It seems like too often we see Wing Chun people only doing a straight punch. So I thought I would give a quick summary of all the different punches in my Pin Sun Wing Chun.
1. Straight Punch. Of course! The punch Wing Chun is known by!
2. Chain Punches. The straight punch done in combinations. Usually a 3 count. Sometimes a 5 count. Seldom ever a "flurry" of punches past that.
3. Cutting/Excluding Punches. These are straight punches that "cut" across the line to "exclude" the opponent's strike from the line. They deflect the opponent's strike while they are in route to land their own strike. The trajectory of the punch can travel from inside to out and use a "Tan-like" action to deflect, or from outside to in using a "Jum-like" action to deflect.
4. Hanging Punch (Gwai Choi). This is a back-knuckle strike that travels downward on the vertical plane. Usually follows a Bong Sau and is aimed at the bridge of the nose.
5. Bouncing Punch. This is the Wing Chun equivalent of the uppercut, but uses a very different body dynamic than western boxing. Found in most people's Chum Kiu form. It travels upward on the vertical plane and is usually aimed at the opponent's chin, though it can also target the torso. Usually done simultaneously with a Hok Bong of the other arm.
6. Darting Punch (Bui Choi). This is a back-knuckle strike that travels on the horizontal plane. Can target either the head or the ribs. This takes specific body mechanic to make it work well that is also associated with a footwork pattern that most people don't learn until their Bart Jam Dao training.
7. Inward Punch. This is a fore-knuckle strike that travels on the horizontal plane. You strike with the knuckles just like you would knock on a door. Almost always aimed at the head. In my experience, this is probably the least used punch because it is not trained explicitly in any of the sets. Some people have this in their Biu Gee form.
8. Phoenix Eye Punch. The straight punch with the "phoenix eye" fist formation having the knuckle of the index finger protruding. Some people also have this in their Biu Gee form.
9. Pin Sun Choi. This is a straight punch, but done with a much more pronounced pivot and more extension. This is considered a "power" punch or "finishing" punch and is usually aimed at the torso.
10. Dropping or Sinking Punch. This is a punch that drops downward to strike with the back of the knuckles or the bottom of the hand like a hammerfist. The front of the fist is not aimed downward. The arm actually drops or sinks as a whole with the punch. Sometimes it is also done with a Gwai Ma stance. It is typically aimed at an incoming kick. Pin Sun Wing Chun prefers to not block kicks. You either evade them, strike them to cause damage, or both when possible.
11. Rising Punch. This is a punch that travels from a low position directly upward without bending the elbow and aiming the front of the fist upward. It would typically follow something like a Gum Sau or the Sinking Punch noted above.
12. Rib Punch. This is a straight punch that travels in at an angle from close distance to strike the ribs. This is the equivalent of the low palm edge strike that most people use, just with a fist at the end of the forearm rather than an open hand and palm edge.
That's it off the top of my head! What variety of punches do you use in your Wing Chun??
1. Straight Punch. Of course! The punch Wing Chun is known by!
2. Chain Punches. The straight punch done in combinations. Usually a 3 count. Sometimes a 5 count. Seldom ever a "flurry" of punches past that.
3. Cutting/Excluding Punches. These are straight punches that "cut" across the line to "exclude" the opponent's strike from the line. They deflect the opponent's strike while they are in route to land their own strike. The trajectory of the punch can travel from inside to out and use a "Tan-like" action to deflect, or from outside to in using a "Jum-like" action to deflect.
4. Hanging Punch (Gwai Choi). This is a back-knuckle strike that travels downward on the vertical plane. Usually follows a Bong Sau and is aimed at the bridge of the nose.
5. Bouncing Punch. This is the Wing Chun equivalent of the uppercut, but uses a very different body dynamic than western boxing. Found in most people's Chum Kiu form. It travels upward on the vertical plane and is usually aimed at the opponent's chin, though it can also target the torso. Usually done simultaneously with a Hok Bong of the other arm.
6. Darting Punch (Bui Choi). This is a back-knuckle strike that travels on the horizontal plane. Can target either the head or the ribs. This takes specific body mechanic to make it work well that is also associated with a footwork pattern that most people don't learn until their Bart Jam Dao training.
7. Inward Punch. This is a fore-knuckle strike that travels on the horizontal plane. You strike with the knuckles just like you would knock on a door. Almost always aimed at the head. In my experience, this is probably the least used punch because it is not trained explicitly in any of the sets. Some people have this in their Biu Gee form.
8. Phoenix Eye Punch. The straight punch with the "phoenix eye" fist formation having the knuckle of the index finger protruding. Some people also have this in their Biu Gee form.
9. Pin Sun Choi. This is a straight punch, but done with a much more pronounced pivot and more extension. This is considered a "power" punch or "finishing" punch and is usually aimed at the torso.
10. Dropping or Sinking Punch. This is a punch that drops downward to strike with the back of the knuckles or the bottom of the hand like a hammerfist. The front of the fist is not aimed downward. The arm actually drops or sinks as a whole with the punch. Sometimes it is also done with a Gwai Ma stance. It is typically aimed at an incoming kick. Pin Sun Wing Chun prefers to not block kicks. You either evade them, strike them to cause damage, or both when possible.
11. Rising Punch. This is a punch that travels from a low position directly upward without bending the elbow and aiming the front of the fist upward. It would typically follow something like a Gum Sau or the Sinking Punch noted above.
12. Rib Punch. This is a straight punch that travels in at an angle from close distance to strike the ribs. This is the equivalent of the low palm edge strike that most people use, just with a fist at the end of the forearm rather than an open hand and palm edge.
That's it off the top of my head! What variety of punches do you use in your Wing Chun??
