Lin Wan Kune 连环拳 (Chain Punching)

There are basic ways and advanced ways to throw punches in Wing Chun Kung Fu.

Basic wing chun punches are straight linear shots chained together – this can get you out of a sticky situation, but it’s usually overkill, exhausting, and relatively ignorant of what’s coming back at you.

Advanced punching is counter punching. It varies based on what move you’re dealing with in the moment. We can still chain these advanced punches together, to create powerful boxing combinations that flow smoothly and adapt to the situation spontaneously. At this level, Wing Chun merges seamlessly with the sweet science of old-school bareknuckle boxing.

Not to be confused with the Shaolin Chain Punching form that’s all over the internet. That’s a dance-like routine composed of big-frame long-fist techniques that don’t remotely resemble Wing Chun’s small-frame short-strike chain-punching. They are two completely different artforms, while sharing the same Chinese name.

Basic linear chain-punching

Lin Wan Kune 连环拳 (chain punching) in its basic linear form, generally targets the nose & philtrum (GV/DU 25, 26 & 27 acupressure points), or the cheekbone (SI18) – it varies depending how tall you are in respect to them, and how the target head is leaning.

Chain punches are not designed to be very accurate or powerful, they’re designed to be cumulative & overwhelming by repeatedly hitting the approximate area quickly & frequently.

Bruce Lee doing Chain Punching in Enter The Dragon — Bruce Lee doing basic linear Chain Punching on Sammo Hung in the opening scene of Enter The Dragon (1973). I’ve slowed it down to half speed to make it easier to observe.

Real live examples of basic linear chain punching include:

Bruce Lee’s sparring demo at the Long Beach International Karate Championships (California) in 1967, where Bruce does a front sidekick to the ribs as his opponent steps into his kicking range, followed by a burst of chain punches as the opponent falls forward with his head, until the opponent falls back.
Josh Warrington’s IBF boxing world title defence against Kid Galahad in 2019, where Josh repeatedly runs forward throwing flurries of straight punches, quite effectively steamrolling through Kid Galahad’s very crafty defence.

Both of these examples work well at stopping the opponent from immediately stepping back out of range (something which regularly makes chain punches appear ineffective in contests between unprepared Wing Chun practitioners and experienced combat sportsmen) – the first example makes the opponent fall forward head-first into the chain punches, and the second one chases him down quicker than he can retreat.

Old-school bareknuckle boxing

In old-school bareknuckle boxing, Chain Punching was called Milling.

Notice they used to hold their guard very similar to a traditional Wing Chun guard too. Because when the gloves are off, things are different. Shielding is harder, because hands slip through easier, so the focus is more on attack. Hands also break easier, so softer targets like the solar plexus, floating ribs, liver, kidneys etc were targeted more than they would be with gloves on.

Milling was used not only as a direct attack, but also as a method of confusion that can set up all kinds of other attacks.

Dynamic chain-punching

Advanced chain punching breaks free of the linear path. It incorporates hooks, uppercuts and backfists, backed by dynamic footwork. This makes accuracy even less important (for several reasons, including easier recovery, and increased probability of hitting accurately with the next shot and catching the opponent by surprise with it), while maximising the confusion and overwhelming of your opponent, maximising your capability of concussing a durable opponent, and maximising your balance to minimise your own fatigue and tension thus making you more quick, agile, powerful and hard to counter.

To the untrained eye, dynamic chain punching may look like random combinations; but there is a fine art to making the flow effortlessly smooth, natural, balanced, tension-free, quick and powerful, especially when the gloves are off.

Non-linear punching is rarely trained in Ip Man lineages of Wing Chun (especially outside of solo form routines), but is frequently trained in the ancestral styles that predate him.