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Training with the Jook Wan Huen

An effective tool to improve our martial skills (tactile sensitivity for trapping, Chi Sau, etc. read All the skills of 6 Dragons Kung Fu) is to use the Wing Chun’s Jook Wan Huen.

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

What is the Jook Wan Huen?

These are its technical characteristics:

It is a rattan / bamboo / steel ring
It has a diameter of 20-30cm
It is generally 2-3cm thick
The size changes in relation to the practitioner (and the type of practice)
It can be slightly knotty or smooth (depending on the material)

How and why adopt this tool

The exercises that involve the use of this ring help to develop tactile instinct and precision.

Unlike other martial arts, in 6 Dragons Kung Fu, we do not only use the classical rigid wooden ring but also flexible or semi-flexible ones (like semi-rigid covers for the car steering wheel, etc.).

Is a plastic ring a valid substitute for the wooden version?

If we are Wing Chun practitioners – Generally speaking, no, it can be useful as a test for a beginner (to do not immediately buy the definitive version), to start to become familiar with this kind of practice (without hurting ourselves) but it does not fall within the canons and objectives of that style of Kung Fu
If we are 6 Dragons Kung Fu practitioners – Naturally yes, we use various kinds of approaches in terms of trapping (read 6DKF’s interactions: from the strong blow to the light touch) and working with a surface that is (partially) deformed in relation to our movement, is as fundamental as it is to work with a much more rigid surface

A first simple exercise

To start, let’s see an exercise that can be performed by everyone (beginners and experts).

The goals

Its primary goals are:

Dragon Motion development (read Dragon Motion: the swirling movements)
Spatial intelligence development (read The most important skill in combat)
Speed development (read also Speed: the vibration’s exercise)
General precision development (read Introduction to the idea of Precision Control)
Instinctive defense development (read Fighting with the reason at the speed of instinct)
Soft touch skill development (read How to acquire the Soft Touch skill)
Reflexes development (read also Shaolin training for reflexes)
Timing development (read Timing: the secret of combat effectiveness)
Tactile sensitivity development (read Trapping)
…

The execution

A note by Master Kongling – As we will see, this practice is strictly related to the Fabric Cloth Training and it has similar rules, before continuing, it is therefore important to read Basic tools: the cloth.

How to execute the exercise:

Let’s throw in the air the plastic ring
Let’s try to hit its internal and external sides (50% and 50%)
We can use kicks, punches, elbows, heads, parries, Dragon Motion (etc.)
We have to try as much as we can to use combined blows (sequential strikes, combined sequences, etc.)
The ring should not fall to the ground
In no case we can not grasp the ring with closed hands
We can (briefly) stop the ring with a double and “opposed” pressure of our wrists / forearms (as in the photo)
When our limbs enter inside the ring we must rapidly rotate them and exit
Sometimes we can also try to enter and exit without touching the surface of the ring
Let’s try to be fluid, to maintain the flow and to force the ring to make complex evolutions (combining X, Y and Z axis)
The pace must be sustained and the movements dynamic, as in a struggle (we are not playing)
Let’s go into / out, let’s rotate it, let’s lock it, let’s project the ring as if it were a pair of opponent’s arms
We don’t throw the ring too high, we rather opt for horizontal movements (but even here without exaggerating, there is no point in throwing at a distance that is beyond human reach)

Variants:

As we improve we can increase speed and the acrobatics of the movements (but no juggling); the exercise can also be carried out with rigid / soft weapons that do not damage the ring
The exercise can also be done with a rigid (rattan wooden or metal) ring but it is not for beginners (when the ring turns at high speed it can be very “painful” for those who have not yet mastered the soft touch skill or who are not conditioned, read Martial arts conditioning: improve resistance); with the plastic ring it can be more complex but less “painful”
For those who have considerable spatial intelligence and coordination, we can try with 2 rings at the same time (but it is important to stress that this variant does not replace the version with 1 ring); we can say that this possibility makes sense if we find our exercise too repetitive and / or not enough dynamic (but only if we are already at a good level of mastery)
…

A note by Master Kongling – Initially, we will find ourselves not able to handle the direction changes and the unpredictable rebounds of the ring but once we acquire the glance, the rotations will appear as if it were in slow motion and we will certainly handle the movements in a more than satisfactory manner.

In the next article of this series, we will see other exercises, also specifically from Wing Chun (to ask for specific articles read Learn Kung Fu online: request a specific article).

In-depth video courses

Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu Exercises – All our primary core practices to build real martial skills
Advanced speed and reflexes training – A visual and full guide to real combat speed
DIY training tools for martial arts – A video course about how to build your own custom training tools
Structures for combat: liquid, solid, fluid – How to address the opponent’s action at a high level
How to develop a good timing – Mastering the capability that allows exploiting the adversary’s errors

In-depth articles

Secret Shaolin training tools – A selection of some of the most incredible training tools of Shaolin temple
A Wing Chun wooden dummy like in PVC – A low-cost, hand-made PVC version of Wing Chun’s Muk Yan Jong

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

Have you ever tried to train with the ring?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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