Alan Armstrong

As always an educational video. Thanks for sharing. Chi Sao (utilized in the Wing Chun system) must be one of the most difficult attributes to learn for any martial artist, as sensitivity is not usually associated with battles. As many maists don't fully understand how yinyang principles can be applied when fighting, Chi Sao practice is certainly on the correct road to understand how to apply it favorably. When training a beginner with "Chi Sao/Sau" sticky=CHI=referring to the sticky quality of rice. hands=SAU. I like to turn a student's attention to using a soccer ball and a ratten ring, that is similar to a steering wheel of a car. By first holding the the soccer ball with the inside part of both wrists and rolling the ball in front of one's chest. This motion incorporates the outside to inside pressure with both hands in the "Fook Sau" position. By hold a ratten ring or a steering wheel from a car, while this time using the opposite force is from inside to outside, with pressure on the outside of both wrists, the higher hand will be in the "Bong Sau" position while the other hand will be in the "Taun Sau" Fook=Subdue Bong=Flanking Taun=Dispers These are considered to be the three seeds or families which all of the other hand movements belong to, as each one make contact on three different parts of the wrist. These three Fook/Bong/Taun are all used for redirecting an opponent's incoming force, as Wing Chun has no blocks these movements are simultaneously coordinated with strikes. The rolling motion in regular "Chi Sao" is called "Poon Sau" that revolve around an imaginary centre line between two training partners, both having a forward intent contact pressure (like a bridge) towards each others centre line. When one can sense an opening that the other is off centre then an attack can be instantly initiated. Occupying the center line is a strategy that puts the opponent at a disadvantage; somewhat like playing chess by occupying the centre is an advantage due to location. While practicing Chi Sau, simultaneous deflecting and striking can be practiced, for example a Taun Sau deflection, coordinated with a simultaneous strike to opponent's Chin, would be called a "Taun Da; Da=Strike or Hit. Chi Sau practice is a way to develop sensitivity attributes in combat, by making physical contact with an opponent it is possible to gain information from there intended movements. This also helps to develop awareness and tactics to attack the opponent's centre and simultaneously protect one's own centre line and gates/areas between each other. The tactic is to occupy the space that the opponent has chosen to attack you with, by doing this you will be able to counter strike with directness and speed. Also occupying space that puts yourself in a better,stronger position and leaves the opponent in a weaker/vulnerable place. There is far more to this Chi Sau practice that can possibly be mentioned here, these are just a few hints and tips of mine to create some worthwhile investigation. To sum up the Chi Sao idea, it this a way to make it possible to detectect and redirect an incoming force without thinking about it, as the great late Bruce Lee would say "Don't think feeeeeel"

Is Systema a Martial Art or is it a military methodology?

Actually I fight the style, it's quicker that way!I think it was Bruce Lee that said something like "Don't try to Box a Boxer" as in meaning, don't fight a person in their own style. And yes; proof is on the floor, from my own experience. Some/many/most people are far too inexperienced to be fighting other styles than their own. As Systema is not a popular topic to discuss, I thought it might be worth a shot to talk about it with fellow maists. Also with Karate being the predominant and dominant style on board this vessel perhaps a discussion on other styles would be a little more refreshing and enlightening that are none Asiatic based; just for a change?

"Self defence is not enough" This is the topic I started due to being in a few situations that warrant discussion. At the age of about nine years old, I was violently attacked be a woman beating me with an umbrella, the event took place in a market place. The woman obviously had me confused with someone else, as I was 100% innocent. No one helped me from this crazy umbrella wielding woman. She freighted the life out of me, as I was on my way, visiting my mother working nearby in a supermarket. Looking back at the incident, bystanders could quickly assume that I was guilty of something. No one stopped her from beating me and no one (thank goodness) helped her to hurt me further. Point being, assumptions can be more convincing than reality.

How does your chosen style hold up to Systema, regarding self defense? Systema MA is based on bio-body-mechanics, developed originally for the Russian military. I personally believe that no one MA styles holds the key to having the best techniques for self defense, yet all styles teach a type of self defense, realistically which MA style would you recommend for the public to invest their time in? Could Russian systema be what the public need as a realistic self defense or are all MA styles created equal without making distinctions?

Practicing with very inexperienced people can get a bit scary, can't agree with you more. There is a tendency for them to over react and forget this is training and not a life or death situation. I suppose we were all like that at one time or another; how embarrassing!!!

