Prince, shang chi's right. I always fought left lead before I started officially training. When I started training FMA, I always went right lead. I "practiced" left lead and stuff, but always fought right lead. One day I went to work out at Burt Richardson's school and was hitting the focus mitts right lead. The instructor told me, "oh, we are working left lead for now." I thought, Ok, and immediately noticed the difference. I will never make that mistake again. I will always train both sides and train them hard. Right and left lead in boxing. Right and left control in clinching, kicking, grappling escapes and submissions from both sides. Even to the minute of which leg crosses over when locking your guard.
Shangchi, I think the way to use it is to look at the WC techniques, and try them in the MT clinch. Back in the days chi sao was closer to the energy that they used. Today we don't start matches at reference points, they possibly happen in a clinch though. Try the chi sao, see what kind of "techniques" you can work, and go straight into the MT clinch and work it from there. IMO.
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Chad W. Getz
Full Contact Hawaii - http://www.fullcontacthi.com
Stickfighting Digest - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stickfighting
The grappling arts imply most fights end up on the ground. The striking arts imply all fights start standing up. The clinching arts imply the clinch can stop the striker from striking, and the grappler from taking it to the ground. The weapon arts imply the they can stop the unarmed man. A complete martial art implies any fight can go anywhere...be ready and able to go everywhere.
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