that this is an easier stance to kick from. Since most of the weight is already on the back leg, there is minimal prep work needed in order to pull off a kick.

Most of the time, you can do so without visibly shifting your weight, making it easier to conceal the kick until it has already made contact with the opponent. Some possible disadvantages to this stance exist as well. When a fighter employs this stance it will be easy to attack from the front hand and foot, but much more difficult to attack with the back limbs. Though it is certainly possible to attack with the back hand and foot, it will be highly telegraphed to the opponent due to the amount of distance the attack has to travel and the shift in body weight.

Front Stance

The front stance is a favorite of those in Wing Chun, Muay Thai, and Krav Maga. In this stance, the practitioner squares their hips and shoulders to face the opponent. Both feet point toward the opponent, one foot back, weight low and evenly distributed. This stance allows for greater structure than the side stance with a higher capability for impact. The ability to root is gained making you less likely to be pushed off balance. This stance also allows for all weapons to be closer to and facing the opponent. With the shoulders square, both arms have the opportunity to be equidistant to the opponent. This makes it easier to pull off combos and simultaneous hand techniques.

Avid side stance practitioners may claim that a front stance makes you more susceptible to body blows. This is due to having the whole torso facing the opponent; however, both arms and legs are free to help guard. Another possible disadvantage to the front stance is the groin being a more open target. In Wing Chun, they combat this issue by turning the front foot in slightly making it so that the leg can block the groin.

Conclusion

Though forcing all martial art fighting stances into these two categories may be a vast oversimplification. It actually shows how much we all have in common. In fact there are some martial arts that do not fit in these categories at all. As an example, BJJ and Aikido prefer a stance somewhere in the middle, neither a front nor side stance. But after you get past all of the different techniques and ways of doing things, at the root of it all is a solid stance and that is something we can all agree on.

Kung Fu Belt Ranking

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

Kung Fu in its origins does not have any sort of belt system. The Chinese would wear sashes whether they trained martial arts or not. Sashes were used to help with carrying day to day odds and ends. So then why do you see modern day (typically American) Kung Fu Belt Ranking used by schools? The main reason is here in American we feel the desire to achieve or attain very strongly.

Kung Fu Belt Ranking: Goals

Karate and Tae Kwon Do as businesses have flourished in America. This is partially due to their dynamic movements but also due to their ranking. Attaining a Black Belt brings with it not only a social recognition but also sense of accomplishment. Setting short term goals and hitting them on the way to a larger goal is the key to achieving long term success in anything. Since these systems already had these concepts in place their transition to America was very fruitful.

Kung Fu (Wing Chun in particular) while popular hasn’t been able to reach the same level of success. Since Wing Chun is a conceptual art it is very hard make the teaching uniform. Without a standard it is difficult to reward someone for their achievement. This concept is difficult for Americans, generally speaking, to let go of and stick to for a long period.

The need to feel achievement is not only reason, after all american’s are used to instant gratification. Technology is a big part of that. If a student trains for years on end and feels no achievement or sense of accomplishment their spirit can get dampened. As a result of our culture conditioning us many masters decided to implement something to combat that.

Sifu och wing chun: Belts and curriculum

5th level Master, Sifu Och has been able to create a curriculum and belt system that works very well. The belts provide short term goals that are attainable within 3 months for the lower ranks. As a student progresses the term in between ranks increases and the amount of material grows.

Sashes

Sifu has broken up he stages to a Black Sash into 4 main sections. Subsequently, he then broke those sections into smaller sub sections. Shirt Colors divide the main sections: White (beginner), Blue (intermediate), Red (advanced), Black (Sifu). The Sections within those shirt colors are divided again by sashes:

White Shirt

  • No Belt
  • White
  • White Black
  • Yellow
  • Yellow White
  • Yellow Black
  • Orange
  • Orange White
  • Orange Black

The above list about a year to year and a half of training depending on how hard someone pushes.

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Curriculum

Sifu Och uses a rotating curriculum. We group students together by their main sections and have them all work on the same material. For example: if you have a white shirt, whether you are a white black belt, or a yellow white belt, you will all work on 1 of the 5 sections going towards blue shirt. As a result we accomplish a couple of different goals.

First, brand new students are able to work with more experienced students. It is not wise to pair up two brand new students with each other. The old adage, “blind leading the blind” applies perfectly. Neither of them know the techniques but more importantly they do not know how to help the other person train the technique. Having that person a few steps ahead of you when you start out as a partner can make the difference in someone staying or not.

Second, it keeps things fresh. We are able to continue to challenge students who are unable to actually make it to testing. Instead going over the same material again and again, they are able to go over new things and continue growing until they are able move to the next level. As a result of this, students also get a good review of the material once it cycles back around. This ensures that the material is well known before graduating to the next big section.

American Kung Fu

Even though traditional Kung Fu does not use any sort of ranking system, there can be great benefits to having them. Goals and purpose bring a powerful dynamic to ones training.

 

 

Strategies for Situational Awareness

Posted on by Sarah Lister

Training in the martial arts is a great way to improve your personal safety and increase knowledge in self defense. But if you aren’t aware of your surroundings, no degree of training is going to help you. Having situational awareness is a choice; one you have to make early on if you want your training to have any real world practicality. So how do we make this choice?

