The Wing Chun Mind:
Learn to Think Like a True Fighter
By Robert Chu
(First published in Inside Kung-Fu, 91/09)
Many have heard of the wing chun system of martial arts. Most articles
deal with the techniques, the chi sao, the forms, the politics, and the
variations, but I believe this may be the first article that deals with
the wing chun mind. Master Hawkins Cheung, who has taught in Los Angeles
since the late 1970s, outlines the concepts of wing chun in combat. An
early student of grandmaster Yip Man, Cheung has practiced wing chun for
over 30 years. Hawkins was also Bruce Lee's training partner in the early
1950s and together they explored fighting concepts. Master Cheung stands
5-feet-5 and weighs 105 pounds. He is every inch a skilled fighter and
excellent teacher.
 Cheung
explains the wing chun mind and the "how" and "why" of wing chun. He also
explains where many wing chun men are incorrect Cheung states that the
principles discussed here could be used by any system of martial arts
to be applied in combat, regardless of the tools delivered. He considers
stylistic differences, postures, techniques, forms and drills secondary
to wing chun's application in combat. Master Cheung's advice here is reminiscent
of Sun Tzu's Art of War. He offers practical, straight forward advice
on combat, very much like his style of fighting.
Combat
Wing chun is designed as a combat system. For this reason,
the system emphasizes confidence, timing, intercepting, capturing the
centerline, shocking the opponent, setting up for consecutive strikes,
and trapping. But the most important weapon in wing chun is the mind.
Cheung explains that the mind is the center, the "referee" that the system
revolves upon. Cheung uses the term "referee" because it denotes a bystander,
one who is emotionally detached. Cheung states that, "Having a calm mind
will determine your success in combat" To Hawkins Cheung, the wing chun
mind is the mental frame of mind you need to survive.
Confidence
Hawkins often uses an analogy of driving a car to convey his
teachings. He asks, "Are you good driver?" A student nods affirmative.
Are you a good driver in Europe? Are you a good driver with a manual transmission?
Are you a good driver in New York?" The student looks confused, as Hawkins
continues, "The difference between driving a car around the block versus
driving a car on the freeway is confidence and experience. Confidence
and experience go hand-in-hand. If you're not confident, you will be a
disaster in driving or fighting." The students understand.
"Practicing with a partner develops confidence so that when
you eventually face an opponent it will be like driving to the supermarket
If you have fear, you will lose. Don't fight it if you have too much to
lose. If you must fight, you must destroy your opponent and not stop until
he is defeated. You must have the fighting spirit and attend to the job
on hand. Don't have fear, let your fighting instinct guide you in destroying
your opponent. This is the kind of confidence you need to face your opponent,"
says Cheung.
"The basic drills pak sao (slapping hands), lop da (grabbing
and striking) and dan chi sao (single sticking hands) give a beginning
student a sense of facing an opponent. The first form, siu nim tao, advises
the student to 'not think too much,' and gives the basic tools and how
to utilize them, as in learning to drive a car, which you eventually do
without having to think." says Hawkins, "The wing chun system was designed
to develop a person with no knowledge of martial art to eventually become
a proficient fighter."
"If you're facing an opponent, you must have the confidence
to walk straight in on his punch or kick! "exclaims Cheung. "There is
no retreating step in wing chun; the idea is you have to 'eat up' your
opponent's space and step in. It's not wing chun if you take a sidestep
or retreat from an attack."
Newton's laws of physics states that only one body can occupy
a space at a time. "You must rush in with absolute confidence. "Master
Cheung states that knowing this is an important factor in mastering wing
chun, "because if a practitioner can't fulfill this requirement, he may
as well study another style."
Timing and intercepting-- "Can you do it?"
Hawkins often states anyone can learn the entire wing chun
system in a short time, but it difficult to master. He often asks his
students, "You can learn so and so, but can you do it?" Being a close-range
art, wing chun is based largely upon timing. "Hitting a person just as
he is attacking requires perfect timing:' The question is, can you do
it?" He notes many other martial arts styles are fast "The boxing jab
is perhaps the fastest punch, and coming in on it is dangerous. By utilizing
the proper timing, you can score a blow just as the jab is retracting
or about to be launched."
