Wing chun kung fu is a close contact dynamic fighting style, what that means is that to be most effect most of the time you are in close and fists are flying everywhere.. This can be a pretty daunting for the beginner as they  learn their craft and develop a feel for the system.. The problem is.  When you are learning you are with a static pattern.  One of the first kung fu techniques you learn is to defines a punch.  Where the opponents jabs at you and hold their hand out very slowly.  You react using the technique that was taught  with the opponent standing there statically taking a virtual beating.- Which for a beginner is a very valid technique and crucial to build confidence.

Most of the different levels of fighting you have the contact range and the exchange range these are the two levels of fighting..contact stage is where you can make the initial contact where you can me your opponent wrist on wrist..that is went you are leading with a punch or looking to defend.. the importance of this is critical…when you enter  close to your opponent you are in range where you can get you head knocked off, if you enter too far out of this distance you are ineffective.

That is why entires to initiate first  contact with your  opponent is very difficult and takes some skill.

That is where your training comes in..if you have a good Sifu they will hammer you  relentlessly with drills to the point where you are doing them in your sleep (ala Uma Thurman bride in Kill Bill 2)  You have no time to think  .”.hmm what should i do here?” In any case the drilling and training should be very intense and constant to the point where it should not only be stored in your subconscious memory, so you can act on it immediately. It should be honed into your muscle memory as well. The sequence is still drummed into me even 10 years after learning it.

So when you make an entry or initial  contact range attack  you do so confidently and with purpose and intent ..a half hearted approach will get you into trouble..executed properly you will triumph with an impactful assault.

So what the what’s   the important point to remember?….keep you form…

In a real life ..keep in mind time and space… the  wing chun training system, amongst other things teaches timing and space-being mindful of your distance … that is the essence of knowing what range you are from your opponent. Your opponents weapons are their fists, for punching an  feet/legs for kicking–assuming there are no foreign objects.The key here is finding an opening to engage your opponent. This is where the Wing chun Dummy comes into play where these techniques are applied into your kung fu training.

Lets take someone who is in a boxing stance  leading with the left hand.   Your immediate threat is the left jab and/or front kick.  Even though in a dynamic situation you should be able to gauge the distance  you can engage in to deal with the initial threat of the punch.  This lead punch is the first threat and weapon you will be confronted with.  It makes sense , because the right hand is cocked further away and has a longer way to travel to be an immediate threat.

So if you adapt, you should see that punch coming –same as the front foot.  If the boxer punches and you can block …say with a bill sao or Pak sao (learned in Sil Lim Tao & Chum Kil) as you are i contact range.  The next levels of stage in combat is the exchange range where you fully agnate your opponents in close range fighting an look to overwhelm them.You are in exchange range when you are able to use both hands to both strike and defend against your opponents without twisting your body or reaching.

This sounds all so very complicated and technical- you may be thinking how ca i do this.its not all bad news.  The wing chun system has given you a great advantage and it s to do with your focus.

In your Wing Chun training you are taught not  to be focussing on your opponents hands or feet, if you do you will find you will get  a little too close a look at what may be the last things you see for a while–..as an oncoming fist heads your way.

The beauty of this Kung Fu Training  is that early on  you are instructed  to watch the opponents elbows.  Wing chun is based on the dynamics of human movement. ..Take note of the when someone makes any movement with their hands.  Whether its to punch or pick up a spoon, the first initial movement comes from their elbows. It is the first calling card for you, telling you what is going on…….If you have kept up with your training, especially the Shil Lim Tao form..your guard should be positioned to stop any oncoming attack.

Also note when your opponent  kicks with a front kick ,they need to make a move to generate the power ..what’s the first thing to move? The elbow.. as they make that slight move backwards to adjust their balance.  Practise this in the mirror and you will see..  alway focus on the the elbows…even if they want to strike with their back leg or right hook ..assuming they are in a boxing stance leading with their left….these parts of the body have a longer way to ravel and the elbow “tell” is even more exaggerated  so they telegraph the movement..

