Positional advantage

Positional advantage is a combative position relative to an opponent. It is used extensively to describe a situation of significant tactical advatage over an opponent in open-hand (ie without weapons) conflict in William Cheung's Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu and Ian Protheroe's Classical Wing Chun [ [http://www.wingchun-kungfu.org/positioning_n.htm Positional Advantage ] ] .

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" [Ian Protheroe "Wing Chun Theory and Composition", 1998, p.47] . However, 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 [ [http://www.wingchun-kungfu.org/positioning_n.htm Positional Advantage ] ] . Related concepts include centre and central line theory [ [http://www.wingchun-kungfu.org/positioning_n.htm Positional Advantage ] ] . However, it should be noted that these terms are used to describe many different things by Wing Chun practitioners (see the Wikipedia entry for Wing Chun for more information).

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