Wing Chun Stop block Kick (Chi Gerk)

[Relaxis]

Hi, I've been doing Ip Chun style wing chun for about 8 months but recently joined the only Wing Chun kung fu club in my area which is Leung Ting style.

In this style they have a stop block kick which is much like a foot jab - however I'm finding it really hard to get it right -

Basically I weigh around 60 kilos and lose my balance every time I try to stop block my opponent, I've tried lowering the height of my stance which helps but then I lose flexibility in the leg.

Any suggestions?

[fagmash]

Keep all your weight on your back leg? Did the LT style for a few months and thats one of the main things about it, stay on the back leg and you wont fall when you do the kick, not saying its right to stay on the back leg but thats whats taught. Either that or your balance isnt very good, in which case you can stand on one leg and close your eyes, try to stay there for twenty seconds, balance will improve.

[eyebeams]

If you have no footwork, you have no dynamic movement to back up the kick. Have you tried it live, moving around?

[Southpaw]

Footwork may be the problem...or your stance and base are all screwed up.

Honestly, the kick is pretty short and fast so you really shouldn't have much time to lose your balance if you have a good stance.

[selfcritical]

I forget, isn't this kick pretty much the same as the one in Savate they use to sort of smother an incoming kick with the sole of the shoe?

[Southpaw]

Not sure about Savate...but if I understand what he is talking about, it is a short, quick front kick that is meant to stop a kick before it has the chance to build any momentum.

[selfcritical]

Ah, is the foot turned obliquely?

[Relaxis]

The foot is obliquely turned. My stance is ok -

I guess what I'm doing is not actually kicking as such but using the leg as a stopper... I think the technician teaching me is an idiot.

I tried actually using it as a kick and it worked. Thanks for the input.

And BTW - Leung Ting - the weight is all on the back foot but in Ip Chun the weight is 60/40 distribution. Makes fundamental changes to the footwork.

[jdinca]

Sounds like your body position may be throwing off your balance. Keep your weight centered over the standing foot and see if that makes a difference.

[Tom Kagan]

You could try something drastic... like actually training.

Gitmo Plz.



FYI: A stop kick is not Chi Gerk.