Economy of Motion Economy of motion, one of Wing Chun’s 10 concepts plays a vital role in its effectiveness. When compared to the other concepts, this concept is by far the most influential concept in terms of combat. For if one is not economical in his/her movements while in a battle he/she will not be able to decisively and effectively diffuse the threat. I can still remember Grand Master Jason Lau harping on the importance of economy of motion while teaching his students. Every time that I saw Grand Master Lau teaching his students, I always heard him implement the concept of economy of motion into his discussions, which has stayed with me throughout my training. Since Grand Master Lau comes from a military background, his Wing Chun has surely saved his life on numerous occasions. The Wing Chun concept that I’m sure has always remained in the back of his mind and which has remained evident in his fighting method is economy of motion. Therefore, economy of motion will continue to linger on into the future of my training as a vital pearl for the continued success of Wing Chun. It is widely known in geometry that the shortest distance between two points is a line. This simple illustration, or truth, is further expressed in Wing Chun’s concept of economy of motion. Economy of motion is seen throughout the Wing Chun forms, and is further expressed and applied in chi sao (sticky hands). For example, in the first open hand form Siu Nim Tao, the yee jee kuen hand, or sun punch, follows a clear path starting from the chambered hand, following a straight line to the center of the chest with the knuckles facing forward, and lastly following a straight line out to its full extension in the center of the chest with the knuckles facing vertically. It is difficult to visualize without the help of a visual aid, but of more importance is that by following the rules of Wing Chun concepts (triangle, straight line, center line, and economy of motion) the sun punch is the most structurally sound and economical way to punch. This punch is further supported with the advent of scientific support from anatomy, physiology, physics, and geometry. The economy of motion concept is further developed in chi sao. The main difference is that, instead of acting as a stationary motion in a form, chi sao is always changing. In other words, no strike will ever be reproduced a second time in chi sao. This allows the student to further develop the concept of economy of motion while remaining cognizant of the other 9 concepts by keeping each of them in check throughout his/her chi sao training. This expression of Wing Chun through chi sao will overflow into one’s methods of fighting, should a battle ensue. Therein lies the key to the concept’s success. In comparison to the other fundamental concepts, economy of motion will allow the Wing Chun practitioner to "get in and get out" during a fight and hopefully remain in one piece. Another important factor to remember in Wing Chun is that it starts out as a martial art, but through training as it is conceptualized and compartmentalized in one’s mind and body, the 10 essential concepts of Wing Chun transform one’s way of thinking which leads to a positive influence and impact on one’s life. For example, you start to see how you can be more economical in your countless roles as a parent, family member, employee, friend, etc. It might start out as how you handle your daily chores, or how you go about completing your various projects at work. You will then begin to strive to find the most economical way to complete the task (s) at hand. This in turn increases your potential for taking on more tasks, which allows you to be able to accomplish more in your daily life. As one grows through his/her understanding of economy of motion, he/she might one day realize that the most economical way of surviving a potential battle is by taking the exit nearest to him/her and avoiding the opponent and the opponent’s friends. Survival is key, and running away from a fight is not necessarily a dishonorable thing. Remember, carry on to teach Wing Chun another day. I have briefly described which concept I feel is the most influential in combat and for survival when applying Wing Chun. I have also discussed how Wing Chun’s concepts can overflow into and positively transform one’s everyday life. The concept of economy of motion will always remain with me throughout the continuation of my training. Use the blog to discuss which of the 10 concepts you feel is most vital to Wing Chun and its development. This will increase our knowledge and spread the system through our countless viewpoints. Train efficiently, Isaiah Antonek Author: Isaiah Antonek Instructor - Wing Chun Kung Fu Alan Goldberg Family Isaiah Antonek is a Jr. Instructor in Wing Chun Kung Fu. He has been studying this martial art system for approximately ten years. Although Isaiah has trained under two different primary instructors he has been studying in the Jiu Wan, Jason Lau family line. Isaiah spent the bulk of his training under Jerry Gonzalez, who heads the Jason Lau satellite branch in Tampa, FL. Currently Isaiah is completing the remainder of the formal system in Master Alan Goldberg's family, being directly trained by Sifu Brian Spiegel located in Clearwater, Florida. Isaiah currently works in the medical field and has come to understand how the martial arts expands into one's everyday life - by understanding the fundamentals he was taught when he began his training was a prerequisite in the martial arts, his career and in life. Isaiah is expected to receive his full Sifu ranking certified by Alan Goldberg in the near future. Copyright 2009 (c) All rights reserved Kung Fu Exchange, Clearwater, Florida |
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