Question:
“Hey Sifu. I’ve noticed that while watching most of Gary Lam’s DVD’s that he incorporates a lot of ‘arm and neck locks’ or ‘take downs’ (for lack of better terms). I was wondering if this was part of the WSL system or just something that he incorporated into his own personal repertoire of wing chun? The reason I ask is that they seem very effective and cool, but somewhat outside the ‘main’ concepts of wing chun.”
David Peterson:
“The thing about Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun is that, because it is taught as a concept-based system, it can be adapted in a infinite number of ways by anyone who practices it. It just so happens that, by virtue of Sihing Gary’s experiences, preferences, physicality and personality, he has chosen to make use of the kind of actions that you have described. As we work at extreme close range, with lots of contact and therefore lots of control of the opponent’s balance and limbs, there is always the option of using such techniques – it just may not suit everyone to do so – thus, such ideas are definitely NOT outside the “main” concepts of Wing Chun, they are merely another aspect/direction of the art.”
David Peterson’s school is WSL Ving Tsun Combat Science Malaysia.
Sifu Gary Lam, WSL system is effective for combat the palm strikes and takedowns do look like its mixed with Panatukan ( Empty Hands Kali) by the way the hands flow. Is it common for a Sifu to mix in moves from other martial arts ?
I would say its not a mix but that both systems were influenced by similar previous arts or that great minds think alike. The palm strikes and the Chin Na (standing grappling) are part of our system (which is a big system).