After studying several different martial art styles for some years, I
came across wing chun. Having trained in this art for some time now,
I am of the opinion that this art, along with only a handful of
others is built for pure efficiency in fighting. However, unlike the
other arts of interest I have encountered, wing chun is the only art
that is so dependent on training with others to perform many of the
various techniques included within the style. Great, instead
of 'pretending' to apply my techniques in shadow sparring and katas,
I actually get to see and feel how my techniques would work on
another person, on a constant basis. The best example of this is
wing chun's chi-sau exercises. To me this is an invaluable training
system. My problem is this, to truelly progress in wing chun, you
must be allowed to progress. The aim being, to become fluent in wing
chun. An obtainable goal only with the right mind set, many years
dedicated training, and lots and lots of chi sau. If one does not
regularly chi sau with an advanced practitioner of this art, does
his/her ability stay at an idle level, not dropping, but not at the
same time really improving? Is a student's progression within this
style governed by his/herself or by the people they are training
with? My ideas and philosophies on wing chun, I need to explore and
develope for myself. The trouble with this is that I need someone to
experiment my ideas and concepts with. If I cannot find somoene of
an advanced level to do this with, will my wing chun ever improve, or
will my ability be governed by others?