Most people today think of fighting systems as Asian. Some
also even think of Brazil or Israel, but most don't think
of martial arts as being European or American. Some have
heard of Bare-Knuckle Boxing but don't equate it with other
martial arts. They really don't know how effective and
brutal a street-minded European boxer could be. In fact,
Bare-Knuckle Boxing was once considered one of the most
effective empty hand systems in the Western world for
self-defense.
When we think of Bare-Knuckle Boxing we envision the sport
scene more than the self-defense aspect of the system. We
think of the Queensberry rules and black & white visions of
fighters who stood in a strange looking, more upright,
primary fighting stance. People today consider the system a
rather antiquated form of boxing which has grown to become
a high level sport. That is exactly what it has become; A
SPORT.
There is a large gap between sport and self-defense,
however. As a self-defense, today's boxing has lost much of
its street effectiveness. The Bare knuckle fighter of the
past could handle himself quite well against any would-be
attacker.
Early in the sport, men still used illegal techniques that
they learned from their own fathers and brothers or from
the street. These fighters knew how to hide illegal
techniques within legal ones like the straight right hand
that would slice the opponents lips to ribbons or the eye
gouge hidden within a jab. These guys knew all the brutal,
vicious, fight-terminating shots. In fact, before rules
were in place and before today's boxing methods were
birthed in the ring, men were studying boxing as a
self-defense science. The practice of bare-knuckle boxing
dates back to ancient times and was unparalleled during the
Renaissance where fencing science and human biomechanics
were meticulously applied to the system.
European bare-knuckle boxing is an almost forgotten, yet
very effective street self-defense system. It is the
original form of boxing, more closely related to ancient
combat systems. It involves sophisticated self-defense
using fists, fingers, elbows, knees, feet and even the head.
Bare-Knuckle Boxing or Western boxing or what I call
Long-Bridge Boxing at my school is our indigenous fighting
system and is every bit as effective as its oriental
counterparts. It also makes up a large part of our martial
heritage. The western art of boxing has also had a huge
influence on most other martial arts. One system in
particular, some believe, that was greatly influenced by
Western boxing is Wing Chun. A look into China's past will
tell you that Chinese practitioners had many encounters
with Western boxers. They encountered a system of fighting
they hadn't seen before because they were used to fighting
people of their own stature, not the taller Europeans.
These Europeans kept their heads back, with their weight on
the rear leg. They punched straight and took small,
shuffling steps, with a few low kicks or none at all. This
was totally different from the Chinese methods as they used
low horse stances, with wide, overreaching punches.
Needless to say the Europeans beat many of the kung fu
fighters. This is a matter of great controversy so we need
not say that this is indisputable. What I submit to you is
that Wing Chun would be greatly improved by incorporating
certain key principles of Bare-Knuckle Boxing.
Bare-Knuckle Boxing came to our line through my Si-Gung,
Karl Godwin who with his own teacher went in-depth into the
study of the roots of the world's martial arts. In
particular those of Western fighting arts, their
development and finally, their compatibility with Wing
Chun. As a result, my teacher, Bill Graves, an early,
senior student of Karl Godwin, spent much time developing
and refining his Western influenced Wing Chun. He then
passed it on to me where this innovative method has
continued to blossom. The compatibility of Wing Chun and
Western boxing is nothing new however. It has been
recognized before. Bruce Lee, an early Wing Chun
practitioner, found that boxing could fit the principles of
Wing Chun better than any of the Asian arts. However, he
failed to take note of the pure street aspects of the
system and incorporated some sport postures and methods.
So my early training in Wing Chun was a combination of
undiluted Leung Sheung (Yip Man's most senior student) Wing
Chun as a skeleton with the Western boxing expression. I
learned the sets without alteration but when it came to
sparring and ultimately fighting it was certainly pre-sport
Western boxing. The posture was tilted back with the arms
extended upon interception keeping the head away from the
opponent's fists. All of Wing Chun's concepts were in place
but the emphasis was certainly a polished Long-Bridge
Boxing articulation. Back then drawing blood was common.
Bloody lips and black eyes and cheekbones were expected.
There wasn't a night that I wouldn't go home without some
injury. Of course the way I train now is much different.
It's all advanced, short range centerline control. It is
the opposite spectrum of my early training and is
considered advanced Wing Chun. Our training methods are
unique to our line and I believe it is the "Little Idea"
that Wing Chun can and should be.
