The Centerline of Wing Chun Martial Arts
What is the Centerline?
Simply, The Centerline is an imaginary line which runs vertically in the center of the martial artist. The importance of it is to give the Wing Chun practitioner, especially beginners, an idea of where their hands are supposed to be, how they should strike and defend etc.
Centerline Theory
The Wing Chun System base's its strikes and blocks around the centerline as to preserve Wing Chun principles like practicality of motion. as example if I cover straight attacks on using a Biu Sau on the centerline it in effect pushes the attacks just past my body. This lessens the chances of me getting hit., pushing it any further would be, 1. Wasted energy. 2. Means it would take longer for me to return to my guard or counter attack. 3. leaves me open for a quick counter attack, and even possibly also 4. moves me off balance.
Is there a horizontal centerline?
No there is none. Yet before we take a look at why there is no horizontal centerline, It is worth re iterating that the centerline merely is an imaginary line described to help people grasp and learn Wing Chun. We have a term for it simply because we discuss it a lot but it is certainly not a physical object. We do this in the same manner as we call the first form "Sil Lim Tao" (or little idea) instead of describing it as "a set of moves organized to impart to the pupil of Wing Chun the basic positions of blocks and strikes and how to build and release energy and isometricly develop the muscles in the legs in order to become stronger and be most effective in using the wing Chun Biu Ma stance that one learns later in the system.".
With the best of results, by now you realize that the term centerline is there merely to be useful and help students understand and talk about an idea easily. So at the same manner adding a horizontal and multiple vertical centerlines is not at all very useful and probably would just complicate what is otherwise quite a simple principle.: "Protect yourself by simply guiding punches out of your center, past your body. striking along the center so that it would be hard for your opponent to launch an effective counter attack."
Ip Chun's Comments
"The Wing Chun centerline should be vertical in order to preserve a proper stance. although we must adjust it depending on the situation."
Simply, The Centerline is an imaginary line which runs vertically in the center of the martial artist. The importance of it is to give the Wing Chun practitioner, especially beginners, an idea of where their hands are supposed to be, how they should strike and defend etc.
Centerline Theory
The Wing Chun System base's its strikes and blocks around the centerline as to preserve Wing Chun principles like practicality of motion. as example if I cover straight attacks on using a Biu Sau on the centerline it in effect pushes the attacks just past my body. This lessens the chances of me getting hit., pushing it any further would be, 1. Wasted energy. 2. Means it would take longer for me to return to my guard or counter attack. 3. leaves me open for a quick counter attack, and even possibly also 4. moves me off balance.
Is there a horizontal centerline?
No there is none. Yet before we take a look at why there is no horizontal centerline, It is worth re iterating that the centerline merely is an imaginary line described to help people grasp and learn Wing Chun. We have a term for it simply because we discuss it a lot but it is certainly not a physical object. We do this in the same manner as we call the first form "Sil Lim Tao" (or little idea) instead of describing it as "a set of moves organized to impart to the pupil of Wing Chun the basic positions of blocks and strikes and how to build and release energy and isometricly develop the muscles in the legs in order to become stronger and be most effective in using the wing Chun Biu Ma stance that one learns later in the system.".
With the best of results, by now you realize that the term centerline is there merely to be useful and help students understand and talk about an idea easily. So at the same manner adding a horizontal and multiple vertical centerlines is not at all very useful and probably would just complicate what is otherwise quite a simple principle.: "Protect yourself by simply guiding punches out of your center, past your body. striking along the center so that it would be hard for your opponent to launch an effective counter attack."
Ip Chun's Comments
"The Wing Chun centerline should be vertical in order to preserve a proper stance. although we must adjust it depending on the situation."
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