Classes

Technical Note #7

Why Martial Art is like Chess !

Chess is based on the art of war. The art of war has general principles which are used in Chess.  Martial art also relates to war and therefore has principles in common with Chess. Read the following CHESS principles and see if you don't think they are also principles in your art ?

• Be aggressive, but play soundly. 
• Don't take unnecessary chances.
• Make sure every move has a purpose.
• If you know the opponent's style, take advantage of it. But, in the final analysis, play the board, not the player.
• Don't ignore your opponent's moves.
• Don't give needless attacks. 
• Attack only when it makes sense.
• Answer all threats. Try to do so by improving your position and/or by giving a counter threat.
• Play for the initiative. If you already have it, maintain it. If you don't have it, seize it.
• Attack the center.
•  Defend the center.
• Control the center.
• Influence the center.
• If you blunder, don't give up fighting. After getting the advantage, your opponent may become overly confident and blunder himself.
• Attack in number. Don't rely on just one or two pieces.
• Don't waste time or moves.
• Try to maximize your choices of action.
• Try to pin your opponent's pieces. 
• Maximize the mobility of your pieces.
• Avoid the strong points of the opponent and attack the weak.
• Try to trap the opponent.
• Base the attack on the opponent's weakness.
• Try to create a weakness in the opponent's defense.
• Against a strong center , attack from the side, against a strong side attack through the center.
• Don't rely on a single attack.
• Positioning is very important.
• The timing of an attack is critical.
• Give the opponent a false sense of security by making it appear that he can escape, when really it is a trap.
• Don't make careless moves.
• To gain space, you have to sacrifice time.
• Disguise your plans, make non-committal moves.
• Try to win on small advantages.
• When you don't know what to do, evaluate the position, then ask pertinent questions about your analysis.
• If you are strong, pretend you are weak. If you are weak, pretend you are strong.
• If you control the center, your opponent will have great difficulty in maneuvering around you.
• There are hundreds of principles and ideas used in Chess which also apply in Wing Chun.

Chess is a game of ideas and principles, the pieces move according to fixed rules. Martial art is also like a game of ideas and principles, your limbs move according to fixed rules of your style.