But as a teacher I have come to understand the importance
of retaining that early longer range Western Long-Bridge
Boxing. My experience has been that without its influence,
a three to eight year practitioner of Wing Chun is
predominantly a mid to short range fighter who finds
kickers and anyone who fights at, or just outside of,
boxing range to be problematic. I say this with all due
respect not wanting to ruffle feathers, but I've touched
hands with many of the major lines' practitioners only to
find them wanting. They could not deal with someone who
kept them out of their comfort zone. In other words, I
found that their interpretation of Wing Chun was somehow
limited by tradition. It lacked presence and innovation.
There is something else that eludes many Wing Chun
practitioners and that's the anti-grappling aspects of Wing
Chun which is an essential part of my system but who's
subject I will save for another article. I am by no means
saying that Western Boxing in itself is an unabridged
system. I am simply saying that the ability to reason like
our Western fathers has greatly improved our Wing Chun.
As a teacher I feel that the most important thing I can do
is to look at my students as people I can help. I put their
needs first, so teaching the Long-Bridge aspects of Wing
Chun is first. To me it's all Wing Chun but I emphasize the
Long-Bridge because of its brutal effectiveness. Its
emphasis is on destroying the attacker efficiently and
quickly at a longer range than is traditionally taught to
99% of Wing Chun practitioners. This gives a less skilled
student more time to respond with adequacy by reason of
distance created by larger footwork and additional arm
extension. The footwork is not different than Wing Chun,
just larger. Much of the training is efficient
interception, footwork and straight, leg-powered punches
with simultaneous deflection. Keeping your head away from
the action and greater mobility is key. After they are
proficient they go into what we call mid-range (where most
Wing Chun lives) and then at higher levels to short-bridge
or very close quarters training.
Innovation is a concept that we value, so as a system we
view Wing Chun as complete. That means that it works
against boxers, kickers and grapplers, guns, edged weapons
and blunt instruments. I was not looking for Western Boxing
when I found my teacher but it was a pleasant surprise. One
that I value greatly to this day. We possess not only the
skills of the fathers of Wing Chun but also that of our
Western fathers. To quote my Si-Gung, "The principles of
both arts combined, form the basis for a more scientific
fighting method. The assimilation of Western physics,
philosophy, and other disciplines into the already
effective Chinese Wing Chun creates the potential to
develop all of the physical and psychological attributes of
an individual. This combination of East and West would
allow Yip Man to be joined by Da Vinci, Vesalius, and other
great thinkers as the builders of the ultimate pugilistic
system." In other words, there is room for tradition but
innovation should rule the day.
Although Bare-Knuckle Boxing is almost gone in the United
States, it is still a vital part of our training. More
importantly, there is the idea of ownership of our fighting
system. The idea that Wing Chun serves us and not the other
way around. The tendency is to cry, "Heresy!", but the
proof is there for all to see. If you can't deal with
various types of fighters and you get grappled down and
knocked out by a powerful right hand, then your martial art
is useless. If your Wing Chun can't deal with all comers
then you should question it. I don't mean change it. I
don't mean alter the sets in any way, although some of you
have. I mean if you find a place of deficiency in your
system then alter your training methods and your manner of
interpretation of the sets. We have not altered the sets
passed on to us, but certainly the training methods are up
to date and answer ancient-to-modern martial questions.
This has created a seamless fighting system whether armed
or empty-handed.
A renaissance of Bare-Knuckle Boxing has taken place in our
school and I intend to conserve and develop it. This vital
component of our Wing Chun has allowed us to better
appreciate Bruce Lee's efforts to incorporate fencing and
Western Boxing into his system. Tradition is good but if it
begins to make any part of the system ineffective then its
got to take a back seat to well thought-out training. I
think that's what Bruce Lee meant more than anything in his
pursuit of expression in martial arts. Not the technique of
the minute or the jack-of-all-trades mentality that is so
prevalent in JKD today, but the concepts of more effective
training and the idea of a complete fighting system. This
unexpected component within our line and the mentality
behind it, has unequivocally paved the way to a Wing Chun
that has come-of-age.
----------------------------------------------------
Armando Sainz has been involved in martial arts since 1979.
His school is highly recognized in the industry as being
one of the top Wing Chun schools in the country. He is also
owner of Sainz Personal Defense Systems. A company
dedicated to helping others stay safer through the use of
self-defense products http://www.sainzpds.com/ and
surveillance equipment. http://www.sainz-pds.com/
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