busling

I while ago I can across a site that answers this question quiet well: http://www.selfdefense.org/selfdefense.asp?id=4 After reading that I realised that I am not a fighter in the true sense of the word and understood my 'trained martial artists' sometimes get the #^$#&^ beaten out of them on the street. I think the key difference is being mental perpared for very tough situations.

In response to the original questions my favourite* response to a left arm hook punch would be: 1. Slight step back 2. Caen Sao (Two arm Spliting block the right hand intercepts the punch at the wrist) 3. Right Hand Huen Sao (Small circle rotation to get outside of their arm and keep contact as the punch moves past.) 4. Left hand palm strike to the chin as I step in on their blind side. *This is my favourite technique not for its effectiveness as it is hard to do; but because it just 'feels right' when you execute it.

Having taken Wing Chun as my first martial art, I can highly recommend it. My experience* has been great, with excellent facilities, teachers and students. The art itself has been more combat focus and less extravagent then I expected; however I am now really enjoying the art, flow and theories of the style. My teachers have a direct line to Grandmaster William Cheung although they have moved on and now see Rick Spain as their SiFu. *My experience is limited to one school, one style of wing chun and Machado BJJ, and two teachers (husband and wife) hence I do not claim to be an expert.

I generally know the sequence of the form/kata I have to do (Wing Chun first form Shil Lum Tao), and can do it easily in class or by myself at a slow speed. I passed it in my grading over 6 months ago. However now I find that under the pressure of my other gradings I mess it up in sections. I am sure that it is the mental strain of the grade that is messing me up. To overcome this problem I have started to practice it at high speed(ignoring correct technique) to simulate the pressure of gradings. This seems to be helping me. Does anyone have any other suggestions of how to learn my form/kata so that I can perform it under stressful situations?

My fiance' hates it when I do that in the supermarket

That is exactly what our school does. BJJ blends in well with the clinch and take down aspects of WC. We have WC class that teach WC including takedowns. Usually the takedowns end in a knee ride, or similiar position. Our BJJ class teach BJJ for competitions/no punching as well as sometimes teach 'ground and pound' or no gi fighting. I have found that while BJJ and WC are very different there is an effective way of training both together.

try http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/index.php in each of the arts listed they have several articles. Many of the articles demonstrate varied techniques (including throws/takedowns). However as everyone else is saying, just reading these articles will not result in you being able to properly execute these techniques. On the upside I have found that they are good to read after I know the technique. I can then gain an increased understanding of how/why the techniques works, along with some pointers on improving my technique and execution. To train someone effectively in a skill generally takes three basic steps: 1. Demonstrate/explain it for them. 2. They do it while you tell them step by step what to do. 3. Let them do it and correct their mistakes. By now the participant has done the technique three times in their mind and should be ready to practice it effectively. If you read these articles you are only getting part of step 1 and part of step 2.

For all indications that I have, if your school has the correct training techniques and a "use it on the street" mentality then Kung Fu will work on the street. On another note, I find it interesting how a lot of Kung Fu terms are spelt differently by different people. Our teachers title is spelt "SiFu". Also I have seen numerous spellings of the Tan/Tarn block. I not having a go at your spelling. I have seen people in my own school misspell the title of our head teacher.

I had better start writing it out much neater then. It is a messy scrawl at the moment.

I have never switched styles, however I have seen a few people from different styles join our school. A few have started at a mid/low rank, these guys didn't stay long at all. The vast majority start at white belt and progress from there. When sparring/wrestling people from other styles it is quickly evident if they have training from elsewhere. Some of them seem to progress quickly and others fall by the wayside. There are definete(sp?) time requirements between many of our belts and this stops the "other style" guys from jumping ahead. My guess is that your "other style" experience will give you a great foundation to build on in your new style.

I know how you feel ShaneMM when it first suggested to me I did not understand the value of it. Now I see that it is a very valuable and easy to use tool.

I agree with battousai16. Also further responding to your question; your new found teacher will promptly show you the basic stance of their style. This will be the most important stance you ever learn, so learn it well.

Example from the notes I wrote today about last nights class "My response for Bil Sao, Front Kick, Triple punch was slow. Also I need to ensure that my feet are firmly planted before I punch. Chi Sao was tough but I think my technique is improving. When doing Lao Sao trap it was correctly pointed out: 1. Dont need to grab very deep. ......" All points for myself to remember, work on, or note my positive progress.

A while ago my SiFu suggested to all her students (including me) that we keep a training diary. I have recently started to do this and have found that it has helped me to focus my training. I can better see the progress of correcting my weaknesses. It also helps me to remember new techniques that I learn. I have written out all of my Forms/katas and wooden dummy sets. As I learn a bit more of these sets I write it down. Reading these back and visualising them helps me to remember and refine them. Does anyone else keep a training diary? How do you use it? What does it help you with? Have you found that it hindered any of your training?

