- Position
Get into an advantageous position.
If someone is behind you with a hand wrapped around your neck, they
have the advantage. If your opponent occupies the center, they have the
advantage. The first step to fighting is to get into a better position
than your opponent. This applies whether you are standing up or on the
ground. On the ground, try to relax and squirm your way into a better
position. In standup mode, take control of the center.
- Sensitivity/Feeling
Don't use crude barbaric brute force methods to smash your way
through an opponent's defenses. Don't think you can just rely on speed.
Relax and feel what is happening first.
Brute methods won't work against larger, stronger opponents. This is
why people talk about being soft, relaxing and going with the flow. It's
why Wing Chun people spend thousands of hours trying to master sticking
hands. It is why they say Wing Chun is a woman's art. Wing Chun is
gentle enough for a woman, yet strong enough for a man!
- Timing
Without proper timing you will not succeed. Timing depends on the
ability to recognize subtle fighting signals. Proper timing can only be
attained from much practice.
Real combat has the important element called timing. In fighting
there are windows of opportunity that you detect using your senses. When
you detect such a window you must attack quickly or else the opportunity
is lost. Sometimes you only have one split second chance. Sometimes you
have to wait patiently before an opportunity occurs. Sometimes you have
to set up the attack.
- Speed
You can defeat strength but not speed.
Speed and strength are always important factors in fighting. Soft
neutralization methods were designed to handle the factor of strength.
Even then, there are limits to how much strength you can handle. If your
positioning is incorrect, you will always lose to strength. If an attack
is as fast as a bullet, of course you can't deflect it. By sticking, you
can neutralize the speed factor. If you are close, but not touching the
opponent, then whoever attacks first will win. If you are touching, or
if the distance is greater, then the reverse is often true.
- Strength
When skills are equal, the stronger opponent will have the
advantage.
The stronger opponent has the advantage, but sometimes skill can
compensate.