Just pointing put other viewpoints of Chin Na, that's all.

I'm not a big guy and yes I have done well against my larger opponents perhaps because I show my unpredictable unstable side. But my victories have come with the price of many defeats from an earlier time, being inexperienced and out reached when exchanging punches. Size for me isn't everything at this point but that has taken many years of experience and understanding. What seems impossible can change due to the changes over time, that things become possible, it's just a live and learn over the course of time.

Many MA styles use Chin Na and also many styles are shy to use the techniques, for reasons such as...It is a little contradictory to have a kicking style during the day and then teach grabbing techniques in the evening. Chin Na isn't used to subdue the opponent then beat the person to submission as some people like to be cruel with there force using these skills. Chin Na is mostly used in a humanitarian manner and not a way to gloat and brag how oppents needed to tap out of pass out, by egoistical maniacs wearing a GI. To master Chin Na's 700 techniques can take a considerable amount of time, if you can imagine just to learn 100 techniques a year, that's 7 years of training. Joint manipulation, muscle and tendon grabbing, pressure point striking, or the usual chokes, can seem more like a med student practice than a way to fight off bandits. It is also a way to learn how to prolong oneself by understanding a type human bio-machanics. The Shaolin monks first used Chin Na techniques to subdue wild animals, so as to not seriously harm them. White Crane style uses Chin Na techniques more than any other system but not more than the Shaolin fighting monks that developed it. White Crane MA is openly aware of it's fame for helping weak people due to illness or premature births. As the Crane is not a strong animal such as a Tiger, Chin Na can with practice increase a person's chances of survival in confrontations, not to kill the Tiger with Crane techniques but to prolong it's chances to survive fatal attacks; sustained attacks by a Tiger will however lead to the Crane's fatality. This is why MA practitioners also learn Tiger forms and strategies to harmonize with their White Crane system.

All Asian martial art words have there equivalents in English but are not literally the same due to cultural differences. Chop Chop in Chinese, it's meaning is when someone is going to be beheaded while in English the meaning is to hurry up at what you are doing; perhaps leading up to being Chopped or fired if not working fast enough.

Today there are many branches of Wing Chun that are very unique. There are also independent tree versions and traditional versions and modern versions, cross overs and the list is endless... personal versions... There are common similarities that bind them together such as the centre line theories and Chi Sao practice; wooden dummy practice, three forms more or less and everyone is connected to Bruce Lee in one way or another. There are website that try to connect all of Wing Chun, that build up the Wing Chun ideas so high that they surpass the clouds; losing out on the beauty of simplicity. Could there be a too much of a good thing is bad, connected with this style and that is that the training is not usually done on a fully resistant partner (as in many other styles) when it is, it resembles, for some strange reason, the sport aspect of western boxing and not Wing Chun, as Wing Chun isn't much of a spectator sport ideal when done correctly. Shaolin monks can put on a spectacular display of skills for display purposes, they do however practice real martial art combat that looks nothing at all like the public relations versions. The combative monk version of fighting, looks more similar to convulsive twisting and rocking movements, a vast contrast to what is usually displayed; I've witnessed this Shaolin monk version of Wing Chung it looks far from pretty yet it is in mind to be ultra effective. Bruce Lee was always commenting on how his fights took too long, no matter the Wing Chun version you might be involved in, Speed and Efficiency evokes the spirit and essence all Wing Chun branches including the roots and trees. Yin/Yang a component of how Wing Chun fits together as a functional working martial art system; could very well be the missing ingredient/s of deeper martial art understanding. To take Wing Chun in to a more profound level than it already is, propreceptive training is the method of choice.

Do grapplers ever cross train in Chin Na? Or is Chin Na something that is only used by other (none Japanese originated) MA styles? As Chin Na is a part of Gung Fu and Grappling is supposedly something that is none existent in Chinese Martia Arts? For example when a match between BJJ and Kung Fu is stated; how confusing? (Kung Fu simply implies a learned skill or training) of anything. Jujitsu for the public is IMHO better to learn than Chin Na, due to the high flexibility or pliability levels needed; as most people are not conditioned to the level of a Shaolin monk.

If CIs gives a student a Black belt on the first day of class due to the merits of what their dad taught, then that student could do the rounds in other schools and associations and end up technically with 10 Black belts in 10 different styles; just is not going to happen but if it does, then call the "Guinness Book of Records" and become a record holder. Having a 100 fights with 100 Black belts and winning all the fights doesn't make a White belt a Black belt. Ohhh the in justice of it all. Give yourself a time frame of about 4 years and get your Black belt the usual way, as in; when in Rome do as the Romans do.

