The Martialist: The Magazine For Those Who Fight Unfairly

Wing Chun: Effective Close Combat

By Anghony Iglesias with Phil Elmore

Sifu Anthony Iglesias runs the Syracuse Wing Chun Academy. An accomplished martial artist with a background encompassing several styles, Sifu Iglesias agreed to answer a few questions about the art he calls "his specialty" -- Wing Chun Kung Fu.

How long have you been involved in the martial arts? What arts have you studied?

I started my martial arts journey in 1979. I was a crazy little guy, very small – and fearless. My brother and his best friend were very worried that I would get killed because I would fight anyone, no matter what their size. This resulted in my getting beat up often. They decided I needed discipline.

At the time my brother was training at an Ishin Ryu dojo and his best friend was his senior. They both started training me every chance they got in that style and also in Western boxing. I was very excited to learn from them, especially being a big fan of Bruce Lee and the Saturday afternoon martial art films in New York City.

They did have one condition however: I was not allowed to fight. The rules were that if I got into a fight from which I could have walked away they would cease my training. They were true to their words. They constantly drilled it into my head that fighting is wrong and that a true martial artist uses his mind and not his fists.

When I hit my teens, I started watching different stick fighters and that started my interest in Kali/Escrima. I started collecting books and videos and tried to absorb every bit of information I could. I learned mainly from watching Guro Dan Inosanto. Later I was lucky enough to get "fine tuned" by a fellow classmate who was personally trained by Guro Inosanto. In the early 1990s I met with Sifu James O'Brian and started training in White Crane Gung fu.

What characterizes White Crane? How is it different from, say, Karate?

I found White Crane to be more flowing. There was more continuity of movement. It fit my personality much more closely then Karate. The footwork is very evasive and demanding and the hand movement is very effective in defusing energy. White Crane is also characterized by striking fast with power.

Why did you switch from White Crane to Wing Chun?

Well, I never really switched. My training in White Crane was very satisfying in many ways, but I always wanted to learn more about this art that Bruce Lee studied. I also heard Guro Inosanto make mention of it several times.

I read about it and started collecting books. I searched for a nearby Wing Chun school and found one in the town I was living in at the time. I called them and checked it out. I was very disappointed. I can't remember the name of the school or the instructors, but I felt there was something missing. I didn't agree with anything they were saying nor did I agree with their particular style of Chi Sau [sticky hands].

I remember watching them, thinking, "You're teaching them bad habits. They'll get hit doing that." I left feeling pretty bummed out but I knew that this must have been a poor representation of Wing Chun. So I kept searching. One day I got lucky and found a school in Buffalo, NY that was in the lineage of Grandmaster William Cheung. The school was over an hour's drive, but I needed to find out if this school would be anything like the last one.

When I got there everyone was very warm and friendly. The Sifu welcomed me and started teaching class. I watched in awe and knew that this was the school for me. A funny memory I have was of my first day in class. Sifu saw me doing some really bad Wing Chun movement that I learned from a video. Sifu said, "Don't do that." He proceeded to start me on basics. I later learned that the movement I was doing was very wrong.

Why did you select the Cheung lineage?

I keep an open mind to all that is Wing Chun, but I must say that I give credit to Cheung style Wing Chun for its more realistic approach to fighting. I've always lived by the rule that if you have evasiveness in footwork then your hands will be enhanced. Cheung style emphasizes footwork more then the other styles of Wing Chun. They never stay on the attacking line. I chose Cheung style because it was much closer to my training in White Crane than the other lineages.

Can you give us some background on Wing Chun? How is it similar and different to other well-known styles?

Well, Wing Chun can be defined as simplicity at it's finest. It cuts through fanciness and gets to the core of combat. It has remained relatively unchanged since its creation, which in my opinion shows what a complete system it is.

I often read about people changing the styles they were taught to fit with modern times. and for the most part they had to, because their art was created to deal with a specific kind of fighting style. Wing Chun is based on fighting principles and strategies that have stood the test of time. Hand to hand combat is like the law of gravity. There are certain truths that cannot be denied. There are things that need to be done in order for someone to hurt you. Like Bruce Lee said, "In order to hit me you must first move to me. Therein lies my opportunity to intercept you."

Wing Chun uses only what is necessary for self defense. There is no wasted movement. It's hard to really say how Wing Chun is different from other systems without sounding like I'm badmouthing them. I guess all I can say is, to many people, Wing Chun is not pretty. It's not used to win forms competitions or sparring tournaments. It was created to make effective fighters in very little time.

What are the principles of Wing Chun?

The principles vary from school to school, but in Cheung style they are these:

Guard the Center
Face the Point of Contact
Economy of Movement
Touch Reflexes
Chi Sao
Watch the Leading Elbow
Use Linear Striking Action
Avoid Fighting Force Against Force
Train to Use Two Arms at the Same Time
Use Pressure Points to Make Striking Techniques More Effective
Use the Same Meridian Pressure Points for Treatment of Sports Injuries

There is also a saying that I think is important: Lui lao hui soong. Lut sao jik chung. This translates to, Receive what comes, accompany what leaves. Charge straight when free.

Why is Wing Chun an effective close-combat art for *realistic* fighting?

Wing Chun is effective for close combat because that is where all fights end up. Very rarely will someone allow you to "get ready" for their attack. Usually it is a flurry of fists that result in both parties getting injured. Wing Chun emphasizes close quarters awareness and touch reflexes. This skill translates to immediate reaction once a bridge has been made.

Unfortunately, there are many Wing Chun schools that lose sight of this reality and start changing the system. Whether at a distance or up close, standing up or on the ground, Wing Chun principles are effective in self-defense. The most important skill, however, is the practitioners' ability to do it with meaning. All too often people learn a physical skill without working on the mental skill required to be a fighter.

How do you address use-of-force issues in your class -- specifically, the legal dangers of striking someone first if they get too close?

Well, the use of force is always the last option. You should exercise good common sense when dealing with a possibly life-threatening situation. If you are only arguing with someone, then you should just keep your distance and try to calm down the other individual. Do not yell back, as this will escalate the situation into the next level of anger and give witnesses evidence against you in case police get involved.

If the person throws up his or her into a fighting position, you have no choice but to defend yourself. Again, keep calm and tell the attacker that you do not wish to fight. Stay as far away from him or her as possible, but if the attacker throws a punch or gets too close, protect yourself. It has been shown that even if the other guy throws the first punch, the person left standing is usually the one in trouble, especially if he used excessive force. Wing Chun does the job and no more. The strikes are targeted for quick knockouts. That is Wing Chun's "mercy" -- a quick end to the fight.

Have you ever used Wing Chun to defend yourself in a "real life" scenario? If so, can you describe how the art helped you?

I have been "put to the test" on many occasions, be they in real fights or in breaking up skirmishes among others. Just this past weekend in West Springfield, MA, I was quietly sitting with some friends enjoying some breakfast at around 11 a.m. Suddenly a fight between two young adults erupted. Without thinking I got up and ran over to break it up.

When I got there I saw one man winding up to punch the other. I immediately stepped in and diffused his attack with out harming him and successfully separated the two individuals. The aggressor of the two ran off while I made sure the other was ok. I asked a waitress to call the police when a man who was standing with me said, "I'm a police officer. Hey... Good work, friend." Assured that the situation was now under control, I went back to my breakfast.

I grew up on the streets of New York City and fighting was a way to gain respect. I was also one of the only Latin people in an all-Italian neighborhood. I used to be proud of all the fights I've been in, but now I just thank God that I'm still alive.

My White Crane grandmaster once said "The best Gung Fu man never fights."

I took that to heart and maintain that way of life today.