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Chasing Hands with the Mind by Ernie Barrios

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Gert-Jan Ketelaar:
Chasing Hands with the Mind

Inspired by the teachings of Sifu Gary Lam

Written by Ernie Barrios

Edited by Kevin Bell / Alan Gibson / Dick Treanor /Jeff Armstead



There is a very popular catch phase in Wing Chun, "don't chase hands, chase the man" or words to that effect. In theory, it's a wonderful insightful little gem. A very simple concept, it embodies the essence of what combat should be about; the essence of what WSLGLVT is all about.

Terminate the headquarters, and the remaining troops lose direction, thus drastically reducing their effectiveness.

This concept has been around as long as there has been conflict. It has been passed on in many different forms and phrases. For example, to kill a snake you must cut off its head, neutralizing the threat. If you do anything other then dealing with the true source of the threat (the head) and you focus your attention on the tail, you'll expose yourself to danger. You open a window of opportunity; a chance for the opponent to make use of your indirect action. By not using the most logical, simple, direct and effective path to deal with the problem, you are surely looking for trouble. In short, to show the enemy kindness is to invite cruelty upon yourself!

Think about it, does a Marine spend endless hours on a firing range, pouring out bullets, honing his accuracy, only to hand his enemy victory in the heat of battle by shooting around the general vicinity of the target?

This all sounds great on paper and there is a time when being non-direct is the most efficient path—a time when the curve beats the straight line, but there are only 2 things that are certain in combat: luck and uncertainty! With that in mind, we must then take an honest, critical and logical approach towards methods that may improve our chances for survival. Notice, I said survival, not winning. I am differentiating between a fight in the pavement arena and a contest or sparring match governed by controlled variables.
However, I should point out that I'm an advocate for the benefits of progressive, isolated and free sparring. The difference is that it will always be a game; a natural extension of any honest and healthy combative training method.

On the pavement arena, there are no ref's, time limits, weight divisions, rules or time to study and prepare for the big fight; hence the emphasis on surviving over winning. There is no room for ego, style, lineage, favorite techniques, marketing, history lessons, belts or certificates. The only trophy or accolade is that you get to live another day!

There is no room to chase hands; physically, mentally or tactically.

Many systems say they don't chase hands (in the physical sense of the word), yet they train technique after technique. They create lineage specific, “comfort bubble” type environments, with perfect little sequences to prove how their particular way is better than the other guy’s. They create lineage specific “comfort bubbles” to prove how their Sifu is a genius. This, in turn, validates why they're so smart for recognizing his genius and following him.

They say they do not chase hands, yet the very second they create a “technique” based environment—where things are supposed to happen in a predetermined way—they are, in every sense of the word, “chasing” hands. Not just in the obvious implication of the word by physically chasing a limb or position prior to taking a shot, but in the entire system’s general approach. The hunt for false environments; the need to create a feel good moment by trying to crystallize an organic, ever changing situation into frozen moments in time and say, “see, it works like this!”

What if Sifus, masters (or whatever they have you calling them) told the truth? What if they said, “stuff happens,” or, “well I really don't know, I have never experienced that first hand,” or, “that guy would clobber me!” Let us not forget the obvious (sorry to break it to you son), but, “you are going to be hit!”

The fact is you are going to get hurt. Win or lose, fighting is a dirty business. But the business of selling and profiting vastly from pretend fighting is far worse!

Now, since I am a firm believer in honesty and also enjoy in partaking in the killing of sacred cows, I will openly admit that all styles or systems at one point or another chase hands. Why? Simply because chasing hands is just how the human animal instinctually reacts when confronted with an overwhelming situation. We either reach out and try and hold the threat, or shell up when sensory overload kicks in.

We can accept this and use it as a teaching aid—a tool to pass on—and try to point out bad reactions and program correct actions. The problem is when people become trapped, or worse make it a habit or a system based on those generic experiences. The “if he does this, then you do that” syndrome is when the cookie cutter mass marketing mayhem begins. Let me say this point blank—so there is no mistake: VT cannot be, nor ever will be, a mass production, assembly line training method. It is just a road map to individual skill development. Each individual, based on their depth of knowledge and passion to push the limits of personal experience, will dictate what they will draw from the training methods.

So we are left with a harsh reality. VT is not a style. For if you approach it from a stylistic point of view or a technique point of view, it falls into the realm of false truth - based on non realistic, generic experiences of the “what if” mindset. I tend to label this either suicide or fantasy. Sadly, when dealing with a real life situation and things don't go the way the brochure promised, the once confident chi sau/drill technique king is reduced to a quivering statue of indecision, or brute force and blind emotion!

Ving Tsun (however you chose to spell it) is just a training system based around a few logical ideas and concepts. It is a system that tries to cultivate and develop habits supported by natural human body mechanics that just might increase your chance of survival in a violent altercation. By having realistic expectations of what the training methods can help you achieve, you can approach the strength and weaknesses of the system with open eyes! You, as an individual, can make educated decisions and avoid the pitfalls of marketing propaganda and outrageous claims.

There is undeniable logic in the concept of not chasing hands. But don't take my word for it. Research it on your own. Look at your actions in your current system. Are they simple? Meaning, when the fight happens, when your mind is racing and your fine motor skills have gone out of the window, will you react with a simple, clear action that has been burned in under pressure or will you suffer a mental “log jam” of countless techniques. Is your action direct? Are you attacking the attack, instantly directing your energy towards the core of the assault? Or are you trying to insert multiple techniques, chasing hands, legs or some static illusion created by the fallacy of techniques and drills?

