WING CHUN VS JIU JITSU

Wing Chun and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are two completely different Martial Arts, as BJJ is a pure ground fighting art and Wing Chun is a self defense system that uses quick hands and strong legs. Students will always measure how two different Martial Arts stack up, and when weighing a striking art vs a grappling art it becomes a hard choice to know which one to choose. There are many choices like boxing, karate, jiu jitsu or krav maga, whatever the choice, it pays to do some research. 

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become one of the mainstream martial arts, as many high-level athletes are leading the way. Since the UFC blew up in the 1990s, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become a household hero to many Americans and to people from all over the world. BJJ practitioners use a complex combat system that has advanced and highly energetic movements. The blueprint for BJJ is to take away an opponent's space and dominate them with control positions, particularly in stand-up situations. The end game is to secure a submission by using choke holds or leverage-based joint locks, making it a practical and effective form of self-defense.

Wing Chun is an old Chinese Martial Art that utilises a relatively high but narrow stance, as a practitioner will keep their elbows close to their body. Within the stance, their arms are typically positioned guarding across the vital points of the body's centerline. This puts the practitioner in a great position to block any incoming strikes towards their neck, chest, belly or groin. A Wing Chun practitioner will utilise lightning fast strikes to set up a series of heavier knockout kicks.

What This Article Covers:

• The Origin of Wing Chun
• The Origin of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• How Does BJJ Compare to Wing Chun?
• Which Art Has a Better Training Method
• Are There Many Differences Between BJJ And Wing Chun?
• Who Would Win in a Fight Between BJJ And Wing Chun?

THE ORIGIN OF WING CHUN

There are many inconsistencies when it comes to the history of Wing Chun, as the definitive origin of the art remains unknown. Many believe that Wing Chun contributed to the development of Southern Chinese Martial Arts during the Qing Dynasty, but there were many complications in historicity and documentation of Wing Chun's history. The art was being passed from teacher to student verbally and was rarely put into writing. Another reason for the secrecy of Wing Chun's development was due to its connections to Anti-Qing rebellious movements in that period. However, it is widely acknowledged that Wing Chun places a strong emphasis on discipline, both in its historical context and in modern applications such as sparring and offense.

There are said to be at least eight different distinctive lineages of Wing Chun, as each has its own history of origin. The eight known lineages of Wing Chun have been developed over the years as different parts of China practiced different forms. There are other smaller branches of the art that derive from these main eight lineages. Regardless of the secret origins from the perspective of Wing Chun branches and lineages, there is a lot of speculation and controversy about the true nature of Wing Chun's historic movements. In Western culture, Wing Chun's history has become a mix of fact and fiction due to the impacts of early secrecy surrounding the highly dangerous martial art. However, the philosophy of Wing Chun extends beyond its secretive origins, emphasizing strategy and agility in its practice and application.

There were recorded documents concerning Wing Chun's characteristic six forms and the Chi Sao/Poon Sao training exercises, can all be traced back to the studies from masters that practised Ip Man and Yuen Kay-shan forms of Wing Chun. Many other lineages contain separate techniques, instructions, forms and weapon training. The Jee Shim lineage of Wing Chun has created enough deviations to the normal curriculum that it has to be considered a separate martial arts style. 

THE ORIGIN OF BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU 

The history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an extremely complicated one, as the art of BJJ derived from a Japanese form of Judo. The famous student of Jigoro Kano, Mitsuyo Maeda, moved to Brazil to help Japanese settlers defend their lands from many different conflicts. He also began spreading his martial art across Brazil, as he was noticed by Carlos Gracie. Mitsuyo would eventually meet Carlos and begin teaching him his philosophies in martial arts. Carlos Gracie showed significant interest in the randori section of Mitsuyo's art, as he learned how to secure choke holds and leverage-based joint locks. The practice of BJJ goes beyond just choke holds and joint locks;it emphasizes the importance of flexibility and balance in executing techniques effectively.. 

Carlos taught all of the knowledge he learnt from Mitsuyo to his younger brother Helio Gracie. After having a tough time executing many of the Judo throws, Helio began developing his own system of grappling techniques. Helio designed an intricate series of movements that worked against larger and stronger opponents. Helio's development of Gracie Jiu Jitsu opened the door for many future stars like Kron Gracie, Andre Galvao, Felipe Pena, Marcus Almeida and Roger Gracie. After teaching all of his sons and nephews they were challenged many times by some of their arch rivals. There were many stories about luta livre vs bjj fights all over the streets of Brazil. Rixon Gracie fought against Hugo Duarte in a famous match on the beaches of Brazil. Renzo Gracie also fought against Eugenio Tadeu in an epic no contest as the fans caused a huge riot. As tempers were flaring and the rivalry against the Luta Livre was growing Helio made the decision to take his art to America.

Helio gave his son Rorion control of the Gracie family business due to his proficiency in speaking english. As they landed in the United States he began spreading the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Rorion was already managing Rixon Gracie's career in Japan and as he began to win high profile fights, Rorion grew uneasy with Rixon's fame. As a result of this Rorion entered his younger brother Royce into the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993. Royce was nervous but he got the job done with the help of Rixon, and after Rorion refused to pay them both, a divide started to appear. Rixon began running his own academy, and due to many of his family members moving to the US and starting their own academies, Rorion forced a change which saw many of the Gracie's adopt a new name for their Martial Arts, and this was how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was born.

