Self-defense Based Martial Arts Principles ---- Chief Instructor Blog May 2022

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