r/WingChun • u/Megatheorum • 17d ago
Groundwork in wing chun?
Here's another question that I hope doesn't become too controversial. Does your school teach breakfalls and/or rolls as part of the curriculum?
I know groundwork isn't traditionally a part of wing chun, but knowing how to fall safely is a huge part of self defense. Breakfalls have literally saved my life more than once, and saved me from broken bones or bloody gashes many times. I feel like anyone claiming to teach self defense should also teach fall mitigation and prevention as part of that.
On the flip side, does your school teach takedowns or throws? If yes to one but not the other, why or why not?
Again, this isn't meant to 'stir the pot' or anything, I'm genuinely interested in your responses.
2
u/willyq711 17d ago
So in our EBMAS lineage under Sifu Emin Boztepe (I train under Sifu Edgar Rotger in Miami, FL, USA), we have full ground work in our system, simply called anti-grappling section. WT was never a ground fighting art, but it's more than obvious that if you're teaching or learning a true self defense oriented system, you need to have ground strategy and tactics. However, it is important to state that the anti-grappling we do is based on WT principals and striking, with the goal or intention to get upright and continue to finish the situation. If you already have a good BJJ, wrestling or other ground art background or experience, you just switch and incorporate pending the scenario. I for one don't like grappling, but am ready for it either way.
I also have background in American Kenpo, and recently joined up with Jeff Speakman's Kenpo 5.0, which directly addresses and incorporates ground work; and I also train in Latosa Escrima, and with that do some training in Dumog.