Rediscovery of Bare-knuckle Boxing

Bare-Knuckle Boxing was once considered one of the most effective empty hand systems in the Western world for self-defense. However, most people today think of fighting systems as Asian. Some have heard of Bare-Knuckle Boxing but don’t equate it with other martial arts. When we think of Bare-Knuckle Boxing we envision the sport scene more than the self-defense aspect of the system.

We think of the Queensberry rules and black & white visions of fighters who stood in a strange looking, more upright, primary fighting stance. People today consider the system a rather antiquated form of boxing which has grown to become a high level sport. There is a large gap between sport and self-defense, however.

As a self-defense, today’s boxing has lost much of its street effectiveness. The practice of bare-knuckle boxing dates back to ancient times and was unparalleled during the Renaissance where fencing science and human biomechanics were meticulously applied to the system.

European bare-knuckle boxing is an almost forgotten, yet very effective street self-defense system. It is the original form of boxing, more closely related to ancient combat systems. Bare-Knuckle Boxing or Western boxing or what I call Long-Bridge Boxing at my school is our indigenous fighting system and is every bit as effective as its oriental counterparts.

The western art of boxing has also had a huge influence on most other martial arts. One system in particular, some believe, that was greatly influenced by Western boxing is Wing Chun. Undoughtably, the taller European men defeated many of their kung fu opponents. What I submit to you is that Wing Chun would be greatly improved by incorporating certain key principles of Bare-Knuckle Boxing.

Bare-Knuckle Boxing came to our line through my Si-Gung, Karl Godwin who with his own teacher went in-depth into the study of the roots of the world’s martial arts. In particular those of Western fighting arts, their development and finally, their compatibility with Wing Chun. As a result, my teacher, Bill Graves, an early, senior student of Karl Godwin, spent much time developing and refining his Western influenced Wing Chun.

The compatibility of Wing Chun and Western boxing is nothing new however. Bruce Lee, an early Wing Chun practitioner, found that boxing could fit the principles of Wing Chun better than any of the Asian arts. However, he failed to take note of the pure street aspects of the system and incorporated some sport postures and methods.

So my early training in Wing Chun was a combination of undiluted Leung Sheung (Yip Man’s most senior student) Wing Chun as a skeleton with the Western boxing expression. I learned the sets without alteration but when it came to sparring and ultimately fighting it was certainly pre-sport Western boxing.

All of Wing Chun’s concepts were in place but the emphasis was certainly a polished Long-Bridge Boxing articulation. It is the opposite spectrum of my early training and is considered advanced Wing Chun. Our training methods are unique to our line and I believe it is the “Little Idea” that Wing Chun can and should be.

But as a teacher I have come to understand the importance of retaining that early longer range Western Long-Bridge Boxing. My experience has been that without its influence, a three to eight year practitioner of Wing Chun is predominantly a mid to short range fighter who finds kickers and anyone who fights at, or just outside of, boxing range to be problematic.

There is something else that eludes many Wing Chun practitioners and that’s the anti-grappling aspects of Wing Chun which is an essential part of my system but who’s subject I will save for another article. I am by no means saying that Western Boxing in itself is an unabridged system. I put their needs first, so teaching the Long-Bridge aspects of Wing Chun is first.

To me it’s all Wing Chun but I emphasize the Long-Bridge because of its brutal effectiveness. Its emphasis is on destroying the attacker efficiently and quickly at a longer range than is traditionally taught to 99% of Wing Chun practitioners. The footwork is not different than Wing Chun, just larger. Innovation is a concept that we value, so as a system we view Wing Chun as complete.

We possess not only the skills of the fathers of Wing Chun but also that of our Western fathers. To quote my Si-Gung, “The principles of both arts combined, form the basis for a more scientific fighting method. Although Bare-Knuckle Boxing is almost gone in the United States, it is still a vital part of our training. More importantly, there is the idea of ownership of our fighting system.

The idea that Wing Chun serves us and not the other way around. If your Wing Chun can’t deal with all comers then you should question it. I mean if you find a place of deficiency in your system then alter your training methods and your manner of interpretation of the sets. This has created a seamless fighting system whether armed or empty-handed.

This vital component of our Wing Chun has allowed us to better appreciate Bruce Lee’s efforts to incorporate fencing and Western Boxing into his system.

1.   A Concise History of Thai Boxing

Talking about ancient sports of south East Asia, Thai boxing (Muay Thai) has a very prominent space. Muay Thai is one of the tourist attractions in Thailand even 17th march is celebrated as National Muay Thai Day. Muay Thai Boran (Old Muay Thai) has four branches.

Muay korat means simply power.
Muay Thai Boran (old version of Muay Thai) stresses on clever moves and intelligence, but now days Muay Thai is all about strength.

One of them is suwit Muay Thai training camp located in Phuket. The training Muay Thai depends on your level, basic Muay thai training of two hours includes stretches, run, shadow boxing, skipping, clinching, pad work, cool down stretches. Muay Thai is growing popular internationally and has been included in Asian games.

Suwit Muay Thai training camp is twenty years old and has best instructors from the country. Suwit Muay Thai training camp provides accommodation and training for each level at very low costs. Whenever think of Thailand, think training Muay Thai and experience this great form of art.

2.   Muay Thai-thai Kickboxing

Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing has been described as the world’s toughest ring sport and is one the most lethal forms of martial art. Malaysians call it Tomoi, Muay Lao in Laos, Lethwei to Burmese and Pradal Serey in Cambodia.

Punching techniques or Chok are similar to Western boxing: the straight punch (Mud Trong), Mud Wiang San or hook, the swing- Mud Wiang Yao, the uppercut Mud Seuy, Cobra Punch or Kra-dod Chok, and the undercut or Mud Hook. Teh, or kicking techniques are an essential part of Muay Thai combat.

It consists of the straight kick Teh Trong, the roundhouse Teh Tud, diagonal kick Teh Chiang, the shin-knee kick Teh Krueng Kheng Krueng Kao, the down roundhouse kick Teh Kod, the axe heel kick Teh Kao, jump kick Gra-dodeh Teh, step-up kick Kha Yiep The, and the spectacular spinning heel kick Teh Glub Lang. The dangerous Neb or pecking kick is an often executed Muay Thai kick and is very similar to the straight kick.

Clinching in Muay Thai involves putting one’s hands behind the head of the opponent and pulling it downwards. The different knee strikes are the Kao Trong or straight knee strike, the Kao Chiang or diagonal knee strike, Kao Kong curving knee strike, Kao Tud horizontal knee strike, Kao Tod knee slap, Kao Youwn knee bomb, Kao Yiep step-up knee strike and the Kao Loi or flying knee strike.

Traditional Muay Thai training methods were grueling and literally took blood,sweat and tears to endure.

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