THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO FIGHT.

It is not a simple binary choice such as this over that.

There are only two approaches to violent human interaction.

This is not about style, capability, conditioning or training, it is about how humans, in general, solve problems.

It is not a simple binary choice such as this over that.

Both approaches will allow us to reach our current potential, so in that respect they are equal.

All deliberate actions, such as using aspects of, or techniques from our training, are the product of our Conscious Mind.

 I think we all know this.

But what happens if we are not in an environment that allows us to make conscious decisions?

An environment where we are in a state of shock, even panic.

This is the very environment that most students expect their training to just ‘kick in’.

Let me repeat something…

“All deliberate actions such as using aspects of, or techniques from, our training, are the product of our Conscious Mind”.

What we are pinning our hopes on is that we can access our Conscious Mind in a situation where we do not have access to our Conscious Mind.

Praying that we can access our training when we cannot think.

Go over this as many times as it takes for you to make sense of what I am saying.

I will try to explain this in some depth in my next post, but first I want to clear our heads of misinformation.

Emptying the cup so that we can fill it.

Firstly we need to be able to take the 30,000 ft view by highlighting something that we are all immersed in without really paying attention to it.

YouTube.

This is a sore point with me so it may come over as a bit of a rant.

It is not meant to be but it is really difficult for me to talk about Wing Chun’s representation on YouTube without my true colours shining through.

Something I ask every potential student is “What type of fighter are you”?

You would be shocked by how many do not know how to answer this.

They tend to say something like “I am hoping to learn how to fight by learning Wing Chun”.

My answer is either the first real chance of personal growth they get, or it bursts their bubble and I never see them again.

‘Wing Chun does not teach people how to fight, it teaches people how to fight better”.

How do so many people get it so very, very mixed up?

To a certain extent, this has been amplified by COVID-19 but mostly I blame YouTube.

Since the Global lockdown more of us are using YouTube to seek out Wing Chun information.

But that is where it all goes pear-shaped.

YouTube is a shopping Channel.

And like all of us when we go shopping, people only buy what they believe suits them.

No one is actually looking for information, what they are looking for is validation.

They are looking for a YouTube influencer to tell them that while their thinking is a bit disorganised they are moving in the right direction.

If the YouTuber does not do this they look for one that does.

Why else would anyone listen to half of these guys?

Since COVID-19, YouTube has all but exploded with Wing Chun content, if that is the right word.

I do not blame the YouTubers, they are just trying to make a buck.

And I am not saying that they are wrong, if they get a sale, or a thumbs up, then it is mission accomplished, no foul there, only a fool would blame the salesman when they go out and pay good money by their own choice.

There is a very old maxim “Never buy a Pig in a Poke”, so this is no new occurrence.

But back to the question.

“What type of fighter are you”?

After all, there are only two types, and we all know which one we are.

We are either assertive or responsive.

But, just like someone who goes to town and buys the wrong shirt, we buy what we think can help us be the person we wish to be.

Instead of something that improves who we are.

Especially with Internet Shopping.

We have all got the equivalent of that pair of bright blue paisley happy pants that looked great at 4am after too much Scotch.

As I mentioned, there are only 2 types of fighters, this is an aspect of who we are and not what we hope our training will make us.

While it is possible to change which type of fighter we are over the medium term, we cannot change this to order, and we cannot be both.

YouTube is an Internet Shopping Channel that never has to face its customers, they know they will never need to answer to unhappy campers.

Unless they can get online after surgery that is.

Twp pairs of bright blue paisley happy pants for one cheap price.

Kevin Lee.