Our particular aim in understanding key areas of the Wing Chun system is different than the traditional view. For us, the art of Wing Chun in the 21st century can offer many indirect benefits IF they are viewed in principle rather than being assessed through the literal translation of the effectiveness of the art’s traditional techniques within a professional fight arena (e.g., UFC, Bellator MMA…) or even in a street encounter where an opponent may be fast, strong, having some basic boxing and wrestling skills, and most importantly does not mind sustaining major injuries——so long as he can take your life or to his utter disappointment, hospitalize you for a long time.
We view the Wing Chun system as a means of developing and understanding several key principles and not that, in itself, it is the main terminal factor in a serious fight. There are of course exceptions to the rules which occur from time to time in modern times——or we even hear about the ancient anecdotal stories and legends. There are also histories passed down through many generations, related to for example, the Buddhist nun named Ng Mui, a survivor of the destruction of the Shaolin Temple by the Qing Dynasty, or the young girl named Yim Wing Chun whom Ng Mui was training. We may study other pages of history related to a group of Shaolin rebels who escaped from the temple and had managed to disguise themselves as opera performers——fighting against Qing government in order to maintain the Ming Dynasty’s legacy. Sometimes certain stories conflict or contradict others depending on the sources we read. But in any case, we are not dwelling during those times and in those geographic regions; we are living in the 21st century, and the exigencies of the times and the circumstances are not what they used to be; the types of fighters, the topography of the geopolitical settings, the fighting philosophies, the level of skills, the fighters’ mental states, and much of the social settings have drastically changed. Humanity and the nations in general are not as isolated as they used to be due to advances in communications and transportation technologies.
That being said, some of the modern JKD practitioners have washed their hands from Wing Chun entirely—I personally think it is a loss to abandon the art in some of its principles which to me they are useful tools in the expedient integration of the dominating arts in the current fight-world.
There are also several of the Wing Chun core moves that if modified, they can greatly complement western wrestling, kali, judo, muay thai, and even western boxing. But this requires, a change in both camps. It requires on the one hand a radical, but a meaningful and practical transformation in the fixed traditional views in Wing Chun without the intent to betray its history——and on the other hand, a certain healthy measure of the mental and emotional detachments to the superfluidity of the prevalent current MMA fads where the razzle and dazzles of mere internal politics, the vested interests of the corporate fight-arena, and an endless insatiable focus on reaching fame, driven by mere philosophical materialism and individualism, all of which are trying to determine our intellectual horizons in the science and art of fighting.
With such a measure of detachment we see a value in the principles of the art of Wing Chun. It helps us to objectively deduce several principles such as:
1) A different configuration of clinching that when modified it can be an effective platform for all clinching arts.
2) Pinning and riding while clinching.
3) Navigational principles and simultaneous integration of offense and defense.
4) A more practical and attractive path which is more conducive in easing older practitioner into clinching and later on into light wrestling moves.
5) Creating a continuous setting, in testing other principles behind pressures, vectors, lines of attack, and stickiness while clinching.
6) Arm-engagements that opens up new contact points which can provide new outlets for any clinching system.
7) Provides the necessary goo and the right viscosity in striking while being sticky in a split second arm-clinching——filling the missing-links between certain transitional moves, in for example Muay Thai, Judo, and Western Wrestling.
Etc, etc etc.
There are other specific principles that we have outlined in our curriculum from the art of Wing Chun, but unless we are clear-headed in dissociating our thoughts and emotions from both the past traditional legends and ancient exigencies of the peoples of the bygone ages, as well as the present fanatical hunger and attachments to mere popularity trends, fame, awards, as well as the narrow-minded vision and application of the wealth——and begin to think outside of the box, then we may not be able to see and appreciate the gems within the box.
In short, Wing Chun, IF viewed in principle, I repeat, IF viewed in principle, can be beneficial and useful in the fight world.
SHAHRAM MOOSAVI JEET KUNE DO, KALI, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 