[wingchunnz255]

Originally Posted by zefff

Hahaha! Formless, you trying to kickstart the wing chun wars again?

Yeah it is obvious that Mr 255 doesnt know much but thats not his fault. Anyway Ip Ching is Ip Man Wing Chun isnt it?

Ive said it before but Ive always thought Wing Chun seems to attract people who dont really like fighting at all.

Nothing wrong with Ip ching lineage or any other one they all find just depends on your teacher minds pretty good.

Yeah i really dont like the rivarly with different wing chun lineages and stylez doesnt really bring people together and when people from those lineages or whatever teaches they always got that on their mind that someones going 2 steal their previous ancient chinese secrets .

At the end of the day i reckon when your learning wing chun or any martial art its just you gotta do your best and how much you have fun with it.

Yeah i dont start off with Siu lim Tao did u go to everyone single Ip ching school ? that includes the one around the world? or nah you just saying that in that one particular area of where u train formless?

yeah anyways in the end i dont care long as i get to the level i want to I'm pretty happy with wing chun.

p.s i dont like chinese takeaways lol i like Wendys hmmm hmm damm good food*flash flash*(blatent advertisement) rofl jks

[zefff]

Originally Posted by dscott

Why's that Zefff? I find that interesting because WC is my base art and I'm not a "fighter". I'm 29 and I've never really been in a fight before. I always try to avoid fights but I train so that I can protect myself & my family if it comes down to it.

Because in the modern era (Post Ip Man) Wing Chun is a system primarily occupied with combating thuggery and its traditionally been advertised as that.

People who want to be able to defend themselves against thugs without escalating the violence usually are the type who dont like fighting. The big flaw is not developing our aggression and attacking skill with Wing Chun but just focusing on the counter attacking game that self defence seekers focus on in WC practice...IMHO!

Sorry if my post isnt worded well. All Im trying to say is WC is appealling to people who are scared of getting their faces smashed in by thugs. The irony is that WC principles compell the exponent to smash the thugs face in. So WC should teach you to be the thug for that split second and cut off his intention by smashing him instantly. Too many people like to chill out in class and just concentrate on the flowing parries while forgeting the need for a good pre-emptive capability.

We all say we want to protect ourselves but if we keep saying that then IMHO we run the risk of brainwashing ourselves with that slogan so when the threat actually comes we are rooted to the spot waiting for his haymaker to come so we can parry it - which gives the initiative to him. I know its basic stuff but we should be saying "I am learning WC so I can smash up any threats to my safety". SMASH THEM UP WHEN THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES AS A TARGET!!!!

Mr 255,

as far as I am aware Ip Ching is a son of Ip Man that has created his own institute. His lineage is descended from Ip Man.

Also please let us know if English is not your first language. Its not a problem as you would not be the only multi-lingual member. I am trying but your posts seem quite hard to follow.

[...formless...]

Originally Posted by wingchunnz255

Nothing wrong with Ip ching lineage or any other one they all find just depends on your teacher minds pretty good.

Yeah i really dont like the rivarly with different wing chun lineages and stylez doesnt really bring people together and when people from those lineages or whatever teaches they always got that on their mind that someones going 2 steal their previous ancient chinese secrets .

At the end of the day i reckon when your learning wing chun or any martial art its just you gotta do your best and how much you have fun with it.

Yeah i dont start off with Siu lim Tao did u go to everyone single Ip ching school ? that includes the one around the world? or nah you just saying that in that one particular area of where u train formless?

yeah anyways in the end i dont care long as i get to the level i want to I'm pretty happy with wing chun.

p.s i dont like chinese takeaways lol i like Wendys hmmm hmm damm good food*flash flash*(blatent advertisement) rofl jks

Here here 255! Your approach to the MA world is one that I somehow managed to forget about. Thanks for the response. For the weekend Wing Chunner it really doesn't matter what lineage you train or what you train so long as you are satisfied with what the training provides and don't harbor unrealistic expectations about your abilities. As for my blanket statement about the start of every class in that lineage, it was based upon my training in the main Ip Ching lineage school within the US based out of Utah. It was for a short period of time and honestly I probably sounded much like you in talking about it then. In either case if you are satisifed with your training thats fine, just realize that Wing Chun is in most cases not what your peers and instructors make it out to be. It is not some vastly superior and original martial art that will enable you to take on anybody at anytime. Its just a collection of principles with specific strategies for applying those principles. If you want more potent fighting abilities think outside the box and learn for yourself how to apply the principles in ways that work for you by sparring with uncoopertative partners. Good luck

[peajay]

Hi
Forgive the noob question - I've spent a load of time scanning through the forums, and I'm still wavering... I'm looking for something for myself (40) and my son (12).

I've looked at the local area, we have loads of choice actually, including Karate, Lau Gar, Judo, TKD... However, I have found that there is a Wing Chun class in my area. I'm tempted to give this a go. Wing Chun is described as an Internal style, with the practitioner being relaxed and using this as a way of offsetting an opponents power... Ok, I can see that.

Why the question then?

