Name 3 Things Wrong Here!

Do you remember those picture books where you compare two pictures that look, for the most part, the same but you are asked to find the 10 things wrong or different between them?

I want you to take a look at this video clip. I apologize, the intros take a long time before the action gets going.

Anyway, here you have former Traditional Wing Chunner Sifu Joe Sayah fighting in a K-1 Tournament. He's fighting against a full contact karate fighter.

I'm not here to pick on Traditional Wing Chun. I just want you to look at this fight and think, "what went wrong?"

What did he do right? Sifu Joe fought with continuous attacks. Much like the ideas of wing chun. But that's where it ended.

It seems like there was nothing in those hits. Nothing behind the punch, the kicks nor even the kneeing! I'm sure he can hit fairly hard..and i'm sure his students can attest to his punching power, but you can really see that it did very little.

Is this a product of (generally speaking) the wing chun chi-sao? the training? to rely on short inch power, to always be relaxed? or is this none of that and just a more of bad training altogether? there's no structure..it seems to me..no weight into the hits.

Is this a product of a co-operative partner? a partner not used to be being hit? so many variables, but variables that I think we all vulnerable to.

What are your thoughts?

Again, this is not to pick on Sifu Joe nor Traditional Wing Chun. I want to know what we can learn from this experience.

Until then.

Join Me: WT 1000 Punches Challenge and Abs Program

I was reading my Si-Fu's blog on his 14 hour chi-sao marathon, and there was something he mentioned that couldn't be more timely (much like his punching come to think of it!)...

"Funny enough someone, who I don’t know, sent me an e-mail: “Fitness doesn't play an important role in the process of learning wing chun.” Hmmh ... Yes, fitness can also be a relative factor. I have seen very fit people collapse within moments under the pressure of a stressful fight exercise. My point has always been to do your strength and fitness training alongside your martial arts training, not one after the other. Why? Life is too short. It’s that simple."

Life is too short and it's 2010! And fittingly, I'm challenging you to do my "1000 Punches and Abs Program!" So are you game? The program will consist of:

• Cardiovascular training
• Resistance training
• Supportive Diet

Now, all you have to do is follow my blog posts on www.mightygrasshopper.com and I will lay out the exercises (reps, sets, rest time, etc) all there for you. There will also be additional information on why we're doing resistance training, what to eat and why, and how to work in cardiovascular training in a fun and more effective way than jogging for 45 minutes.

Where does Wing Tsun fit into all this? Well, I will be modifying the cardiovascular portion of the program so that it will consist of Wing Tsun drills and exercises - instead of jogging, you'll be chain punching; instead of the bike, you'll be shadow boxing; instead of the elliptical, you'll be doing intensive stepping and attacking drills.

And, the point of all this - to see if you're up to throwing a 1000 FULL BLAST chain punches! I'm not talking wimpy, rabbit punches...I'm talking ball and canon chain punching to-rip-the-heart-out-of-your-opponent-and-the-guy's-behind-him-kind-of-punching.

Please check my post that kicked it all off and my post on the start date and equipment required.

So there you have it - within a few months, you'll be blasting punches no problem. And the side effect? A slimmer you with a six pack!

Please pass this on to your wing tsun/chun brothers and sisters!

For my Si-Fu's blog on the 14 hour chi-sao marathon, click here.

Until then.