Understanding the problem

The two major obstacles preventing people from having good situational awareness are naivety and laziness. In general, people want to believe in the good of others and often believe that rape or theft is something that happens to other people, but not me. Having this mindset lulls people into a false sense of security which will often last until something does happen, or the person makes a personal decision to make sure that it never does. The laziness factor is hugely prevalent and goes hand in hand with naivety.

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If I believe that nothing bad will happen, then why should I take steps to ensure that it won’t? It is difficult and emotionally draining to be constantly aware of your surroundings, but entirely necessary if you want to be an effective martial artist. The key is to get to the point where practicing situational awareness is habit, eliminating the need to go that extra mile.

Practical Ways to Increase Situational Awareness

Now that we understand the problem, it’s time to fight it:

  • NEVER text and walk. This is especially important when transitioning between locations, such as your place of work and your car. Wait until you are in a locked car to address anything on your phone. There have been numerous incidents of muggers targeting people on their phones, simply because they aren’t paying attention. Phone calls are also not advised, however, if you must – make sure to keep your eyes up, still monitoring your surroundings.
  • Have your keys ready before you get to the car. You don’t want to be rummaging around in your bag at your car, looking for keys – especially at night. The car is a common place of attack and requires extra caution. Do the same from the car to the front door.
  • Always check the area around your car before you get in. Is anyone close enough to get in your car between the time that you unlock it and the time that you are inside? Also make sure that no one has put anything on your car that may impair your driving, necessitating a stop down the road.
  • Check the back seat. Take a look through the windows in the back and make sure that there is no one already in your car waiting for you. Behind the wheel of the car is not the time you want to find out that there is someone in the back dictating your next stop.
  • When entering a building, look for exits. Locate the nearest exit and the quickest route. Whenever possible, position yourself facing the majority of the room and the exit, never with your back to it.

Conclusion

Developing situational awareness is a skill that takes both time and dedication. These suggestions are a good starting point to increasing your situational awareness, and the list will only grow once you start practicing them. Some Practices may seem over the top and near paranoia, but personal safety is not something to be taken lightly. When it comes to personal safety and the safety of those around us, we cannot expect someone else to protect us. Take matters into your own hands, be prepared, and decide to be that one person that is actually paying attention.

Kung Fu Kicks

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

There are many kicks used in a fight. Some more useful than others. In this article, Kung Fu Kicks, we will show some of the kicks used at Sifu Och Wing Chun. We will review the Inside and Outside Shadow Kicks, Tong Kick, Half Crescent, and Side Kick.

Wing Chun Kicks

Before going into the the specific kicks let us touch on Wing Chun as a system to set the groundwork. In short, Wing Chun’s goal is to end the fight as quickly as possible. Every strike intent on crushing the opponent. Understanding that goal the kicks that we choose to utilize fall into the place.

Inside Shadow Kick

One of the most useful kicks to use is the Inside Shadow Kick. Kicking the opponent in the knee is one of the quickest ways to end the fight. With this Shadow Kick, considerable force can be driven through a target at a downward angle. The setup (implied in the name) is that the kick is done in the shadow of your hands. As a result, an opponent will find it difficult to avoid or stop this type of kick. The reason is because it is usually done in unison with the hands. Not only can it be used to attack it can be used in defense as well. It can be used to stop low kicks to the leg.

Outside Shadow Kick

Equally important, not all enemies or targets will be directly in front of you. The Outside Shadow Kick allows you to hit targets off center. They can also be used to block kicks depending on the angle. Furthermore, one advantage of this kick in particular is it can be used to drive out the support leg of an opponents kick. Jum Saos together with a low shadow kick can block roundhouses and blast the supporting leg.

Tong Kick

The Tong kick is similar to a front kick. Uniquely, however, it thrusts in upward diagonal angle. Can be used for multiple targets, but it’s primary hit is the Xiphoid. Combined with a Double Jum Sao, this is a great choice to counter a roundhouse. In addition, it can be used used to strike the ribs or inside of the thigh.

Half Crescent Kick

The Half Crescent Kick similarly takes the same shape as the Inside Shadow Kick. The difference is it drives forward as opposed to down. This kick is usually delivered to the ribs when a punch is thrown. Countering a Jab or Cross style punch with a Crescent Kick is a great option. It is unexpected which it was lends to it’s usefulness.

Side Kick

Overall, the Side Kick is one of Wing Chun’s longest ranged weapons. One of it’s main uses is delivering a powerful strike to the side when turning to face the opponent may not be available. Whether it’s a question of speed or restriction doesn’t matter. The side kick allows an immediate response to someone coming from the side. It can be done two different ways:

Static, fired directly from your stance:

or with a skip. The skip allows for a the distance and power to be increased by swinging the back foot foot. The base is re-established closer to the target and momentum is gained which increases the power.

(To view a video of the skipping side kick click the following link: Skipping Side Kick Video. )

 

The key to your Kicks

One thing all of these kicks have in common is what part of the foot is going to be used to strike the body. If you read our article “Fighting Footwork” you will see how the body needs to be aligned through the heel for structure. With the correct structure your power drives from your legs through your heels for maximum damage. This is similar to a person doing a heavy squat. Moreover, to support the weight the heel must be used. Piggybacking off of that concept is another, focused energy. If you take the energy you would use to slap someone and applied it to a needle, you will easily penetrate the skin. Just the same with your kick, if you drive all your power through your heel your damage is focused through that one point as opposed to spread through whole foot.

