graychuan
Blue Belt
Its all very fine if you disagree with that statement. Thats your prerogative. However I must disagree with you when you say....
The reason is because there still must be attention paid to structure as it applies to Wing Chun and as the principles/forms suggest. Especially SLT. Now if you suggest that a turn is all you need then I disagree. Now my statement specifically suggested no movement at all without consideration of how its supported by proper structure. ‘Just being supported buy a pivot’ is not enough. Whether you are doing CK, BJ or MYJ the lessons of SLT are never absent. If they are then one has lost the ‘idea’.
Now with regard to your example....
It depends on what you mean by at ‘big committed haymaker’. If you are talking about the undisciplined raise-the-elbow-cocked-back-hook/punch-John Wayne- type of strike then ...
1.If its that high I probably wouldn’t try to intercept with a bong sao. You see those ‘haymakers’ coming from a mile away. I would still step to the inside and use a Wu-Da, or just come over it with a Lop-Da and keep it simple. This allows me to be on the defensive AND the offensive immediately. Thus no turn, no rolling over an arm to a strike and no circle for this particular exchange.
2. The so-called ‘high bong sao’ you are using is exactly that...too high. Thats why you need the turn. I would suggest a Fak Sao (which could be what you are actually talking about but I don’t know because you are also the one who does a Tan-Sao with the pinky side of your arm). Its ‘bong sao family’ but it still keeps the elbows within the range of the collarbones even though the wrist can sway above a couple inches. This gives you the inside on intercepting a punch like that and allows you to bridge with a structure that is within the domain of SLT. With regard to ‘bong family’ bridging: a biu sao to the inside of that arm as you face the attack would also work. By taking the inside line you still don’t have to turn unless you are turning into the attack. Ultimately I would rather face the attack and jam,slice,grab or wedge instead of turning away from it, and as long as I’m using structure first then I don’t have to worry about my ‘tiny deltoid muscles’.
3. If then the strike is coming down the middle and straight up the pipe then this isn’t exactly a ‘haymaker’. Instead its pretty shrewd attack and it depends on if he is head hunting or body striking as to what I would do. But It would be supported by fundamental SLT structure, not just a pivot.
With regard to the spinning backfist attack from the roid freak...
1. In the event that some untrained churl tried to attack me by giving me his back and taking his eyes off me right away then I would deal with that in an even simpler fashion, roid rage or no. Principle are principles. They have been around for 300years(that we know for sure) and they hold up.
2. Its off topic and I had no reason to get into it anyway. Now back on topic.
Never said a bong/wu wasn’t ok, just that you needed to be careful(especially when you are throwing it high like you suggest), then I offered an alternative. I also suggest that whatever response your training dictates in the event of an attack that it should not be outside of the principles of SLT otherwise it is not Wing Chun....it is something else.
... as long as the movement is supported by a pivot it will work fine.
The reason is because there still must be attention paid to structure as it applies to Wing Chun and as the principles/forms suggest. Especially SLT. Now if you suggest that a turn is all you need then I disagree. Now my statement specifically suggested no movement at all without consideration of how its supported by proper structure. ‘Just being supported buy a pivot’ is not enough. Whether you are doing CK, BJ or MYJ the lessons of SLT are never absent. If they are then one has lost the ‘idea’.
For example if you swing a big committed haymaker at my head I can intercept it with a high Bong Sau and let the strike roll right over the top of me as I pivot , in essence his strike is being redirected over a circle.
But if I were to just stand there , then it is only my tiny deltoid muscles supporting my Bong Sau against a very powerful force coming from the side and it will collapse , but used with a pivot it is fine.
Now with regard to your example....
It depends on what you mean by at ‘big committed haymaker’. If you are talking about the undisciplined raise-the-elbow-cocked-back-hook/punch-John Wayne- type of strike then ...
1.If its that high I probably wouldn’t try to intercept with a bong sao. You see those ‘haymakers’ coming from a mile away. I would still step to the inside and use a Wu-Da, or just come over it with a Lop-Da and keep it simple. This allows me to be on the defensive AND the offensive immediately. Thus no turn, no rolling over an arm to a strike and no circle for this particular exchange.
2. The so-called ‘high bong sao’ you are using is exactly that...too high. Thats why you need the turn. I would suggest a Fak Sao (which could be what you are actually talking about but I don’t know because you are also the one who does a Tan-Sao with the pinky side of your arm). Its ‘bong sao family’ but it still keeps the elbows within the range of the collarbones even though the wrist can sway above a couple inches. This gives you the inside on intercepting a punch like that and allows you to bridge with a structure that is within the domain of SLT. With regard to ‘bong family’ bridging: a biu sao to the inside of that arm as you face the attack would also work. By taking the inside line you still don’t have to turn unless you are turning into the attack. Ultimately I would rather face the attack and jam,slice,grab or wedge instead of turning away from it, and as long as I’m using structure first then I don’t have to worry about my ‘tiny deltoid muscles’.
3. If then the strike is coming down the middle and straight up the pipe then this isn’t exactly a ‘haymaker’. Instead its pretty shrewd attack and it depends on if he is head hunting or body striking as to what I would do. But It would be supported by fundamental SLT structure, not just a pivot.
Nothing wrong with using two hands , sometimes it is the only way to deal with a lot of power when there is a huge size discrepancy between theopponent and you.
If a huge steroid freak is coming at me with a spinning backfist you better believe that I'm going to use a double Fook Sau to stop it , then counter attack , sometimes there is just no choice.
With regard to the spinning backfist attack from the roid freak...
1. In the event that some untrained churl tried to attack me by giving me his back and taking his eyes off me right away then I would deal with that in an even simpler fashion, roid rage or no. Principle are principles. They have been around for 300years(that we know for sure) and they hold up.
2. Its off topic and I had no reason to get into it anyway. Now back on topic.
Using the Bong and the Wu together is ok , but you should be using it against a heavy force where the opponent is committed and you will be using it with a pivot , that way he is shunted off to the side , off balanced and not in a position to trap.
Never said a bong/wu wasn’t ok, just that you needed to be careful(especially when you are throwing it high like you suggest), then I offered an alternative. I also suggest that whatever response your training dictates in the event of an attack that it should not be outside of the principles of SLT otherwise it is not Wing Chun....it is something else.
Last edited: