Hard vs Soft styles in Wing Chun

Hard vs Soft styles of Wing Chun

What is a "Soft Style"?

There exists within Martial Arts the external and internal styles, otherwise known as hard and soft styles. This is not referring to any mystical element within the art itself such as spiritual energy or chi, but simply referring to the movements the artist will perform. The difference between hard and soft styles of Martial Arts is simply the speed, and power differences between the two, whereas the former is focused on striking an external object (opponent) and the latter is focused on cultivating the self and internal breath.

An interesting side note, the terms external and internal martial arts in China were developed during the overthrow of the Chinese government, where certain styles of Martial Arts were prohibited. Martial Artists fled to outside temples in order to continue their practice and keep their legacies alive which led to the terminology of internal and external Martial Arts.

So how does this relate to Wing Chun?

Wing Chun has been predominantly portrayed solely as a hard style, featuring hard, fast and explosive movements. However, one of the key components of what makes Wing Chun such a successful and high skill level self defense system is the sensitivity practitioners much extensively train. A Wing Chun practitioner who is able to embody this principle can often seem to utilize the softer style of Wing Chun, utilizing their opponent's energy and flow in order to strike. Wing Chun students will learn the systems first form, the Sil Nim Tao which consists of slow precise movements in order to develop the mindset needed to react through your bodies reaction instead of your mental reaction.


To the uninitiated this can sound very much like some mystical internal mumbo-jumbo, however, I would like to bring to mind boxers like Roy Jones Jr. or Floyd Mayweather Jr. who display an outstanding defense. Boxers who utilize the Philly Shell defensive position will often seem to be eating strike after strike and emerge unscathed. This is a high level technique known as rolling with the punches performed by moving your body in the direction your opponent's striking tool is headed, very similar to catching a fly baseball or heavy object in which you allow cushioning. This will not only minimize any damage you take but also both demoralize your opponent and mess with their range setting.


This high level boxing technique is one in the same as Soft Style Wing Chun, in which practitioners will not charge into their opponents but utilize what their opponent gives them in order to land a devastating strike. Often times we see Wing Chun practitioners fighting against an MMA fighter who continually throws feints and long range strikes in order to draw the Wing Chun fighter into their game. The Wing Chun fighter will often go against their practice and begin charging with chain punches or weak snap kicks whilst moving forward. The experienced Wing Chun practitioner would instead utilize the jabs being thrown to establish the MMA fighters maximum range and remain undaunted waiting for the opportune moment. Once the fighter enters the kill zone, the Wing Chun practitioner (regardless if a feint or haymaker is thrown) utilize an entry technique such as the pak or taan da, and finish the fight with hopefully no further exchanges happening.

I have witnessed some true abominations of the arts which call themselves "Soft Style" and completely recognize phony masters when I see it however, we must remember not to condemn a style because most of the mainstream practitioners have given it a bad name. I encourage you to witness true artists in practice before you make up your mind.

In Closing

I believe at some point in every Martial Artists career they will recognize the benefit of a softer form, of their art. Such as BJJ in softer rolling, or Judo practitioners focusing on the kuzushi instead of nagekomi drills (we all have back problems). Wing Chun is no different and offers a whole new art to explore in a much more refined high skill fashion.