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Box 661291 • Sacramento, CA • 95866-0724 • 916/973-9191P.O.
Box 661291 • Sacramento, CA • 95866-0724 • 916/973-9191
Proximity
You must be very close to your opponent for Wing Chun to work. Wing Chun's techniques are not designed to chase people or cover a lot of ground. It is somewhat stationary.
Almost all martial arts prepare to launch strikes from several inches beyond mutual reach, then retreat & regroup for the next series of strikes. This distance is required to generate the power in the strike. And it is 'safer' because your opponent can't touch you. The only opportunity for harm is when somebody contacts another.
Wing Chun practitioners desire to be within wrist to elbow (as measured by extending your arms forward) distance from opponents. The only people who are comfortable at this distance are those who believe they can overpower you. Most martial artists do not train to be this close and are not trained for continual contact.
Maintaining continuous contact has numerous tactical advantages:
1. You do not have to use eye-hand coordination for hitting.
2. There is less chance of missing because of closer distances. Less targeting error.
3. You control or at least can feel your opponent's hands & arms, giving you feedback as to their intentions.
4. You are much more precise in power delivery and targeting.
5. The importance of targeting is minimized because more than one target is always available. You are able to take the path of least resistance to strike something.
6. Things happen quicker because there is less distance to cover from launching a strike to landing one.
7. You do not have to regroup your position after launching a strike or a series of strikes. You can always be in a ready position.
8. Your hands & arms can perform multiple functions such as being able to pin your opponent with one hand while trapping two of his.
Number 5 gives the most opportunity in Wing Chun for a continuous flow offense. If a strike is deflected, the strike will just continue to a secondary target.
Last updated 3/6/2000
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