Originally Posted by
BPWT..
I have never said you or Alan are wrong. I have simply asked you 'why'. It's like talking to a brick wall. You keep repeating what you think I am saying.
Regardless...
When not facing an incoming attack, I use a guard that is - at the least - an approximation of Man Sau and Wu Sau. Why? :). Because the way I have learned, we want to start (if possible) from a position that offers us an initial line of protection that keeps the center line in mind, and also keeps the option of attacking in mind. Two layers - man sau's hand to elbow, and wu sau's hand to body, plus a least a basic covering of the gates - but most importantly keeping my hands in a potential position to attack and/or meet an attack, and in accordance with our system's use/position of the elbows (which of course is vital for us in both attacking/defending).
I say again... this is from a start position. As soon as I initiate an attack or if one comes to me, then of course the start position changes to something else (no one holds a guard position regardless of what is happening). But whether I attack first or I need to receive, I want the initial position of the arms to be placed such that I can use our system's ideas and methods for striking, intercepting and, if there is the opportunity, controlling.
I say "receiving" as from the initial start position (guard) I am talking about, I have the option to receive. (Loi Lau) I have asked you these continuing questions on this thread because from the cover position I saw in the sparring clip, the fighter can (IMO) only receive by taking the strike on the gloves, and his arms are compressed. To my way of thinking, that is not optimal, so I ask you questions to try and understand why your system would use what appears to me to be a more Western boxing method of covering to absorb a strike. This makes sense, for the boxer, as they are not looking to "receive" how we would in Wing Chun (in my opinion, of course).
Once there's been a clash, the distance has been shortened and we see a barrage of strikes, then I often find myself using the covering that Alan showed in the 'instructional clip'. This makes sense to me and is now relevant, as we are then not at a "before" timeframe and at some distance, but instead we are at the "during" timeframe and we're closer. We can see more compressed arms because our body is closer to the opponent's body. In short, we arrive at this point but we don't want to start from it.
This is what I try to apply when sparring with fellow WT guys, or people who have had some training in MT, Karate and boxing. I'm not claiming I can always make it work - its a learning experience - and I don't make the claim I do this with Pro fighters (I don't). But I try to make sure that the body motions and methods I use are supported by the concepts and the strategies of the system. The most important being Loi Lau Hoi Sung, Lat Sau Jit Cheung.
So it is funny when people here say that I am looking at things from a technique point of view. The concepts and strategies go hand in hand with the body method, IMO.
Take it or leave it, believe it or not. I really don't care. I'm simply asking you guys why you do things the way you do them. Feel free to respond by saying that all of the above is BS, and that I am low level and a cast member of an AMC TV series. :rolleyes: