Combining Wing Chun With Other Arts?

Something that we see every once in a while is a practitioner who claims that because Wing Chun is lacking in one area or another, they've included elements of another martial art into their training to "fill the gap." Let's examine this a bit and see what it's really about.

While I personally feel that I'm a very open-minded person, I have to admit here and now that Wing Chun is not "lacking" in anything to do with fighting. It's predominantly upper body and fist fighting, that's true, but it does have excellent footwork and kicks, as well. The problem as I see it? Some practitioners either favor something else because 1.) they already have training in it, 2.) a fighter more experienced than them has convinced them that something in WC is inferior, or 3.) they simply haven't learned enough of the system to know for themselves. And most of what I've seen (albeit a limited experience) is usually the first and third reasons.

For example, some have combined Wing Chun with white crane kung fu. Others have combined it with Muay Thai kickboxing. Still others have introduced Brazilian jiu-jitsu to "round out" the curriculum. Now, if you enjoy training those systems, then go for it. I fully recommend experiencing other fighting methods because it keeps us open to other ways, as well as getting to know fellow martial artists. Just because we do something differently doesn't mean that everything else is worthless.

By the same token, you should truly analyze what Wing Chun is about and actually learn the full system to competence before thinking about "adding" anything, because once you do, you realize that there's nothing missing, like some say.

"But there's no ground fighting." So? I've said many times that fighting does NOT always go to the ground. A WC fighter trains not to go to the ground and does so quite efficiently. Various kung fu styles do have ground fighting and takedown movements, which is what WC was designed to counter in the first place. My ground fighting is learning NOT to go to the ground because WC is a fist fighting method, not a ground fighting method. People always talk about ground fighting and takedowns, but would these fighters truly do that against multiple opponents?

"But there's no kicking." There's not? Chum-Kiu and the wooden dummy are replete with very effective and efficient kicking methods, as well as anti-kicking and jamming.

"One solid kick to the thigh and you'd go down. Thai boxing proves that repeatedly." It does? I've been kicked by some pretty good Muay Thai fighters, and I stayed up. Did it hurt? You bet! And my thighs were bruised and battered for a few weeks, too. At that time I didn't know leg defenses because I wasn't doing Wing Chun very long, but when I reached that level and sparred again? I didn't get kicked at all. In fact, those same boxers ended up becoming WC students (not mine, mind you; I was no where near teaching level).

The Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma, the most basic of stances and the first we ever learned, teaches us to adduct and provides us with a very solid foundation. If it's trained correctly and to competence, it will serve you well. Is it undefeatable? No. Nothing is. There's always something to overcome something else, on any given day and depending on the circumstances. But is it practical? Is it efficient? Does it WORK? Yes, on every point.

"If it's so good, why aren't any WC people in the UFC?" Good question. My answer? Beats me. I would venture to guess because those are professional fighters. And there are rules. In most martial arts, pretty much anything goes, but in a professional sport, there are rules. By the same token, why aren't other martial arts prominent in the UFC? Why is it "mixed" martial arts? And what's "mixed" about it?

So, does Wing Chun "lack" anything? No, it doesn't. Does adding to it actually "detract" from it? In my opinion, yes it does. The concepts are very different than many other arts, and it's always best to stick with just one system fully until it's understood and and competent. Some will disagree, of course, and that's just par for the course. Everyone has their thing. But for those that think Wing Chun lacks something, and that something else is needed? To be honest, you should train the system in its entirety. You will definitely have a differing opinion after you do.