Now this may sound all to easy and is just one of the reasons  why  wing chun kung fu is such an effective martial art. , as well as teach you to be the best martial artist you can be.  But,  and this is a big but…it takes training and time to develop this skill… this is he story behind it …the practice is way harder than the learning ..but well worth it. So what is the answer to the question- What is more important than technique? Its your commitment and your intention.

If you are serious about your wing chun training you have decided to take the path of the martial artist…a lifelong path of learning and hard work.Remember it is not the system that will make you a great martial artist it is your application and execution of the system. One of the key assumptions and philosophies of wing chun is to respect your opponent.  Always assume they are bigger , stronger and a better fighter than you.  But above all believe in yourself and your abilities …the confidence you gain in your wing chun training will not only make you  a better fight and martial artist ..this impact will affect other areas of your life.

You know, remember that thing you always want to do but thought you never could..hey you thought probably you could never learn Kung Fu or any new technique.. the ability to defend yourself and the discipline to learn a new art will further prove self evident that you are able to achieve  alot more than you realise.

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For anyone who wants to learn a martial art, there is a lot to know in regards to the many different styles. Of course there is the question of finding the best martial art, which is a question a lot of people ask With so many martial arts styles to choose from, it can be very complicated to pick one to learn.

Many people have their own opinion, but the truth is that there is no way to definitely point to one martial art style as being superior to the others. There are so many factors to take into consideration that it is next to impossible to say which one is ultimately the best. One style may be able to beat another style in a competition, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the winning style is actually the best.

Before you decide to jump in and try a style of martial arts, you should first consider many factors. It doesn’t matter what style you choose, martial arts are a wonderful thing to study. Martial arts will help you to learn self defense, self discipline, and many other skills that will benefit you in all the areas of your life.

In every part of the world, you will find many martial arts dojo’s and schools that put a priority on teaching students about self defense. If a school or dojo concentrates more on forms, kata, or light sparring, they will be less inclined to teach you self defense skills to protect yourself in a dangerous situation. You will want a style that is relentless and hard training if you are interested in street self defense.

Its true that martial arts can improve your level of fitness, but that isn’t the primary goal behind many forms of martial arts. Some styles don’t focus on improving physical fitness at all, and are focused purely on martial arts. An example of this is Tae Bo. If physical fitness is your primary goal, then you should possibly consider something else besides martial arts.

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Violence is not the goal or aim of any form of martial art. The intent of martial arts is, and has always been, to train, educate, and improve the mental health and physical well-being of the participant. It has always held true that some have used the martial arts against people in violent acts, but this is clearly against the majority of their original intents.

Whilst there are many legends concerning the origin of the varying martial arts styles, it can be largely observed, even during recent history, that they are generally respected, and not usually feared in normal situations. This indicates that most martial arts-related violence has more to do with the circumstances under which the violent acts were committed than with the fact that martial arts techniques were used. Unlike guns, knives, and other lethal equipment, martial arts are not material tools to be utilized for violent purpose, but rather a structured method of bodily movement used as a vehicle both for self-defense and self-betterment. Therefore, the responsibility and intent of any positive or negative action lies with you!

Even in televised MMA martial arts tournaments where contact is allowed and to the casual observer, the intent seems to be to bloody the opponent as much as possible until he or she submits, the fighting is not used to impart lethal or long-lasting damage. Although violent actions such as strikes, sudden movements, and blocks are all commonplace, violence as intent is not, so martial arts might not entirely fit the profile of a violence-oriented activity.

Martial arts like Taekwondo, Judo and Karate all have rich cultural backgrounds, steeped in the rich history of Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto philosophical traditions. These largely forbade use of martial arts for negative intent, or unwarranted violence. Taewkondo was created to be a form of self defence, which is reflected in both the style and the equipment used for training. It is the national sport of South Korea, and the name approximately translates to “the way of foot and fist.A great way to train is to engage in a friendly 'sparr'. Practice targets, pads and sparring blocks can help you train with live targets that don’t get hurt!

When martial arts are used for violence, they become nothing more than tools in the wrong hands. A violent practitioner will fight violently whereas a peaceful student will use the art non aggressively and for inner peace and calm.

