By Jasan Fujii
One of my biggest pet peeves is sloppy feeding or feeding with out a purpose. To elaborate, one partner (A) takes time off to rest as he feeds his partner (B), while B works his Wing Chun techniques. Why does this piss me off? Well because, 1) it's not "rest" time, and 2) the sloppy feeding results in the building of improper techniques and a false sense of security for the person being fed (B).
If you are feeding someone, you should be working as well. This is your chance to help your partner by observing him/her to see if they are properly executing the correct technique, executing the technique correctly and are helping them to build a solid foundation from which to build on.
Your feeds should resemble more of what you and your classmates would encounter on the street. Why? Because when those punches do come on the street, you are less likely to freeze because the punch is familiar to you-- as opposed to freezing because you are so use to seeing a Wing Chun punch delivered to you over and over again in class.
At a recent seminar I attended, Dr. Stanford McNeal told us as we were working and feeding our partners not to just stand there like a bunch of dummies or punching bags. This is not time off and just because we were feeding doesn't mean there's nothing to work on. As we feed we should be thinking about what our next move was now that our initial technique has now been blocked/disrupted. To look at our partners and see where they are open. Where they can be countered. Which counter we can use given our current position, etc. By doing this, Dr. McNeal said, we will develop our fighting mind and spirit.
But, wait. There's more! Even when you are working your basic drills, pak saos for example, as mundane and boring pak saos can become, ask yourself this: do I really have these down? Are my paks as good as they should be? Am I moving my partners arms because I'm executing the technique correctly, or is he/she moving them for me w/ lazy technique? How's my stance? Is it strong? Am I coming out of my stance to punch? To pak? To Tan? To lap? Even as you are feeding punches so your partner can work his/her pak saos, you should be working on your chain punching. Keeping your elbows in and punching in a straight line instead of drumming down. Are your punches relaxed? If you do not learn to relax your punches you'll never last a 4 minute round, believe me. How is your stance as you feed? Are you moving when pak'ed hard? Are you flying forward when lap'ed?
There is so much to perfect in the basic drills, yet that is why they are basic drills. Without a basic foundation, your building (Wing Chun) will collapse. So, don't mistake working with your juniors and newbies as time to take a break, even though it may not be as rigorous as full moving Chi Sao and Chi Gerk, it's still time to work and perfect your basic techniques and understanding of the art (and a c hance to set a good example to the person you're working with).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A student of John Kang, Jasan Fujii teaches Wing Chun in the San Francisco Bay Area. He can be reached through his website at http://www.eastwest-wingchun.com.
Examples of Poor Feeding
Beating the Drum
These pictures demonstrate poor chain punching developed by habitual lazy feeding:
The feeder is using the time to "rest" or not work on his technique during pak saos.
Just because he isn't doing pak saos, doesn't mean he has nothing to work on. He
should be working on proper punching techniques and staying relaxed while he punches.
Out of range/Sloppy Feed
Who the heck punches like that? The feed in not realistic and will not benefit his
partner in any way. Secondly, both partners are out of range-- this leads to "chasing hands."
Again out of range. Also the feeder is not paying attention, he's taking this opportunity to
rest, instead of working on his own concentration, seeing what his partner does so he can
find ways to stimulate his own w/c and offer constructive feedback to his partner.
Elbow Out
The feeder has taken this time to rest during pak saos, building another common mistake when
feeding: punching with the elbows out. Again, he should be concentrating on proper punching
form and staying relaxed while punching. this bad habit develops when people are too stiff
when they punch. By keeping their elbows out, they are able to handle the punishment of the
pak saos more easily instead of staying relaxed.
Dozing Off
Again he is looking away, not paying attention, taking the portion of the drill off. Not
able to provide feedback or gain any inspiration. he also can't build accuracy because
he is not paying attention and may not actually be punching at his partner.
Because he's not paying attention, he doesn't know where his punch is going: he hasn't picked
his target. now his partner is left to compensate, leaving him slightly out of range and
pulling so as not to hurt his partner who isn't paying attention.
Out of range
Both parnters are out of range. this can lead to chasing hands, fatigue, false sense of
security, inaccurate techniques, openings for counters.
Same punch delivered at the same distance. Here the partner does nothing because the feeder
is out of range.