What is On Off Energy

[Unknown Wing Chun Person]

In Wing Chun, the more advanced students talk about using "on off energy" when punching, kicking and blocking. What does this mean and how do you use it?

Any ideas?

[Dan]

'On Off energy' refers to the energy or force and tension in one's body when performing a technique.

take the wing chun punch, the fist is shoot out as fast as the practitioner can fire it. this is because the faster it goes the more damage it will do. When tense the fist is a constant mass. like a car the faster it travels into an object the more damage it will do. therefore in order to make your fist move fast it must remain loose (this is because the bicep and anterior deltoid muscles pull while the tricep and posterior deltoid muscles push) therefore if they are both tense they will work against each other and slow the arm down.

everyone with me so far, so now the fist is traveling as fast as it will go, you need to tense at the last possible moment in order to do the damage. therefore so far the energy when throwing the punch is off then on at the last second before impact. once impact has occurred tension must again be switched off in order to move quickly to where ever else the arm might be needed and also so the opponent does not take advantage of your tense arm in the form of a jut sau, lap sau or by jarring or breaking your arm at the joint.

thus energy is 'off' (relaxed) when delivering the technique then 'on' at the point of impact for the punch/kick or block, then after impact the tension and energy is off again.

hope this helps,
Dan

[Dan]

If you get this right the power in your punches will be deverstating. and your blocks will be quick but solid where needed.