12.03.2008

The Soft Approach to Wing Chun

:: By Michael Herrera ::

The soft approach to Wing Chun Kung Fu stresses proper structure, timing and position for both receiving and delivering force. To accomplish this the spine must be straight with the pelvis tucked underneath and the head held up as if suspended by a string. The appendicular skeleton (arms and legs) and axial skeleton (torso) must be made independent to handle violation energies without shocking the structure. Proper elbow position must be cultivated over time allowing energy to sink down into the elbows. The energy must be in the elbows and felt in the wrist. The feet find stability in the ground not on top of it. As in the elbows, energy must sink downward into the knees allowing the feet to grip the ground.

Once the structure is properly built the ability to change while maintaining proper structure must be pursued. When one can change effortlessly without disturbing their structure they will become a peerless boxer. To separate oneself from this path for only a moment may lead many miles astray in the future. I have never seen a limit to this approach and suspect that I never will.

(Our) Wing Chun specializes in this approach building it from the the ground up. A student must be shown how to relax while reinforcing the structure. The student must feel what it is like to be uprooted thousands of times to allow proper cultivation of structure and timing. These corrections must be made from the interaction of chi sao. Only through this interaction energy can the student be shown the way.

About the Author:
Michael Herrera has been studying Wing Chun for over 14 years. He learned Wing Chun under the private supervision of Karl Godwin. With an advanced background in physics, Michael instinctively applies concepts rooted in the scientific method towards understanding the art. More info can be found at austinwingchun.com.


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