What do you guys think about a boxer against a wing chun guy? Does wing chun have techniques that would render a boxer's arsenal useless or do you think it would be a close fight? I think that the trapping techniques can definitely have an advantage but that's just my opinion.
Any input would be much appreciated, I especially want to hear Sifu Lamar's take on this.

P.S. I am not saying that I prefer boxing over wing chun
Tom

Hello Tom!

First of all, let me say that not much good usually comes out of such hypothetical questions! One thing that you must consider is that there are SO MANY factors that can effect such an encounter. Also, and given fighter can lose on any given day, regardless of their previous training or fight history!

The art does not make the person, the person makes the art! A really good Wing Chun man could probably destroy a fair to medium skilled boxer. A really good boxer could probably take out a fair to medium skilled Wing Chun man! Now, if two highly skilled experts in each were to fight with NO RULES, I would have to go with the Wing Chun man. If they fought under boxing rules, I think the boxer would have the advantage. Then there are all potential variables that could effect the fight to consider, which there are far too many to discuss here!

That may not be the exact answer that you wanted, but at least it is an honest answer based on the question asked! Time to go do some work at my kwoon now! Have a great remainder of the day!

Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
JKD@windstream.net
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Phone (205) 296-7070 (Incoming Only)

"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"

"The REAL future of Jeet Kune Do belongs to US, the few, the proud, the HARDCORE! Now, what are we going to do with it?" _ Sifu Lamar M. Davis II

Amen,
I could not agree more Sifu.
Kimsut

That's a tough one. It couldn't be in the boxing ring because the Wing Chun man couldn't trap with gloves on. And he might want to employ some kicks that are disallowed in boxing.
The boxing man would be at a disadvantage outside the ring because he can't kick (probably). Nor is he likely to be trained to counter or defend against a kick.
Boxers can have those devastating combinations at close range, but they often punch for points in the ring.
From what I've heard, boxers are notorious for breaking their hands in fights outside the ring, since they train to wear gloves. They hold their hands a little open when they shadow box.
Boxings popularity has been slipping a lot since the advent of UFC.

I think Wing Chun versus kickboxing is a better comparison because both can use their feet. Here's a video clip of a skilled Wing Chun fighter completely shutting down and semi-skilled kickboxer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlRPDhuX1DY

Note that while the WC fighter has on open finger gloves so trapping isn't a problem, most of his "defense" consists of interception. (Stop kicking and hitting). If he had on boxing gloves the result probably would be the same. Also some simple traps (such as pak sao) can effectively be done with boxing gloves on.

Regards,

John M. Drake

I wasn't sure about pro boxing, but if you pulled off a pak sao, would you or your stike be disqualified? It's not technically outlawed as far as I know. Could you try other JKD tecniques in the ring as long as they weren't disallowed? Could you fight in straight lead as a right hander? Could you straight blast? How about jik chung choie? They aren't foul tactics or below the belt.

From: http://www.owingsmillsboxingclub.com/boxing.htm
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Fight rules. A boxer may not hit below the belt, in the back of the head, or strike an opponent who is down, even to one knee. Such actions are called fouls. Other fouls include kicking, tripping, wrestling, excessive holding, hitting an opponent's eye with the thumb of the glove, hitting with the forearm or the inside of the glove, butting with the head, or using the elbows. A boxer who commits a foul is warned by the referee and may lose points. Too many fouls may result in disqualification.
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Here are some pictures of boxing fouls.

http://towyabc.tripod.com/id13.html

Fighting in a right lead is totally legal. (That's called "southpaw" and if you fight like that people will just assume you are left handed.)

The straight blast is totally legal, although it's effectiveness may be reduced by wearing large gloves. (Not sure, never tested that.)

"Excessive holding" is not allowed, but what is "excessive"? A quick pak sao would probably be legal. You might even be able to get away with a lop sao as long as you didn't keep holding on to the arm. (Lop sao with boxing gloves isn't easy. At least not for me.) Trapping the back of the head and punching your opponent is not legal. And of course elbow and forearm strikes are out.

Kickboxing (especially Muay Thai) allows far more JKD techniques. (No problem with holding and striking for example.)

Regards,

John M. Drake

The foul pictures were pretty cool. I think some of them intenionally try to get their thumb in their opponents eye. And then there's the classic "biting a chunk of the ear off".