Tag: shaolin monks

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

 

 

The Fatal Flaw in Testing

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

Getting tested in martial arts can be nerve racking but also invigorating. Your abilities are all laid out to bare for all to see. No more excuses just reaction. This is quite exciting. Along with that is the satisfaction when all your hard work does actually pay off. Attaining the next level feels great and if you earned it you should feel proud. However, “The Fatal Flaw in Testing” is what I would call the Sprint Mentality.

Sprinting for your test: The Fatal Flaw in Testing

Finals week, the week before the last set of tests for college students. Energy drinks, microwaved food, and zombies with backpacks become rampant on college campuses. Students will “cram” in those last extra hours of studying to strive for that grade at the end of the semester. This is the same as I call it, the “Sprint” in martial arts. Martial art students will train for months but many times you will see a tendency to really step up the training right before a test. Even though this does encourage that extra training at the end of a section there is a fundamental flaw to this process.

Student’s who are training hard consistently will have no need to sprint at the end because they will already be prepared for the test. But for this to be realized your goal must be analyzed. If your goal is to simply achieve belt ranks, then cramming is a perfectly legitimate way to achieve that. However, if your goal is to be prepared at all times for combat, then you should train as if you had testing every day.

One Breath

Grandmaster Ken Chun, from Wing Chun Dynamics in California, visited our school and gave a great tip on mindset. He explained that in an encounter you have one breath to channel all of your training to defend yourself. In that one breath you must focus your mind and your body to one task.

He also explained that this should be trained every single day. In other words, you shouldn’t wait for the week before testing to snap into that “one breath” mode. Every single punch, every single kick, every single takedown should be done with the same mentality. If you don’t accomplish this attack it could be the end, not of your opponent, but of you! So as you train, take in that one breath mentality every single time you move.

Your actual goal

Attacks on the street may have indicators. However, indicators do not come a week ahead of time. They may only be caught a moment or two before something happens. That being the case, if you do not keep yourself optimally prepared you could be overtaken. If preparing for testing is your ultimate goal, you are in danger of getting caught. Testing should not be used as your goal. Your goal should be your training regiment. Each day you should seek to improve and upgrade that training. The result of this shift is that your perspective changes on your testing. Instead of looking at that as an end game, it is used to evaluate whether or not your training is effective to keep you prepare.

The importance of keeping your training up is even emphasized in martial arts business circles. Even with these successful million dollar schools the owners understand that their training is top priority. John Kovar, found of Kovar systems lists Training first, then Teaching, then Business. You don’t know when you are going to be attacked so every training day is vital to you surviving an attack.

So ask yourself, what are you training for? Have you fallen prey to the The Fatal Flaw in Testing? Are you training for a belt? Social standing? Sense of accomplishment? Or are you preparing yourself for real, terrifying, messy combat?

 

 

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

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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).

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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.

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.

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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

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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.

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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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The Ultimate Face-Off: Krav Maga Versus Wing Chun for Self-Defense

Posted on by Tim Kittelstad

Wing Chun vs Krav Maga: How These Martial Arts Compare in Self-Defense

Wing Chun is known worldwide, made famous by Fighters of Ip Man, most well known: Bruce Lee. known for its speed and ability to devastate an attacker quickly. Its ability to adapt, control, redirect, block and attach simultaneously while using a variety of skills. Krav Maga is renowned for is brutality and viciousness used in the Israeli military and was created from borrowed technqiues from Wing Chun, Jiujitsu, and Boxing. In recent years there has been arise in both across the US.

Krav Maga vs Wing Chun: Head-to-Head for Superior Self-Defense Skills

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With Bruce Lee’s explosion onto the scene, Kung Fu (specifically Wing Chun) started to get some of the limelight. Around the same time Krav Maga started to make it’s way to the US. With Wing Chun emphasizing the most direct route to its target and Krav blending various styles to achieve maximum brutality, both systems were poised to emerge. However, before we continue with their growth in the U.S. lets look at some differences and similarities between the two.

Krav Maga or Wing Chun? Find Out Which Martial Art Protects You Better!

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Both Krav and Wing Chun emerged during periods of war. Specifically, Wing Chun emerged in 17th-century China during a civil war, while developers created Krav in the 1930s, following World War I and preceding World War II. Furthermore, instructors originally designed Wing Chun as a system that students could master in a fraction of the time required by other Kung Fu systems.