Timing is the prelude to intercepting or cutting off an attacking
Says Cheung, "Fighting is based on shocking attack. To shock the opponent
with a blow or through surprise will slow or stop his attack" Hawkins'
explanation is reminiscent of the German blitzkrieg (lightning) attacks
of World Warn, and of the recent Persian Gulf War, where the Allied forces
bombed Iraq through a surprise night attack.
Sifu Cheung continues, "You have basically two methods of
capturing the centerline: the first is to have superior speed over the
opponent, and the second is start entering just as the opponent attacks.
The key determining factor is timing."
Cheung states if there is no starting point, a wing chun man
will not initiate his attack "if you move, I move; but I arrive first"'
says Cheung. Sun Tzu's Art of War states that you attack after, but arrive
first.
"Having a fight is like arguing with someone. When you're
engaged in an argument, you and your adversary are emotionally charged
and each side wants to speak his point of view. But in wing chun, the
idea is to let my opponent speak first, and I will initiate my timing
from his start." Cheung continues, "From that point, I shock or scare
my opponent and initiate my say-so."
Like a gunslinger, Cheung states that a wing chun practitioner
has to develop the fastest draw. "A wing chun player captures the centerline
first, which means he has the opponent targeted. if I am pointing my gun
at you, and you move, even slightly, I'll shoot Other Systems want to
shoot as soon as possible, but with wing chun, you want to be the one
that draws first, then shoot if necessary.
"if you can strike your opponent at his moment of entry, the
results can be devastating," claims Cheung. "Impact is virtually doubled.
The question is: Can you do it?"
Capturing the centerline
Many martial artists understand the concept of the centerline,
a principle emphasized in wing chun. As master Cheung defines it, the
centerline is the fastest line of entry between two opponents facing each
other. The centerline concept is what differentiates wing chun from other
systems of martial arts.
"In other styles, movement originates from outside toward
the center. Other styles choose to use the curved line. Wing chun is different
in that movement originates from the center outward. Wing chun is designed
to cut the motions from other systems, and timing is the means to occupy
the center first"' says Cheung. "It's not wing chun if the movement doesn't
originate from the center.
"One must capture and control the centerline to occupy a superior
position. To occupy the centerline in an instant is the mark of expert
skill, by controlling it you have immediately developed a sense of what
the opponent can or cannot do," says Cheung. "You have, in essence, presented
a question or problem for the opponent to answer."
"Many wing chun men ignore the skill of closing the gap and
distance fighting," says Cheung. Wing chun's famous motto explains, "Stay
as he comes, follow as he retreats; rush in upon loss of contact." To
"rush in" means to overwhelm the opponent with a blast An analogy of the
pressure of a river behind a dam suddenly opening its gates should help
you understand this feeling of 'rushing in." Master Cheung continues,
"Seeing a whole body charge at you has a totally different mental reaction
then a fist coming at you. A fist is small, but an entire body is big.
This mental shock can be unbalancing to my opponent"
Shocking the opponent
When you strike an opponent, you stun or shock him. The shock
causes a sudden overwhelming stimuli which can overload the brain and
delay reaction. This shocking action allows you to setup your opponent
for further consecutive strikes. Whether you choose to strike, yell, curse,
spit or slap your opponent, the result is the same if you are successful.
Your shocking blow will delay the reaction time of your opponent, causing
an opening. if you hit him again, it canes more shock; more shock will
cause more delay; more delay in reaction will cause more strikes to land.
As Cheung says, "My fists are like drumsticks beating on a drum." But
he cautions, 'Don't let the shock reverberate back to you, as you will
delay your own timing. Only through correct muscle conditioning and relaxation
will you break the vibration back to yourself"
One day Hawkins said to this writer, "Attack me, Robert, anyway
you like." I complied and prepared to attack. Just as I did, I suddenly
felt stunned, and I had Hawkins' fist in my face. He smiled. '"Did you
feel the shook? Did your mind 'blank out?"' I felt first-hand his skill
on entering and setting me up. Hawkins did not rain punches on me, but
had he, I doubt that my 6 feet, 185 pounds would be able to stop anything
after shocking my system.
