Grandmaster Tse’s Wing Chun Note 396

Three Forms – Part 6

Jeun Máh 進馬 – Forward Step

The third part of Tsum Kìuh 尋橋 focuses on Jeun Máh 進馬 – Forward Step. Jeun Máh is attacking footwork, so we only use it when we are attacking or going to attack. Some people will say “Attack is the best form of defence.” I disagree with this. The best attack is the when the situation is right, where you will take least or no damage and cause more damage to the opponent, or it finishes the fight.

Jeun Máh is used to take the space away from the opponent, so they have less space to defend and therefore less chance to fight back. Whenever we attack, we need to be quick and finish the fight as quickly as possible and or course win. However, we might not easily win if the opponent is very good, strong and fast. So we need to keep our weight more on the back leg in order to remain safe. If we miss and the enemy attacks us, or they have long arms and so we do not have enough space, then we will need to step back. But in Tsum Kìuh, we only have Yìh Jih Kìhm Yèuhng Máh 二字鉗羊馬 – Basic Wing Chun Stance, Jyún Máh 轉馬 – Turning Stance, Wàahng Máh 横馬 – Sideways Step and Jeun Máh 進馬, there is no Teui Máh 退馬 – Backward Step. This makes many people think that Wing Chun only steps forwards and never steps backwards. What kind of martial art cannot step backwards? We need to always consider and think about what happens if we miss or are losing, then we will need to step backwards. Even though there is no Teui Máh in any of the forms, it does not mean that Wing Chun does not have Teui Máh. Teui Máh is a perfect example of Wing Chun principle, so sometimes we need to think and work things out.

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