Similarly, Krav Maga fused the basics of wing chun, boxing, and ground work to create something that Jewish civilians could immediately use to defend themselves with. They both seek to dispatch their opponent as quickly as possible. Additionally, both systems “fight dirty”, using any means necessary to prevail.

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Wing Chun vs Krav Maga: Proven Self-Defense Strategies Compared

Now even with Wing Chun’s addition to Krav Maga there will obviously still be differences. First to be addressed would be the instructor and how much they have trained and know.

Unfortunately Bad schools are everywhere and its a buyer beware situation. There are Wing Chun academies that have “Sifu’s” that teach drills and techniques that would never help the student. Just as much as their are Krav Maga studios open where the “master” got a instructor certificate to teach and open a school with just 3 days (less then 24 hours of training) and a few thousand dollars with minimal martial arts understanding before walking in the door. So let’s

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Finding a true school in either and one that has the original intent and wealth of knowledge, skill, and capability is what we hope you look for and find. Don’t stress about the distance as much as how legit the academy you are training under. A false school in any style does a dis-service to everyone.

Right from the beginning, you must understand how chaotic combat can be. Thus, instilling the right mindset from the beginning is essential, as it becomes increasingly evident throughout the training. One advantage of attending a Krav school is that instructors emphasize the brutality of combat.

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Both have their merits; however, a deeper exploration reveals that Wing Chun offers distinctive advantages for personal safety and self-improvement.

The Ultimate Self-Defense Comparison

In Closing, both systems are effective in street combat. With fewer and fewer martial arts teaching realistic self defense because its not profitable. With more and more becoming very commercialized, you need to find the right school, not just the “close school”. Having something that gets straight to the point and efficiently accomplishes the task is crucial. That is the reason for the two arts quick rise to fame. Now with all arts both Krav and Wing Chun have also fallen prey to commercialization. So before choosing a school do your homework on the instructors! Once you choose, train hard and stay committed!

Related Articles from Sifu Och Wing Chun

  1. What is Wing Chun?
  2. Benefits of Wing Chun Training
  3. Self-Defense Techniques in Wing Chun

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Learn from one of the best training academies in the Southeastern United States:
Start your martial arts journey today! Fill out our contact form to learn more about training with Sifu Och Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy. Don’t wait—take the first step toward becoming a more confident and capable individual!

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Martial Arts Philosophy-Chinese Versus Japanese Part 2

Posted on by Ben Devris

Japanese Martial arts

In our previous article, Martial Arts Philosophy-Chinese Versus Japanese Part 2, we covered the Chinese side. In this article we will go over Japanese martial arts. Japanese martial arts bases its principles heavily on certain beliefs—religious or not—depending on the style. Shintoism (an ethnic Japanese religion) is a strong fundamental in the art of Aikido. Even some of the religious beliefs from China managed to merge its way into the countries martial arts; Zen (Chan) Buddhism became a respected principle in the art of Bushido (way of the warrior) and Budo (martial way). For most Japanese martial arts the same purpose applies to those of Chinas: focusing development of “The Trinity” (body, mind and spirit).

Shotokan Karate

Shotokan Karate, developed by Gichin Funakoshi, bases its precepts closely on Zen Buddhism and Bushido. From these two philosophies Funakoshi laid out the twenty principles of Shotokan philosophy. Later the five Dojo Kun was developed by the Japan Karate Association. Under no circumstance should one of the principles be valued more than another. By taking those into account, and through years of practice, a karate practitioner (karateka) will be able to develop a calm and opened mind and achieve confidence, humility, wisdom etc. In addition to that they will hone the body to become harmonious with the mind which will give a “subconscious” control over the body’s movement. The body performs the techniques while the mind remains serene. This will then have a direct proportional effect on the spirit as well and will create a wholeness of one’s self.