In conclusion, focus your power and train your structure and you will be able to develop kicks that will drop any opponent you face.

Unlock Maximum Power with the Right Wing Chun Fighting Footwork

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

You can have the fastest hands in the world, but if you aren’t at the right place at the right time that won’t matter. Foot work is literally the foundation to any style. Fighting footwork is the ability to be dynamic with your intent. You may be able to block or evade an attack here and there with good hands or head movement. However, if you do not base your counter with fighting footwork, it will be difficult to execute.

positioning your Fighting footwork

Superior angles will make your life much easier. It is much simpler to deal with an opponent when you have minimized their ability to use multiple “weapons” at once. In the same way, striking your opponents key points will also be easier when you are positioned correctly. Wing Chun seeks to dominate the outside angle allowing maximum trapping and striking to occur.

Weight distribution

There is a big debate among Wing Chun practitioners. Not only about weight distribution through the feet but also between the legs. First let’s address weight through the feet.

Heels

Squat form, Structure, Press, Wing Chun Structure

When a weight lifter squats his weight must drive from the middle portion of his foot to his heels. With proper skeletal alignment his structure is locked in place and only the strongest muscles are recruited to move the weight.

If alignment is broken serious injury can occur. When finished correctly the weight will be completely on the heels as seen here.

Just as the weight lifting supports his weight with structure, the Wing Chun Fighter supports his power through his alignment. Following the same rules through physiques the weight is on the heel when engaged. This allows strikes at full power to be stopped and maximum strength can be delivered through blows.

Fighting Footwork Secrets for Stronger Strikes and Superior Control

Even though the heels are the source of power and structure, speed is seriously inhibited when the weight is focused there. Weight should only be distributed to the toes when looking to utilize speed. Speed is used to gain the correct position. This is typically done before contact is even made. Once connected to your opponent weight should immediately be transferred to the heels to again for power. Closing the distance with an opponent is essential to the Wing Chun Fighter. If he is unable to get to the trapping range it will be difficult to execute proper techniques.

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Stance Distribution

The final aspect of weight distribution to cover is the amount of weight on each foot.  At Sifu Och Wing Chun we typically keep our weight 50-50. To give a specific example, we will look at a single leg takedown defense. First, hand positions: jum to the neck, gan to the arm. (Essentially a Gan Da).

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The reason behind this is to keep our ability to defend against takedowns. If the weight is distributed to far to one leg you can become susceptible to those types of attacks. Sweeps and single leg takedowns are difficult to stop without even distribution of weight.

This will then become a tan and a fook. The Jum to the neck stops the person from getting to your core. The gan to the arm is used to block them from getting your leg. As a result you gain an underhook. (illustrated right).

Wing Chun, Takedown Defense, Takedown, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Takedown Counter, Takedowns

Fighting Footwork Fundamentals: How to Stay Balanced and Powerful

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In unison the foot that is being attacked must be retracted. The foot must be swept back to avoid getting caught. This all occurs within a split second. If the weight split 70-30, or 60-40, it will be very hard to adjust and defend this type of attack.

In Conclusion

There are many different opinions and reasons about weight distribution. But at Sifu Och Wing Chun; the rule is, if your engaged with the assailant keep a 50-50 weight. When you are not engaged and mobile its a 70-30 weight (more on the back leg then front.) You must be able to engage and disengange, move in and out, and adjust in any direction as quickly as possible. YOU should be in control and have a full range of motion. Able to shift and adapt to any attack that is thrown our way. Moving in and out of the assailant whenever we see the opportunity to attack an opening.

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There are many different opinions and reasons about weight distribution. At Sifu Och Wing Chun we keep it mostly 50-50 to maintain the ability to adjust in any direction as quickly as possible. We are then able to shift and adapt to any attack that is thrown our way.

Basic Wing Chun Defense

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

The first few months of a martial artist are crucial to their success. Instructors must work to instill confidence from day one. The student must learn to trust not only their instructors but also the techniques they are learning. If a student knows what he is learning is practical and useful from the start he will stick around for the fine tuning of those techniques. At Sifu Och Wing Chun we want to help students learn a basic Wing Chun Defense right from the beginning. To help cover some of the most basic attacks we teach 3 defenses right away: Bui Sao, Tan Sao, and Gan Sao.

Bui Sao

Haymakers (wide hooks) are some of the most common attacks you will see on the street. Without training the body’s natural tendency to draw power will be to twist. This results in a chain and ball effect on the arm with the punch being the ball of course. While these can still do damage they can be easily defended with proper training. That is why one of the first techniques we teach to new students is the Bui Sao. The deflecting hand is shaped as if you were blocking light from the sun. Palm facing away from the body pressing from the elbow. The palm will be about forehead height and the elbow in line with the trachea. This provides a wall of cover with the forearm.

Tan Sao

One of the more famous moves in Wing Chun is the Tan Sao. When teaching it to children we call it the “pizza hand”. This is due to the palm facing upward with the arm extended outward. The Tan Sao is used primarily against straight punches. It deflects punches off the centerline either to the inside or the outside opening up your opponent for a variety of follow ups. You can view a video of the Tan Saos on our Instagram by clicking here>Tan Saos.

