Traditional self-defense based martial
arts may have very different techniques but their principles are quite
similar. To explore this, I will
describe some key principles of Wing Chun Kung Fu (whom Ip Man and his most
famous student Bruce Lee were practitioners) and how they are similar to Han
Moo Kwan’s principles.
Center Line Principle
If you draw a line down the center of your
body from forehead to groin, it passes through the vulnerable spots in the
body. So, it is critical to protect
those parts of your body. In Han Moo
Kwan, we accomplish this by using a fighting cat stance (not squaring off to an
assailant so they do not have a direct line to all of our most vulnerable
spots, keeping one hand high and one hand low at all times, and using cat stance
for more mobility).
In addition, this principle indicates we
should be attacking those “center line” targets on our assailant. In Han Moo Kwan, we do teach attacking those
vulnerable targets are the most effective techniques.
Simultaneous Attack and Defense Principle
This can be thought of in two different
ways, and each way we apply in Han Moo Kwan.
One way, is that when we defend, we are offensive, we “block to
break”. In addition, we employ two hand
techniques where one hand “defends” while the second one attacks. For example, it can be techniques like the opening
move to Pyung Ahn 4, where in one application the “blocking arm” is defending
and protecting the head, while the striking hand is attacking the assailant’s
neck/throat. Or, in techniques like
Extended Spear Hand, where one the one hand traps the assailant, while the
spear hand attacks.
Shortest and Most Direct Path Principle
In Han Moo Kwan we teach linear techniques
because they are the shortest and most direct path. For example, our front kick uses a piston
action to be linear. There are also
other advantages to linear techniques.
For more information on why linear and how that principle is applied to
various techniques, see my February 2017 blog “Why Linear?”.
Economy of Movement Principle
This principle can also be thought of in a
couple different ways as applied to Han Moo Kwan. One way is short strikes. In Han Moo Kwan, one of our goals is to use
the shortest strikes possible while also generating the maximum amount of
power. In Han Moo Kwan, we also do not
go force against force. Instead, we take
advantage of the direction of an assailant’s power. For example, if our assailant is pulling us,
we do not pull back, we go in the direction they are pulling and attack them.
Minimum Use of Brute Strength Principle
In Han Moo Kwan, we accomplish this by
using energy and not muscle to be effective and efficient in our techniques. By doing so, we can be effective against
assailants that are much larger and physically stronger than we are.
Based on the above, while there are
different ways / techniques to accomplish the principles above, these
principles are foundational to any self-defense based martial art. I recommend thinking of these principles as
you practice and explore techniques.
Regards,
Kelly
“If size mattered, the elephant would be the king of the jungle.” ~ Ip Man (1893-1972), A Grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun Kung Fu
References
1. 1. Core Concepts |
International Wing Chun Academy, retrieved 5/1/2022
2. 2. Five
Principles | International Wing Chun Academy, retrieved 5/1/2022
