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Efficiency, employing the minimum amount of time, energy and/or resources cost is a valued principle in many spheres. It would seem only logical it also be valued in a martial art. The old martial art adage: “Maximum result with minimum effort” is sound common sense.
Whilst it could be argued that simply “getting the job done” makes it efficient this is far from the full equation. This confuses effectiveness with efficiency. Many martial arts, in the hands of an accomplished practitioner can work, i.e. be effective. Such effectiveness, however, depends on the opponent possessing or manifesting a lower level of skill or another attribute which was a key variable in determining the outcome. Variables like strength, courage or even endurance come to mind. Effectiveness is not the same as efficiency. Someone once said to me that effectiveness is getting the right job done whilst efficiency is getting the job done right. This might not be exactly a finely tuned semantic differentiation but it does make the point in an easily remembered little saying.
Efficiency, as our Wing Chun sees it, entails utilising a number of factors which, cumulatively, distinguish Wing Chun from other martial arts - these include our principles as well as attributes, concepts, tactics, structures and techniques. Efficiency, for us, does entail not having to employ sheer physical power. It entails using the line of attack, gate theory and centerline. It entails relaxation to conserve energy. It entails directness to conserve time. It entails self preservation techniques and tactics to conserve our physical integrity under attack. It entails appropriate targeting to ensure we don’t waste our energy and our strike opportunities. It entails confidence to ensure we don’t miss opportunities. It entails structures to offset superior physical strength. It entails appropriate expression of power. It entails not departing from the art.
So, it can be readily seen that efficiency illustrates how our Wing Chun is an integrated art with each component essential and linked to others. I am occasionally requested to teach “a bit of Wing Chun” or one of the component areas such as chi sau, the pole, the dummy etc. The point I’ve just made in linking efficiency into other components of our art shows just how ill-informed such thinking is. It’s also why seminars can be deceptive - the attendees all assume they’re doing the same art or “Wing Chun’ when in fact they are likely really just doing things by the numbers. Style with no substance. You can’t learn Wing Chun without learning it in total. Otherwise you will have something that looks a little like it externally but is merely a husk masquerading as the real thing. It takes several years to develop the attributes of Wing Chun and it has to be taught and learnt as an integrated whole with the principles informing the whole art.
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