The Take It For Granted Thread

[Ultimatewingchun]

...We're going to take it for granted that if you participate in this thread, then you also endorse the following:

1) It's important to spar on a regular basis with skilled, resisting opponents...
2) It's important that such sparring includes frequent hard sparring - not just light sparring...
2) It's important to spar like this against people skilled in other martial arts, not just WC...
3) It's important that you be open minded about what strategies and techniques you use...
4) It's important to also include sparring against skilled grappler types...
5) It's important to also include sparring against skilled mma type fighters...

GREAT !!!

Now we can discuss, debate, argue, possibly even occasionally agree upon: WING CHUN !!!

And so, if you're following the rules, there will be no need for anyone to come on here and try to play: THE WIZARD OF OZ !!!

You know the type, he's hides behind a big curtain (ie.- you never get to see what he's all about)...and he speaks incessantly in a big roar about what you should do, what you shouldn't do, what you should think and not think, who you should respect and not respect - and most of all - never disagree with him no matter how disproved or debunked some of his "teachings" are.

Okay, enough about this type of fellow.

Now onto some wing chun.

Pick a topic and state your case:

Forms
chi sao
wooden dummy
weapons
crosstraining
sparring
conditioning

etc....

[Ultimatewingchun]

Okay, I'll start: let's talk about the Wooden Dummy.

How much of the WD have you been able to actually incorporate into your fighting/sparring?

What adjustments/modifications, if any, to the actual WD form do you make?

If you can take moves (or a series of moves) from the WD and use them in actual application, please give some examples...

Or is the WD just primarily a device to strengthen your limbs while simulating some WC fighting?

Or maybe you find the whole thing basically useless. If so, please explain why?

[LSWCTN1]

i havent learnt the form, but do get shown the odd drill here and there on the dummy.

i did hear a nice saying from Joseph Man though, "The dummy is your friend, it should not hurt you" meaning that if you go light contact, or full contact, on the dummy if it hurts you then you are doing it wrong!

[deejaye72]

i think the training from the dummy gives you certain attributes,but as far as picking moves and fighting with it,i cant say i ever have. i really do love the dummy form but,all you can use are the concepts and attributes.Against a resisting opponent,there's just no time for fancy moves.i'll comment more later,i have to get my daughter to school and get to work,later eddie

[kungfublow]

I haven't made it too far into the wooden dummy form. Just finished the fourth section. I personally find it very difficult to take some of those techniques and use them in sparring. I'm not sure whether you can transfer them over at all or whether I just can't figure out how do it. I'm assuming it's the fact that I just don't know how to do it.

All that being said I think I have learned alot from it. Things like footwork and the flow from one technique to the next, hand positions and correct angles, forward force and control. All good things I would say. I think there is a great value the WD form. All the things I have listed are things that I have managed to take with me into sparring.

[sanjuro_ronin]

My views in regards to the dummy tend not to be typical WC views, I think that we can use the dummy with a set routine but also to freestyle a bit on it, personally I have always enjoyed "fighting" the dummy and never cared much for doing a routine on it.
I do drill my dummy pretty hard too, I find that by hitting it hard, as close to full contact as I can, I can test my structure far better.
I also pad my dummy so I can not only drill it harder but use specialty fists like the PE fist, that is probably more from my "SPM" training than WC though.