My son has been described (by me and others) as a loose collection of bones, moving in formation. He is very flexible and has been told he needs to do some low impact exercise - i.e. not weights etc. He would benefit from a routine that looks at increasing his muscle tone (not necessarily strength), muscle control, stability etc... I'm trying to give this to him, but with the added benefit of doing something that will assist him, more than spending time in a gym.

In your collective opinions, would the regime offered by Wing Chun provide this? I've been told Wing Chun isn't physical, you're not expected to go and do the 5 mile run before the training, plus the multiple press-ups etc (this was the Lau Gar regime). However, I'd have thought the regime would be about muscle control...

Or, do I need to get him on an exercise routine (say Pilates - but he'll not stick at this, he's 12, there is no such thing as a male pilates class), and then get him involved in a martial art should choose

[zefff]

So the main benefit you are looking for is to build quality tendons and core muscles in your son?

If so he can get that with most non-contact sports. Basketball (or any team sports really) is really good for general fitness and musculoskeletal development too, plus skills like dexterity, co-ordination,team work and emotional development. I would say a team sport is better for a young persons development - physical and social. There are other pastimes like Gymnastics, Wrestling, activities like riding, kayaking, rock climbing, skating, skateboarding, bike riding or hey how about dance classes too (girls )!

But...if he wants to practice martial arts then I would say do not assume that one art is like this and another is like that. Wing Chun is an art designed for beating people up who get in your face. There are many branches and teaching styles, some are internally focused, some are balanced and some are external and only concerned with efficient self defence. Its as simple as that. Dont assume that you wont get punched in the face during sparring or not have to do any real exercise because no two schools are the same - but at the end of the day it is meant to be martial practice. Also relaxation is the key to success in any art, not just WC or Tai Chi or whatever.

WC at my school does offer a good exercise regime for kids (with them doing a lot of weapons, gymnastics etc) and adults but sadly no one can speak for WC totally as an art.

Good luck.

P.S. he is only 12 so maybe he will mature if you give him a chance. Check that his diet is good, his rest and sleep and not 24/7 console games and TV.

[peajay]

Zefff (thats a lot of f's)

Thanks for the thoughtful reply

We do the diet stuff, but standard sports doesnt float his boat.

He is interested in doing a martial art - he's currently keen on Shotokan Karate (but that is because that is the one he's tried - I'll be going along with him tonight actually!).

One of the aims of him doing anything is the quality tendons, etc... but that is my sneaky by-product plan. HE want to learn a martial art, I am keen to restart one (its been oh... heck 25 odd years since I did karate, however, I gave it up and chased girls instead - sadly I feel that I'd have had more luck if i'd have stuck with the karate - 20-20 hind-sight) .

I've chatted with the chap who runs the Wing Chun school - he says it an internal form. So... I'm going to drag him along to give us a try, and some options... But, it's good to get an understanding of what your going in for, before you do anything I find.

Thanks again

[zefff]

You guys might like the WC, who knows...but...internal could mean anything from hours of strenuous low stances, breathing and fa jing cultivation to meticulous repetion of technique and technical explorations without resistance from an opponent or punchbag.

...so, it could be really hardwork and great for tendons and stabilising muscle groups or it could be quite poor for the physiques development.

Based only on your description as "internal" I would say try Judo as it has a good child development programme built into its structure (thanks to governing bodies and olympic status) and the art itself has great exercises and techniques which promote the development of core muscles and tendons while not teaching eye gouging strikes and knee crushing low front kicks! Judo may be percieved as a sport or an art that has been de-clawed but that is the ignorant view. You soon learn it has a very real, raw power after youve been smashed through the mat.

I think Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a good form of exercise for the muscles and tendons too but its more expensive usually and not many children seem to take it in UK...if thats where u are from? ...yes, BJJ or Judo. Then he can add Karate or Ju Jitsu or Wing Chun or whatever later on when he is a bit older and really has caught the budo bug.

peace

[peajay]

Coo... It's nice to go to a forum, where you can stick your head above the parapet, and not get it flamed off!

Well, we went to Karate on Monday night, it's WC on Wednesday night...
We'll give them a go and make a choice (He'd like to do both, but that could get costly!!)

Karate - Hmmm, I seem to have forgotten what my stomach and arm muscles are for... situps, and pressups in the warm up - LOL gawd I have spent to long behind a desk, and in my car!

Thanks Zefff, I'll report back later, after the WC tryout.

[dscott]

Originally Posted by peajay

Coo... It's nice to go to a forum, where you can stick your head above the parapet, and not get it flamed off!

Just as long as you don't give us a reason.......

Also, good luck on the WC training. I used to train in Wing Chun and loved it. I'm trying to get myself back into training too.

[peajay]

Must always remember to wear my flame proof undies, before posting

Well...
We went along to our first WC try-out.
It was jolly good.
Very friendly, up close and personal stance work, did some puching and blocking work, taking-the-line...
As has been said, not large on the cardio-vascular excercise... It was still a work out though - parts of me know that they have been used - maybe I need to learn to relax more

Son and I have chosen to do WC, rather than Karate!
We'll formally sign up at the end of the month, but go along the rest of this month on a pay-as-you go basis. So in this respect, our little try-out sessions were useful

Thanks guys... I'll keep coming back to tell you (some may say bore you) on how we go on