Responding vs. Reacting
this is something that i feel is lacking during wing chun sensitivity training, so i thought i would address it. Make sure that you are going slow enough with your partner so that you can constantly do the “checklist” that i talk about in the video.
find someone, anyone, to train with, there’s no other way to learn “sensitivity” without touching hands with someone.
if you can’t find anyone, then i suggest you take just one component of the video, such as “getting your body underneath your elbow” and practice this “little idea” while doing the siu nim tau form in front of a mirror. see if you can maintain this idea while doing the entire form. then take another component of the video, such as “maintaining the forward intent by focusing the mind through the first two fingers”, then practice this “little idea” while doing the form, etc…
keep practicing, keep growing and keep me posted on your progress, peace!
54 Responses to “Responding vs. Reacting”
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Great video jin, i started training the dan-chi-sao drill about a month ago. This will really help my training alot. I am gonna keep this video in mind next time i do the dan-chi, and try to develop my listening skills.
you are a great teacher,
thanks alot here from denmark.
Michael
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Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:08 am
thanks for the compliment, make sure that you practice this concept whenever you and your partner touch, so don’t just practice during dan chi or chi sau, but try and apply it whenever you and your partner touch, even it’s for just a fraction of a second.
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mani Reply:
October 13th, 2009 at 2:55 am
My favourite comment on responding came from when Marciano was asked why he was retiring. He said, I used to hit the exposed target then I saw it. Now I see the target and I try to hit it.
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Jin Reply:
October 13th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
nice.
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Hey Jin,
Congrats on the new site and thanks for uploading useful videos!
I have a question though, don’t you think you’re leaning a bit too much backward after you do the pelvic tilt? I’m sorry if I’m being too critical, but I’m still a beginner and I hate the fact that even my stance isn’t right, so I really often look for that.
Thanks and best of luck!
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Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:44 am
hmm, it could be the camera angle, John was sitting and filming upwards and at an angle. just make sure that your shoulder, hip, heel alignment is all “one line” and you’re fine.
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Great explanation Jin. Thanks for imparting your knowledge.
-Quack
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Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:45 am
yur welcome, peace!
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Hey Jin, nice vid, but I don’t understand something. Why would I want to react to the person and not have the person react to me? If I’m reacting/responding to them won’t I be chasing them around?
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Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:49 am
good question, because in order to develop “listening” skill, you have to “listen” and if you try to “talk, talk, talk” and the person has very solid “listening” skill, he will “cut you off”, gaining the best “line” and counter you instantly. does that make sense?
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Ken Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I guess if you’re just looking at as a drill to practice listening to the force that’s fine. But don’t you think in a real fight situation you always want to be the hunter and not the prey? Or are you talking about something else that i’m missing?
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Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:58 pm
by “listening” first, you ARE the hunter, the purpose of “listening” is to gain the “line of attack” so that you can enter with your body structure. in other words, you become a “wolf in sheeps clothing”.
Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:08 pm
for example, let’s say you and i are doing dan chi sau, you are in tan and i am in fuk.
since you are on the inside, you have the advantage, now if i give you ANY kind of pressure on your tan, you will somehow want to use it against me, so instead i just “listen intently”.
you don’t feel any pressure so you think you can strike, but at the moment you attack, i “cut you off” with jum sau and now I have the best “line of attack”.
now from here, you are “listening intently” WITHOUT giving me any pressure, now I think i can attack you, so now i attack, but you “cut me off” and control my strike with your bong sau,
now your elbow is away from your centerline, so i think i can bring your hand down to get the “best line” of attack, but the instant i do so, you drop your elbow back into tan sau while i ride it back to fuk sau.
does that make sense?
I love how you show that the “higher levels” of martial arts are really just the basic assimilated into the body. This kind of focus on simplicity and mechanics is what’s predominantly missing in the “MMA age.” I think it is interesting that the most dominant fighters are the most technically sound — Machida, Silva, GSP, etc. Their strength and speed are icing instead of the whole cake. Good stuff.
