Ernie Barrios (ABMVT) Interview

Ernie Barrios is the coach behind his Advanced Body Mechanics Ving Tsun.  Having an ‘extended Wing Chun family’ in several countries, he teaches his method of Wing Chun inspired by the Wong Shun Leung lineage as well as his exposure to other martial arts.  Interview below:

For those in the community who don’t know you, please tell me what you teach, how long you’ve been teaching and how you got involved in the martial arts.

It’s hard to define what I teach.  Any good teacher tends to be an accumulation of their experiences.  Whatever particular curriculum they chose is just a container or canvas for their expression.  I personally hate labels and titles as they are used more for marketing and separating us than for the conveying of knowledge.  The current ‘’language‘’ that people seem to be enjoying my expression of is within the canvas of WSLVT [Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun].

You have been teaching or learning to teach since the day you started learning , so we have all been ‘’teachers ‘’ all our lives.

And like many from my age group, we fell in love with the images of old martial arts movies – that visual language left an imprint on us as children…it seems like some more then others (laughs).

Why do you call yourself a coach?

Simple –  I am coaching, developing and training others.  If you’re referring to why I don’t use the term ‘’Sifu,’’ well first off I don’t speak Chinese nor am I teaching in Chinese.  Also I’m a grown ass man and I’m not trying to play dress up or make believe just for the ‘’ mystery’’ and control factor.  I don’t want to be anyone’s daddy-figure or belittle anyone into ‘’following’’ me.

I remember seeing some of your first videos and how your crew was sparring with gear on.  I even remember the motorcycle helmet!  How has the sparring influenced your Wing Chun?

Sparring is just a simple extension of the training methods.  You’re just introducing different variables: distance, timing and the greater need for adaptability.  Problem is, people think that sparring is fighting and some how get emotionally connected to it like it really means something.  It should be treated no differently than any other aspect of your training .

What difference do you see between what sparring teaches and ‘closing’ or finishing teaches?

Closing and finishing are not the same.  Are we killing people?  Are we constantly maiming or knocking out our sparring partners?  Of course not.  So really I can’t answer.  Sparring is just adding more complex variables.  There are many ways to intelligently spar: Progressive isolated sparring, where you break down certain aspects or tools and add in pressure and variables incrementally; or stress over load sparring, where you shock the nervous system and try and develop a tolerance to sudden or overwhelming violence, etc

Over the years, you’ve trained with many Wing Chun folks.  What do you normally see as a deficiency when coaching?  What do practitioners of our chosen style need to work on?

This is very easy to answer.  There was fighting before there was Wing Chun.  There was Wing Chun before there was Chi Sau.  Somewhere along the way they turned Chi Sau into a form non-realistic fighting and it’s gone downhill ever since.

What have you been up to lately?

Still training hard, still trying to improve myself all over as a person.  I love working with the guys in the ABMVT [Advanced Body Mechanics Ving Tsun] family.  I’ve been on the international seminar circuit and just had a hugely successful WSLVT summit in the UK where I got to speak and teach along side David Peterson, John Smith, Alan Gibson and Kev Bell  …that was amazing to be a part of!  Also had the first annual ABMVT seminar in NY. I will be working with a new group in Chile and returning to Argentina in a few months.  I’m in talks to do more seminars in Denmark, Germany, Manchester and Spain  And, lastly, teaching many IPTPs [Intensive Personal Training Program] here at home.  So I’m pretty busy (laughs).

What developments or growth have you seen in your Wing Chun and the community over the past 10 years?

I have drawn myself away from the general ‘’Wing Chun’’ community.  I just can’t stomach the politics, puffed up egos and outright bullshit marketing (laughs)  …If it were not for a select few that I respect and can still hold real discussions about training and evolution with, I would probably have faded into the sunset long ago.  There are so many wonderful people out there trying to learn Wing Chun, but sadly there are just as many shuck and jive dudes trying to hustle them out of every penny.  The good thing is with the transition of younger people going to MMA and getting educated on what real coaches are supposed to do many of the so-called Sifu’s, Masters,  Grandmasters, etc are losing their mystery-hold on their flocks of sheep.  People are waking up and realizing they are not learning much.  This will cause coaches to step up, put in real work, to stay in shape and train with their guys – set an example and really be the martial art, not just tell stories about the past.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now as far as your training and coaching is concerned?  Where does your focus lie?

I don’t see myself past this moment.  My focus is to continue to develop the people that put their trust in me.  When I have nothing to give or I am no longer inspired, I will stop and move on to what might inspire me elsewhere.  Life is a sequence of changes…embrace the changes.

And most importantly, are you phasing out the hip-hop in your videos in favour of some blues-guitar music?

(laughs)  Well, to be honest, I was the first as I started the whole trend.  I started the whole black and white letter box, over contrast, and hip hop videos.  They say imitation is the best form of flattery, but damn!  These guys that are trying to do it need to find their own styles.  (laughs)  Ok, more serious.  As I said it’s all an expression.  I grew up on listening to and performing Hip-Hop.  I’m an old school B-Boy.  If you were not living it you won’t get it  (laughs) and I like to mix my passions together.  I have been getting turned off to all the ‘’electronic digital‘’ lifestyles, so I picked up a guitar and I’m learning acoustic blues.  Something simple.  No need for a band or electricity.  I suck no doubt, but it has become my little ‘’Zen’’ so you will see that come out in the videos.  As I said, the videos are just an extension of my need to be creative and expressive.  I’m not out trying to sell DVD’s or fill a school (laughs).

Any shout-outs?

Nah my friends and family know who they are (grins).