Kicking In Wing Chun

[Tom]

I've always wondered why there isn't more emphasis on kicking in Wing Chun. Is kicking a recognized part of Chi Sau, or do we do it to strictly train against upper body attacks?

I know that Wing Chun is about close up fighting, and for that the best thing is to use your hands; attacking points on your opponent that will stop them quickly, such as the head and neck, but kicks can be devastating when performed close up.

Maybe its because I approached Wing Chun from having a basis of knowledge in Tae Kwon Do, but it seems that kicks can be overlooked a little in training.

Any thoughts/arguments against?

[Dan]

Good Question.

Firstly the ammount of kicking u do in wing chun depends on who is teaching the wing chun. personally i think kicking does play quite an important part of wing chun, and it is offten over looked. like you say kicking can be deverstating, even a really basic un powerful kick if done to someones groin can end a fight.

with regard to chi sau, kicking is generally not introduced into it as it can overcomplicate things, however it can be used when chi sau has broken off (to say one hand contact). Wong Shun Leung did this when practicing chi sau.

Also there is an exercize in wing chun called chi gerk (sticky legs) wich is essentially just chi sau with kicks. i will show u that on tues if u r interested but its a bit weird and not as useful as chi sau.

The reason you havent perhaps come accross kicking so much is because it is contained in the second form and dummy form but, i think it is an essential and useful part of the wing chun assenal.

Dan

[Tom]

Yeah man, I'd like to see chi gerk.

[superfoot]

I personally think that in chi-sau or "wing chun" range leg techniques cannot compare to the effectiveness of hand techniques. I really dont think it is worth sacrificing your stance to try and squeeze in a kick in chi sau. The feet arent quicker than hands and its unlikely a skilled opponent will leave his groin open for attack.
Obviously when in long range combat I think kicks are devastating; just ask some of my opponents from yesterday!

[Tom]

yeah, fair point. But against a not-so skilled opponent, it could prove useful I guess. But then I suppose you'd just use superior footwork to get inside them and continue with hand techniques. I dunno really, I guess it must just be a personal thing. I feel more comfortable attacking with kicks than punches, but I guess thats because I haven't done enough Wing Chun.

[superfoot]

I think that...

chi gerk is performed from close range, pretty much as close as chi sau. The idea is to stand on one leg and use the other to control your opponents free leg and stike their standing leg. (with both people holding each otehrs arms) Learning how to block kicks and to manipulate your opponents energy.
I wouldnt imagine its of much use practicing stoppin an attacker; this can jus be practiced exactly how we have in lessons before.
I have never seen sifu do chi gerk and have seen/heard very little about it.

Most of what i have mentioned is what i got from simon kelly; although i may have misinterpreted alot of it and/or just plain got it wrong.

[Dan]

The best way to kick in wing chun is when bridging with the arms ill show u all what i mean tonight its well powerful and close range but stable and safe.

but adds last point about what we have done to stop someone attacking in lessons using kicks a very good point.

ill update this post when i got more time but im lazy and wanna go climbing.

Dan

update - if ones opponent throws a straight punch block on inside or out with a biu sau then grip arm and lap sau them into your kick but keep your Wu sau up incase they thow a punch as you lap sau them. this will have massive amounts of power due to the clash of them into your kick.

[Chris]

yip man (from what i have heard) would use a kick to stop an opponent who is charging in say with a punch and then control the arms. because, as we practised in the sessions, a snap kick wil stop a moving opponents in his tracks whereas the arms are weak and if the oppent is much larger and you dont have time to shift your body. arms are likely to pushed to close to your body or you will be off balance, and we all know what happens when balance is lost!

[Dan]

yip man used the kick bridging as described above to kick to the rib area under the armpit as it can dammage the shoulder or imobalise the arm.

[superfoot]

Apparently that was yip man's favourite move!

i think we did it in majorca, we all did a hand movement simultaneously to make sure the opponents attention was on our upper body

[Chris]

kicks are not merely to be used against the unskilled, they are a much needed asset when fighting the highly skilled.

fancy flashy kicks are for demonstration, but their principles are built around the essence of basic kicks and therefore further increase ones ability at those, which are the most important

the simple direct path is the most effective and holds the greatest speed and power.

dont be blinded by power, kicks are just another weapon/sheild to use when the oppertunity presents itself.

thats some of the stuff i think/have learned about using kicks, but some stuff i have learned about practising kicks is that rooting in the stance is the crucial facter which differentiates a empty kick from one with substance so the key to kicking is varied and challenging stance work, horse sitting is the best, standing and hopping on one leg is good for those without balance (like me) or standing on one leg while doing different kicks, ie dont let the kicking leg touch the floor. also preforming very slow kicks and them holding them locked out for a minute or 5 but this one hurts alot. thats only 2 excersises there is shitloads more to training to training kicks. what stuff does everyone else do, if anything.

[yunalesca]

yea balance exercises are always good for improving your kicks, when i used to karate we had to do 10 of each basic kick on one leg without letting your leg touch the flour and then swivel your balancing leg so u did the same 40 kicks in every direction
For higher kicks we also used to practise kicking over a chair but i wouldn't reccomend that since i've found (from personal experience) if it goes wrong it can reeeeeaaaally hurt your foots!