When I started Wing Chun the only martial experience I had was about 5 classes of Judo about 8 years ago. I found the experience of learning Wing Chun exciting and worthwhile. I now have a good foundation of skills that will serve me well. The basics of Wing Chun are straight forward, so I found it easy enough to get started. Initially the footwork was a little tricky but in about 8 lessons I was feeling comfortable with it.

My suggestion for over coming the blues in your training is to make two lists. The first list should cover everything that you are having trouble with, dont know or could do better. If you think hard about it this could be quiet a long list. Now the second list should be a list of things that you were once bad at, or didnt know. I imagine that this list will be equally as long if not longer then the first list. The first list shows you were are going and the second list shows you were you have come from and what you have achieved. Now pick a few things that you need to work on from the first list and practice them until they move onto your completed list. This process will help you to see your progress.

What a great reply! The only confrontation that I have been in was long before I started martial arts. I was very drunk on Christmas Eve in a packed nightclub. I made a comment about a ladies top and kept on walking. Shortly I had a very angry and drunk boyfriend demanding to fight me. I had glasses on and he was yelling for me to take them off. I tried to apologise and resolve the issue, however he wanted blood and the people standing around us wanted a fight. I eventually took my glasses off and put up my dukes. He attacked and it all became a blurr. In short order I grabbed him and just smothered his punches. The bouncers came in and broke up the fight. The only damage to me was a ripped shirt, lucky he wasnt much of a fighter. I didn't learn much from that, but I will think twice about commenting on a slutty womans top again.

When I am sparring in class I usually have a smile on my face. I am calm and focused, only becoming confused when I stop and think about why X technique failed or why I got hit. However I feel that come to fight situation on the street I will not be ready for the explosive violent nature of it. I am actively thinking about this in my daily life in an attempted preparation.

The advice that I have been given for multiple combant situtations is: 1. Check your escape route, keep it in mind, all of your actions should be moving you towards it. 2. Aggresively attack the ring leader, attempting to neutralise them as quickly as possible. 3. Now importantly while you are taking the first guy down, move his body so that he acts a shield between you and the other attackers. 4. Once the leader is taken out, go for the exit if you can, if not take out the second in charge in the same manner as the leader. 5. Work down the line while you are still standing. With luck and skill the "weaker" ones will flee once you have taken out a couple. I found in class that moving the first attacker in front of the second attack really reduces their ability to attack. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it is fun and works.

I do three 1 hour lessons of Kung Fu, two 1/2 hour sparring classes and one 1 hour BJJ class. 5 hours all up.

I was physically the same since starting university and going to work (about 8 years). I matured mentally during that time but have remained basically the same person. After 18 months of martial arts I am fitter, stronger, more flexible, my back is stronger, I am more confident and generally happier. I used to go to a chiropractor once a month, now it is once or twice a year. I can say for certain that martial arts changes your life for the better.

Wise advice that was given to me is: Avoid using words such as trouble, fight, etc when you are trying to talk someone down from a situation. It is more advisable to say "everything is cool, we are all relaxed here" instead of "there is no trouble, no one wants a fight". The reason for this is that the instigator will probably only hear "trouble, fight" and this will spur then on.

Range 0 - Groundwork = 2 Range 1 - Close Striking (elbows, hooks, knees, bite, lick) = 1 Range 1 - Throws, clinch, standing grapple = 2 Range 2 - Short Striking (punches, short kicks, knees) = 2 Range 2 - Weapons (knife, etc) = 1 Range 3 - Med Striking (lunge punches, medium kicks) = 2 Range 3 - Weapons (swords, etc) = 0 Range 4 - Long Striking (long kicks, charges) = 1 Range 4 - Weapons (long spears, etc) = 0 Range 5 - Short range missile (throwing knives, shirukens) = 0 Range 6 - Med range missile (archery, guns) = 3 Combat Theory = 1 Combat Avoidance (non-communication) = 6 Communication (de-escalation, etc) = 3 Instruction = 2 Fitness = 4 Will (determination, perseverence) = 5 That would be 2+1+2+2+1+2+0+1+0+0+3+1+6+3+2+4+5 / 17 = 2 I have only been training for 18 months, with pretty much no combat experience prior to that. The 3 for guns and archery comes from living on a farm when I was younger and natural ability with archery. I can see that in 4 years that I be up around the 4 or 5 mark. That is my aim, really. Then I will be able to defend myself and my family/loved ones.

I am lucky enough to train at a school that teaches both Kung Fu and JuJitsu. Most of my training is in KungFu with only a 1 hour lesson of JuJitsu each week. I have found that it works well to train in both. Keeping each skill separate and then combining then when it makes sense.