I want to learn something that will teach me discipline and has a philosophical element to it. I have pretty decent boxing skills but I want to pick up something else just to learn something new. I have been thinking about Judo and Wing Chun. I have also been thinking about Muay Thai as well. I know standard wrestling would probably be the best to compliment boxing. I don't really want to learn BJJ at this moment because I don't like rolling around on the ground. Anyways, I heard that Wing Chun is very good with self-displine but I don't it to effect my boxing skills. Anybody have any experience or advice with Wing Chun? Thanks in advance.
Wing Chun is a pile of poo for the most part, imo it's one of the most overrated/least effective martial arts. Get some Judo up in you. It's very similar to BJJ but with a much larger focus on the stand up aspect. Judo is also an excellent compliment to boxing (just don't go hip tossing anyone in the ring). Judo has some nice discipline and traditional aspects to it while remaining very practical and the opportunity to compete is there if you want it.
Wing Chun using a different stance and timing from boxing. If you want to learn for self defense purposes you would certainly add a few weapons to your arsenal. MMA diehards try to poo poo the self defense aspects but that is only to their detriment.
I'm in agreement with Primate & PIRA. Don't mess with the western boxing skills you've already developed. Go for a completely different skillset such as BJJ, Judo or MMA.
Wing Chun can hinder your Boxing skills if you let it.. You need some experience in Jiu Jitsu if you want to compete in MMA anyway. Learning a new discipline never hurt anybody, but it could be a waste of your time. What you need is to harmonize the skills and experiences you've acquired along the way.
Yeah every one is telling me Judo or standard wrestling. Is self-discipline taught a lot in Judo? I heard Wing Chun could help with my hand speed and is good for close quarter combat..but from what I've gathered the punching style is completely different and it could effect my boxing.
Not looking to compete just wanting to learn a new art and get mentally stronger. And yeah that's what I'm afraid of I don't want to commit to a new art and realize 6 months later that it's counterproductive.
Punching style is different because it teaches the vertical fist which had a longer reach than the horizontal fist and is faster but less powerful. But Wing Chun isn't boxing. It teaches to fight with the centerline principle with a variety of weapons including fingerjabs to the eyes or throat, elbows to the face, throat, head, knees, low kicks to the knees, ankles, and groin.
It's too different to boxing in stance and hand movement and will effect your boxing. Do something that trains other parts of your body and doesn't **** with your boxing skills :good
What do you mean by self-discipline? You bow when you get on or off the mat and you bow to higher ranks, there's also some other etiquette stuff, but other than that I'm not sure what you men by self-discipline. Wing chun will not help with your hand speed. There's nothing you'll learn in wing chun (with regard to your hands) that'll do anything but teach you bad habits for boxing. Anything that will be beneficial you'd have already learned (or will eventually learn) in boxing. As far as fitness Judo is just about the hardest sport I've ever trained in.
Primate, there have been times in my life where I wish I was mentally stronger and acted differently in hindsight. Sometimes I don't think things through like I should. I saw where Robert Downey Jr., and other former alcoholics (I don't have any substance abuse problems other than smoking pot sometimes) have taken Wing Chun and they strongly believe that Wing Chun has made them more confident, more at peace with themselves, relieved stress in their life, made them more focuses, etc. I would like to learn some backhands and close quarter trapping but I don't know if it will make me a better striker or not.
If that's what you're looking for you're probably better off doing Tai Chi or yoga or guided meditation. Wing Chun will not improve your inside game any more than a decent boxing coach would. In addition to that it'll probably hurt the rest of your boxing more than any improvements you'd see at close quarters. You'd be better off doing the wrestling, particularly greco-roman, muay thai or Judo, as by grappling on the inside you'd get a better feel for the way your opponents weight is positioned and you'd have greater success bullying them from the inside. Greco-roman and Judo are different enough from boxing that they shouldn't hinder your technique in boxing. Muay thai could teach you some great clinch technique and if you're already a decent boxer you'd probably tear guys up with your hands. The problem you'd run into with Wing Chun is that a lot of the stuff that gets taught is flat out wrong from a boxing perspective.
Thanks for the replies. I've heard good things about Greco-Roman wrestling I might have to try that out at some point. And yeah I've heard that about Wing Chun as well...it's just so much different than boxing that it might set me back. Seems like Judo is the way to go.