If you cannot stand making mistakes while learning a new skill, you will not do well with this martial art. Humility is important. You cannot rush the learning. Instead, you must repeat, repeat, repeat the drills so that you can hit the target, even under pressure!

The centerline concept is the most basic. The centerline is a line from your center to your partner’s (or attacker!) center. The center is defined by a vertical line down the middle of your body from head to toe and another line, horizontal, half-way from the top of your legs to the top of your head. These two lines intersect in the middle of your chest at the breastbone. That spot is your original target. If you miss, there is still enough room right or left or up or down so that you will still hit something. It’s very much like the firearm target practice silhouette. You are instructed to aim at the silhouette in the center!

A second concept is that of evasive footwork. Unlike other Yip Man lineages, we turn on the center of the foot one foot at a time. This method lets you dodge a strike to either side by turning, while keeping your toes and heels on the ground. In addition, this method truly allows you to get out of the way. Turning on the heels or the toes does not! Try it!

The next basic concept might be the straight-line concept. Of course, we defend and attack along straight lines but when the going gets more involved, one still must use the straight-line as the basis. During fast action, your instincts learned in previous training, must have you seeking the shortest distance to the target! This allows you to be faster than an attacker using a curved or convoluted path.

These concepts are the basics and must be learned well before you can effectively learn further.

Si-fu Keith Sonnenberg

#wingchun #wingchunkungfu #selfdefense #selfimprovement #selfimprovementjourney #masteringdiscipline #SelfDisciplineWins
#leungting #fitnessjourney #MindBodyHealth