While Wing Chun is a complete fighting art, and the while various movements and forms can develop both power and speed, complementary training taken from other sports can assist in enhancing one’s skills. One sport that a Wing Chun practitioner can draw from is powerlifting, as both sports require the development of explosive power and speed of execution. One method used by powerlifting that can also be used in Wing Chun is the use of jumpstretch bands.

Jumpstretch bands are basically large rubber bands. The original use of these bands was in physical rehabilitation, since they provide resistance that increases as the band stretches and decreases as the band returns to normal. For rehabilitation, resistance is only provided over the range of motion of the flexion of the movement without providing a constant weight that can lead to muscular damage. In the sport of powerlifting, bands are added to bars in the various exercises to provide a maximal weight at the top of the movement; at the bottom of the motion, the band tension is decreased and the weight is one that can be completed in a traditional rep. Performing exercises like the squat and bench in this manner develops speed and explosive power since the weight can be moved from the chest or the parallel position with speed as the weight is lighter.

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Here’s a test: the next time you are at the local mall, observe people and their interaction with their surroundings. What you will find is that people in general are oblivious to others outside of either their direct vision or their “comfort zone,” which is the area in which someone may feel that you are “too close.” Now while you are watching the “cattle,” pay attention and you will see the “wolves.” Malls are ripe pickings for those with the criminal mindset and guile, and the “cattle” are easy prey.

Why is this important? As a fighter, you should always be aware of your surroundings and be aware of possible threats. Notably, this should be a subconscious effort on your part and should never cease when awake. Or will you become another victim? An aware fighter should never be surprised when violence escalates.

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Several years ago, Harry, a fellow Wing Chun student and powerlifter, was having problems with an ex-Marine. The Marine was rather large and stocky and had threatened to beat him up the next time they ran into each other. Worried, Harry approached my instructor about training with full contact. After several weeks of badgering, my instructor conceded and set aside some time after class where Harry and I could spar in private under his watchful eye.

Harry wasn’t an average Wing Chun student by any means. His speed was incredible, and his forms were precise and crisp. He had just finished Chum Kiu at the time of our agreed upon spar, and he could perform the movements with well-practiced execution. Technically, his skill far surpassed mine, and to be frank, I haven’t had a student since who matched his level of progression.

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On the Wing Chun Mailing List there has been much discussion as to the veracity of weight training and Wing Chun. Common mythology often states that weight lifting will slow you down, make you tense, and a whole host of untruths. Since I have been a performed Wing Chun throughout most of my 11-year powerlifting career, I find these statements laughable at best. Nothing could be further from the truth. I believe that combining Wing Chun with weight training will enhance every facet of physical execution for the Wing Chun practitioner.

While the use of isometric and dynamic tension exercises are fine for warming-up or mild body maintenance conditioning, these exercises fall short in providing the health benefits and connective tissue strengthening that comes from resistance training. To fully promote increases in strength, flexibility, or even hypertrophy (muscle size), you must pay your dues in the gym and be willing to push yourself to near maximal strength exertion.

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As a powerlifter and Wing Chun instructor, I am often asked whether lifting weights is detrimental to performing Wing Chun movements. My answer is a resounding, “No!” In fact, I firmly believe that power training with resistance (i.e.: weights) can enhance and increase the power of punches when executing both tan tien (push-effect) and chun kwan (shock effect) launching. Hopefully, I will be able to dispel some of the myths associated with martial arts and resistance training.

It is known that Power = Force x Distance / Time, and this is what athletes in various disciplines are seeking. While strength and power are not the same there is a correlation between the two, and two examples spring to mind: Mark McGwire and Randy Barnes. Mark McGwire’s bat speed, a function of power, allows him to hit a baseball into the scoreboard in deep center field. McGwire understands the necessity of increasing his strength and thereby, his power. Shot-put world record holder Randy Barnes commonly incline bench pressed 550 lbs. (249.4 kg). As the shot-put is a power movement, Barnes also saw the correlation between strength and power.

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An area that has not seen much discussion on the Wing Chun Mailing List, or is rarely considered, is the integration of Wing Chun training principles with firearms training. As a part-time Class II firearms dealer, I am involved in various aspects of firearms training and have well over a 100 hours of combat firearm courses. Notably, due to the ingrained stance behavior common to martial arts, I have struggled with some of the basic firearm stance paradigms, especially since they tend to contradict much of what is taught in martial arts (bent knees, weight on the back leg, etc.). Since I also teach Wing Chun, I thought I would explore a modification of the common modern Weaver stance that is usually taught in most handgun courses. Before continuing, I should note that my descriptions and discussion assume a right-handed individual.

The Modern Weaver Stance. For those unfamiliar with the Weaver stance, it involves initially placing the feet approximately shoulder-width apart with the left shoulder favoring the target. The feet are in line with the shoulders, which are oriented at about a 45-degree angle from the target. The right arm extends toward the target, and the elbow is locked while the right hand wraps around the grip of the handgun. Next, the left arm tucks against the body with the triceps resting on the upper torso, and the left hand covers the right to provide stability. When firing, the right arm pushes forward slightly while the left pulls back providing isometric tension, and the upper body tilts slightly toward the target with the knees in a locked position. Weight transference tends to shift the majority of the body’s weight to the lead leg (about 60%). The idea in this stance is to present as much weight as possible behind the recoil of the firearm. Needless to say, this is almost diametrically opposite to what is generally taught in Wing Chun.

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