I haven't posted here in quite a while, but after skimming more than one thread regarding the topic of Choy Lay Fut vs. Wing Chun while browsing the forum I felt the urge to offer my opinion on the subject of "style vs. style" here. Having been exposed quite extensively to both the Fong Yuk Shu lineage of CLF and Wong Shun Leung’s method of VT and having some practical experience in other methods of combat, I find rather than debating on what method is "better", it is more efficient to understand whatever method one is studying by scrutinizing the method's strategies in reaching the (imho) "universal" goal of incapacitating an opponent. Different approaches to the same goal do not necessarily make one approach better than another. Using different approaches and strategies to attack an opponent requires different methods of power generation to back up the different structures of each method’s specific attacks. Rather than treating each “style” of fighting as a pseudo-religion (where faith is more important than logic), one is better served by scrutinizing a method’s approach to combat by means of their specific strategies and concepts through realistic training and critical reasoning.
The Choy Lay Fut method uses a wider base and generates power for its circular strikes from the planting of the foot opposite to the fist attack and the torque generated by the shift (mainly but not exclusively) in the hips, waist, and shoulders. Moving the pivot (a point around which torque is generated) though manipulating body structure (i.e. stance) will also manipulate the lines and angles from which your attack can travel to your intended target. The position of the fist in relation to the pivot in this type of attack results in greater impact, though it tends to leave the practitioner somewhat vulnerable to more direct counter-attacks, which is why a CLF practitioner is taught to set up the attack with a more direct one (this often done through the use of a ‘Chop Chue’ - a technique similar in use to a lead jab in boxing) and the use of combinations to attack the target from different angles and lines in direct succession, plus using specific methods of entry.
The following videos illustrate how Choy Lay Fut is practiced and incorporated into SanDa at my family’s martial arts academy in Chicago (demonstrated by my kung fu brother). Incorporated into SanDa or not, the lines, angles, and specific CLF structures should be immediately recognizable by practitioners of CLF from any branch or lineage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGd4nZIMsFg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvaGRDkBCec
Once understood, concepts and techniques of any method should be drilled under progressively greater pressure.
The following video shows a sparring drill (done by my CLF kung-fu brothers at my family's martial arts academy in Chicago) focusing on moving in and out of range and using the ‘Chop Chue’ to attack and to set up further attacks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2orHZClUUs
The following videos illustrate how Wing Chun practitioners (as practiced by myself and my students) drills the concepts of directness in attack and efficiency in motion thru ‘chi-sau’ - a drill specific to the structure and strategy of the Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) method. The Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) method uses a relatively narrower base and structure that proposes the use of linear attacks toward an opponent’s center of gravity employing the most direct line and acute angle possible as the current combat situation dictates.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhLd3PPCSdw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEsRyWuqDMs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzienY-LRJM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD-LN9kNA7s
The following is a 2-round sparring session between an intermediate level CLF student and an intermediate level VT student at my family’s academy. Though by no means perfect, I believe the practitioners of both methods were, at several points in the practice session, able to successfully assert the concepts and strategies that they have practiced respectively.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6BxUFlx1ZE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnAdOaCLBQk
From what I’ve been taught and what I have discovered through practical experience, differences in methodology don’t necessarily equal to a method being “better or worse” than another, but it really amounts to how well educated the practitioner is in his/her preferred method of combat. Thus, the focus should never really be how one should fight any other specific method (though having true working knowledge of your opponent’s preferred fighting method will offer an advantage, it is often difficult to foresee your opponent’s preferred fighting method in advance), it is far more efficient to fully educate yourself on your chosen method of combat’s most suited range and devise practical ways (from the method’s core combat strategies and concepts) to deal with attacks and strategies from all possible ranges.
Just sharing my thoughts.
Philip Ng