HOW DOES BJJ COMPARE TO WING CHUN

Wing Chun and BJJ could not be further from similar arts, as they offer completely different teachings. The dissimilarity is just like jiu jitsu vs aikido as the defensive art of Aikido is much like the defensive art of Wing Chun. BJJ is one of those Martial Arts that relies on full contact and relentless pressure against their opponent. A BJJ practitioner will not stop as they can use their grappling as a way to conserve energy, just like a boa constrictor strangles its prey, BJJ has a highly intense work ethic to achieve their goals.

In the art of Wing Chun their goal is to protect all of their vital organs. A defensive stance and mindset will leave a practitioner in a great position to counter attack. Once an opponent shows their attack a Wing Chun practitioner will be ready to block with quick defensive movements. In the art of Wing Chun they develop significantly faster punch attacks and heavy damaging kicks in order to knock out their opponents. 

WHICH ART HAS A BETTER TRAINING METHOD

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the training regiment is quite comprehensive. Students are expected to show up consistently and put in hard work and focus. BJJ academies are well known for their humble and nurturing environment, as many students rave about the incredible atmosphere a BJJ school has. Even though a BJJ academy can be a place of fun and humility, it also has a highly intense business like side to it. BJJ training has a serious side that involves concentration and dedication. Students will learn fundamental principles that they will need to practise, they will also learn to develop their own concepts to suit their game styles. In a BJJ academy rolling hard is always on the cards, as nothing prepares a fighter better than real life situational rolls. 

Training in Wing Chun is another art that has an extremely serious side to it. The nature of the art has a complicated defense system that will force a practitioner to learn all about pressure points and vital organ positioning. Training in Wing Chun is similar to training in muay thai or brazilian jiu jitsu as all three Martial Arts have a devastating end game. Wing Chun spends a long time teaching defensive positions and using fast reflexes to execute accurate attacks on their opponents. Wing Chun includes several sensitivity drills designed to train and obtain specific responses. They use rolling hands drills which incorporate pushing against a partner's forearms and rolling their hands while maintaining a relaxed state. All of the principles involved in Wing Chun are designed to protect their centreline.

ARE THERE MANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BJJ AND WING CHUN

There are massive differences between both of these styles of fighting, as BJJ is an exceptional ground based grappling art, and Wing Chun utilises coordinated defense patterns to neutralize their opponents through striking. BJJ has an obvious difference, as it does not utilise striking towards an opponent, instead it relies upon a highly effective and advanced submission game. Wing Chun is a highly detailed and defensive Martial Art that uses reaction based reflexes. Their principles are built off of staying relaxed and defending their vital organs. A practitioner will strike hard and fast, before lining themself back up with their defensive stance.

BJJ practitioners follow a detailed set of guidelines when they are fighting at a competitive level. Most competitions will not allow the application of certain movements like knee reaping, slamming an opponent, neck cranking and using any kind of twisting leg locks. Practitioners will always start standing and will fight at high intensity for the entirety of the time limit. Points are awarded for gaining dominant positions like the mount, knee on belly positioning and back control, practitioners can also score points for executing takedowns, sweeping an opponent and passing their opponents guard. The easiest way to win a fight is by submitting an opponent by using a choke hold or a joint lock.

Wing Chun was first developed as a self defense and an attack form in ancient China. The act of competition in Wing Chun has been lost in the translations over the course of history. Most academies that teach Wing Chun will utilise katas as a way to judge a student's skill level. Wing Chun has a history for using weapons like daggers as a ceremonial tradition. Learning the form of knives is one of the best self defense tactics there is.

BJJ has a belt ranking system that utilises 5 separate coloured belts. Students will begin at the white belt level before moving through the blue, purple, brown and then black belt. Each student is graded with a slow accumulation of knowledge  and skills learnt, as an instructor will add four stripes on each belt over time before the next belt level is awarded. Wing Chun does not have ranking belts, but there are several Wing Chun levels. The problem is that no one agreed upon a curriculum across different schools, meaning that Wing Chun is hard to determine the skill level between different schools.  

WHO WOULD WIN IN A FIGHT BETWEEN BJJ AND WING CHUN

Wing Chun vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an interesting matchup, as it resembles a matchup between jiu jitsu vs karate, as Karate also uses a defensive stance in order to counter attack an opponent. Wing Chun has the tools to win in a fight between these two Martial Arts, but its defensive mindset could leave the art on the back foot. 

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has a reputation for being extremely efficient, as a practitioner will use their technical proficiency to smother an opponent. BJJ relies on closing the distance fast, so an opponent has no time to react with any significant attacks. If a BJJ practitioner can take this fight to the ground then a Wing Chun practitioner will be extremely out of their depth. 

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In conclusion a fight between these two will surely go to the BJJ fighter, as they are extremely vigilant in using their positioning dominance to achieve their end result. You can never count out a striking art, especially one that derives out of a defensive mindset, as a Wing Chun practitioner could be ready to stifle an attack and counter attack with devastating force.

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