You see the concept of chasing hands goes beyond just following the limbs. If you are prone to a particular stance or structure (yes even VT ready posture).... then you are chasing hands. If you need a certain range....you are chasing hands. If you need to make a bridge, as in some people’s misinterpretation of Chum Kui (you should eventually be able to set up or sense an advantageous position without initial contact), you are chasing hands. Any predetermined step, be it physical, mental or emotional, that you need before you can react is, to put it bluntly, chasing the hand, and as such, inherently flawed.

Ving Tsun, as it has been exposed to me, is a path to self-knowledge, self-honesty and, most importantly, the cultivation of freedom and personal expression. By shedding and peeling away the layers of unnecessary technique, lineage restrictions and ego, and by getting to know the real you, with all your fears and idiosyncrasies and genetic limitations, you can train and focus the one and only constant in a fight that you might be able to control: yourself!

By not chasing hands in any way you can use the simple tools and concepts that Ving Tsun offers you. The first step though, is to make an honest assessment of your current method and ask yourself, “Are you chasing hands with your body, your habit, or your mind?” If you are, do you have the honesty and courage to step out of your comfort zone, take responsibility for your own personal growth and make a change?
_________________

http://wslglvt.com/

Sebastian Schleifer:
Hey Gert,
thank you very much for posting this. This one seems to me a very valuable statement.

When Ernie writes:
“Are you chasing hands with your body, your habit, or your mind?” If you are, do you have the honesty and courage to step out of your comfort zone, take responsibility for your own personal growth and make a change?"
this is a message which I think is extremely challenging and inspiring for many.

For my part, I just would like to add that learning how to fight is not the only way to recognize this, and that it goes for other aspects of life, too.

Thanks again
S.

Ernie Barrios:

--- Quote from: Sebastian Schleifer on February 08, 2007, 08:57:02 AM ---Hey Gert,
thank you very much for posting this. This one seems to me a very valuable statement.

When Ernie writes:
“Are you chasing hands with your body, your habit, or your mind?” If you are, do you have the honesty and courage to step out of your comfort zone, take responsibility for your own personal growth and make a change?"
this is a message which I think is extremely challenging and inspiring for many.

For my part, I just would like to add that learning how to fight is not the only way to recognize this, and that it goes for other aspects of life, too.

Thanks again
S.



--- End quote ---

Sebastian,
  that is the meaning of the whole article =)
Gary often says there are many ways to chase hands , he would point out that even chasing center in some ways is chasing hands if your not aware enough to change , think , adapt

there is another saying Gary uses that i often apply to life [ when it's time to change ,,,change ! don't be stubborn ]

I try and remember this when i get to fixed on any idea or problem . things have a natural way of working out =)

thanks for taking the time to read

be well
Ernie

Gert-Jan Ketelaar:
Gents, 

Certainly a good read this article from brother E! The article is very nice written and not the standard talking repeating what somebody else already said.


--- Quote ---take responsibility for your own personal growth and make a change?"
--- End quote ---

--- Quote ---this is a message which I think is extremely challenging and inspiring for many.

For my part, I just would like to add that learning how to fight is not the only way to recognize this, and that it goes for other aspects of life, too.
--- End quote ---
Sebastian, talking about your challenges here in building the first dermatology clinic in Germany, right?

The subject "chasing hands" is in my opinion one of THE most common mistakes that people make all the time. It has probably much to do with the natural reaction of wanting to defend oneself. The wish 'not to be hit' is many times stronger then the wish to 'hit the other'.

GJ.

Ernie Barrios:

--- Quote from: Gert-Jan Ketelaar on February 12, 2007, 01:21:39 PM ---Gents, 

Certainly a good read this article from brother E! The article is very nice written and not the standard talking repeating what somebody else already said.


--- Quote ---take responsibility for your own personal growth and make a change?"
--- End quote ---

--- Quote ---this is a message which I think is extremely challenging and inspiring for many.

For my part, I just would like to add that learning how to fight is not the only way to recognize this, and that it goes for other aspects of life, too.
--- End quote ---
Sebastian, talking about your challenges here in building the first dermatology clinic in Germany, right?

The subject "chasing hands" is in my opinion one of THE most common mistakes that people make all the time. It has probably much to do with the natural reaction of wanting to defend oneself. The wish 'not to be hit' is many times stronger then the wish to 'hit the other'.

GJ.



--- End quote ---

Exactly ,
 take for example the little Beimo I had 2 weeks ago .
 in all my years sparring and fighting in and out of the ring , I developed a very good sense of awareness , meaning I can pick up a guys read right away , how he moves were his power comes from striker , grappler or a mix ,,stuff like that .

but with this crazy Shaw brothers southern kung fu freak , my ability to break some down based on past experience was actually hurting me , in a sense I was mentally chasing hands . unconsciously running the program in my mind to try and pick something up off this guy I can use . problem is he was doing some crazy arm waving animal stuff and I was almost laughing ,,,until I got hit !

then my mind snapped out of it's loop and only saw the center of his mass , in this case his jaw and I exploded on the bastard ,,, and 2 punches later problem solved

so even though I didn't physically chase his hands , I feel into a mental state that did ,,,, another wonderful life lesson that only cost me a shot to the head =)

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