Gan sao

Used against nasty body shots or uppercuts is the Gan Sao. Translated it means “low plowing hand”, this technique is very effective for defending the lower half of the body. To shape your Gan Sao simply reach your hand out in front of you as if you were shaking hands with someone. Your hand should end up in front of your belly button and your elbow about a fists distance off of your rib cage. This allows your ribs to be covered and consequently, your hand is now fairly close to your opponents body. You are now prepared for an easily follow up such as a palm to the ribs or an uppercut to the face.

Basic Wing Chun Defense Striking

All three of these defenses have something in common; they are paired with a straight punch. As opposed to many other styles most defenses in Wing Chun are combined with some sort of attack. In this case it is the straight punch. There are other variations off of these basics but for beginners we use the punch to begin with. The straight punch is delivered with the fist held vertically at a 45 degree angle. The reason for this is mainly structure. There is also a nice perk associated with it; it fits nicely under the chin to strike the side of the neck. As a result you can easily deliver a crippling blow to an opponent by simply changing the angle of your fist.

Conclusion

To Summarize, the Bui Sao, Tan Sao, and Gan Sao are three effective and important attacks you must know for your self defense. They allow you attack and defend simultaneously. These are so useful that they were borrowed by many Krav Schools to be incorporated into their system as well. Train these hard and you will have a good starting point.

Why wait until your child is a victim?

Posted on by Sarah Lister

Children will always be susceptible to acts of bullying, but why wait until that happens? Don’t wait until your child’s already a victim of bullies, harassment, depression or a habit of disrespect. Enrolling your child in the martial arts under individuals like Sifu Och Wing Chun has the potential to solve the problem before it begins. Creating a proactive solution to the problem that so many face. Putting your child in martial arts has the ability to increase respect and self-esteem, and improve peer relationships. Why wait until your child is a victim?

Respect and Self-esteem

Sifu Och Wing Chun kung fu and other martial arts for kids can help increase respectful talk, and respectful behavior. This can go a long way in life and with teachers in the school system, making learning and education a more enjoyable experience for all involved. But fostering a sense of respect is no easy task and takes time, effort, and lots of parental involvement. If the child is only disciplined and in a structured environment once a week, it may take years to see change; however, if the parents are continuing the effort put forth in class, results may occur in as little as a few weeks.

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Respect and self-esteem are two values that often influence one another. When the child is respectful to others, he or she is more likely to respect his or her self – encouraging good self-esteem. Having good self-esteem is imperative to warding off bullies. Bullying leads to a lack of self-esteem, but a lack of self-esteem may also lead to bullying. When the child’s self-esteem is low, they begin to believe what the bullies are saying about them and start to identify with that image. Children with higher self-esteem are more likely to disregard bullies, easily believing their words to be untruthful. In the martial arts, children are taught their worth and encouraged to build themselves up. Martial arts give children goals to set and achieve and, with the right school, instructors that mentor each child to reach their full potential.

Peer Relationships

Sometimes your child may be their own bully solution. By increasing their self worth they reduce depression and anxiety. Sifu Och Wing Chun can also help with their social skills which can help them to make new friends. When children are suffering with depression and anxiety, they are at a greater risk to become a victim of bullying. Physical activity of any kind has a positive effect on depression and anxiety, when that activity meets with the structure and discipline of martial arts the effect is twofold.

But on top of benefiting the child physically and mentally, the peer relationships that they make in class encourages good social development. Often times in school, certain children have a tendency to get left out. Either by the group as a whole or ostracized from different cliques. In a martial arts class, children work with everyone in the class as well as in groups and individually. When doing partner work the partners will switch up every round. This gives each child the opportunity to meet and make new friends as well as work with different body types. Simultaneously promoting social and martial arts skill.

Choose Now-Why wait until your child is a victim?

People of all ages are susceptible to bullying, but why wait until after the fact to do something? Most adults have learned to cope and deal with bullies, but it is usually after years of being bullied themselves. Enrolling your child in a martial art does not mean that they won’t get bullied. It does, however, ensure that they are better equipped to deal with it when it happens.

Little Lions preschool martial arts

Which Martial Arts Are More Practical for Self-Defense

Posted on by Sarah Lister

When asked about the origins of martial arts, most people will gravitate toward thoughts of Asia and the east. Though the majority of martial arts do originate in the east. The west has certainly produced credible martial arts as well as adopting eastern martial art practices. A few western martial arts include: boxing, fencing, wrestling, and jousting (as well as eastern martial arts that have adapted to the west). While some eastern martial arts include: kung fu, aikido, escrima, and karate. Western vs. Eastern Martial Arts and the differences between training actual differences in technique.

Why Eastern Martial Arts Like Wing Chun Offer Superior Self-Defense

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Western Martial Arts:
In the west the time it takes to learn a martial art can be shorter and more optimized. Allowing for practitioners to achieve the rank of black belt in as little as three years (with some programs promising less). This optimization is in line with the (often) western mindset of consumerism.

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The craving for immediate results can cause much disappointment to those who are use to short term satisfaction. They often compare themselves to students who have been practicing for years and wonder why they are unable to produce the same results. This frequently leads to students quitting early on, due to either disappointment, frustration, or boredom.

Because of this phenomenon, western martial arts felt the need to streamline their programs. This helped to keep students both physically and mentally engaged in their classes. On top of wanting a shorter martial arts program, westerners are also highly concerned with the practical. Western martial arts generally have no room for ritual. And less practical practices that may be present in their eastern counterparts.

