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Wing Chun Self Defense / Women's Self Defense
- Wing Chun at The Bootcamp Express
Wing Chun Self Defense will be coming to The Bootcamp Express in Chicago starting in October!
Mondays and Wednesday nights at 7:45pm. 1515 W Berwyn in Andersonville, cross strees of either Ashland or Clark. If you take CTA it is the Berwyn Red Line Stop.
773-293-7103
To sign up visit www.thebootcampexpress.com
- Minimal Movement for Maximum Effect
One of the beautiful aspects of Wing Chun Kung Fu is that it functions on concepts rather than on techniques alone.
One of the concepts for self defense in the Wing Chun systems is moving as little as possible to get the job done.
In a short example we look at the nature of the Tan Sau. Tan Sau (palm up block) is a wedging block which is thrust forward from the centerline to intercept a mid-level straight attack. The effective-ness of Tan Sau lies in it being straight forward from the center, the position of the elbow and the fact that it is "moved" by the shift. We do not chase the incoming energy away from the body, it is wedged off and assisted by the shift.
In a visual picture driving your car and simply changing lanes in traffic...do you slightly turn the wheel to change or do you make three rotations of it in order to get your car into the other lane?
Same idea...we do as little as needed to get the job done.
Dominick Izzo
Self Defense Advocate/ Self Defense Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
www.izzo-training.com
Wing Chun Self Defense Chicago classes are held every Thursday night.
- The Truth of Self Defense
During my time as a police officer I had been fortunate enough to view first hand the truth and reality of violence as well as the direct effect it has on peoples perspectives of their own lives.
Violence is a living, breathing entity...violence doesn't "start" or one day just appear...violence is born and is nurtured. Some individuals have "issues" and impulses to do unspeakable acts which make the rest of us question humanity...these people just do what they feel and cannot be stopped from feeling compelled to act in such a horrible way.
As normal functioning members of society, we can't fathom taking our hand, balling it into a fist and then forcing it with speed and rage into the face of our significant other...but those who give birth to violence can and do.
I have little to no faith in the rehabilitation process of courts, the law or "aftermath" programs which focus on the violence after it has been exposed.
I say in my lectures that being a victim is a choice, and it usually raises a good buzz of irritation from the audience. But I hold true to this statement.
Why should we allow or even count on government or organizations to solve our issues? Granted, I am grateful for their help, but accountability starts within.
Its comparable to "participation awards" in juvenile sports programs in the last decade. I completely understand why some children and young adults have the hardest time with rejection or setting high standards for themselves...they were never taught how to lose or how to strive to achieve. They were taught we are all equal ls...but are we? If we are, then why would some man in Chicago beat two women with a baseball bat until they were unconscious, but that kind of thought has never even entered most people's heads?
Think of a lightning storm...God forbid you get struck by lightning, I am happy that hospitals and medical professionals are there to help and begin the process of recovery. But didn't you see the warning signs and do your best to avoid the circumstance? Ahhhh, there is the rub! Education!
Self Defense has a severe lack of support in the advocacy and educational aspect. We all think of self defense as a class or a technique based event where we go to learn something that will keep us safe when physical contact is made.
I am aware that every single circumstance is unique and cannot be solved with simple blog written solutions. But like all education, self defense education sparks an internal thought process which forces individuals to think on their own for their own best interest. A true self defense instructor does not teach technique...they teach how to search for self expression.
I am aware that the woman who has no job and is beaten daily has little to no route of escape from her horror from the hands of her live in nightmare...however self defense education can lead to a series of self initiated thoughts to attempt to change the course of the outcome. THAT in itself IS self defense...and THAT is not choosing to become a victim.
I teach self defense in the Chicago area and do so with the full expectation not that someone will remember the "move" I taught them, however that they will open their eyes to discover that they posses the ability to think as individuals how self defense training applies to their own lives.
One person told me years ago that the self defense classes she took with me gave her confidence to get out of her old job and find a new one. How did that have anything to do with protecting herself? In her view it was her way of not becoming victim to emotional pain of being stuck in a static situation.
One person told me that the self defense class she took with me gave her confidence to try to lose weight. The connection? She came to the class to learn to protect herself because she was obese and fearful of being a victim. At the class she learned that she was capable of performing effecting movements which she did not think possible...that in turn empowered her to find a new spark for her life.