Aikido

Some of Zen’s religious principles are also structured in the art of Aikido though the bulk of it comes from the countries traditional religion of Shintoism and its strong belief in spiritual essence. Aikido, founded by Morihei Ueshiba, centers its techniques on the flow of ki (also known as chi or qi in Chinese culture) that translates to “life force” or “energy flow”. Ki is universal—everything possesses it—and it can be a means to transfer external energy internally. Internal ki is channeled throughout the body by the mind that in turn channels the power. Only when mind and body are harmonious can this be achieved and used to redirect and neutralize the energy of opposing force.

The art of Aikido also believes in the value of self-discovery and self-development and discourages any form of hierarchy. It’s not an art used to distinguish which is superior over the other; it is only used for means of protection. This also applies to winning and losing which is why the art disapproves contests and competitions.

Modern Martial Arts

In conclusion to both articles we want touch on modern arts. Both Chinese and Japanese arts share a common bond of self development at their core. Through training practitioners sought enlightenment. In modern training the focus is not so much on self development as it used to be. Many arts now serve to prepare students solely for competition. Instead of helping student’s become better people they only focus on techniques and tactics to win medals.

Although schools still do exist that instill strong principles, it is not part of the modern martial art culture. Not even mentioning what can be called “black belt factories”. Schools that seek to do nothing but move student’s through for financial gain. These types of schools will wave flashy promises of black belt awards if x amount of money is paid. Or some will simply skim the surface of an art so that students can breeze through the material. As a result many “black belt” students come as a result.

Whatever you train, Chinese, Japanese, or any Modern art you find, seek to grow as a person.

Martial Arts School Safety

Posted on by Betsy Olay

The title of this article may seem like an odd question, but it is something everyone should ask themselves. This is only for their own benefit and health. Safety in this respect refers to the physical environment, cleanliness, and set up of the martial arts school. There are certain warning signs and things you should take note of. Not only should you observe when you looking for a school but even after you enroll.

So what should you be looking for when you enter a martial arts school to ensure that it is going to be a healthy place to train:

Look at the physical arrangement of the studio

Is the training area around anything that you could bump into, trip over, fall on, be pushed into, etc. (Chairs, weights, brooms, tables, training equipment, other students bags/gear?) A responsible martial arts school will have specified places for these items. They will also be sure that those items are kept there to ensure the safety of the students.

Are there mirrors in the studio? If so, are they far enough away to not cause injury? Most studios are going to have windows to let in light and to allow the public to be attracted to what is going on inside. However, all training should occur well away from any windows to avoid potential accidents.

Look at the training floor

Wherever you will be doing your martial arts training, you need to be sure that the floor is going to be safe. Concrete floors, or floors covered with only a thin matting are a red alert that your safety may not be a high priority at the studio. If you were taken down, swept off your feet, or knocked down doing a technique, would you feel safe landing on the training floor? (Sifu Och Wing Chun has professional martial arts mats covering our training area so our

Also, does the floor look clean? If there are mats on the training floor, it is essential that the mats are cleaned with a hospital grade disinfectant on a regular basis. Martial arts mats can be breeding grounds for staphylococcus and other communicable skin diseases. (At Sifu Och Wing Chun we sweep and disinfect our floor, mats, and bathrooms a minimum of 2 times a week for the health and safety of our students.)

Use your nose and your eyes. Does the martial arts studio look or smell moldy or foul? Can you see dirt on the floor, can you smell garbage that needs to be taken out, are the bathrooms in a clean state? If you are in doubt about the cleanliness of the studio that you are looking to train in, ASK! Your safety should be as important to the owner of the martial arts school as it is to you! If you feel uncomfortable about anything when you visit a training studio, trust your gut and find a place that makes the safety of its students a top priority!

Learning Ground Game Tactics in Wing Chun

Safe sparring

As a side note, sparring also needs to be addressed.  The area where sparring is done should be void of  windows, concrete, or thin mats which could injure individuals. If they are are taken down, get swept, thrown, or fall these areas could cause serious damage. Halt training if the place you are at has hazards to you before they become a injury. Along with location you should also check equipment every time. The death of a martial artist is inactivity. That inactivity should never be because of an injury due to faulty equipment.

Just as your training requires discipline, so should your safety.

Anger and Wing Chun Don’t Mix: Proper Martial Arts Education

Posted on by Sifu Justin Och

A angry mind full of stress, anxiety, and frustration will cloud the judgment of a Wing Chun Kung Fu practitioner—or any martial artist. Saying this and training for a clear mind are two different things, of course. You must make it a practice, so the body can relax and calm its breathing, heart, and mind when under duress.

