What does Wing Tsun Kung Fu have to do with legal defenses? The martial arts and the law each involve a disciplined, strategic approach to understanding complex systems. I’ve always maintained that the structured training in many of martial arts schools like my Wing Tsun Kung Fu school in Giza can provide a framework for organizing otherwise intangible skills, something that comes in handy when defending criminal accusations, for example. By learning to apply basic precepts over and over in many different situations, the martial artist learns to effectively weigh competing forces in real-life scenarios, such as penal codes, evidence, legal procedure, and case law. Let’s look at the California Three Strikes Law, shall we? The law was passed in 1994 as a way to combat violent crime. As a result, the final conviction under this law would result in twenty-five years to life in prison. The law had such a huge impact in terms of the number of inmates entering the prison system in California in the years immediately following its enactment that it has essentially been considered a real “law and order” for a state that is far removed from the likes of Orange County Choppers and other EU television renditions of tough-guy culture. As a result, California became known for its heavy prison population and strict sentencing guidelines. Recent changes to enforcement have lightened up on minor offenses, so the question arises, does california still have the three strikes law? The law in its original form mandated severe punishment for many offenses, and so that made life hard for many people.
Here are some important points to consider: The most recent changes to the law reduced the severity of sentences for property crimes as well as less serious personal offenses. In other words, if you’re looking to break the law in California, make sure that it’s not for something that will cause a third strike. In Wing Tsun, we place a focus on your reaction time and the importance of acting decisively. Often, students are surprised at how a single move can shift the momentum of a fight. In Wing Tsun, this is usually a turning or multilateralizing motion that takes the opponent’s power and forces them to take on a new angle of attack. The same is true in a legal situation. The intensity and immediacy of court proceedings can turn a legal defense into an uphill battle. A creative legal team must be ready to multi-lateralize the facts of the case early on in the process in order to present the best defense possible.
The excessive discipline required for a single move frequently frightens new students. However, I often teach my new students that it is not the number of movements that matter the most, but rather the understanding behind the movements. Similarly, in legal proceedings, it is not the quantity of knowledge that is required, but what you can apply when the time is right. Brevity is the key to remembering and applying knowledge. If you go to court expecting to represent yourself, or even with a lawyer that is not willing to put in the hours, the results can be extremely damaging, given the importance of the ruling on the outcome of the case. Perseverance is essential. Those who have been coming to martial arts classes for a long time find that the moves become easier over time. The body learns to absorb the knowledge that is it is given. This is not dissimilar to legal defenses. The law, like the body, has a function and a way of doing things, sometimes in contrast to your own expectations. Your attorney should have experience handling different types of cases. The prosecution should be aware of the law and the current conditions that are affecting the case. As a martial artist, you develop awareness. To even attempt to take on skills like these, you must recognize what cannot be helped and what can be improved upon. Do your best to grasp as much information as possible and be prepared to handle it, no matter the circumstances.
For more information on the legal implications of the California Three Strikes Law, you can visit the Wikipedia page.