Western and Eastern Martial Arts: Unlock Their Core Differences

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Eastern Martial Arts:
In the east there seems to be a greater respect for the amount of time it takes to truly learn a martial art. Eastern martial arts will (generally) take longer to achieve the rank of black belt. Many requiring ten years and some even longer.

Bong Sau, Taylor Davis, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Polk County, Lakeland, Florida, Fl, Taylor Davis Wing Chun, Sifu Och,

That is assuming that the individual is regularly practicing multiple times a week, pushing themselves toward their goal. Eastern martial arts also emphasize the concept of loyalty and perseverance. Loyalty to the martial art and to one’s dojo and master are key components in the practice.

Many eastern martial arts developed from a need to be able to revolt or defend themselves in times of war. For example, slave would do Karate forms to defy to their drivers. After a long day of work, they did these forms in a line on the rail-roads they were being forced to build. The slaves sought to display strength, power, and endurance despite the work that they were being forced to do.

Explore the Unique Philosophies Behind Western and Eastern Martial Arts

Wing Chun, Proven Self Defense, Sifu Justin Och, Elizabeth Och, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Lakeland, Florida, FL, USA, Wing Chun Florida, Wing Chun FL

Adaptation:
Both western and eastern martial arts have great merit and training techniques. Easily improving discipline, fitness, and overall health; but there are some major differences. These differences can affect the entire training regimen and lead to the overall perception of the art itself. If someone is looking for an eastern martial art in the west, has the art adapted to cater to the western mindset or does it hold true to the east? In the same way, looking for one of the western martial arts in the east that holds true to western values may be difficult as well. Does an art exist that is purely eastern or western? Free from ideals from the opposing side? When choosing a martial art the decision is not necessarily eastern or western. Instead one should look at has the art developed over time.

Wing Chun Lineage, Lineage Wing Chun, Ip Man Lineage, Sifu Och Wing Chun, Kung Fu, Lakeland, Florida, FL, Wing Chun,

Discover Why Eastern Martial Arts Offer Complete Self-Defense Mastery

Western vs. Eastern Martial Arts:

  1. Comparing Wing Chun Kung Fu to Other Martial Arts
  2. The Real Difference Between Martial Arts Styles
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Worst Case Scenario Self Defense

Posted on by Sifu Justin Och

Worst Case Scenario Self Defense

In a worst case scenario the best and most useful tools at your discretion are violent aggression, self confidence in your ability, and the will to do whatever is necessary to survive.  These are weapons that can only be disarmed by you and are carried with you everywhere you go at all times.

worst case scenario self defense lakeland florida sifu och wing chun kung fu“Common self defense is not that common.”  Pressure testing techniques with other students to increase your endurance and ability under difficult situations is also key.

There is no such thing as a secret combat technique only those that have been practice to be both simple and effectively devastating, this is coupled with the will and determination to survive at all costs.  Making use of soft targets in Wing Chun close range combat is also an effective pressure tested way to deal with an assailant.

We can agree many martial arts instructors talk about worst case scenario self defense, situational awareness, fighting fitness and how to be good at sparring. Though that is not a worst case scenario for self defense, in our experience 98% of martial arts studio’s teach for a friendly environment that caters to uplifting a family fun atmosphere, most people want to feel confident but not go through hard and real ways to cause massive damage to another person.  When it comes to training special forces and military personnel they taught how to deal real damage to enemy combatants.

“the Sifu Och Wing Chun studio, this article and its writer do not advocate violence, this piece is for information only.”

Unrealistic Self Defense for a worst case scenario

worst case scenario self defense lakeland florida sifu och wing chun kung fuWhen its life or death the decisions and training you make matter.  In my experience less than 5% of people train worst case scenario self defense with the dedication and intention on personal survival. Most people think about weight loss, fitness, having fun in the martial arts over practical realistic training. Some people love the competitive sparring but even more people attempt to ignore that there is danger and choose not to think about it and therefore hope it never happens. Even worse when those same people are asked about a bad situation most believe they will miraculously have the skill and ability to stop a real attack which means they couldn’t be more wrong and unprepared for one. Even trained self defense practitioners wouldn’t believe this is possible.

Ordinary individuals can find themselves in danger and if you can’t get away, run, or escape by another fashion then the most efficient reaction could clearly save your life. Circumstances against a citizen on the street may be less extreme than those in war but the threat to your life and future is no less real. Even if you are hospitalized then the loss of money, time, and skill could heavily impact you and your future.  Proven Training comes down to the instruction and your diligence in pushing yourself even Wing Chun Self Defense has to be used in tested to be effective, many schools may do drills but real information may escape them.

Ordinary people might have to stop a drunk with a weapon or a mugging especially if you can’t escape. or prevent the event from progressing. Situational awareness is another weapon in your arsenal to give you a pre-awareness of what may be around you.

Is your Training realistic for a worst case scenario

worst case scenario self defense lakeland florida sifu och wing chun kung fuYou must train for all ranges of possibilities to deal with low and high level threats. This is just one difference in the reality of worst case scenario self defense training under a instructor.  Most of these questions expect you to be truly honest with yourself and what kind of instruction your receiving. There is a huge difference between Martial Arts and Realistic survival of a worst case scenario self defense.