"To shock your opponent, you can use pak da (slapping strike),
lop da or any other tool. You must catch your opponent with the correct
tiling. When you shock your opponent, you cause him to blank out, and
in that instance he loses himself and his surroundings, and there is an
opportunity to destroy him!" says Cheung. "Anytime a martial artist, regardless
of style, throws a punch or kick, he is blanking out because of the focus
and emotional commitment" This blanking out gives you the time to strike
your opponent.
The chi sao training is a famous feature of the wing chun
system, but as master Cheung describes it, "Many wing chun practitioners
overemphasize the drill. They find themselves unable to use the sticking
hands in combat." Cheung continues, "Sticking hands is for contact sensitivity.
At long range and no contact with your opponent, you must have eye sensitivity.
The problem with most wing chun practitioners is they have trapped themselves
with only relying on contact sensitivity; you must have both. Both eyes
sensitivity and contact sensitivity follow each other, where one leads
off, the other follows to continue."
"Chi Sao training is for you to get information on your opponent,
but if you don't have the contact and are at a distance, you must rely
on your eyes. Master Cheung describes in detail that, "Eye sensitivity
takes over when you don't have the contact with your opponent; contact
sensitivity takes over when you're jammed up and or in close. If you don't
develop this, you win never he able to use wing chun."
He cautions: "If a motion is too fast for the eye, it can
be a trap, and if it is too fast for the hand, it may be a trap. In these
circumstances, you must use your eyes to zoom in, or cut your opponent's
motion by rushing in and use your contact sensitivity." Master Cheung's
advice is reminiscent of a Patriot missile sighting a Scud missile in
mid-air.
"What is important to learn is to control your opponent's
bridges and set him up for the next shot. Good wing chun is like playing
billiards, you must always look for the next shot. Make your opponent
follow you, if you are fast, make him catch up to you. If he is faster,
make him slow. If he is hard, defeat him with soft. If he is soft, defeat
him with hardness. If you can master the wing chun principles of 'stay
as he comes, follow as he retreats; rush in upon loss of contact,' you
win realize the essence of wing chun."
Lien wan kuen: Conseculive strikes
After setting up the opponent with a shocking strike you must
follow up with consecutive strikes. One of the most often drilled punches
wing chun is called lien wan kuen. It is quick burst of straight line
punches along the centerline that continues until an opponent is downed.
Translated loosely in English, lien wan kuen means "chain punches" or
"consecutive striking."
"Lien wan kuen is a major application of the wing chun principle,"
says Cheung, like an expert in billiards, each one of your shots scores
and sets up for the next shot You do not give your opponent a chance to
breathe. You strike and set up the opponent for more strikes until he
is unconscious. You act like a butcher, cutting and hacking away at your
opponent. Never stop until your opponent is down. That is the wing chun
attitude."
There is a certain amount of detached cruelty at work here.
This aggressiveness has helped Hawkins survive many street encounters.
Trapping: Giving frustration
Trapping is the heart of wing chun. Sun Tzu wrote that all
warfare is based upon deception, and to trap an opponent is to deceive
him. Says Cheung, "When I trap your hand, your leg, or your body, your
mind instantly freezes and considers the options. There is a psychological
breakdown, and my opponent begins to lose his sense of confidence. When
I don't allow you the time to solve your immediate problem, I frustrate
you, and therefore trap your emotions. You then have two opponents against
you-- me and yourself.
"If your opponent is fast, you be slow. If he is slow, you
be fast. You must always keep in control of a fighting situation," warns
Cheung.
"If I can trick you, I am controlling your mid if I make believe
there's no pressure in my right hand, you may believe I'm not paying attention
and want to attack there. But since I'm deceiving you, I want to draw
your response so I can set up the next shot," says Cheung.
