ReGroove Fitness

by Wellness Coach Dan Ma

Martial Arts

Private Wing Chun Training 4/3

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Program:

  1. More “Turning” practice.
  2. Introduction to elbows from the 3rd form.
    1. Sinking elbow
    2. Upwards elbow
    3. Lateral
      1. Interior elbow
      2. Exterior elbow

Two Person Progression Drill for Elbows:

  1. Chain punch feeding for four different elbows on both sides.
  2. Incorporate a paring of two different elbows (ex: Sinking right & Upwards left).
  3. Incorporate using one arm combinations.

Two Person Combination Striking with Elbows:

  1. Straight punch feeding for:
    1. Pak Da (downward intent to break structure)
    2. Leading elbow
    3. Hand knife chop

Notes:

Learning elbows really opened and connected other aspects for me. I felt a lot more control over my centerline space. I would like to explore more using pressure with my elbows and how structure can be attacked…using more turning power concepts.

Private Wing Chun Training 3/20

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Previous training consisted of two-person Bong Lap drills, and then a Dan Chi Sao refresher. Today my life-partner and I focused on turning and pad-work for punching and kicking with Sifu Ray at Lighting Hand Academy located in Portland, Oregon.

“Turning” for my life-partner and I has been difficult. For me I have a decent grasp (so I think) on the technique, but I lack the power to move external force. Today I began progress in turning power. If I assume a right-hand Lan Sao with an external force placed on my right elbow, I should initially turn right using my right “kua” (Tai Chi terminology) until I can no longer turn without breaking my truck structure. “Trunk structure” meaning my hips and shoulder should always move as a unit and I should not twist at my waist. When I reach my limit with my right kua, my left kua should take over and complete the turn. The prerequisite for the turn, is that I am connected to the external forces root (ex: my partner’s foot). I can practice this will a wall or a heavy bag. I am also trying out resistance bands as a means of solo practice.

Pad-work for punching was a good ego boost that I could progress, even though consistency is not at a level of mastery. Pad-work for kicking was new, but still encouraging to move forward.

Private Wing Chun Bong Lap Training 2/27

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Yesterday Veronica and I had our first session (1 of 4) with Sifu Ray and Alyda. Ray has introduced his previous wing chun curriculum with the new curriculum (The Fullers). He wants us to focus on Bong Lap, because it will give us better flow and neuromuscular response time.

The Bong Lap is a two person drill which two postures alternate back and form between the two:

  1. Bong & wu sau
  2. Vertical fist (Da) & fook / lap sau

This is a simple dualistic pattern can become more interesting with “switches” in where one partner switches the pattern control by using a lap sau or a low vertical punch. There are three switches:

  1. When your vertical punch is about to be rotated back into a bong sau, you take the initiative to pull back into a “lap da”.
  2. If you are in the “bong wu”, you can use your bong sau and turn it into a “lap da”.
  3. If you are in the “bong wu”, you can use your wu sau and turn it into a lowline “da”. The partner (bong wu) use their “wu” as a “jum sau” (sinking hand), then delivering a “da” while letting the bong sau fall into a “lap da”.

Why MMA & Traditional Martials Arts Don’t Work

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Unsurprisingly there are a lot of criticisms towards traditional martial arts coming from those involved in MMA and other competitive mindsets. Today I will address why both MMA and Traditional Martials Arts don’t work.

First and most important of all, you have to understand the mindset of what you are training to do. Most traditional martial arts are centered in self-defense practices and building good stewardship in the community. Combative Sports is an industry. Street Fighting is something entirely different from the other two, but at the same time has similarities from both, such as egocentrism from MMA and the practice of lethal strikes from traditional arts.

Self Defense

Kung Fu Pose: Are we fighting now?

Most traditional martial arts tent to focus on self-defense. Some traditional arts like Taekwondo and Karate have evolved into their own respective competitive sports. Perhaps all combative sports have their roots in original systems geared towards self-defense. There are many reasons self-defense oriented martial arts tend to under perform in the ring or cage, but here are a few that I strongly believe in:

  • Its not the style its the training, most traditional martial artists are not athletes.
  • The focus is generally to neutralize the aggressor quickly rather than survive another round in a ring.
  • Practitioners typically focus on lethal strikes which is not legal in sports.
  • Some arts are based on relaxation, which is harder to do in an arena screaming for blood.
  • You should at least be familiar with ground fighting.
  • Move, don’t just stand there in a Kung Fu Pose.
  • Protect your head from “head-hunters”.
  • Practitioners haven’t adapted or created the correct mindset to their craft to prepare for the ring.

Combative Sports

Sports by their very nature is competitive, which can appeal to the ego, and boy, does the ego loves trouble! People in MMA and other combative sports should be aware of the following before using their craft outside of the ring:

  • Your ego is your greatest enemy (The Art of Fighting without Fighting).
  • Be at least familiar with “lethal strikes” and how to engage with them.
  • Your hands are not in a glove and your wrists are not wrapped.
  • Your element of surprise shouldn’t be in flashy move, but rather acting first in physical violence.
  • Think twice before going to the ground.
  • Be mindful of what’s going on around you like other aggressors and what their hands are doing.
  • Get away from the scene quickly and safely.

Street Fighting

Street Fighting is similar to MMA as it involves the ego. A street fight can be a declaration to fight at a specific place and time between two egos, but they usually happen in the moment in a bar or outside in the public sphere. There is no referee and pretty much anything could happen with multiple attackers, knives, and guns. The whole goal of self-defense is to stay out of a street fight.

Summary

I believe the framing around “MMA and Traditional Martial Arts don’t work” should actually be: “How to make MMA and Traditional Martial Arts Work”. My answer to that question is how would you train for any of those scenarios? Try a free online consultation with me, I’d love to hear from you and learn about your fitness goals. Comment below and share what you think.