On another recent thread it was stated that Wing Chun "is all about defending against a blade" and that Wing Chun assumes the striking hand is holding a knife. I don't see it that way at all. But would you guys care to elaborate?
This came out of my statement that FMA empty-hand methods were derived from defending against a knife and their techniques and strategies reflect that. I don't see this in Wing Chun at all.
FMA starts with the weapons. The empty-hand methods are secondary and derived from the weapons methods. Wing Chun starts with empty hands and the Wing Chun double knife/sword methods are said to be derived from the empty hand methods. To me Wing Chun is designed to defend against another guy doing empty-hand fighting. The directness reflects this. Chi Sau reflects this.
If you look at FMA empty-hand methods, there is much more emphasis on striking and controlling the attacking limb, because it is always assumed that limb is holding a knife. Hence you see "guntings" or "limb destructions." You see multiple beat parries or deflections aimed at just one limb. You see angling and really directing and controlling the attacking limb.
In contrast, Wing Chun is much more direct. Once you have deflected a punch you go right in to strike the opponent. Because a redirected punch that has spent its energy is no longer a threat. Sure you might control at the elbow, use positioning, etc. But we don't go out of our way to ensure that the attacking limb is immobilized. Because, again, once a punch has spent its energy it is no longer really a threat. However, a hand holding a knife is entirely different because that knife can still cause major damage if it is not completely controlled.
So I would be interested in hearing how you guys see Wing Chun empty-hands as being all about defending against a knife! Because, honestly, I've seen Wing Chun people show actual "empty-hand vs. knife" technique videos that would be pure suicide against anyone with even a modicum of knowledge of how to really use a knife.
This came out of my statement that FMA empty-hand methods were derived from defending against a knife and their techniques and strategies reflect that. I don't see this in Wing Chun at all.
FMA starts with the weapons. The empty-hand methods are secondary and derived from the weapons methods. Wing Chun starts with empty hands and the Wing Chun double knife/sword methods are said to be derived from the empty hand methods. To me Wing Chun is designed to defend against another guy doing empty-hand fighting. The directness reflects this. Chi Sau reflects this.
If you look at FMA empty-hand methods, there is much more emphasis on striking and controlling the attacking limb, because it is always assumed that limb is holding a knife. Hence you see "guntings" or "limb destructions." You see multiple beat parries or deflections aimed at just one limb. You see angling and really directing and controlling the attacking limb.
In contrast, Wing Chun is much more direct. Once you have deflected a punch you go right in to strike the opponent. Because a redirected punch that has spent its energy is no longer a threat. Sure you might control at the elbow, use positioning, etc. But we don't go out of our way to ensure that the attacking limb is immobilized. Because, again, once a punch has spent its energy it is no longer really a threat. However, a hand holding a knife is entirely different because that knife can still cause major damage if it is not completely controlled.
So I would be interested in hearing how you guys see Wing Chun empty-hands as being all about defending against a knife! Because, honestly, I've seen Wing Chun people show actual "empty-hand vs. knife" technique videos that would be pure suicide against anyone with even a modicum of knowledge of how to really use a knife.