Positional advantage

Positional advantage is a combative position relative to an opponent. It is used extensively to describe a situation of significant tactical advantage over an opponent in open-hand conflict (i.e. without weapons) in William Cheung's Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu and Ian Protheroe's Classical Wing Chun.^[1]

In physical altercations, positional advantage is significant because a defender who has attained positional advantage:

• is not as open to an attack from the attacker's rear hand
• may control the attacker's lead limbs (one arm and one leg)
• is in range to attack or defend both hands
• is able to redirect their opponent's force

In the words of Sifu Ian Protheroe, "as long as your strongest side is facing your opponent's weakest side, you have the advantage".^[2] Although positional advantage has been adopted specifically by Classical and Traditional Wing Chun practitioners, the term is applicable to all martial styles, both with and without weapons.^[1] Related concepts include centre and central line theory.^[1] These terms are used to describe many different things by Wing Chun practitioners (see the Wikipedia entry for Wing Chun for more information).

• Protheroe, Ian G. (Sifu) (1998). Wing Chun Theory and Composition. Brisbane: Protheroe. ISBN 0-646-35638-0.