Teaching Wing Tzun Advancing Steps

Now that a student can punch and turn like a Wing Tzun Practitioner it is time to get them moving forward in my 3rd class structure.

Usually at this stage I do a small warm up / Recap on what the student has learnt so far.

Warm up

• 3 chain punches in IRAS
• 3 chain punches 90 Degree Turns
• 3 chain punches 180 Degree Turns
• 3 chain punches mixed turns

Repeat with continuos punching then once this is complete bring in the focus pads to add power and endurance.

For steps I start with the 'Crab Step'. To perform the crab step start in IRAS step lift one leg of the ground without changing the width of the stance and almost simultaneously push of the other leg onto the ball of the foot to move to the side as the student moves set the lift leg back down on the ground and squeeze the adductor muscle together to bring the pushing leg along with the step and repeat. As I get the students to practice I get them to say to themselves:

• Lift
• Push
• Squeeze

Lift the leg, Push of the planted leg, Squeeze the adductor muscle together.

Corrections that can be made here are:

• The butt sticks out like a duck
• The stance gets wider or narrower

Correct both at this start get them to keep pushing the hips forwards to stop the butt sticking out to keep the correct posture for the IRAS. The width of the stance can be cause by try to jump to the side to there is nothing stopping the pushing leg going to far or not pushing as the other leg is lifted so the time the lifted leg lands body needs to be shifted to pull the other leg with the step.

If the mistakes are made, get them to reset the stance to their correct width. This will create more muscle memory for the body, so it knows the correct position naturally.

Once the Crab step has been practiced I combine the crab step and the 90 Degree turn to make the Wing Tzun 'Advancing Step'. Simply set up IRAS and do a 90 Degree turn now in the Character 2 position with the body weight over one leg you Lift Push, Squeeze. Lift the front leg, push of the planted leg and then squeeze the adductor muscles. A little tip I use is make sure the hip of the leg that is planted is pulled round to engage the adductor muscles. It will also keep the shoulders square.
Practice the advancing step first with either arms in the Sao-Kuen (withdrawn) position or both arms extended with the palms touching to create a triangle pointing along the centre line.

After practice the advancing step add to the challenge of the steps by getting them to punch. Again use the 1,3 continuous formula.

1 punch

1. Lift the front leg and punch simultaneously
2. Push of the planted leg
3. Squeeze the adductor muscles

The challenge here is to get the student to have the leg and arm do something at the same time. Once then lift and punch their focus can be brought back to the step.

3 punches

1. Lift the front leg and punch simultaneously
2. Push of the planted leg and punch 2 more times
3. Squeeze the adductor muscles

The challenge is to not do the extra 2 punches when before the front foot lands. This add in the power of the body weight into the punches.

Continuous

1. Chain punch
2. Lift the front leg
3. Push of the planted leg
4. Squeeze the adductor muscles

The challenge here is to get the student to not stop punching while the body is moving forward and it is also coordinated in it attacking motion.

Now the student is able to step an punch I bring in the Focus pads to develop power while try to stay coordinated. Do the exact same 1, 3 & Continuous formula. In the 1 punch stage get them to but their full power into the punch. In the 3 punches stage get them to put the power into the 3rd punch with the 1st two punches being speed. In the continuos punching stage the student must punch mixing the power and speed of the punches so that they do not stop the punches at any stage.

After some sweating, practicing with the focus pads train the steps against the blocks like in the first class structure. The difference here is that when the partner blocks the punch they also take one step backwards and the Wing Tzun student takes an advancing step forward. Practice against Inside Block, Outside Block then mix the Blocks. Sometimes you can started to leave out the 1 punch part of the formula if the student has good coordination by now but if they are still having a bit of difficulty then keep it in.

I finish this class with the Wing Tzun Centre Line Concept. I start explaining this here because now they are starting to move like a Wing Tzun Practitioner and have bits of theory and information the student can now start to see how the movements revolve around the Centre Line.

By Sifu Darren Wilson
2nd TG EBMAS Wing Tzun