Anger and Wing Chun Don’t Mix

siu nim tao gung fu in lakeland fl wing chun form anger sifu och wing chun kung fu lakeland florida martial arts gung fu class
Siu nim tao gung fu being practice in our Downtown Lakeland Sifu Och Wing Chun studio

Anger management within the martial arts is extremely important. Anger and Wing Chun don’t mix. Not only is calming the mind important—restraint of primal anger during a confrontation keeps you from having a “fogged” perception. The mind needs to be clear in order to fulfill its full capability and goals.  Wing Chun Kung Fu demands a clear mind swept of anger in order to be filled with purpose, skill and drive.  Though anger can have a drive of its own if not tempered it can run rampant in our lives and destroy that which is built and postive.

Wing Chun Kung Fu strikes such as chops, punches, palms, elbows, head butts, kicks, and knees are coupled with simultaneous blocks, traps, redirects, countering measures, and changing body movements and timing. If you succumb to anger, you won’t have the mental discipline to remember, let alone execute, the required movements to keep you safe. Stand up strikes require extremely fast targeting, and you need to keep your strikes along the centerline principle of the body. The centerline of the body contains most of the vital areas, pressure points and weaknesses.  Though when Wing Chun Gung Fu strikes these points it is concerned with the hitting of fists, elbows and knees into these areas.

Though there are few grappling techniques or holds within Wing Chun Gung Fu as it is seen as a waste to hold when you could be striking.  There is in fact the use of quick Chi Na (wrist and joint lock applications) that are taught widely within this system of self defense.

The discipline of Wing Chun teaches many other techniques such as gun defense, stick and knife defense as well as ground defense training.  Schools like Sifu Justin Och also teach no-gi ju-jitsu as a addition to in-depth Wing Chun Gung Fu instruction.  This addition of no-gi ju-jitsu for ground training and fighting teaches a practitioner that whether stand up or ground Sifu Justin Och students are covered.

Wing Chun Gung Fu is one of the fastest martial arts known, by striking the human bodies vital areas you can shut an assailant down quickly.  Whereas a Wing Chun Gung Fu stylist learns to protect these areas.  The centerline is the most vital battleground and tactic available to a practitioner.  It is the source by which all techniques seek to attain and strike.

All attacks, deflections, redirections, blocks are tools to attack and devastate the centerline vitals such as the throat, knees, groin, eyes, temples, joints, Xiphoid, collar bone and many other areas that can’t be built up.

Gung Fu in Lakeland Florida

combat wing chun fighting resistance focus mitts lakeland florida martial arts sifu och wing chun kung fu lakeland florida martial arts gung fu class
Combat Wing Chun fighting resistance practice with focus mitts in our Lakeland Florida Wing Chun martial arts studio.

The battle ground and warrior tactics within Wing Chun Gung Fu emphasize the short distance between two points is a straight line.  Wing Chun Gung Fu teaches you to strike directly instead of indirectly.  This aims every attack at this centerline.  Wing Chun Gung Fu spends alot of its time training and learning how to direct force, precision and power against this centerline while getting any and all defenses down.

Striking any one of the vitals found along the centerline can end a assailants capability to harm the Wing Chun Gung Fu practitioner.  A powerful blow to the throat, collar bone, eyes, groin, knee or joints could very well shut them down.  This is why Wing Chun Gung Fu has so many tactics from extremely fast chain punches to turning punches that involve the full momentum of the body, hip, torque, weight and speed.  Only one blow is needed but Wing Chun trains for many strikes to ensure increased success for its practitioners.

If above all you want real self defense for you and your family, choose Wing Chun Gung Fu.

Sifu Justin Och is in downtown lakeland florida and has classes that can give you and your family exactly what you need.   A Black and Gold Sash instructor under multiple proven Masters of the system of Wing Chun Gung Fu.  Sifu Justin Och is also recognized internationally as a amazing instructor that looks after his students and trains them to the highest capabilities they can and are willing to achieve.  A hard but fair Sifu in the world reknowned system of Wing Chun Gung Fu.