I have had many examples of how self defense has been the catalyst for people to make fantastic improvements in their lives, helping them to refuse to become victims of personal pain. I like to think this ripple effect has been a direct cause of their avoidance with violence.
We cannot stop the lightning. We cannot stop the violence. But we were told not to run under trees and to stay away from metal structures...we were educated. Maybe with educating we can find shelter...and with this shelter we can find an amazing self worth. Self defense, self worth... what a perfect union.
Dominick Izzo
Self Defense Advocate / Self Defense Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
www.izzo-training.com
Self Defense in Chicago
- I Am Self Defense
The Depaul MBAA is excited to welcome the instructors of "I Am Self Defense, " the nation's premier Self Defense program for educating and empowering women as they host a FREE self defense seminar for men and women.
" I Am Self Defense" will give you the confidence, courage and strength of mind to protect yourself against violence and to master the outcome of any potential threat. Instructors and co-owners of Chicago In-home self defense, Syed Ahmad, Dominick Izzo and Ryan Parmelee bring their combined experience, passion and intensity to a three hour workshop which will leave you charged, educated and empowered. All are welcome.
To register for this free seminar, go to:
https://s08.123signup.com/servlet/SignUp?PG=1522864182300&P=15228641911421238000
- The Bootcamp Express
I recently became a member of The Bootcamp Express fitness team (1515 W Berwyn, Chicago Il, in the Andersonville township) and wanted to write a few comments about the concept and program.
www.thebootcampexpress.com is the site for this new training facility run by two of the Chicago industry's top fitness professionals, Annette Kaptur and Shannon Helfrich.
During my first meeting with Kaptur and Helfrich, I was introduced to their concepts of fitness which I have adopted in my own personal training these last two weeks.
Kaptur and Helfrich designed a training concept catering to 3 levels of fitness advocates... The Beginner, which they call "Ready", the Intermediate, called "Set" and the Elite, referred to as "Go".
The program simultaneously runs all 3 levels of fitness participants through the same workout, but at their own pace and according fitness levels. This allows beginner participants to have the same intense workout as elite athletes and feel a part of the team, rather than they are the "newbies" of the class.
Training runs an hour and is broken into intense 15 minute intervals split between cardiovascular and strength training (for more information on the breakdown visit www.thebootcampexpress.com).
Having a strong background in fitness, I was not skeptical as toward Kaptur and Helfrich's concept, however was leery as to if this particular concept would be applicable to MY fitness needs.
After adhering to their specific training regiment and training blocks, I will state that their concept is the most effective for immediate results.
Within two weeks I have lost 5 lbs and have felt my energy levels increase dramatically. My mental focus has also benefited due to the interval training. I no longer feel that workout time is dragging due to a break up of the hour. This concept I feel has attributed to my success the most, as it has allowed me to not only focus, but enjoy the workout itself.
Granted, this is only the initial two weeks of training, but it is easy to project the lasting effects of the their workouts on my fitness level and body composition. This form of training can be utilized primarily as a subject's means of fitness or incorporated into any athletic fitness program.
As for my personal training, it is a must for any martial arts practitioner, wrestler or MMA fighter to consider this training to aid in their endurance training, explosive power and weight management.
For more information call The Bootcamp Express 773-293-7103
I will be updating my progress with pictures in the near future.
Dominick Izzo
Lead Instructor
Izzo Training Systems
www.izzo-training.com
- Karate vs. Wing Chun Kung Fu
Great Video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2Y9H8VYRIA&feature=related
- 5%
There is a certain necessary evil needed when it comes to efficiently and effectively defending yourself. This evil comes in the mindset of "being" evil. What I mean by that is being capable of doing the most ruthless and brutal thing to another living human being...killing them.
Understand, I am not advocating harming another human being, but in the very nature of self defense you must have the ability to unleash fury and rage on anyone who threatens your life or the life of your loved ones.
Most of us have a "switch" or limit when it comes to harming another human being. This is what I call my 5%.
I like to think that I am in control of my self at all times...and I am. But there is 5% of myself that I believe is primal, basic and still operates under the rule of survival of the fittest.
This uncontrolled 5% is what will be the difference whether or not I survived if attacked by another human. This 5% will take over and act without thought or reason should someone threaten my life or the life of someone I care about.
I embrace this 5% and understand that without it, should someone wield a knife at me, I may react instead of acting. I welcome the 5% and accept that over evolution we have decreased our primal side, therefore placing whatever remains in a sacred place in our minds. Threaten a child in front of his mother...you will see 5% in action.