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Today we’re going to talk about 3 of the most common martial arts in the modern world. Although this doesn’t include all of the martial arts, these are the 3 most practiced.   Kung-Fu is extremely popular for people looking for a more classical version of martial arts due to its large traditional basis.   Muay Thai and BJJ  are customarily used by MMA fighters.

We will start by taking a look at Kung-Fu.  Kung-Fu got its beginnings in China, where it was developed for the monks.   Even though nowadays anyone in the world is able to partake in it, it used to be off limits to most people.   It wasn’t that long ago that it was kept strictly for the monks. Kung-Fu relies on a lot of kicks and punches.   It occasionally contains a few joint locks and throws, however these are usually insufficient.  They’re not like Judo, and it’s not quite like karate, because it’s more of a soft style.  Kung-Fu uses a lot of concepts and body mechanics, whereas karate’s more considered a hard, force against force style.   Kung-Fu, however, uses a soft against hard style.  Because of this many people think that Kung-Fu cannot provide any good self-defense techniques but Kung-Fu actually has some powerful techniques if used properly.

Made popular by MMA, Muay Thai is the next art we will go over.  Muay Thai is a Thai martial art. You see it a lot in kick-boxing competitions that happen all throughout Thailand. Young boys in Thailand are sometimes taken away from home to learn to fight for money.  Often they go till knock-out or until someone quits.  Knees, elbows, and round-house kicks are the primary focus of Muay Thai.  Thanks to the devastating knees and elbows of Muay Thai, this style is a great source of self defense moves.  Their competitions are known for being extremely brutal, but in America you can still practice Muay Thai at a good gym and be safe, because hopefully they’ll be using good, protective padding.

Lastly is BJJ, also known as Brazilian Jujitsu.BJJ is an excellent style that provides many devastating self defense techniques. Because of MMA, BJJ is one of the more widely known martial arts.  When it first came out, no one had ever really heard of it or knew what it was.   However, it was here to stay when the Gracie brothers brought it to the UFC.   Royce Gracie shocked early spectators by defeating nearly all of his opponents with ease.  By doing that, the world kind of woke up and said, wow, there’s something going on with this Brazilian Jujitsu, we should all learn it.   Nowadays, BJJ is used by the majority of those in MMA.  It doesn’t have as much power as it used to carry, but it’s still a great style if you like to grapple.  BJJ’s focused mainly on the grappling aspect, so there’s going to be a lot of chokes and arm bars, knee locks, submissions.  There are no punches or strikes, other than very basic ones.   Once getting your opponent on the ground, the main purpose of Brazilian Jujitsu is to cause them to give up when you do a joint submission or a choke.

That’s a look at some of the more popular martial arts.  However, there are many more popular martial arts out there.   This was just a little glance at some of the more popular ones.  However, by reading this list, hopefully you have an idea of what you’d like to learn.  If you are interested in learning a martial art, be sure to check out your local schools and find one that fits you best.   Don’t just settle for the first school you see. Make sure you try a few schools to see which one you like the most before committing to a certain one.    A lot of places permit you to test out some classes for free before signing up.

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For many athletes, sparring will always be the most exciting element of martial arts. The martial arts are a system of codified practices and traditions, developed and used for training for combat. Martial arts exhibitions and tournaments are often held to judge the participants’ levels of skill in particular contexts.

There are two types of martial arts sparring: the light or medium contact and the full contact sparring. Both of these forms, however, are used in training and competitions with a clear set of common rules.

In light or medium contact martial arts sparring, a point-based system of light to medium contact sparring in a marked off area of the body is the primary focus of interest. However, the competitors engaging in this style of martial arts sparring are required to wear the right martial arts sparring gear, particularly foam padding.

There are certain parts of the body that are forbidden for contact and require the protection of martial arts sparring gear. Participants must always protect the face and groin. To offer further protection, certain techniques may be prohibited in light or medium contact martial arts. Competitors who are able so perform the solid landing of the employed techniques are generally awarded match points.

Full contact martial arts’ sparring, on the other hand, is often pursued by those who share interest in a realistic unarmed combat. You may notice a lack of gear in this form of sparring.