An excellent example is the recent Persian Gulf War. Iraq's
strength was on the ground, but the Allied forces concentrated initially
on air assault prior to any ground fighting. The tactic was to confuse
the opponent and lead Iraq into concern of air assaults. Says Cheung,
"You never allow your opponent to feel comfortable, that is the essence
of trapping."
Offense and defense
"Offense is based on attack, defense is based on body structure"'
says Cheung. Offense is only 50 percent of the art Many wing chun men
only concentrate on the offensive portion because offense is the best
defense." He warns, "Mastering the defensive portion of the art requires
that one develop a strong stance and correct body structure. Defense means
that you have to depend upon being a half-beat slower and follow your
opponent and respond from there."
For the wing chun practitioner, defense relies upon the correct
structure of the body. The wing chun body structure holds back the rushing
in of an opponent, much like a dam holding back a river. Again, we come
to wing chun's motto of "Stay as he comes, follow as he retreats; rush
in upon loss of contact" Your body must stay and be able to receive your
opponent's rushing in.
Cheung describes the body structure as eating up the opponent's
space and his pressure. This is the soft part of the art Cheung again
refers to the importance of the mind. "When an opponent rushes in toward
you, you must have the mental preparation to receive the attack. Your
mind must be calm."
A wing chun principle is that the striking hand is the blocking
hand. Offense requires superior timing in one beat A defensive counter
works on a one-and-a half or second beat Wing chun's simultaneous defense
and offense is in one beat According to Cheung, "The best wing chun players
can combine both offense and defense simultaneously in one beat if offense
and defense are separate, you're not adhering to wing chun principles.
Many wing chun men don't realize the importance of timing which makes
the concepts come alive. You have to make the opponent blank out if you
don't make the opponent blank out, you have lost the superior one-beat
timing. A common reason is because you have jammed up your own timing
because the shock has reverberated to you. If a wing chun practitioner
can master superior timing, he can be free from the style. if you master
timing, the style is secondary. You can use the opponent's technique at
that point You have to train to reach that point It takes years of hard
work; you literally gamble with timing." There is a wing chun saying of
"glass head, bean-curd body, and iron bridges." Master Cheung is a living
example of this expression. "Being physically small, I can't take a punch
or a kick," says Cheung. "Using timing and these methods of attack, I
never had to draw my last card" The last card that sifu Cheung speaks
of is defense. Like the ground war during Operation Desert Storm, the
last card is the trump card.
"if I had a body like Mike Tyson's, I could afford to wait
and play the defensive role and wait for my opponent," says Cheung.
Forever Springtime
The wing chun fist are is named after its founder, Yim Wing
Chun, but to Hawkins Cheung, the words "wing chun" also mean "Forever
Springtime".
"If you look at wing chun this way, the art is always fresh
and new."
Sifu Cheung often explains that wing chun practiced in America
has a different emphasis than in Hong Kong. "In Asia, we practiced wing
chun to defend mainly against body blows, so you'll have to emphasize
crossing the bridge, gaun sao and other techniques," he notes. "In America,
you have boxers, wrestlers and other martial arts, each with their strengths,
so you have to keep aware and adapt."
Change and adaptation are essential to survival. That is why
there are so many types of martial arts. He insists that like an immigrant,
you have to change your ways to adapt to your new environment "A good
wing chun player is a great pretender. He can adapt and change his tactics.
You must change and adapt to circumstances to survive! That is the wing
chun mind.
"Wing chun is a trap, too, because many practitioners get
hung up thinking wing chun is the only way to fight. Many wing chun men
are in the process of still developing the tools, so they can't begin
to conceptualize how to apply them properly in combat Changing to survive
is universal, not just in wing chun," says Cheung. "The frustrating part
of wing chun is learning how to enter. This skill take years to develop."
He concluded, "A master can only be a master today. You can't
tell what the future is, as the situation may change. You can only be
a master up to the present An individual has to develop, continue with
his own research and grow everyday."
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