Long Bridge Wing Chun

Sigung Bill Graves (right) squares off with Derrick Mansell
(left) at the Long Bridge Seminar at The Dragon Institute
(June 2012)

What is Long Bridge? 

Long Bridge is a range that is unique to Dragon Family Wing Chun and our origins through Bill Graves (my sifu). Understanding of Long Bridge will allow you to take your Wing Chun to a range that 99% of Wing Chun practitioners simply don't understand. It will allow you to use your Wing Chun at a distance previously thought to be outside the realm of traditional/classical Wing Chun.

Especially effective against shorter range fighters (including grapplers), it's correct application successfully keeps away closing threats allowing the fight to remain on your terms. It also gives the practitioner more time to respond to tactile pressure as the distance is further away.

There's been very little produced about it up to this point. It was initially developed in Florida in the '80s by Ken Werner, enhanced by Karl Godwin and refined by Bill Graves.

Today it is mainly taught to a small group of martial artists by Bill Graves and his senior students. I feel very lucky to be one of only a handful of people in the world that can share these rare, yet highly effective methods with others.

Why is it outside the realm of traditional/classical Wing Chun? 

The concept is simple enough, but its application is totally foreign to classical Wing Chun practitioners. When someone uses their structure correctly at this longer range/bridge and touches hands with a classical WC/VT person, they are like a fish out of water. They immediately try to move to another range (usually closer in where they feel more comfortable). But by allowing you into this range, your extended structure is closer to them which overwhelms them. You literally crowd their space. Whether attacking or defending, you make sure to keep you hands and elbows as away from you as you can and as far towards them as possible. 

However, there are some distinct differences between Long Bridge and the Medium/Short Bridge range of classical Wing Chun. At longer range, mobility is a higher priority. At shorter range, stability takes on a greater role. 

In Comparison to the Classical Wing Chun Framework:

• The feet are further from one another and the stance uses the toe-heel line of boxing. Since mobility takes great priority at this range you are more on the ball of your foot.
• The footwork is more lateral than classical Wing Chun taking on more of a boxing feel.
• Push stepping - The lead leg advances first by pushing from the back foot, then the rear follows with the feet coming to rest in relatively the same position.
• The body rotates less (less pivoting)
• Controlling the center line is still key and all moves still go to the center, however striking is more of an emphasis than grappling, trapping, immobilizing or pushing the person backwards.
• When defending at this range, the elbows come out in a wider more pronounced position to form a structure similar to the bow of a ship. Much different than at closer range, this "gate" maintains a strong structure as force collides deflecting it along . Elbows out facing more of a 45 degree angle also protects against outside strikes that classical Wing Chun is vulnerable to at this long range. 
• Long Bridge's natural extension keeps your elbow further away from your body. Instead of keeping a fist width at all times from your elbow to your body, you keep two fist widths.
• There is a backward tilt to the torso that makes the structure work similar to the look of classical pugilism (old bare-knuckle boxing). This keeps the head away from danger. 

Of course there's much more to it. But hopefully this short article has given you a glimpse into what we refer to as Dragon Family Wing Chun Long Bridge. 

© The Dragon Institute | Orange County | Wing Chun Kung Fu | 34241 Pacific Coast Highway | Dana Point, CA 92673 | ocwingchun.com

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Sigung Bill Graves (right) squares off with Derrick Mansell (left) at the Long Bridge Seminar at The Dragon Institute (June 2012) What is Long Bridge?  Long Bridge is a range that is unique to Dragon Family Wing Chun and our origins through Bill Graves (my sifu). Understanding of Long Bridge will allow you to take your Wing Chun to a range that 99% of Wing Chun practitioners simply don't understand. It will allow you to use your Wing Chun at a distance previously thought to be outside the realm of traditional/classical Wing Chun. Especially effective against shorter range fighters (including grapplers), it's correct application successfully keeps away closing threats allowing the fight to remain on your terms. It also gives the practitioner more time to respond to tactile pressure as the distance is further away. There's been very little produced about it up to this point. It was initially developed in Florida in the '80s by Ken Werner, enhanced by Karl Godwin and refined by Bill Graves. Today it is mainly taught to a small group of martial artists by Bill Graves and his senior students. I feel very lucky to be one of only a handful of people in the world that can share these rare, yet highly effective methods with others. Why is it outside the realm of traditional/classical Wing Chun?  The concept is simple enough, but its application is totally foreign to classical Wing Chun practitioners. When someone uses their structure correctly at this longer range/bridge and touches hands with a classical WC/VT person, they are like a fish out of water. They immediately try to move to another range (usually closer in where they feel more comfortable). But by allowing you into this range, your extended structure is closer to them which overwhelms them. You literally crowd their space. Whether attacking or defending, you make sure to keep you hands and elbows as away from you as you can and as far towards them as possible.  However, there are some distinct differences between Long Bridge and the Medium/Short Bridge range of classical Wing Chun. At longer range, mobility is a higher priority. At shorter range, stability takes on a greater role.  In Comparison to the Classical Wing Chun Framework: The feet are further from one another and the stance uses the toe-heel line of boxing. Since mobility takes great priority at this range you are more on the ball of your foot. The footwork is more lateral than classical Wing Chun taking on more of a boxing feel. Push stepping - The lead leg advances first by pushing from the back foot, then the rear follows with the feet coming to rest in relatively the same position. The body rotates less (less pivoting) Controlling the center line is still key and all moves still go to the center, however striking is more of an emphasis than grappling, trapping, immobilizing or pushing the person backwards. When defending at this range, the elbows come out in a wider more pronounced position to form a structure similar to the bow of a ship. Much different than at closer range, this "gate" maintains a strong structure as force collides deflecting it along . Elbows out facing more of a 45 degree angle also protects against outside strikes that classical Wing Chun is vulnerable to at this long range.  Long Bridge's natural extension keeps your elbow further away from your body. Instead of keeping a fist width at all times from your elbow to your body, you keep two fist widths. There is a backward tilt to the torso that makes the structure work similar to the look of classical pugilism (old bare-knuckle boxing). This keeps the head away from danger.  Of course there's much more to it. But hopefully this short article has given you a glimpse into what we refer to as Dragon Family Wing Chun Long Bridge.  © The Dragon Institute | Orange County | Wing Chun Kung Fu | 34241 Pacific Coast Highway | Dana Point, CA 92673 | ocwingchun.com