I’ve been promising video content for a while and frankly I’ve been slowed down by a number of things (taking the technological learning curve, etc).
The big roadblock was when I damaged my rotator cuff in April – that injury reduced my training to a crawl and made it tough to demo properly.
My ambition is to put together a little series I plan to call Wing Chun 101, in which I will go over the basics of the Wong Shun Leung – Gary Lam approach to Wing Chun and try to bring some clarity to the subject. Most of the Wing Chun videos I see on Youtube are vague and/or confusing.
I’ve put pretty much everything I find that is good on this site, and as you can see, that’s not a lot compared to the amount that is out there.
So the next few videos will just be me showing a few helpful things and then once I get my feet wet and my video/audio method down pat (and hopefully get my shoulder fully healed), I’ll start releasing the series as I make them.
This one is an extension of my earlier post on Light Sparring.
As you can see, I’m not exactly Wing Chun perfection here. I’m leaning forward a little. Chasing hands a little. On the surface, its almost like a slap fight! But its completely live and random and relaxed and to do it right, you have to get a number of things going (footwork, hands up, keeping hands on the center, stepping in past incoming attacks, etc). Chi Sau always looks more exciting since its so close and fast. Unfortunately, I can’t do a Bong with my left arm at the moment!
I do recommend taking some video of yourself (this stuff was shot on an iphone) — its illuminating.
Awesome to hear you’re creating video content! Coincidentally I injured my left shoulder too in October and have been recovering as well. I hope you have a 100% recovery! Cheers!
Thanks Edgar – its definitely humbling to see yourself on video! Hopefully as I recover I can do some demos that approach the stuff my coach, Greg LeBlanc, is doing. Check him out on his facebook page for some scorching action. Its takes a lot of skill to look good while preserving your partner.
I’m not sure I’d classify this as “sparring” ( but the video is short, so maybe there is more to ti?)…I see it more a precursor to gor sau, there’s still format but you can see where it’s going.
If it’s any consolation….I tore my rotator cuff boxing back in 2005. I was training GL WC about 10hrs a week on average in Shanghai back then. I honestly thought I would never be able to roll again. I took some time off (about 4.5mths), got a few Cortisone shots and slowly came back. There are training drills I totally insulated myself form, and slowly I regained use of the shoudler girdle. My punch onthat side sucked for the longest time, but slow therapy with pole and concentrating on getting optimum positions with my elbow i came back. I basically adjusted how I did some things…and now 10 years later they’ve become natural, even though that is point is still weak.
Take heart that you can do it, but just don’t rush it if possible.
Thanks Ben – its been about 6 months for me so far and I’m back to weight lifting (working around it) but no Wing Chun yet. I find I just can’t trust myself in the school not to go too far too fast playing with the other guys.
Yes – this is definitely “light” sparring and the idea is just to pick targets, develop range, and take position, but all without hurting yourself or your partner. See the Conor MacGregor example too – its very light and almost more mental than physical.