Can a smaller person defend themselves against someone bigger and stronger? Many people believe that it is impossible. However, in the martial art called Wing Chun Kung Fu, it has been proven time and time again that it can be done. Why is this?
One reason is that we learn how to use less energy to defend ourselves and then use an opponent’s energy against him. Another reason is because Wing Chun uses footwork to move when attacking and defending, creating more possibilities for attacking or defending without using energy.
Wing Chun is not difficult to learn and very quickly you can begin practising techniques and footwork to improve your level. [Grandmaster] Michael Tse says, “My Sifu, Grandmaster Ip Chun, is only a small man, weighing less than 100 lbs. However, I have seen him do Chi Sau (a way of practising the Wing Chun techniques in training with a partner) with Westerners much bigger and taller than him and every time he easily controls them.
“They always try to use strength against him, but being smaller, he knows that he does not have the same strength to fight back. So he uses his sensitivity to “listen” to his opponent’s hands and body movements. In small ways, they will give their intentions away before they have actually committed all of their energy. He can then move or change his position to defend and even change their energy to trap them and attack back. Anyone who sees Grandmaster Ip Chun is impressed by his skill, especially as he is now [ninety-eight] years old and still very fit and healthy.”