For example, in Kyokushin, a form of karate, the practitioners fight or engage in martial arts sparring wearing no more than a groin guard or other light gear. The use of full force is considered most important, in the effort to disable the opponent, either by knock out or direct concession of defeat.

Full-contact martial arts’ sparring, unlike other forms of fighting, maintains a full variety of permitted attacks and contact zones on the body. Still, some techniques like biting, striking the groin and attacking the eyes are strictly forbidden.

These attacks are always prohibited, because these areas of the body remain unprotected, even with proper martial arts sparring gear. Above all else, the sport of martial arts sparring was designed to be safe.

In terms of safety, whether you want to engage in light or medium contact or full contact sparring, it is still highly advised that you wear proper martial arts sparring gear regardless of your level of expertise. This rule is in fact included in the overall guidelines of every martial arts sparring tournament or exhibition. Martial arts sparring gear is recommended for use particularly for beginners because sparring could be deadly when done improperly.

So if you are currently thinking of learning any form of martial arts sparring, then it’s time for you to shop for top quality martial arts sparring gear. Keep in mind that these supplies can now be found online, with lots of companies and online stores offering the proper martial arts sparring gear for your ultimate sparring experience.

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When taking up a martial arts style, you have to consider your height, weight, and body type. How tall or short you are and how much you weigh plays a big role on how well you can learn whatever style of martial arts that you choose to train in. Having trained in various disciplines of the martial arts since the age of nine, I can tell what style works depending on the situation.

My favorite types of conversations tend to be about applications of martial arts techniques and martial arts styles. I enjoy talking about martial arts and hearing about martial arts. We’re pretty hardwired when it comes to talking about the martial arts and so forth.

I’ve known a few people who can be quite stubborn when I try to give them advice. One of them lives up in New York and trains in a style of Nin-Jitsu. Nin-Jitsu is a martial arts style that emphasizes the use of stealth, hand-to-hand combat, and weapons. Most Nin-Jitsu schools teach mainly hand-to-hand and weapons training. You have to have good strength, speed, and agility to be proficient in any style of Nin-Jitsu.

He told me that he weights between two-hundred thirty and two-hundred forty pounds. For a person of his height, that is a lot of weight. In Nin-Jitsu, that’s way too much weight for what you’re trying to achieve. The kid was telling me how he had to improve his speed and agility. For a person of his weight, the answer was obvious.

I told him that he had to really tone down his muscle. He has the muscle which is a given. Having too much muscle slows you down. In a style such as Nin-Jitsu, his muscle mass would hinder his speed and agility. The kid was giving me some lame explanation on how he doesn’t want to sacrifice strength. Since there’s striking attacks in Nin-Jitsu, strength’s not going to do you any good if you don’t have the speed to use it.

If he wanted to be faster, he would have to work more on the cardiovascular exercises and routines. Plus he would have to cut down on lifting the weights because they will only add more muscle. He would have to tone down on his body mass in order to improve in the speed department.

For a person of his height and weight, he’d be better off learning any style that uses wrestling and grappling. But not everybody will go for the close quarter styles. I told him but he wouldn’t listen to me. I stopped giving him advice since he wouldn’t listen to me.

If you’re big and husky, you’re probably going to lack in the speed department. To compensate for the lack of speed you’ll probably have higher strength and endurance. For those attributes, you should try close range styles which emphasizes a lot on grappling and wrestling.

Some examples of styles would be: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Aiki Jiu-Jitsu, Competition Sambo, Submission Wrestling, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Gaidojutsu, and Judo.

Those styles are only effective at close range. Also the creators of the respective styles said that when using them, prepare to get hit. You’re going to have to get up close and personal for the grapple. Don’t discount the possibility that your opponent knows what you’re attempting to do. There’s a high chance s/he will know and will try to stop you with strikes or a counter-grapple.

Jiu-Jitsu was created over a thousand years ago in Japan because the samurai couldn’t punch and kick while wearing the heavy armor. The style would teach people to disarm soldiers in battle. When using Jiu-Jitsu on the battlefield, one would have to expect to get cut and/or stabbed.