 

 

Jeet Kune lakeland florida

Posted on by Sifu Justin Och

Jeet Kune lakeland florida

Jeet Kune lakeland florida is your first stop if you want to begin your journey.  Bruce Lee trained and practiced his fighting system of Wing Chun Gung Fu under Ip Man way before his creation of Jeet Kune Do.  With diligence and  determination Ip Man trained Bruce Lee in Wing Chun gung fu attempting to keep the youth off the street where gangs ran rampant on Chinese streets and alleys.  Jeet Kune Do was created when Bruce Lee was sent to the USA but had not completed the system.  But Bruce Lee only learned 2/3rds of the system, with Grandmaster Ip Man in China and no way to communicate, Bruce Lee had to fill the gaps.  Bruce Lee began the journey of Jeet Kune Do by filling in the 1/3 he didn’t have with other systems that were around him, Boxing, Ju-jitsu, and various kicks.  With Wing Chun gung fu as a huge base, power, structure and engine Jeet Kune Do was born.

jeet kune lakeland florida
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Within lakeland florida Jeet Kune Do engine is a possibility for you and those you love. But during the 1900’s Wing Chun was obscure at best it was a system in secrecy that only very few knew of and trained.  Those that trained in it though became increasingly powerful so much so many became famous in their regions and provinces.

Bruce Lee was a street kid before he met Grandmaster Ip Man, there was no Jeet Kune Do yet (JKD).  Bruce Lee was a kid and was one of the few fortunate enough to trained under Ip Man directly.  Bruce Lee was able to do this before being sent to the United States by his parents to save him from gang related activities and street brawls.  before Wing Chun’s obscurity and lack of large schools and practitioners would not stay for long.   Grandmaster Ip Man was and still is one of the greatest teachers and proponents of the System Wing Chun Gung Fu.

Over the years Wing Chun Gung Fu became a dominant force within China as much as it is now and has now become one of the most widely known and practiced Gung Fu Chinese martial art systems within the known world.   Thousands now train all over the world in Wing Chun though finding Masters like Ip Man, Bruce Lee, Wong Shun Leung and the like are difficult but not impossible.  Jeet Kune lakeland florida and Wing Chun Gung Fu presents its information openly but Mastering it takes real training, time, dedication and understanding.  It is thus said that you can find Wing Chun in almost every major city but finding a true Master of Wing Chun is like winning the lottery, you better hold on to that ticket.

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lakeland florida jeet kune lakeland florida jkd jeet kune do sifu och wing chun kung fu lakeland florida martial arts gung fu class

Jeet Kune Do (jkd) is the combination of Wing Chun Gung Fu, Ju-Jitsu, Boxing and Kicking techniques with Wing Chun gung fu as the engine both striking, redirecting and blocking in one quick swift motion.  For those looking for Jeet Kune Do in lakeland fl and wanting to follow in the footsteps of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune D0 (jkd) martial arts training we suggest you start with the engine; Wing Chun gung fu.  Understanding and starting with Wing Chun gung fu you will gain a huge perspective in your journey to become a Jeet Kune Do or JKD fighter.  We welcome all martial artists and all levels from pure beginner to full out seasoned vetern, whether you have trained in Wing Chun, Gung Fu, Tiger Claw, White Crane, Snake, JKD, Boxing, Taekwondo, Karate or have been in Jeet Kune Do for years you will get the full picture here of Wing Chun’s fighting capabilities.  These abilities combined will take your protection, skill and ability to a insane new level.

Hundreds and Thousands of self defense martial arts today study Wing Chun Gung Fu with all the power and ability it provides them.  The true power of Wing Chun Gung Fu awaits you will you take it up, will you recieve the gift of protection, confidence and power?  Will you rise to its need for discipline and practice?

Your Sifu, your instructor is Justin Och and he has search the world for Wing Chun Gung Fu to bring back to you the power and prowess.