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Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 am
nicely put, can’t wait to see Machida fight in the next UFC. now if only he would keep his hands up to protect his “center”…
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Hi Jin,
(I am back on comments
)
Nice speech and explanation. I think this, besides having the structure behind every moves, is one of the most difficult thing in Wing Chun (as it should be learned…). Because, having the structure set and the relaxation that it requires tend to lead to a loss of this listening/responding skill, while listening/responding/focusing too much tends to create some kind of tension and make you lose your structure if any pressure is applied, at least in my case.
Looking forward to get both at the same time !
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Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
i 100% agree with you, glad to see you here, peace!
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Great stuff…
What about a video on responding/racting on your oponent action when there is no prior contact? a sudden fist in a face for exp.
or eny other attack… I think this could be also an interesting subject, on how to improve your “respond time”…
Ofcourse, I’m talking about a faze when you know the attack is comming, but you don’t know from where it is comming and what is the target
…
Thx for the video(s)
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Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:27 pm
yea, this is the second form, “seek the bridge”, we’re getting there, slowly but surely!
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amidat Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Hi Sifu.
I train in a dojo with Karate dudes so I have the same problem as “wind” stated above. So my question is “how do I engage the listening skills in a sparring session when there is no physical contact at the outset?” As soon as the sensei says ‘go’, I get roundhouse kicks and fists comin at me. Nobody listens! I revert to evasion and counters in order to stay alive, but even then, the physical contact is so brief, I don’t get a chance to listen before the next wave comes crashing in. I guess I could summarize the question as ‘how do you use wing chun principles against other styles where physical contact is virtually non-existent?’ except when you get hit
I see you eluded to the 2nd form, but any tips today would be greatly appreciated.
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Federico Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Hi amidat, I try to tell my point of view even if I’m not a sifu
When doing sparring, the “listening” consist in grabbing the space of your opponent even if he hasn’t made a move at all. It’s difficult to explain (also because I’m not english) but try to feel the contact before the contact occurs. Focus on eating the space around you, like you are a ball expanding and expanding until you reach your opponent. Be always one step ahead of him, think like you’ve already punched him 1-5-10 times even before you start. That’s at least the way we use to train during sparring
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Jin Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
nice, i really like this concept, Federico. the next video i will try and cover this subject, which isn’t an easy one, but i will try to explain it for you guys. peace!
amidat Reply:
October 8th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Federico, thanks for the response.
If I understand this correctly, I am to be aware of the distance (space) between me and my opponent. And be aware of the distance from which I can strike (my expanding ball) so when that ball touches my opponent, I strike.
I guess the opposite is true also where I have to be aware of his expanding ball and when it could touch me. So I just have to ensure I get there first
Thanks.
Paul
Great video! I always wondered how the old sifus could always beat their young students to the punch xD
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Jin Reply:
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
i still can’t lay a frigin hand on Hawkins Cheung and he’s in his 70’s! He used to say the same thing about Yip Man.
Everyone would line up and Yip Man would just go down the line, and one by one, he would completely “control” each and every person.
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Hi Jin, very good video…!
I use to do this drill with covered eyes, to more focus on the feeling.
Peace from Germany…!
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Jin Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 12:56 am
closing your eyes is a good way to do it also, as long as you don’t fall asleep! =D
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hey jin, can you covering jut sau basics on the next video if you dont mind? all your videos are very helpful. thanks a lot!
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Jin Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 12:57 am
i’ll add it to the “to do” list, peace!
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Brilliant!
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Jin Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 12:57 am
thanks!
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Jin, your explanation at the end of the video reminded me a little bit of a Hagakure story about the young and old wrestler.
Anyway, when I practice chi sao or dan chi, I know I’m doing it right when I’m only concentrating on my structure; when it comes time to move, my body does so naturally, like I didn’t have to think about it. Right now I can only get there every other time or so, but I’m workin’ on it. Thanks again for a great explanation.
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Jin Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 12:58 am
i don’t know that story, you should post it in the “philosophy” section of the forum.
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I have learned so much from your videos, I respect your ability to find the essence of whatever aspect of wing chun you demonstrate. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
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Jin Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 12:58 am
glad you’re enjoying them, peace!
