Kicking Attack and Defense

One of the questions that comes up again and again is "how does Wing Chun handle the kicking attacks of the other styles?" This page will talk about my theories on this subject. To the left is a student handout which shows different methods. The trick is to put in the hours of training to be able to develop distancing skills, timing skills and sensing skills (to read the kicks). Only lot of practice will develop these things. There aren't any secret foolproof methods that someone who is lazy can apply. The methods shown on the left include 1)evade, 2) duck, 3) counter kick, 4) absorb, 5) smash, 6) sweep, 7) rush in and jamb, 8) redirect, 9) leg deflect, 10) roll. Perhaps some of these methods are not suitable for Wing Chun. But Wing Chun is a theory. You start with an idea then analyze it. Does it work? Does it fit within the Wing Chun guidelines? Does it have a defect?

Shown on the left is a typical Southern style kicking dummy that Wing Chun practitioners also use. The dummy consists of three poles planted into the ground. Some styles wind some hemp rope around the poles. A simple exercise which you can do is to stand on one edge of the triangle formed by the poles. Then with the right foot kick the pole at the left, kick the pole on the right and finally kick the pole in the front.

Patrick Chow

Against a front kick, kick the rear support leg.
Against a roundhouse kick, kick straight.
Apply a hard Gum sau to destroy the knee cap.

Dr. G.K. Khoe

Don’t be there when the kick arrives.
Apply a Kwun sau and simultaneous sidekick against a round kick.
Apply a double high Gan sau against a high roundhouse kick.
The Kwun sau is more absorbing; the Gan sau is a direct clash.
Hands against hands, feet against feet, shoulder against shoulder.
Against any round kick, lift the leg immediately to kick the center.
Start from a distance such that it takes only one step to get in. Then inch in. If the opponent hesitates to kick then rush in.
Slowly worm your way in, inch by inch. Create a pressure on the opponent. Then back off to make the opponent relax and lose attention. Then quickly rush in.

Kenneth Chung

Keep a front facing position.
Don’t forget we can also kick.
Against a roundhouse kick, kick the support leg with a front heel kick.
Against a round kick, step in and use PoPai or double palms

Wong Shun Leung

Take a step back.
For every kick missed there is a one-degree loss of confidence.

Emin Boztepe

Keep outside the kicking range. When he moves forward to kick you, then rush in because he can’t kick at that time.
Against the front kick, turn the stance to get out of the line of fire. Then do a “J” shaped step to charge in to the opponent’s center.
Against a high kick, rush in and dump them on their back.
Good footwork is the most important thing.

Jason Siu (Wing Chun student who tried against good Taekwondo)

I couldn’t penetrate their kicks against Taekwondo even though I had 15 years of martial arts experience. Then after six months, I was able to meet their kicks with a kick of my own, close and demolish them with Wing Chun hand techniques.

Another Hong Kong Wing Chun student

In Hong Kong we waited until the guy stepped to get closer and then rushed in because he couldn’t kick at that time.

The dangers

Two students of Wong Shun Leung got their arms broken from roundhouse kicks when they tried to apply a Gan sau in a tournament held in Japan.
One Wing Chun fighter won against a Thai fighter but his leg was badly splintered in the process (so who really won?)

My experience

I there is no magic or mystery to handling kicks. Its a matter of distancing and timing. If the distance is not exact, then you can never get in. When I first joined Karate, one blue belt student threw kicks so fast that I just couldn't see them. After a year or so I could avoid them. Against inexperienced kickers it is easy to stay an inch or two out of range and then rush in so that they can't get the kick off the ground. If the person is shorter then initiating with your own kick is also good. I have had some success play with inches. Just walk up to the critical distance and then carefully play with distance until you find a chance to rush in. Playing in your club against inexperienced kickers won't prepare you to handle the realistic speeds of true kicking specialists. Turn the tables and develop a few good kicks yourself. The Gracie people used feeble kicks to get in so that they could apply their grappling skills.

A lady student's Experience

One lady practiced sparring against a Karate person. At first she could only keep out of the way and get used to the kick timing and setup. Then slowly she developed the capability to counter kick by for example changing her position slightly to kick the thigh of the roundhouse kick.