What is Ving Tsun part 3(conclusion) - Ving Tsun Principles

The Five Principles

Center Line - Actually it might be more accurate to say central plane or sagittal plane. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittal_plane). When we say center line we are actually referring to the imaginary plane that divides the body in half on the vertical axis. This line/plane is important because many of the body's anatomical weak points are either on or close to center line. If we can protect the center line, there is a good chance we can protect the entire body.

Optimum Line of Attack - This is the shortest distance between you and your adversary in a straight line. This is also the fastest and most direct line of attack, which is why we describe it as optimum.

(see Pythagoras - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem )

Facing - This is the dynamic process of making it such that center line and the optimum line of attack are the same line. No matter where you opponent goes you aim your center line at him. Facing also makes it possible for both hands to reach the same point in space at all times, which leads us to our next principle...

Unity of Hands - This is the ability to synchronize the movement of your hands in such a way as to provide very little chance for your adversary to occupy the space you have captured on center line.

Forward Energy - Once you have established control of the triangular space in front of you defined by your shoulders and the point in space where you extended arms meet on center line, you make every effort to move that space forward until the conflict is decisively resolved.

These are not the only principles which Ving Tsun is based on but I feel these five are the most essential. I have described them in a very straight forward and simplistic way. In order to understand them in a more useful and concrete way I recommend that you find a good Sifu and start training.





What is Ving Tsun? Part 2 (Ving Tsun attributes)

In my last post I listed the 5 attributes and 5 principles of Ving Tsun, I will now explain how those attributes and principles work together in using Ving Tsun as a fighting art. First we will look at the five attributes.

The first of the five attributes is relaxation, possibly the most important. In defining relaxation it may be easier to say what it is not than to say what it is. In Ving Tsun relaxation means that you are not mentally preoccupied and that you are 100% present to what is happening right now. Physically there is no unnecessary muscular tension.

With these conditions present we can look at the next attribute which is coordination. The improved quality of mind and body connection developed through and supported by relaxation expresses itself as coordination. The ability to have the body's various parts work together efficiently to accomplish whatever is necessary as directed by our intent.

Thirdly there is balance, which is the ability to maintain your mental and physical equilibrium in any of the following three situations.

1. Stationary - standing balanced and unmoving.
2. Dynamic - balance while moving, shifting, or turning.
3. Interactive - balance while in physical contact with another person.

It is difficult if not impossible to talk about these three attributes without discussing structure. Relaxation, coordination, and balance all depend on proper structure which is optimal anatomical alignment in the context of whatever movement we are attempting to perform or whatever static posture we happen to be in. Proper structure depends on these first three attributes.

The fourth attribute is timing. The awareness that is rooted in proper relaxation is essential for timing which is the ability to act in real time in relationship to a secondary object. Timing is also self referential and is related to coordination, how the various parts of the body move in relationship to each other through time.

The fifth attribute is sensitivity, which might be defined as contextual awareness trained on a conscious level and eventually becoming subconscious. In Ving Tsun we are concerned primarily with tactile sensitivity, being able to sense energy,force,direction on contact and act appropriately within the context of Ving Tsun principles which will be the topic of my next post.

What Is Ving Tsun? (Part 1)

What is Ving Tsun; in short it is a method of knowledge acquisition and skill development. This is a method that can be applied to any pursuit. There are 5 key phases to this method and they are identified as follows;

1.       Define your purpose

2.       Identify Attributes

3.       Identify Principles

4.       Develop Attributes and internalize principles

5.       Apply and Refine

In phase one we define in the simplest terms possible what our objective is. In defining the objective we need to make sure that we can establish some form of metric so we have an objective and realistic perception of how effective we are in applying the method. In phase two we consider what qualities we need to develop, modify, or acquire within ourselves in order to accomplish our stated purpose. In phase three we look at what is intrinsically true about our relationship to our environment, these truths are identified as principles. We then ask ourselves how we can utilize these principles in accomplishing our purpose. Phase four is concerned with training methodology, what is the most efficient way to develop attributes and internalizes principles that will allow us to spontaneously move forward in accomplishing our goal. In phase five we are in actual pursuit of our goal and while in pursuit we are measuring how efficient and effective we are in our pursuit and if our progress is unsatisfactory we must re-examine and if necessary refine our training methodology or take yet another step back and look at whether or not we have correctly identified the necessary attributes and principles. Also we must consider who we are as individuals all the knowledge in the world is useless if you are too lazy to apply it, I’ll save that discussion for another post.

Most people are not interested in Ving Tsun as epistemology so let’s get to the more popular topic of how you to use Ving Tsun in combat. Our purpose in applying Ving  Tsun as a fighting art is to neutralize any threat utilizing a minimum of energy & time while simultaneously minimizing our chances of getting hurt, injured, or killed.

Ving Tsun requires the following attributes;

1.       Relaxation

2.       Coordination

3.       Balance

4.       Timing

5.       Sensitivity

We also seek to apply the following principles;

1. Centerline

2. Optimum Line of Attack

3. Facing

4.  Unity of Hands

5. Forward Energy

I'll explain how these attributes and principles work together in my next post....