Defending Against Kicks

With Wing Chun being primarily a fist-fighting methods, sometimes it's difficult to deal with an opponent's kicks. So how does our method approach this?

The first element to consider is the distance itself. A kicker can only use a kick if there's room. So, when someone kicks, explode yourself directly into them and shorten the distance. This requires a great deal of footwork training targeted for forward stepping (what many call "entering drills").

Basically, an entering drill is getting from point A to point B as quickly, efficiently, and protectively as possible. Stepping but "blast" or "explode" forward, and the body's weight distribution must be checked so that we're not sacrificing our own structure during this forward motion. I heard a story some years ago that a famous Wing Chun ancestor spent quite a few years (yes, YEARS) doing nothing but entering drills. And afterwards, he became undefeatable because the fight was over in a matter of seconds.

Along with stepping, we also have to consider the upper body. Closing the gap means nothing if we're getting pummeled on the way in; therefore, we have to consider this decreased distance when encountering a kick.

For example, our opponent has initiated a roundhouse kick. We've exploded forward into them, thereby decreasing the distance, which in turn removes a great deal of the kicking power (without reaching extension, the kick is still in motion. It then becomes more of a "push" and hasn't built up the momentum necessary to release its full power). What "should" our arms be doing? In this example, we utilize basic concepts from section 3 of the Siu-Nim-Tau, that concept being Gwat-sau (Wiping-arm) and Lau-sau (Scooping-arm).

Gwat-sau acts somewhat like a windshield wiper, "wiping" the kick out of the path. However, the problem is that sometimes a practitioner will wait too long, and then have to deal with the forward momentum generated when a kicker's body lurches forward. Instead, just as contact is made, it's a two-fold combinational concept: Gwat-sau still "wipes," but now the arm also immediately lifts (Lau-sau).

By doing so, the defender has effectively blocked the kick and is now lifting the leg straight up, and from here, a lot of things are taking place.

With the leg being driven upwards due to our lift and because we're still blasting forward, our opponent has two choices: 1. he can attempt to strike with his fists, or 2. he gets dumped to the ground. While striking seems like it would be the first choice, the sheer velocity at which we're exploding forward makes this virtually impossible; therefore, we continue the forward attack and drive him up and back.

Some schools teach an additional concept, such as simultaneously stepping in with the back leg while lifting and taking the opponent over that leg to the ground (in essence, dropping him in place on his back or neck). It sounds complicated, and it does take a bit of training; but once you "got it," you'd be surprised at how easy it is employ it. In fact, it becomes so fast and simple, you wonder why anyone would even attempt to kick above the knee or thigh (and for many, that's why they don't, and it's also why "we" don't, too).