Allan F Graham <allan@wingchun.net.au> 1 November 2003
What is the significance of the Ma exercises / drills?
It is my understanding of training and study that the Ma concepts are the essential backbone, the foundation to all the training requirements within the Wing Chun. As such, do we spend enough time and patience in the development of this fundamental requirement? Most likely, we do not, as we all like to move on to the more exciting and interesting techniques of our styles.
And all my Sifus have highlighted this importance to me over the years. Starting with my foundation Sifu, Sifu Jim and complemented by my time with Sifu Felix and reinforced with my times in Hong Kong with both Sifu Ip Chun and Sifu Wan.
Sifu Wan has these movements forming a main important and internal part of his training program and they are listed on his training schedule as a development that all his practitioners must complete and consistently improve on, during their training within his concept of the Wing Chun style. As such, my fellow students and I must undertake a demonstration of these movements in front of him on every retraining year.
Whilst, Sifu Ip Chun, when he was conducting a seminar for me in Australia, made reference to a story of his learning development under his father, ( Sifu Ip Man ) whereby he said to his father that he had spend the last 3 months performing a the same ma drill and that he wanted to move onward with more interesting Wing Chun concepts.
His father (Ip Man) commented to him, what was his hurry and his concern with doing the same drill over and over again and that he should think himself lucky, as when he (Ip Man) was learning from his Sifu, he had to perform the same exercise drill for 3 years before he was permitted move onward within the style.
Sifu Ip Chun then commented to me that he was not sure if his father was exaggerating his experiences, as he not in position where could question him as to the truth of his remarks, as he was his father and also his Sifu. However, he did understand that he was highlighting to him the importance of the Ma drill/exercises in relation to the Wing Chun system.
I considered this as an interesting, funny and enlightening story of the significance for the Ma drills within the Wing Chun style. Again, it is not really important that this story is in fact true or not, it only goes to show that Sifu Ip was emphasising and adding weight to his opinion of the significance of the Ma drills incorporate in the Wing Chun style.
Therefore, it is essential that a training program devote sufficient time and resources to the development of this particular skill within the style for all practitioners.
As such, where do we start from, in development of this particular technique?
As a general introduction to the Wing Chun style, most practitioners will commence their first understandings of the Ma concepts within the Siu Lim Tau form. It is here that the practitioner will see and be taught to understand the balance, placement and width concepts of the Ma. Thereby, over time the strengths of this training will be understood and incorporated in the development of the practitioner's fighting abilities within the style.
This development of the Ma within the Siu Lim Tau Form will provide the necessary techniques and concepts necessary for the advancement into the more advanced movements contained in the Chaam Kiu and Biu Ji forms, where it will be seen that the Ma drill has developed into the moving and turning processes, again highlighting the importance and the necessary skills required in fighting situations.
Further, it will seen that these movements will develop strengths which will enable the practitioner to move onward and develop the necessary skills in the practicing of the Muk Yan Jong, Luk Dim Boon Gwan and finally the Bat Jam Do.
So looking back and assessing what we have done in our training programs, it will be essential for all practitioners to have a researched and structured program that incorporates all the Ma drills, and if this is not the situation, then one may notice deficiencies in our martial skill base.
The deficiencies that may result could and will affect the execution our strikes, kicks and etc whereby the movements will be lacking in precision and power. Further, it may also be noticed that practitioner is not able to escape attacks easily and thus have the ability to attack effectively back.
The limited space available will affect the practitioner to initiate his/her defence/attack both scenarios.
Therefore, the practice of the Ma drills is not only about movement, it also incorporates one's balance, posture and flexibility and these characteristics allow the practitioner to develop and progress their abilities in all the other features of the style.
It has been my considered opinion of ones development within the style that the Ma development concepts for the practitioner really account for some 80 per cent of his total make up within the style and the remaining 20 per cent relates to the development of the strikes and kicks etc.
Without the proper foundation established by the Ma concepts and required in the deliver of attacks and necessary for defensive counters, then all the techniques learned will be of no significant benefit to a practitioner, as the practitioner will not have the correct posture and balance necessary to perform them satisfactorily and with power against opponents, especially if the opponent is larger or stronger or both these qualities.
SUI LIM TAU - MA (Mother Stance)
This is the start, with the body is standing upright with the legs slightly apart, eg a gap (3 - 4 inches) the practitioner sinks downward whilst the arms are lifted upward with the punch form and the fingers facing upward and the feet both turn outward, virtually at right angles and then the toes move inward with the heels are outward.
Now, the hips are pushed outward and the body is kept upright.
Looking at the placement, it should be seen that the gap between the legs is approximately the same width as your shoulders, knees slightly inward, same angle as the toes. Remember, the body does not lean too forward or backward in this stance.
Also, the legs are not straight but are slightly bend to allow for movement in the more advanced forms.