Finding a real school to train in can be hard, ask yourself these questions.
1.) Are you training alot of hand forms, fancy applications, or touch sparring?
2.) Can you stop someone from aggressively attacking you?
3.) Is your instructor training you in truly realistic techniques?

Many people have a hard time being objective with their martial arts training as they get attached to the “idea” of their studio or school and the people there. But remember why you started and what your trying to achieve.

“the Sifu Och Wing Chun studio, this article and its writer do not advocate violence, this piece is for information only.”

Sifu Justin Och
11 Countries Traveled
Contact us at 863.800.0171
Regional Director for World Ving Tsun Association in charge of entire Southeastern USA
3x certified and tested as an Ip Man lineage Sifu
116 E. pine st, lakeland FL 33801
Fan page – Http://facebook.com/sifuochwingchun
Website – https://sifuochwingchun.com

Serious Unarmed Combat thru real Wing Chun Kung Fu

Posted on by Sifu Justin Och

Serious Unarmed Combat thru real Wing Chun Kung Fu

serious unarmed combat wing chun kung fu lakeland floridaMilitary and Special Forces train in Close Quarter Combat to quickly take down enemies. Private citizens can learn it as well. To learn such a skill a person must undergo rigorous training. Training that involves using sudden, overwhelming, and relentless application of violence to give enemy no real chance to respond.

Serious self defense Unarmed Combat techniques are practical for everyone in everyday situations. From military personnel to the average citizen. Sifu Och Wing Chun Unarmed Combat trains the non-expert in how to deal with unforeseen assaults in the home, street , parking lot or on a night out on the town.

Through repetition and clear training methods we go over precise applications on how to deal with sudden confrontations and escalating attacks. Our classes will help prepare you on how to win a fight quickly whether the attacker is armed or unarmed.

Though premeditated attacks are hard to de-escalate without fighting we will go over ways for you to win, fight or run when the situation calls for it.

Unarmed Combat in Lakeland

serious unarmed combat wing chun kung fu lakeland floridaOverall, our school focuses on teaching real Ip Man Wing Chun Kung Fu striking methods, controlling positions, locks, throws, grabs and deflections.

From defending against edged weapons, firearms and ground fighting we go over one and multiple armed and Unarmed Combat assailants, fighting against strangles, chokes and improvised weapons.

Your going to need more than three moves for Self Defense.  The tactics of fierce unarmed combat are used by special forces.  These tactics emphasize simple, quick and devastating response to any and all threats that represent themselves to the practitioner.

Through intensive and consistent training you can be enabled with the skills needed to deal with opposition effectively and concisely.   Though there will always be circumstances that require more than Unarmed Combat tactics using Sifu Och Wing Chun Kung Fu.  From long distance threats, weapons and close quarter encounters that have come unexpectedly while distracted or otherwise engaged.

Its when things can go wrong and out of plan, such as falling onto the ground with one or multiple well trained assailants around, your going to need ground game tactics.  All martial arts like to talk about size not mattering, but when the size of a opponent also has skill and training that may not always be the case.

Unarmed Combat versus Armed Combat

Carrying other weapons on you can be a risk versus reward situation.  Meaning if your good at using the weapon and have consistently trained with it, then there may be a benefit. However, if your assailant gets a hold of your weapon, you drop it or can’t reach it you could compound your current problems. Lets say you carry a concealed gun and you are attacked it may be too hard to get out in time before you would be seriously injured attempting to do so.  Remember a attacker within 21 feet with a edged weapon can close distance before a trained officer can draw and shoot their weapon, so with that in mind what are your chances as a citizen pulling your weapon, firing with accuracy within that 21 foot range?  Don’t kid yourself its dangerous.

Making sure you train under a instructor that is looking to cut the fat and show you real skill is like finding a golden needle in a barn sized hay stack at times.  If you find one then know that it is worth the travel to get real information and training.  Sifu Och Wing Chun has an internationally trained master instructor in Wing Chun Kung Fu Unarmed Combat that can help prepare you for an unsought unprovoked attack in everyday situations.

Sifu Justin Och
11 Countries Traveled
Contact us at 863.800.0171
Regional Director for World Ving Tsun Association in charge of entire Southeastern USA
3x certified and tested as an Ip Man lineage Sifu
116 E. pine st, lakeland FL 33801
Fan page – Http://facebook.com/sifuochwingchun
Website – https://sifuochwingchun.com

Empower Your Life with Wing Chun Women’s Self-Defense in Lakeland

Posted on by Sifu Justin Och

Unlock Strength with Women’s Wing Chun Self-Defense in Lakeland

In today’s world, the importance of self-defense for women cannot be overstated. Whether walking home alone or finding yourself in a risky situation, knowing how to protect yourself gives you peace of mind. This article will cover why Wing Chun and Sanda Kickboxing provide the most reliable forms of women’s self-defense.

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At Sifu Och Wing Chun Kung Fu and Sanda Kickboxing, we believe in empowering women through practical, effective martial arts techniques. You’ll learn how to transform fear into confidence and become your own protector.

Key Principles of Effective Women’s Self-Defense

1. Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

The best self-defense starts with being aware of potential threats. Transitioning from alertness to action could mean the difference between safety and danger. With Wing Chun and Sanda Kickboxing, you’ll develop instincts that help you avoid dangerous situations before they escalate.