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I still do not completely understand the difference between responding & reacting. Except for the difference between “listening” and guessing. Would it be that during DanChiSao, you want to concentrate on “feeling” the opponent’s forward intent/force generation instead of waiting for the movement? Ahg. A little help please?
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Jin Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 1:03 am
it’s a “timing” thing…
think of it like the brakes on your car, if there’s air in your brake lines, then what happens when you press on the brake? there’s a “delay” because of the trapped air, and it causes your brakes to respond in a “mushy” way.
but when a mechanic removes the air, as soon as you step on the brake, the brakes apply right away, there is no “gap” between you pressing the brake and the brakes being applied.
hope that helps you, take care and peace!
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Peposo7 Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Please correct me if I’m wrong:
That analogy refers in this video when she was only making contact BUT was not completely attached. There was pockets of air between and she didnt managed to properly “listen” since her Fook sau was not clinging(like a wet towel?). And then, this video is about how not being properly attached can impair your ability to “listen” and thus, react instead of responding…am I on the right track?
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Jin Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
you are 100% correct. nice! but remember that you not only have to do the “wet towel” concept but also the “forward intent” with the mind through the two fingers, which makes you “cling” even more with the “wet towel”.
Jin Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
lol..i just realized how crazy we sound talking about “wet towels” and “mind through the fingers”, what’s funny is that when i talk about setting the “three sticks” or “creating the brick wall” you guys actually understand me..hahaha..fun!
sifu jin i know saying thank you is not enough after all you’ve done for us but its the only way for me to show my gratitude towards you, i’ve said this before and as always i’ll say it again, thank you very much:)
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Jin Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
i appreciate your support as always, thanks! =D
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Dallas Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Make a donation. I’m striving to do it monthly like class-dues. If everyone he helps gives just a little. Nothing to break the bank. He’d appreciate it. Send ‘im a five-spot if it’s all ya got.
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Jin Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
thanks Dallas, yes, this is true, if this tutorial is helping you, then 5-10 dollars a month to help support the maintenance and also to improve the site helps alot. if you can’t afford it, then it’s no problemo.
a chunk of this site was made possible through donations or else i most likely wouldn’t have been able to afford it. so i want to thank everyone who has donated!
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I am officially in love… again. I know I say this a lot, but dude… she must be the One!
This is what I’ve been missing in your vids. Now, when you have your wonderful assistant, there is no way to make it even better… well, without disturbing our concentration.
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Jin Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
lol, i’ll make sure to tell her for you, =D
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Jin, this one was perfect as well. Once again, I’ve found another area to improve.
I only have ONE comment. Don’t make videos of trying to touch someone’s chest in a training drill……..WITH A WOMAN!!! Was it me, or did she at one point in the video have an expression like “OH NO HE DIDN’T!?!?!” We all know the drill, and the object during the first movement, is to attempt to touch your opponent before they can stop you. The “touch” usually occurs on the chest.
Jin, you’re gonna wake up with a butterfly knife in yo @$$, and then where will I be? For my sake if not your own…………
Pick your drill-partners with CARE!
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Jin Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
hahaha…you don’t miss a thing huh..lol..you just made my day, thanks! =D
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Sifu Jin
This video is great.
I started one week ago with dan chi sao, and this video help a lot!!!
Please tell me if it is correct ip man or yip man or both
thanks for your help.
From Argentina
Facundo
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Jin Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
thanks for the kind words, both are correct, ip man or yip man, as far as i know.
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Hi Jin
I’am a student of Wing Tai Chuan, in november i will be training with Jesse Glover, your videos are helping me get more clarity in my training, thanks jin.
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Jin Reply:
October 13th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
is that a combination of Wing Chun and Tai Chi? and Jesse Glover would be amazing to train with, let us know how it goes!
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Amazing video
Make your opponent REACT while you respond.
In sparring i noticed that chasing Hands leads to “reacting” and it puts you on the defense while the opponent continues with pressure.
Changed it to chasing Center, I put him in a position to react and i was now just responding to his fists.
Takes time to “really” understand all the points you are making but once tried out myself i get blown away every time. Always comes down to the basics.
Thanks, Great WORK
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And by the way brook really must have soft hands
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