It’s the same with Aikido, you would have to prepare to get cut. Aikido was a style spawned off from Jiu-Jitsu. The application of Aikido is used to counter strikes and weapon attacks. You have to prepare to get hit and get cut.

If you have a low constitution (how much pain you can take), you’re not going to fare well up close at your opponent. If you have a lot of muscle, you’re pretty much well protected unless it’s against another person with the same physique. The chances you can take those hits are pretty good.

But if you insist on taking a striking style, take up Muay Thai or Lethwei. Muay Thai is a very effective form of Kickboxing let alone being one of the most brutal styles of martial arts. A good number of strikes can be done at close range providing maximum damage to your opponent. Lethwei is the Burmese variation where you’re also allowed to headbutt your opponent which is absent in Muay Thai.

Still either form is a good style to take in regards to striking in a close quarters combat situation. Also, you can supplement Muay Thai/Lethwei with styles like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, etc. Many UFC and Pride fighters do the same thing.

Tall people whom are at least 6’5 and up would make better strikers due to the long arms and legs. When I mean tall, think about the tall basketball players. They’ve got good kicking reach with their legs which is crucial for playing the distance game with a smaller opponent. You can keep them at bay by poking them repeatedly with kicks. For this reason, it’s a good idea for tall people to take up styles like Jeet Kune Do, Karate, Muay Thai, Savate, and other striking arts.

Don’t discount the length of your arms. If you’re tall, you got pretty good arm length which enables for a good reach. Asides from kicks, taller people tend to have more punching range.

It’s not a bad idea to take up a grappling style or two just in case you’re going up against someone the same height as you or taller. Shorter people tend to make better grapplers because left effort is needed to execute leg takedowns where you lift up by the leg. This is where the striking part comes in. A grappler’s biggest mistake is attempting to shoot down on a Muay Thai fighter and attempt to do a leg takedown. The Muay Thai fighter doesn’t have to do anything but throw a hard strike upwards.

However, it’s hard for a tall person to grapple with a shorter person. In the case of doing a leg takedown, you have to put forth more effort such as kneeling downwards. When I took Japanese Shootfighting which uses a lot of leg takedowns, I had to put forth a lot of effort in executing single-leg takedowns.

But if you’re tall and very built, go with the wrestling styles. Go for the powerhouse wrestling styles such as Greco-Roman and Pankration. When taking on a smaller opponent head on the obvious winner will be you due to the size, weight, and mass difference.

A person 6′ and under tend to make better submissionists because they can easily maneuver against bigger opponents. This is the case of making your weaknesses into your strengths. If you’re smaller, it makes you more mobile. Being shorter than your opponent is an advantage when it comes to grappling because you don’t have to put forth much effort in take downs. However, it’s not necessarily the case when going up against an opponent with Thai Boxing experience.

Still, shorter people should take up grappling styles. If you’re short and muscular, take up Judo and Wrestling. If you’re short and skinny, take up Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aiki Jiu-Jitsu, and Aikido. The creator of Brazilian/Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was short and frail. Despite his height and weight, he could take on just about anybody with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

If you’re flexible like a wire, take up styles like Lucha-Libre, Wu Shu, Jeet Kune Do, and Capoeira. Those styles require a good amount of flexibility and agility.

I currently weight 185 lbs and stand at 5’11-6′. If you’re of a medium muscular build, you’re pretty much well rounded and can learn just about any style. I do my best to keep my weight in check because it will affect how well I will perform in my respective disciplines.

A person with a perfect balance of height, weight, and build can learn all sorts of mixed martial arts styles like Japanese Shootfighting, Vale Tudo, Green Beret, and Krav Maga.

You can learn whatever style(s) you want. But your height and weight will affect the difficulty.

If you’re very big and want to learn Nin-Jitsu or Karate, tone down your body. If you want to take up Greco-Roman, bulk up your body. If you want to take up Capoiera, work on your flexibility. If you want to take up Muay Thai, strengthen your legs.

How you want your height, weight, and body to affect your overall learning is up to you. You don’t see big muscular men practicing styles of agility and grace like Capioera. You don’t skinny people take up Sumo Wrestling. You don’t see big and muscular men taking up Lucha-Libre.

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