2. Use Minimal Force for Maximum Impact

Both Wing Chun and Sanda Kickboxing teach efficient, precise movements, ensuring that even smaller individuals can defend themselves effectively. These martial arts focus on striking vulnerable areas—like the eyes, throat, and groin—to disable attackers quickly. You don’t need brute strength; you need smart technique.

3. Harness Your Natural Reflexes

In a high-stress situation, your body’s natural reflexes are your greatest asset. Wing Chun’s fast-paced movements and Sanda’s adaptability allow you to turn these reflexes into sharp, controlled responses. As a result, you won’t freeze when you need to defend yourself.

4. React Quickly and Decisively

The faster you respond, the more likely you are to escape harm. Both Wing Chun and Sanda teach decisive, powerful techniques that prioritize quick reactions. In dangerous scenarios, hesitation can put you at greater risk. Through disciplined training, your body will react instinctively, keeping you safe.

How Martial Arts Build Confidence and Empower Women

Women Martial art, Women Self Defense, Women Wing Chun, Lakeland, Florida

Beyond physical protection, self-defense training instills a deeper sense of confidence and self-worth. Wing Chun and Sanda are more than just martial arts; they are tools for personal empowerment. As you progress through training, you’ll gain mental toughness, improve your awareness, and realize just how capable you are of defending yourself and others.

Practical Self-Defense Techniques You Can Start Using Today

1. Blocking and Deflecting Attacks

Wing Chun teaches the art of deflecting attacks rather than absorbing them. This is particularly useful for women as it minimizes the risk of injury. Deflection techniques in Wing Chun allow you to redirect your opponent’s energy, turning it against them.

2. Counter-Attacks for Quick Escapes

In Sanda Kickboxing, counter-attacks are essential for creating opportunities to escape. A well-placed kick or punch can provide the necessary window to flee a dangerous situation, allowing you to escape unscathed.

Why Sifu Och Wing Chun Is Your Best Choice for Women’s Self-Defense

At Sifu Och Wing Chun, we understand that effective self-defense must be practical, easy to learn, and adaptable. With certified instructors and personalized training programs, we’ve helped countless women in Lakeland, Florida, gain the confidence and skills they need to defend themselves. Whether you’re interested in Wing Chun’s close-range combat or the explosive power of Sanda Kickboxing, our programs will equip you with life-saving techniques.

Discover Lakeland’s Ultimate Women’s Self-Defense Training

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Take control of your safety and empower yourself through self-defense. At Sifu Och Wing Chun Kung Fu and Sanda Kickboxing, we are committed to giving you the tools you need to protect yourself. Start your training today by filling out our contact form, and discover why we are Lakeland’s best choice for martial arts and self-defense training. Don’t wait for danger to come—prepare yourself now.

Empower Yourself with Wing Chun Women’s Self-Defense in Lakeland

  1. Wing Chun for Women’s Self-Defense
    Full URL: https://sifuochwingchun.com/wing-chun-for-womens-self-defense/
  2. Wing Chun Techniques for Real Self-Defense
    Full URL: https://sifuochwingchun.com/wing-chun-techniques-for-real-self-defense/
  3. Sanda Kickboxing: The Ultimate Self-Defense for Women
    Full URL: https://sifuochwingchun.com/sanda-kickboxing-the-ultimate-self-defense-for-women/

See more of our Wing Chun students in action HERE

Join the Movement: Full-Body Self-Defense Training Now in Lakeland

Posted on by Sifu Justin Och

Comprehensive Self-Defense: Full-Body Techniques You Need to Know in Lakeland

Ip Chun, Wing Chun, Ving Tsun, Ip Chun smoking pipe, ip chun smoking, ip chun chair

Using your entire as a weapon and developing it for use of protection and peace. My Chen Style Tai Chi Grandmaster (Grandmaster Lee Chen) from the Chen Village in China. Said this is called five bows; each arm and limb is a single bow and the torso is the fifth and when used as one entity of solid body mechanics and proper technique they become stronger than anything your opponent can throw.

Master Full-Body Self-Defense in Lakeland, FL: Your Complete Guide

Sifu Och Wing Chun, Kung Fu, Full Body, Self Defense, Pull Punch, Wing Chun Punch, Kung Fu Punch

Now again here is a theory, can we prove it? The answer is yes, as the chapters go on you are going to notice the more you learn how to use the entire body as a whole the stronger you will become. Though I’m sure you may have heard of using your entire body as a weapon. How often do you see it done or taught. How often do you see a flow of combative hits in practical sparring that use every part of the body to attack?

Unlock Your Potential: Full-Body Self-Defense Training Available in Lakeland

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As well as every part that attacks, is also backed by the rest of the body in on flowing solid connection. Unfortunately we hear about the principles but very few people know how to use there entire body as one and even fewer know how to teach it. As Authentic combat Wing Chun practitioner’s we are constantly trying to make ourselves and our art within ourselves stronger.

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Not out of some need to harm others but because it brings us closer to our true selves. We know how invigorating it is to use your full body self defense in lakeland fl.  Training within Chi Sau (fighting with double sticking hands) or Wrist against Wrist with another higher level practitioner. We can always get better so we are always students to ourselves and those around us.