5% is what will save me... 5% is what I think of when I train in self defense... 5% is what I must become if I am to survive.
Dominick Izzo
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Kung Fu Chicago
Women's Self Defense Chicago
www.izzo-training.com
- Wing Chun in Chicago
My resume in Self Defense Training:
My history in Wing Chun Kung Fu began a decade ago after finding it in a Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics Seminar.
Prior to that I had 20 years of combat training including 15 years as collegiate style wrestler, Shotokan Karate, Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics and as an amateur boxer, competing in Police Officer charity events.
I met my first Sifu Danny Halligan while attending a defensive tactics seminar. Danny Halligan was under Ron Heimberger and then later Eric Li. Both of whom were under the Ip Man Wing Chun Lineage under his son, Grandmaster Ip Ching.
I later trained under Phil Nearing of Wing Chun Chicago Kung Fu who had been a student of Steve Lee Swift and later Sam Kwok. Sam Kwok has been training under both Grandmaster Ip Chun and Grandmaster Ip Ching for several decades, both who are sons of Grandmaster Ip Man.
My current Sifu is Syed Ahmad of Chicago In Home Self Defense. Syed's understanding of Wing Chun is second only to his passion for it. A student under the Ip Man lineage as well, Syed's teaching of Wing Chun is something that places him in a class of his own, making him one of the top Wing Chun Chicago area instructors.
I strictly adhere to a structured syllabus which has been detailed by Syed for class instruction and designed to allow the student to know exactly where their Wing Chun training is headed. Having a structured course syllabus allows the student to have goals set and measure their personal success. Unlike my experience with other teacher's who's syllabus' has been in their heads, I strongly encourage my students to ask me where they are going on their journey and to always respectfully question my knowledge on how I am helping them to achieve their goals in Wing Chun.
I strongly urge anyone seeking Wing Chun Chicago area training to research all the area schools. The best teachers will have understanding trumping their ability.
For more information on Wing Chun in Chicago visit www.izzo-training.com
Dominick Izzo
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Kung Fu Chicago are Training
- Wing Chun Kung Fu vs Karate
One question that I was asked was what is the difference between the martial arts of Wing Chun Kung Fu and Karate.
It has to be first mentioned that there is no such thing as a "bad" martial art or an inferior martial art...its the martial artist who makes the difference.
Karate is a very "hard" style. Not hard as in difficult, but as in force. Getting hit by a Karate kick or punch would result in certain destruction. Bruce Lee (Wing Chun's most famous student) was correct when he spoke about being like water.
Karate is like being hit with a baseball bat...when it hits you, it is forceful and devastating.
Wing Chun Kung Fu seeks to be like water. Flowing and adapting to its surroundings. Wing Chun Kung Fu seeks the path of least resistance and when it finds its opening, it crashes like water!
Unlike Karate, Wing Chun Kung Fu is a soft and hard art.
Feeling the difference in the structure of the Karate Straight Punch and the Wing Chun Centerline Punch would observe to be useful for anyone seeking to understand the physical applications between the two.
Dominick Izzo
Izzo Training Systems
Wing Chun Self Defense
- Class has moved!
Just a quick notification that we have moved our Chicago Wing Chun Self Defense class to 8750 W Bryn Mawr in Chicago. We are in the Wilson / Verizon Wireless Building in Triangle plaza.
Classes are taught under the premise of Wing Chun Kung Fu. Wing Chun is a close quarter combat systems and a "stand up" martial art. Unlike kickboxing or Tae Kwon Do, Wing Chun Self Defense uses mostly hand movements where as Kickboxing and other martial arts use a high volume of kicking.
Classes are "pay as you go" and meet every Thursday night at 6pm. Free parking is available and the Cumberland Blue Line stop is within a five minute walk.
Please contact me with any questions.
Dominick Izzo
Izzo Training Systems
847-875-0458
- Shocking and Offensive
In the nature of advertising, I submit that my methods are to evoke true emotion.
In the past I have been accused of attempting to scare women into buying my product.
In my defense I say this...THAT STATEMENT IS 100% accurate.
The very nature of self defense is violence, chaos, horror and terror. Understanding that this nature is what you are protecting yourself from is why you train in self defense.
My job as a self defense instructor is to be offensive...it is to shock...it is to terrify! Without these basic human emotions present a person would remain ignorant and heighten his or her chances of being a victim.
