Fluidity in Training
By Adam Williss
The scientific fighting system of Wing Chun utilizes natural physiological function as its basis. Through integrating scientific principles of physics and geometry with natural body mechanics, Wing Chun becomes a fluid science based in practical application.
Our techniques aren't trained the same ways as traditional martial arts. There are no individual moves and counters. We don't imitate animal movements or break boards. We also don't place too much emphasis on form training. Although we do incorporate drills in our training, these drills must flow from one to the next in no set pattern. Drills that have no fluidity become rigid, repetitious patterns that lack the flexibility to deal with an ever-changing combat situation.
Relying too much on form training or repetitious dead drills is like trying to follow a script through life. Things just don't go the way you'd like them to go. There's no time in a violent encounter to think about what to do next or what's next. You must train yourself to instinctively react.
Effective combat techniques must be spontaneous and instinctive and must be trained to become a reflex. They aren't choreographed like a dance or an aerobics exercise. Fluidity in training means you train with "aliveness". Technique is nothing without fluidity. There are no dead techniques that can't adapt to sudden changes. Drills must seamlessly flow from one to the next.
The end result is learning how to combine our own natural reflexes with martial arts techniques. When you do this you develop your own "style" and aren't bound by any particular technique. Instead, you learn to use these techniques in the right context as they're meant to be used.