Looking to start your journey in Jeet Kune lakeland florida, then your Journey starts the same way Bruce Lee did, by learning Ip Man’s Wing Chun Kung Fu.

to start your journey contact sifuoch@facebook.com
Sifu Och Wing Chun in downtown lakeland florida martial arts
Jeet Kune lakeland florida starting with Wing Chun Kung Fu
Black and Gold Sash Wing Chun Gung Fu
lakeland florida gung fu martial arts

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Lakeland Florida Martial Arts

Posted on by Sifu Justin Och

Lakeland Florida Martial Arts

Lakeland Florida Martial Arts / Wing Chun Gung Fu by Sifu Och takes discipline, perseverance and a drive.  Gung fu in Lakeland florida martial arts with Sifu Och is unlike any other family martial art or self defense system you may encounter.  Not only does it make stream sense, practical purpose, but it is a traditional martial art with a modern mindset, modern instruction and full body reactionary self defense.

sifu justin och Lakeland Florida Martial Arts gung fu
sifu justin och Lakeland Florida Martial Arts gung fu

Southern Shaolin Gung Fu martial arts contain cultural exchange, full body conditioning and exercise besides being a real skill and fast self defense.  Wing Chun Gung Fu is a extremely popular art throughout the entire world.  Made famous by Ip Man the Grandmaster instructor of Bruce Lee, this system has proven applications, so much so other styles have tried to “borrow” concepts.  The art of Gung Fu is also known as Wu Shu, Kung Fu, Wushu, Kuo Shu.

Many Karate martial art systems share common traits with Gung Fu in both power, foot work and some hand techniques.  The difference in Gung Fu is its ability to move fluidly from relaxed control to absolute explosive power, this combined with Gung Fu’s ability to react to almost any attack imaginable with both offense and defense.  Shaolin Gung Fu is known as one of the oldest forms of self defense martial arts on the planet.

Gung Fu has several variant styles of self defense though the most popular are those with roots to the Shaolin Temple.  Though Gung Fu was practiced in China well before the first Shaolin Temple was raised.  Though it was the Shaolin Temple monks that pressed it forward and refined tactics for War and self defense martial art combat.

There are a large majority of martial artists enthusiasts and practitioners imagine  that and ultimate self defense is the definitive goal of any martial art this includes Gung Fu.  Though amazing and realistic self defense is the one of the great results of Wing Chun Gung Fu, Gung fu is much deeper than just self defense or martial arts moves.  It is a deep sense of enrichment, a body that is toned and fit, a healthy lifestyle, a sense of accomplishment and a life time of achievement.  Sifu Och understands this fact, that Wing Chun Gung Fu is a true art that develops the mind, body and soul of the practitioner.

Lakeland Florida Gung Fu

sifu och Lakeland Florida Martial Arts gung fu
sifu och Lakeland Florida Martial Arts gung fu

It is not about teaching students to overpower or conquer others instead Gung Fu teaches students to dive deep within themselves controlling their bodies, reactions, emotions and confidence.  The harmony trained within Gung Fu is the most important, a sense of peace and avoidance of confrontations.  Even within a threatening situation Wing Chun gung fu with all its power, speed and realistic self defense capabilities it teaches the student to rise above the situation.  Instead a Wing Chun gung fu warrior defends himself and those he/she loves only when they are forced or cornered to do so.

Lakeland Florida Martial Arts Wing Chun Gung Fu takes the balance of the mind and body, it’s mechanics, details, and training are essential to proper execution of movement and defense to use minimal strength with maximum results.    This is unlike many other types of martial arts where power is taught over body mechanics, redirection and rooting.

Proper balance is more than just the balance of the body, knees and feet as they touch the ground and there relation to how you strike and kick.  Chinese martial arts believe the concept behind proper balance is within heaven and earth.   Chinese martial arts also known as gung fu teaches its students to focus completely on each objective, clearing the mind of all upset and stress.  Gung Fu trains the mind to focus each thought while empting their cup to reach a state of happiness within every aspect of life.

Will you choose a life of balance, a clear mind, purpose filled and happy with skill, discipline and realistic self defense for your entire family in lakeland florida, or will you choose to keep searching?  It’s up to you as your decision now and in the future all make the difference.  Knowning all of Wing Chun Gung Fu is a dying seed, many do not have the dedication and will to learn it.   Will you allow it to grow in your heart, find the right instructor or will you let it fade from existence?

to start your journey contact sifuoch@facebook.com
Sifu Och Wing Chun in downtown lakeland florida martial arts
Black and Gold Sash Wing Chun Gung Fu
lakeland florida gung fu martial arts
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