Wing Chun by Eric Oram

[joesteph]

Eric Oram has videos up at the Black Belt website. They look interesting, but I wondered how practical they'd be for someone who's not at his level. All the videos can be accessed if you go to one page of them as of this date, 3.15.10, but I divided them up in case they get separated.

This video is on defending against a takedown:

http://www.blackbeltmag.com/eric-oram-wing-chun-kung-fu-takedown-counter/videos/233

I thought of a backfist instead of a fingers flick, but his move may be a standard wing chun move. The takedown move Sifu Oram uses reminds me of an early move in a Soo Bahk Do form, but it might be a standard move in any martial art, it seems so natural.

Attacking the "weapon" (opponent's arm):

http://www.blackbeltmag.com/eric-oram-wing-chun-kung-fu-attack-weapon-arm/videos/232

I really liked this one, although you've got to be fast to apply that wrist seize. The elbow break that he uses employs what's taught as a block in a Soo Bahk Do one-step sparring exercise. I don't like it as a block, but it looks great as an attacking weapon. It kind of brings up "When is a block a strike?" I'd say when it's misunderstood as only a block, such as low block and high block not being seen as attacks.

Defending against a jab and rear hook:

http://www.blackbeltmag.com/eric-oram-wing-chun-kung-fu-jab-rear-hook-defense/videos/231

I don't know about the jab block, but I recognize the block against the rear hook. I've seen it in different forms I've performed, but this is the first application of it, and it makes sense seeing it in action as a means to an end.

There's another video, Pak Sao against the jab, but it seems a bit exotic to me. If you're curious, it's at:

http://www.blackbeltmag.com/eric-oram-wing-chun-kung-fu-pak-sao-technique-video/videos/230

[Toptomcat]

Something very similar to that 'exotic' pak sao is a fairly standard boxing parry to the jab off of an orthodox stance. At least the initial parrying motion, agreed that the rest of the motion looks odd.

[tallgeese]

Agreed, you'll often see that opening sequence in trapping and in fighting based arts.

All in all, I liked what I saw for sure. My gripe, as usual, is the takedown defenses. I don't think that trad ma-ists really get the power and speed of someone actually trying and trained to put them on their back. I was there once myself.

I'm not saying that the movements don't have merit, but the hand placement and everything else is really secondary to what's going on with one's hips and their level, ect. Also, I rarely see trad guys throw real good takedown efforts.

Lots get's taken for granted on the subject by alot of people who haven't looked outside their art for answers.