MightyBands, home gym system

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Wing Chun Workout

For those within the wing chun circles, there are two camps - one that is for weight training and another against weight training. Let's take a look at reasons for weight training/workout and wing chun:

1) Increases muscle mass, therefore adds to punching power
2) Health benefits from working out contributes to overall body health
3) It does NOT slow one down (look at the sprinter!)
4) Trains muscular endurance (minimize fatigue during a fight)

But here are the reasons for why weight training is not for wing chun:

1) Increased muscle mass restricts freedom of movement, therefore slows you down (look at the body builder!)
2) There is always someone stronger than you and wing chun is designed to fight the stronger enemy
3) The muscles trained with weights counter muscles used for punching (eg. biceps vs. triceps)
4) Want to be better at wing chun? train more wing chun!

So what's the right answer? Is weight training a good thing or a bad thing for wing chun? Can one design a workout that finds the happy medium between these two extreme positions?

You bet.

And I've found it! I was playing with my resistance bands on the weekend and, after some consultations with my Si-Fu, I was able to find some really interesting drills that can be replicated with the MightyBands while sticking to wing tsun moves!

After 15 minutes, I was sweating like crazy! But not from some crazy pushups, but simply performing step and punch drills, positioning and stance drills and kicking drills all with the use of the resistance bands! I actually made a quick video for you guys to check out the type of wing chun resistance training drills I was able to perform. There was very little compromise of the positioning of the hands, elbows, shoulders and stance - unlike using weights or machines. I was pretty impressed with what I was able to do.

Something like this provides enough resistance to challenge muscle (promote muscle growth) specific for wing chun structure and punching power, without creating huge muscles. And while it's doing all this, you can perform the exercises in a manner that gives you a great cardio workout! Best of all worlds.

So check it out - my wing chun workout/wing chun resistance bands training drills.

Until then.

4 comments:

kyklosphaira said...

Nice work Brian! I only do a simulated bull chi-sao with exercise bands, and like your added mix of various drills!

Unknown said...

As I mentioned before in another blog, do you think there are some moments where do we have to block and attack at the same time and not wait till the process of blocking is already done, then there are situations where you cannot wait, or it is dangerous to wait till the blocking is done then to attack, or is it better to to first block then attack, rather than to block and attack at the same time? Do you think it is better to do both thing at the same time? When?Which moments and what do you think? Is it also safer first to block then to attack? Please comment on this, I am very long time Wing Chun practicer and trainer, I have been often asked this question in the school from my students, i alway used to answer that it is seldom where do we have moments like that, but I do not think that is true. Bit I alway agree that even if it looks like that, but there very short moments then come the attack step, do you think so?Please visite my homepage and read and watch articles what you like about Wing Chun Kung Fu and watch som videos about Bruce Lee and IP Man:http://www.kung-fu-schweiz.ch. Good luck

Unknown said...

YIP MAN'S SPECIFICATIONS KNIVES

The Wing Chun "Double Knives" have even shorter blades that are also thinner, lighter, and employ a specialize, tapering curve and handle angle to accommodate the unique techniques of the "8-Cut" system, which emphasizes small and extremely fast motions that require just a flick of the wrist. It has taken me over ten years to find a suitable manufacturer able to duplicate this design to the specifications given to me by my late teacher, Grandmaster Yip Man. They are offered exclusively here in polished 3Cr.13 steel construction. (Please note that edges are finished to give a sharpened look, but are not pre-sharpened. Grip wrap material, design, and color can be customized by owners after purchase; we provide only a temporary grip wrap of random color.)"

THESE ARE SOLD UNSHARPENED ONLY. BY ORDERING YOU AGREE THAT THE KNIVES ARE TO BE ONLY USED FOR PRACTICE AND SIFU LEUNG AND THE MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER FOR DAMAGES INCURRED EITHER TO YOURSELF, OTHERS AND/OR PROPERTY.

Wing Chun Berlin said...

Nice article! The most important thing, you wrote (for me and my students): "want to be better in wing Chun, train more!"

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