Terminology for martial arts is a great way to learn and remember fundamentals. Once there is a pattern of reasoning mapped out with a single word then other words linked together, they can greatly reinforce a martial artist's skill. I also like the uniqueness of Chinese words. For instance 'Shan' has not much significance in English other than it could be used to shorten a person's name from Shannon; that could be used as a word association asset, such as 'Shannon's Law' 'Shan' in Chinese context referring to the White Crane style of Gung Fu, means evasiveness, avoiding an attack by using defensive footwork and immediately counter attacking, without the need for blocking. 'Chaun' is another useful word, meaning penetration, the way or ability to defeat or set up an opponent by using timing skillfully. JKD intercepting skills is based on speed and timing; also on deceptive timing skills. 'Chan' as in the name of the martial artist Jackie Chan, it's meaning refers to martial art spirit of ruthlessness and determination to survive combat. In Jackie Chan's career surviving as a martial art stunt man. So by knowing the meaning of a few Chinese words such as Shan, Chaun and Chan I have a built in strategy when fighting a strong opponent. For me it's not just about knowing Chinese names for stances, kicks, punches and blocks, it's more about how to make everything work together the way it was synchronically intended.

The barbaric way (hard styles) are fine when each opponent is fairly matched in size and weight but this is not the way of the other (soft styles) that are for smaller and weaker people, which are more appropriate for most everyone else.Imho... I just don't understand how and when MAists become so engrossed with size and weight and the like. Either you can defend yourself or you can't!! To me, this is a failed attempt to excuse off ones MA shortcomings. Never underestimate your opponent!! That has to count for something...doesn't it...anymore?!? Overpowering an opponent is what bigger people do and out maneuvering is what smaller people do. A small person's force against a bigger person's force is not intelligent strategy, due to being that it's just not using common sense. For a smaller person to duke it out with a much larger person is plain and stupid. That's why some martial arts styles exists better for smaller and weaker people, that are not based on brute strength alone. I didn't interpret anything he said as standing toe to toe trading blows with anyone nor everyone. He said "...get out there and fight..." If you train to use angles and strike, stand straight up and trade punches, or take your opponent to the ground and choke him out, anything in between or any combination of those, then get on the floor and do it. No holding back, no excuses. Yes, there's a time to go slow and work technique, develop skill, practice things, etc. Too many people focus on that solely. People need to train under full or as close to full pressure and resistance as possible every now and then. If you can't handle that pressure in the dojo with people you trust, there's no way you can handle that pressure when you've got someone standing in front of you that you don't trust. All IMO. So what you are saying is, that people should beat each other close to one inch of their life (in the dojo) from time to time, from people we trust?Brute strategies and tactics prevail once again over the land, spreading words of wisdom for all that seek guidance in matters of personal safety from others. Yes the weaker will learn to rise up against the stronger foe and become victorious due to the courage that dwells within the hearts of noble soles no matter how the odds of probabilitys are stacked against them. Have no worry, what doesn't kill you in practice, will certainly make you more angrier than you were in the battle field and more likely finish you off faster than you thought possible.

The barbaric way (hard styles) are fine when each opponent is fairly matched in size and weight but this is not the way of the other (soft styles) that are for smaller and weaker people, which are more appropriate for most everyone else.Imho... I just don't understand how and when MAists become so engrossed with size and weight and the like. Either you can defend yourself or you can't!! To me, this is a failed attempt to excuse off ones MA shortcomings. Never underestimate your opponent!! That has to count for something...doesn't it...anymore?!? Overpowering an opponent is what bigger people do and out maneuvering is what smaller people do. A small person's force against a bigger person's force is not intelligent strategy, due to being that it's just not using common sense. For a smaller person to duke it out with a much larger person is plain and stupid. That's why some martial arts styles exists better for smaller and weaker people, that are not based on brute strength alone.

Jujitsu being a grappling art, that trains mostly for ground fighting situations, in self-defense situations the ground is not the place to be trapped on. A modified version of Jujitsu for the public seems very practical and beneficial. SDJJ might be the answer?

