FITNESS AND NUTRITION
There are countless nonsensical phrases that have been passed down "from generation to generation" in Wing Chun without critical reflection. Here are a few examples:
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A fight lasts no longer than three seconds. Since the fight ends so quickly, no significant fitness is required.
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In Wing Chun, you use your opponent's strength against them. You essentially borrow the opponent's force, so you don’t need to be strong or fit yourself.
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Wing Chun allows a weaker person to defend themselves against a stronger opponent.
In my opinion, these sayings rank among the dumbest I’ve ever heard. I suspect some clever trainer came up with them to avoid training themselves, waddling around in front of their students while justifying their own deteriorating physical condition.
This stands in stark contrast to Bruce Lee's philosophy, where he emphasized training every muscle in the body for a fight!
Unfortunately, many Wing Chun trainers perpetuate the myth that fitness is not a key factor, often as a way to excuse their own poor physical condition.
Nothing could be further from the truth! If you lack power, strength, or fitness, how can you generate the striking force needed to make an impression on your opponent? How do you expect to last in a confrontation if your lack of cardio or endurance causes you to collapse in front of your attacker?
No—Wing Chun requires an excellent fitness level if you take it seriously. In this guide, I explain how to get fitter, which exercises are beneficial, and how proper nutrition contributes to overall performance.
Enjoy,
Cord
01
WING CHUN AND THE FITNESS QUESTION
The idea that Wing Chun doesn’t require significant fitness is perhaps the biggest joke of the past few decades. How is that supposed to work? Imagine your opponent is agile, bombarding you with strikes, and has moderate to good endurance (meaning they can keep this up for a while). Meanwhile, you’re exhausted after three seconds and lack strength.
No, endurance, strength, and explosiveness are essential—even in Wing Chun, or perhaps especially in Wing Chun. While you don’t need to have these from the start, you must build them up gradually. Please register and log into your account to read the full article for free.
02
QUICK FEET AND JUMP ROPE TRAINING
Jump rope is the ultimate cardio workout. It burns calories quickly, making it effective for weight loss. It also improves hand-foot coordination, which is crucial in martial arts.
The proper timing between the jump and the rope swing requires precise coordination of movement patterns, enhancing overall coordination skills. It’s no surprise that many martial artists (boxers, Muay Thai fighters, etc.) warm up with jump rope—and so do we. After all, we’re not a group of amateurs.
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03
AGILITY LADDER TRAINING
"Quick feet" and fast footwork are essential in martial arts. Standing still in your opponent’s line of fire is a recipe for disaster, regardless of the discipline—including Wing Chun.
Quick hand-foot coordination and specific footwork patterns can be trained effectively with an agility ladder. Techniques like moving offline, rolling, evasion movements, and defensive work can all be practiced. Please register and log into your account to read the full article for free.
04
HIIT – HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING
Fights are intense. Adrenaline spikes, fear of injury, and confrontation send your heart rate soaring. It’s a problem if you’re unfit and unaccustomed to high physical demands.
HIIT involves short bursts of activity lasting about 30 seconds, immediately followed by more activity with minimal rest. It’s a highly demanding training method—perfect for martial arts and Wing Chun training. Please register and log into your account to read the full article for free.
05
BODYWEIGHT TRAINING
In a confrontation, the first thing you need to move is your body. You must execute pushing (strikes), pulling motions, push off the ground with footwork, maintain core stability, evade, and more.
The movements required in combat can be effectively trained through bodyweight exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, leg raises, squats, and more. Bodyweight training is flexible, carries a low risk of injury, and aligns perfectly with Wing Chun.
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06
NUTRITION PRINCIPLES
You are what you eat. If you drink beer, eat chips, and indulge in fast food, you’re essentially sealing your own fate. Where do you think that lifestyle leads if you keep feeding your body junk every day?
Yes, I get it—we live in an age of abundance, and the food industry goes to great lengths to make unhealthy options taste good. But would you put old engine oil in your car’s tank and drive it until the motor explodes? Of course not.
Good nutrition looks very different. Treat your body like a temple, something that should carry you well into old age. Start taking care of it. Please register and log into your account to read the full article for free.