Empower Yourself with Full-Body Self-Defense Techniques in Lakeland

who may be able to shed light on something deeper we have not yet touched on. We are also reclusive with our techniques at times seeing them as precious pieces of gold only to be shown and traded with those we feel will honor our lineage forefathers and the lives and blood they shed to understand and raise up. Though once you are seen as a honorable and respectful man/woman you are treated as this art has always treated someone of that caliber, like family. We open our hearts and doors to you, sharing the knowledge we have gained and what others have shared with us. We want you to understand and be able to use the techniques we share to there fullest because by doing so you give honor back to those lineage forefathers that taught it to us and to honor them we seek to make you great.

James Frazier, Taekwondo, Lakeland, Master, Instructor

When you show humility and respect to those who have shaped you, you also earn their respect in return. That is why we strive not to create new fancy moves and theories or new beautiful looking techniques. We know that knowledge without proven application is just a theory. The principle of Wing Chun theory is the creation of an idea that comes from reality and combat.

Join the Fight: Discover Full-Body Self-Defense Techniques in Lakeland!

Training and using “Applicable Theory”

Sometimes, you find yourself reacting to a combative situation and flowing through a series of techniques when suddenly. One technique emerges unexpectedly—not something you had planned. But it surfaces because Wing Chun demands it in that moment.

That is applicable theory. Your intense perseverance and dedication in Wing Chun demanded that application drive out from the very soul of your skills and abilities at the peak of your reaction. “Applicable Theory” allows for one the expansions of Wing Chun to grow as times change, it allows a practitioner to develop themselves for a variety of situations.

At Wing Chun self defense lakeland fl we combine relation of body mechanics and proven related combative action in a realistic situation where all proven theory takes a front seat to the ideology of theoretical possibilities. In the nature and purity of Wing Chun techniques, as well as their original purpose of establishing effective point-to-point centerline relations with complete and simultaneous protection and devastation, a seasoned practitioner proves or dismisses ideology when facing an uncooperative assailant.

Though “Applicable Theory” is not the only way Wing Chun grows from within its own purity, Wing Chun always makes the practitioner ask the “what if” question. If you have ever practiced a martial art, witnessed a situation, or encountered a theory about how a technique would or could work, you may have asked yourself, “What if the person did this?”

In this book, you may ask “what if,” but nothing is perfect, and this book does not aim to answer all your questions. That is the essence of Wing Chun; it embodies the “what if” martial art, and we will always continue to ask.Though it is very hard to find a Wing Chun practitioner that knows the complete system of Wing Chun they are out there waiting for the right student, waiting for the “what if”.

Because Wing Chun loves to answer the “what if” when you find a high ranking SIFU that has trained in the complete art of Wing Chun ask them “what if” and you will see a smile on there face, because here comes the answers and they are logical, extremely effective and useful. But only with time, dedication, training and sparring can you make them your own. Until then they are not yours and will not work for you until you make them yours. This is the beauty in Complete Wing Chun and the benefit for time spent. It is the “what if” martial art, it takes your questions and places them through 10,000 years of logical fighting techniques and body mechanics and gives you the one of the best answers you could have hoped for.

Take Charge Now: Enroll in Full-Body Self-Defense Training in Lakeland!

Sparring, Mobility, Speed, Power, and controlled direct contact are foundational ideas of Sifu Och Wing Chun. This is the foundation of Kung Fu. The Heart of Wing Chun Kung Fu. Whether you are reading this for yourself or for your school. We know that if the majority of our training is Yin and instill Yin we will get a Yin student.

Have that student face a street situation or another practitioner trained in sparring, direct contact, mobility, speed, and power. Who do you think is going to win? Think of the greats in Wing Chun Kung Fu. Yip Man (Ip Man), Bruce Lee, Wong Shun Leung, Simon Lau, etc. They were all fighters. They spoke and trained for fighting with Wing Chun. (ving tsun) For Many years ago before I started my Wing Chun training. I had trained in other styles and was trained to believe that I could Master the martial arts without sparring.

When I first started Wing Chun I quickly changed my mind. Where did these practitioners get all of their speed, endurance, technique and power. How could they react to everything I did and was thinking about doing before I even got to do it? I realized that direct confrontation with a moving, active, thinking opponent was completely different then my mirror and forms provided. I realized that this was where Wing Chun (Ving Tsun) Kung Fu reigned. If I wanted this elusive martial art as my own, I was going to have to push myself in dedication. Win or lose, I would be the one gaining all the benefits. A true understanding of those secrets deep within Wing Chun.

This is where I started looking into the different techniques, combinations and movements that were being given to me. Over the years, I explored Wing Chun’s body mechanics. I discovered that slight adjustments for my size and those around me increased my power and technique effectiveness

Solid body mechanics and proper technique, a lifetime of understanding

Techniques I thought I could never use in combat became possible as my strength and understanding increased. Wing Chun truly is a complete system. It emulates its name, “everlasting springtime” or “ever-changing springtime. It has an answer for any situation and is a progressive, modern martial arts. Its #1 rule is: “Your closest weapon to your opponent’s closest vital.” This means to use the most direct attack. Don’t think about it—just attack the next closest vital. Keep your root strong, maintain correct footwork, and let your whole body become a weapon.

Unlock Your Strength: Full-Body Self-Defense Training Awaits You in Lakeland!

Start your self-defense journey with the best training in Lakeland, Florida! Join Sifu Och Wing Chun today and fill out our contact form to discover how full-body self-defense can empower you in all aspects of life.

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Sifu Justin Och

Black and Gold Wing Chun Kung Fu Instructor

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