Hate my methods of arousing awareness. Hate it all you like... Hate it more the next time you watch the news when you see about some man killing his family, some man beating women with a baseball bat, some man killing a pregnant woman with his bare hands, some man shooting his wife, murduring his children and saying he was sorry he "ran out of bullets."
My job is to teach self defense...not how to paint rainbows.
I teach Women's Self Defense and Wing Chun Self Defense in Chicago.
Dominick Izzo
- Wing Chun Kung Fu Bong Sau
The Wing Chun Kung Fu Bong Sau…what a fantastic technique.
Talk about “aliveness” of Wing Chun Kung Fu! The Bong Sau (or Wing Arm Block) is both the “best” and “worst” move in the Wing Chun syllabus.
Keep in mind that I use the term “block” loosely as in Wing Chun, we have no blocks as all of our movements are either attacking in nature or dissipating energy.
The Bong Sau can be seen as the famous pose for most Wing Chun practitioners, however the Bong Sau is anything but a pose.
One of the main errors in applying the Wing Chun Bong Sau is that students are stationary in its application. The Bong Sau is an apparition and should be ghost like when using it on your enemy.
In my opinion, and again, MY OPINION, Bong Sau does have more than one possible application based on its arm positioning.
The Wing Chun Bong Sau should be, first and foremost, a dissipation of energy. In application, we do not throw the Bong Sau out as a defensive maneuver. The Bong Sau is a transition between applications. In other words, if you throw your Wing Chun Centerline Punch at your enemy and he intercepts the punch (with possibly a punch of his own) then the Bong Sau appears and re-directs his punch’s force.
So, you don’t elbow up and throw out the Bong Sau…it has to stem from some sort of contact. HOWEVER, that said, the POSITION of the Bong Sau does make a phenomenal jamming arm.
Wing Chun Kung Fu does not clash force upon force, however sneaking in a tactic if advantageous may not be a bad idea if it works. In my personal experience doing Chi Sau with taller people, being able to uproot an opponent’s structure and balance was relatively easy for me. From Kiu Sau (or wrist to wrist) when someone would re-engage me with an aggressive Lap Sau/Punch, I would blast in and clash their punch with my Bong Sau. Incorrect? Possibly, yet it was effective for ME. I am not suggesting this is suitable for everyone in every scenario. Sometimes I would just step in and blast a centerline punch, thus intercepting his punch, then of course transition into Bong Sau.
Bottom line, the Wing Chun Bong Sau, appears out of “nowhere” and returns to said “nowhere” after it is used.
As my Sifu, Syed Ahmad, says, “what appears in form disappears in application.”
We teach Ip Man Wing Chun here in Chicago.
www.izzo-training.com
- The Centerline Punch
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line... hence one of the reasons we embrace the Centerline Punch in Wing Chun Kung Fu.
Wing Chun uses linear movements due to the very nature that a straight punch to the face of an enemy will get there faster than that of a hook punch.
The effort of a hook punch does have a very "satisfying" feeling of delivery as one can definitely feel the power behind it... but when compared to the Wing Chun Centerline Punch, it's distance, timing and placement is outmatched by the speed and accuracy of the Wing Chun Centerline Punch.
The Wing Chun Centerline Punch uses elbow placement, elbow "power" and skeletal structure to reinforce its delivery in place of brute strength.
Picture holding a baseball bat...your enemy has one as well. As he winds up his to swing it at you, you thrust yours forward and jam it in his face. This is just one of the concepts behind the Wing Chun Centerline Punch.
Izzo Training Systems of Chicago teaches Wing Chun Self Defense.
For more information, visit www.izzo-training.com
- Wing Chun Kung Fu and Women's Self Defense
Wing Chun Kung Fu is growing in popularity thanks to Robert Downey Jr's advocating of it and display in his movies...Check out the fight scenes in Sherlock Holmes and some in Iron Man 2.
Wing Chun was developed by a woman and is the basis art we use when teaching our Women's Self Defense Classes here in Chicago.
Students are trained in close proximal situations mocking an attack...this is done considering that a fight does take place in close positions.
Wing Chun teaches individuals to fight on their feet, something that is crucial in combat considering that most fights end up on the ground.
Our Self Defense Classes and Wing Chun classes are in Chicago and the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.
For more information contact:
www.izzo-training.com
or
847-875-0458
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