Centerline Theory
The Centerline Theory is one of the major concepts in the art of Wing Chun though its importance can really be applied to countless other activities including sports and general well being. The theory is all based on the vertical line which runs down the center of the body. All Wing Chun offensive techniques originate from this line and all defensive techniques protect this line. Another way of viewing it is as a vertical plane which connects the center of your body to the center of your opponent’s body. Upon close inspection, the theory becomes increasingly interlaced with the human anatomy and physics.
Visualizing a line drawn down the center of the body highlights the most obvious and easy to understand aspects of the Centerline Theory; pressure points. Many of the body’s most vital and sensitive organs run down the center of the body including the eyes, brain, throat, heart, lungs, bladder, groin and what can be considered a centerline itself, the spine. Consequently, the practitioner defends this line as well as aims for it when applying offensive techniques. Even a strike with minimal force can disable or greatly injure someone if contact is made to any of these points.
This does not mean that other points of the body cannot be injured or hurt but that brings up more in regards to physics. If struck at the center, one has no choice but to either take the impact or step back to absorb the impact. In contrast, if the center line is properly protected and an attack instead strikes a point such as the shoulder, it is much easier to absorb and lessen the impact by shifting or rotating with the centerline as the pivot point. Imagine hitting a punching bag which is able to rotate. If struck at the center, the bag takes the greatest impact but if you miss and hit the side, the bag spins and your attack may also veer off further to the side. It is still not safe to allow an opponent to strike these points but it does create a priority to defend the center especially against a skilled fighter.
Certain martial arts use a stance which leads with either side of the body and argue that it creates a smaller target and help to protect some of the vital points mentioned earlier. One of the problems with this is that it creates favoritism with techniques and also gives the opponent a better idea of what is to come. The leading side also becomes more open to attack. By creating a vertical plane which connects your centerline to your opponent’s centerline, all of your attacks become well grounded from either side and allow the entire weight of your body to be behind them. This is why an attack following the centerline can create the most impact. By practicing defensive techniques which focus on protecting your centerline and using shifting to absorb and dodge attacks, the need for a permanent stance to create less of a target becomes unnecessary.
There are other aspects of the Centerline Theory which are more related to specific situations and techniques but the most important things to remember are to always defend your center, to have your attacks originate from the center and to aim at your opponent’s center.
-Marc Crook ‘Gao Jian Feng’ of Wing Chun Masters
A Small Idea 