Don't see or recognize the showing off aspects of communicating in foreign languages. With Chinese the language is confusing enough for them let alone everyone else; due to the large amount of dialects they have. Cantonese is the usual dialect of Wing Chun when most Chinese use Mandarin. This adds to the confusion of Chinese martial art terminology. Wing Chun terminology for example is vast and can be complicated with mixed Chinese dialects and the close relation Wing Chun has with the White Crane style. The written language of Chinese has been standardized so that everyone have a way of communicating no matter the dialect. As the Japanese written language has been based on Chinese written characters, it is possible for the Chinese to read Japanese but not vise versa.

The barbaric way (hard styles) are fine when each opponent is fairly matched in size and weight but this is not the way of the other (soft styles) that are for smaller and weaker people, which are more appropriate for most everyone else.

I sort of get what you're saying. My martial art, which is Shotokan karate, was taught to me by my stepfather. He ran karate school before I was even born, but by the time he taught me he was retired and didn't see any point in giving me a belt. I suppose a black belt would give me an ego boost, but maybe that's not so great, after all. I know what I can do. I do spar with kickboxers at my local gym, and I've been in a few self-defense situations where my karate training has saved me. But I'm only 27, and I still have ego, and joining a dojo at "white belt" rank would be difficult to endure. EDIT: I suppose there's a practical purpose for rank if you have many students and need to keep track of where they're at. But "rank" should just be something that an instructor develops in his own school for his own personal use. If I'm ever in a position to teach anyone what I know, I won't require them to wear uniforms or belts. They could wear t-shirts and sweatpants, for all I care. If I have several students at a time, maybe I'd just keep a notebook with the students' name and ranks on a chart, and maybe I'd post that same info on a whiteboard in the back of the training hall or whatever. Belt ranking does keep things organized, up to a point. Growing up with a boxing father bobbin and weaving was a way of life in childhood. The first belt ranking I had was a green belt in Shotokan; from the age of 18 to 21; that's fine. Having changed in to many styles from there on (3 Japanese, 1 Korean, 2 Chinese, 1 American) with another green belt in TKD, things become complicated, at what belt ranking I should be designated with a combined 18 years mat/dojo/kwoon/garage/club time, over a 50 year period. Training in one style and gaining a black belt hasn't been my destiny. As my Sensei (Shotokan) in karate sold the building under the students feet, was very unfair to those that help build the dojo. So I can join a Kajukenbo class for instance, as a white belt then what? Let higher belts degrade me or I will embarrass them. This is why the belt ranking issue/policy/ranking is not agreeable or applicable for me any longer.

Usually the direction a person looks is the direction energy is directed towards; also backpedaling is slower than forward motion, therefore moving backwards slower and has less punching power than their opponent. Many people will be looking one way and walk in to a doorframe or a lamppost, hurting themselves by not looking where they are going, ouch ooppps! If you are thinking more about going backwards than forwards; that's the moment to run away.

I've been testing out all the advice given here on ADD and it's all working out fine. Could also be how to engage a student to focus by giving an intensive invigorating class.

One is not an good fighter over night as well as one is not a pro athlete over night. It takes time to get comfortable and develop timing. You can practice reactionary drills to improve your reaction time and to get your body and eyes working at the same time. Most new students freeze up or react by throwing their arms up to an on coming attack. This is normal and the bodies way of dealing with a quick surprise. If you have a friend that is in class with you, ask them to practice with you away from the dojo with your Sensei's permission. One - there will be less stress and you may calm down. And because he is a friend you will feel more comfortable as you are both there to help each other. Two - if you start slow and gradually build up to full pace Kumite you will find your reactionary time will increase and you will also feel more comfortable facing off. Perhaps your mental block is due to being told (many times) that fighting is wrong.If this assumption is correct, then you will need to change your "chip" thoughts to be more positive. Than thinking fighting is wrong, tell yourself that self defense is good. Negative thinking is stinking thinking, however positive things happen to those that think positive thoughts. Your energy goes where your thoughts go. Fight psychologist know that a fight can be won or lost before a fight has begun. This is why fighters associate themselves with fierce animals or dragons. Anything that gives a fighter a physiology edge over the opponent is worth adopting in to the psyche.

Great answer Tempest; can't agree with you more. Have a student that needs to be challenged physically as in sparring; to keep him focused, otherwise he starts wandering.

How do you promote a student to a higher belt level that has ADD? Perhaps this is not an issue with a large class of students, as the student with an ADD will lag behind and quit. A student with ADD will need the patients of the CI, certainly a test for the instructor!