There wasn’t many people at tonight’s Kickboxing Session...

There wasn’t many people at tonight’s session (I think Arsenal were at home) which is ok with me because we get more time to focus on one thing.

We went through the usual warm up which included pummelling the heavy bag with continuous kicks for 30 seconds per rep. that was hard work.

We went on to a boxing combination where you defend a low blow by dropping the elbow, then uppercut with the same hand and off the lead leg through the gap your opponent just exposed, followed with a cross, then you have the option to deliver a roundhouse kick to the mid riff, making sure you step into it. I found this a very neat combination with nice direct attacks.

We then went on to sparring with one hand at a time. I found this excellent for practising basic defence especially the parry, I had to concentrate on timing and movement. It’s amazing how much more active the guard hand becomes when that’s all that’s in-between my face and the oncoming punch and I can’t use attack as a defence.

Sifu Mark also explained getting the right body mechanics for the two most basic kicks, front kick and roundhouse kick. You really have to thrust your hips into the front kick and lunge forward, this kick can also be used in place of a jab, or to set up a jab by using it as a fake to get your opponent to drop their guard. The roundhouse kick requires a slight step just before executing, with a twist in the hips for maximum power and optimum angle. This kick can be used in place of a hook or cross and is generally at the end of a combo.

Another enjoyable San Shou Kickboxing lesson, food for thought, say no more.

By Toby Hawkins

http://www.londonwingchun.co.uk/

Well tonight was hard work again...

Well tonight was hard work again, I’ve been neglecting my Wing Chun and my fitness is suffering.

There were a few new people who came along which is great, the more the merrier as far as I’m concerned. I love sparring with lots of different people. I feel everyone brings something different to the table therefore potentially there is more for me to learn.

We went through the one two high low counter I explained last week, so the newer students could see, but mainly to see if we could be fluid with it. I found that instead of just ducking, punching then standing up with the hook, as the opponents haymaker came in and I ducked, I slightly moved away from the punch then as I rise I follow an ark type shape, if there was an image of a clock around me, I would go from 4o’clock to 12o’clock, the body counter down low with the right and the hook up high with the left (or visa versa).

Wing Chun explodes with strikes but San Shou seems to be a lot more rhythmical, it helps to channel into the bobbing, weaving and countering.

I was working on the speedball before the class and I started finding my rhythm, it felt good, I was actually hitting it (an achievement for me) another fine example of the benefits of commitment, if your struggling with something just stick with it and one day it will just come to you (put your mind to it you can achieve anything).

We did some light sparring, but one punches high while the other punches low, I found this good practise, in one set of shoes it is quite difficult to just hit your opponent low when they are hitting you high, timing, speed and bending at the knees are helpful (if not imperative) I wasn’t getting many through and I was getting hit a lot, I need to work on that. I noticed while high sparring with one particular student that he was getting me a lot on the counter, I feel that may be the more effective option rather than just going for it.

In the other set of shoes it is good practise hitting your opponent in the head when he does strike low and expose a target. Some people are quick and it is important to capitalize on that split second opportunity, I would be willing to take a shot in the mid-riff if it means I can get a couple to the head, (I remember Sifu Mark saying that a while back) it could end a fight. Timing again is imperative I think you need a one two possibly even a three hit combo (I always like to throw punches in bunches) to get the desired effect.

We ended the class with some light sparring, again splitting into two groups because of the amount of people, plus to keep it controlled, everyone was knackered I could see it in their faces. To wrap it up an enjoyable lesson everyone is improving, I just need to get fit...again, sigh (commitment Toby commitment lol).

By Toby Hawkins
http://www.londonwingchun.co.uk

Week One of Project San Shou: Basic Boxing Training

This is the first instalment of my weekly san shou blog; I’ve never written a diary before so this is new too me, what the heck here goes.

I haven’t been training much the last two weeks due too injuries resulting from a bit of over enthusiastic sparring with a good friend of mine, so tonight was hard work.

This week we covered counter punching, the counter is in my opinion one of the most effective ways of breaking through your opponents guard, not only does it have one of the highest KO rates of any punch (because its unexpected) but psychologically it destroys their will, think about it, if every time you attack your opponent you miss and get hit what are you going to do?

You will cease your attack, mentally at this point you have lost the fight.

The drills we practised included a 1-2 one low one high defending against a haymaker, this is done by bending at the knees to duck the incoming punch whilst hooking to the body with the opposite fist (making sure its coming off the back leg) then upon rising using a straight with the other fist(or a hook) to the side of the head, this can be followed up with a swift roundhouse kick to the front of the legs, midriff or groin, bending at the knee if distance is an issue.

The second defends against a jab, this is done by stepping back when the jab is thrown thus avoiding it ( this can be accompanied with a slight parry) then as it is retracted quickly step back in sticking to the wrist then snap out a jab of your own, this works best on the outside gate.
After practising these drills we split into two groups then one at a time tried to apply them into free sparring, I felt this worked well because not only could we watch each other, there was a lot more room too (plus a well appreciated breather for those of us who have been neglecting our fitness)

It was a good lesson and these techniques if applied correctly are very effective bread and butter moves.

http://www.londonwingchun.co.uk./sanshou.html

http://www.londonwingchun.co.uk/

An Introduction to Student A by Student A

I’ve been doing Wing Chun for over a year and it has become an integral part of my life now, I find the fighting style absolutely unique and very effective in real combat situations.

I started San Shou a month or so ago because of my love for kick boxing as a sport, I thought the training would be relatively simple compared to my Wing Chun drills but what I found is another very effective complex fighting system. Although it breaks practically every rule of Wing Chun you are literally only a step away from switching styles which can only add to confuse your opponent, add to your capabilities and self confidence.

Put it this way Wing Chun teaches close contact fighting and that puts your average opponent out of his comfort zone because most people like to be just within punching or kicking range so they have time to react ( or get out of the way) when a strike comes in their direction, But for a Wing Chun fighter who wants to be close is slightly vulnerable when trying to close that distance to effectively use his skills at close quarters, This is why I started San Shou so I am in no rush to get to Wing Chun range and am comfortable fighting from a distance if need be.

If you think San Shou is just punching and kicking you are mistaken, it is much more than that, the strikes are very effective (I know I have felt them first hand) but we practise take downs, bluffs, manipulations plus cover many different angles and options for attack and defence, a good all round defence is imperative in any confrontation, you can throw a strike at any time if you have a good defence.


http://www.londonwingchun.co.uk./sanshou.html

http://www.londonwingchun.co.uk