Review of Ian Protheroe's DVD, The Wing Chun Fighting System

Customer/3rd Party Review: This review was done by a customer/3rd party and is listed here for you reference only. The views and opinions of the reviewer are not those of Everything Wing Chun and do not necessarily reflect EWC's views or opinions on the subject matter. It is posted, like all customer reviews, to give you more info on the product and to give you different opinions on a product so that you can make the best decision for yourself about its content. The review is NOT by an EWC employee or contractor and EWC cannot stand by anything said in any customer/3rd party review. Enjoy!

Reviewer: George Hernandez
Date: July 10, 2010

DVD Bought on: Everything Wing Chun : http://www.everythingwingchun.com/ian-protheroe-wing-chun-dvds-books-s/52.htm
This DVD is also scheduled to be available for download on Everything Wing Chun Instant Access

Technical Specifications:
Title: The Wing Chun Fighting System
Presenters: Ian Protheroe
Region:  all
Format: PAL
Number of disc:  1
Length: 01:14:26
Language:  English
Sound Quality: 3/5
Video Quality: 4/5
Material covered: 5/5
Instructional qualities: 5/5

What it's about:

Ivan Protheroe presents his interpretation of Wing Chun as a fighting system and its combative techniques. Sifu Protheroe is also a life member of the Ving Tsun Athletic Association which was established by the first generation of students of Yip Man (Ip Man).

Comments:

Wing Chun is a complex and effective method of martial arts which includes many techniques found in other systems of Chinese Wushu. However, many of the means used in training and in applications are unique to the Wing Chun system. Sifu Protheroe provides an in-depth presentation of the system's application of the combative arts specific to the trapping hands and takedown maneuvers.

Protheroe, begins his video instruction by organizing the techniques according to three basic fighting ranges…he refers to them as the kicking, boxing, trapping ranges, albeit distances between the defender and the attacker…there are obviously, reasons for using certain techniques when you're at a certain distance from the opponent…techniques which are useful to get inside an opponent's defensive posture and attacks and those that are most useful when you have closed the gap and you're in close with the opponent.

The Wing Chun postures and applications shown; specifically the entry techniques are classic examples of Sifu Protheroe teacher…Master William Cheung. For those of you who are of this school, where its fighting approach is claimed as the sole provider of the "Traditional System" of Wing Chun, then this DVD is for you. Sifu Protheroe, movements and the use of his hands are impressively fast and right to their intended target. His showing of applications are skilled and flawless in there execution. I found the takedown part of his demonstration as notable…he certainly understands the proper use of the angles and trapping techniques; the dynamics of proper movement to make such techniques work, however, in actual use takedowns and sweeps are difficult to employ…it is not as easy as it looks. My only misgiving about this part of the DVD on takedowns was that it did not provide the possible counters or reversals that are used to get out of such a situation. It is indeed the other side of the coin most instructional Wing Chun media seem to avoid. But, I guess those are the secrets, which you're privileged to when you have trained for a considerable time under a particular teacher.

Protheroe, obviously is very pragmatic in his applications approach…one has to adapt the system to western fighting to be effective. Westerns fight in ways that are completely different than from various systems and styles of Chinese Wushu. You just won't find westerns typically fighting from a very low lateral stance or performing a punch from a bow posture. Techniques in boxing are different from those otherwise used in Asia and require a different understanding of application and defense; Sifu Protheroe makes this point quite clearly in his demonstration.

Talented western boxers can be very quick with multiple combinations if they're allowed to get in close! Particularly, among light or feather weight players…heavy weights can also be fast as well. Jabs or multiple jams can be followed up with a second technique or faints can be used that are quick and misleading about what the opponent will actually do next. However, Wing Chun provides a repertoire of techniques that western boxing doesn't have. Being able to sweep, kick and trap with the hands definitely provides far more options; they are slick and covert in a simple and when need be in a complex fashion.

This DVD is really not for the beginner; one must have a thorough understanding of Wing Chun and its three forms, the Chi Sao, its leg training methods to benefit from what is demonstrated. However, if you're looking for an instructional medium that shows you the variety and diverse applications of Wing Ch un's system of fighting then the purchase of this DVD would be an excellent investment.

Content Overview:

• Introduction
  • The Basics – entry techniques.
• The three basic fighting ranges
  • Kicking
  • Boxing
  • Trapping
• Kicking Range
  • The Pre-Contact Range
  • The Contact Range
  • Front and Side Kick
  • Heel Kick
  • Full Front Kick
  • Using the knee to block
  • The round kick defense
  • Wu Sao guarding hand
  • Using the Gong Sao hand
  • Fook Sao-parallel arm/parallel foot
  • Defense against the spinning kick
• Boxing Range
  • The no trapping range
  • The Tan Sao Pac Sao Sequence
  • Pac Sao-elbow and punch sequence
  • Moving to the side
  • Defense against the round house punch
  • The Lap Sao block
  • Using the leg to jam
• The Trapping Range
  • The close in fighting range situation
  • Anatomy of a simple trap sequence
  • Anatomy of a complex trap sequence
  • Moving to the side
  • Giving the opponent less options
  • Feeling the pressure during the movement
  • Takedowns and the complex trapping hand
  • Offsetting the opponents balance
  • Triangle orientation and the takedown
  • Using a cross arm technique for a takedown
  • Using circle steps for takedowns