Out of all the Chinese kung fu styles wing chun has been the most popularized, mainly due to the face it was the style that was immortalized by the legendary Bruce Lee.  It was designed for simplicity, economy of moment and for all body shapes, types with no discrimination.  Legend has it that it is a composite of many ancient martial arts that derived their styles from the main animal forms.  The overtly flowery showy more-exaggerated movements made way for direct precision striking and economy of movement -to make your strike. In essence wing chin was meant to kill.

 

That is why out of the whole system there are essentially three open hand forms- 2 weapon forms and of course the wooden dummy sequence. With a special mention to the chisau sticking hands training (a personal favourite of mind)

 

 

There are many variations of how these forms are spelled and pronounced, so I will go by what I was taught.

 

1st form is the Sl lim tau or little idea form.  This is the basic foundation of the system.  The beauty and design of the wing chin training system is that it very basic and not at all visually spectacular as a demonstration like you see in the kung fu movies –

 

 However as a practitioner each move learned opens up another door of possibilities as the system slowly uncovers its secrets.  The simple principle such as the centre line theory vs the central line theory.  The correct stance & posture, the distribution of weight and also having the correct energy in your arms and legs.  And most of all timing.  

 

That is why the Sil Lim tau form is often called the soft or internal version of wing chun training as its focus is on concentration of the form rather than brute strength -which is one of not the core philosophies of the the wing chun system.

 

Within this form all the offensive & defensive principles are taught.  From the positioning of the hands for where concepts such as fut sao, garn sao are introduced.  This is part of the arsenal that will remain with you throughout your wing chun journey.

 

The next form is Chum Kill- or bridging the gap form.  This is the next form which incorporates greater movements and introduces coordination into the system,  This is where another concepts is further explored.  The concept of 2 hand independent co-ordination.  Where both hands are used independent of each other in their movement.  Sounds confusing-? Well it can be.  Think along the line of a simultaneous defensive & attacking strike and you begin to learn how effective Wing Chun can be.

 

This role of footwork is expanded in chum kill and that is also one of the keys to the wing chun training system. The ideas are planted in the initial stages and then grown and incorporated into the system as you progress.  In essence they are all systems brought from one single concept or idea (hence the name title idea form-Sil Lim Tau Form).

 

The final most advance form is Bill Jee.  or Finger striking form.  This is by  far the most demanding and difficult form as it incorporates greater degree of discipline and is much more dynamic in its movement and requires a certain amount of conditioning.  Indeed any wing chun student should work to complete this form with a sense of control and force that should do it justice ..rather than following the steps and movements do the form it requires precision, and INTENTION  for its success..  

 

The basis of this form was to deliver fatal strikes to opponents.  For advanced students trying to master this form can be taken much further.  It can be a system all itself. 

 

Legend has it that it was rarely taught in older times, however in our westernized culture where we want it all and now–it has made its way to the mainstream, m  Much to the chagrin of the old Chinese teachers.

 

There is a lot to learn about the wing chun system and this is barely a brief overview, however it is a great journey that can take a lifetime to master.  For me the main attraction and what I get out of this system are the training methods.  They are fun and very easy to learn.  However the biggest revelation to come out of Wing chun, I discovered, was that there where different styles of wing chun training techniques-traditional and modified.  The story behind how this came about is as intriguing and as old as China itself and its ramifications enormous –especially as it relates your Wing Chun training.


Below are some resources you may also enjoy

  • Chum Kiu – Searching the Bridge – Some things to ponder while you train your Chum Kiu form from Wing Chun: Chum Kiu the second form in the Wing Chun system is both simple and complex in theory and in physical application. Chum Kiu moves the Wing Chun practitioner from …

  • Wing Chun History | Dan’s Muay Thai MMA – Four hundred years ago, there lived a man named Yim Say Koan who had trained for many years in the Shaolin Temple. His bean cake store was the means by which he supported his only child, a girl, named Yim Wing Chun. Yim started his daughter training in the martial arts under his tutelage while she was still very young.

  • All About Chi Sau – Skills for Close Range Combat Chi Sau, or ‘Sticking Hands’, is a Wing Chun training exercise designed to develop close range combat skills. In close range combat, your ability to see an incoming strike a punch and react by reflex is …

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One of the most exciting things you will do in your wing Chun training is  putting what you learn into practice.  No I don’t mean walking the streets and coming across a fight or causing one, only hoping you will be attacked so you can show the world what you have learned.


One of the best ( and controlled) ways  is though tournament fighting.  This helps in terms of developing your technique in a “real word “ application but also give you a steep learning curve and a lesson that you will ever learn during your classes.


For me I remember my first tournament.  I trained during our class I was totally pumped and scared to death.  I did what I could, trained harder than I ever had and h.  It was so much fun and I felt a sense of strength and confidence I thought I never had.  Surely I could take this into the fight and dominate my opponent.  This was wing Chun for crying out loud the most deadliest fighting system devised my man.


I remember being padded up, watching my other classmates prepare and fight their bouts before me. Then the reality hit,  those nervous bits of chatter that go on in our minds…this is real.. this is actually really going to happen ..my mind was running 100 miles an hour ..it was when the referee called my name that I snapped out of my hypnotic dream.  I was pitted against my opponent a Tongan guy from a karate school.  Just before the ref called the fight ..another thought crossed my mind “..hang on I’ve never really been in a fight before where the guy wanted to deliberately hurt me…..!”


Great time and place for this realization to suddenly come forth -well it was on. I danced around parried,  blocked.. in my mind I was swift, with the movements of a gazelle, I was silky smooth and light on my feet….unfortunately the reality was that my feet felt like they had cement shoes and where bolted to the ground, my arms where flailing all over he place  and my mind was wandering off to the tall brunette beauty who had just taken her seat on the bleachers.. in short I froze !!!!  Just as you would expect I was dispatched like it was nobodies business…  Lucky for me it was a point scoring fight..and in rapid succession boom boom boom.. I was gone ,done and dusted as they say.



What happened  ?? I let the situation overwhelm me I was fighting myself before the opponent and I was lucky it was just a tournament…in real life the outcome would have been much worse…….next fight I had was more realistic and continuous   and I was ready.


The worse case scenario had happened I froze and was beaten badly and very embarrassed. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.  The worse case scenario happened and it was all good.  


We think too much about what may happen,  when the reality is it never as bad as what we think.  The next fight – some 2 hours later was one of the best fighting performances of the tournament.  Usually these things are slow affairs where both fighters are stand off ish and out of the 10 minutes there is probably 3 mins of fighting..  well I am proud to say we stood toe to toe for the full duration  and after all of that it was a tie.. I had fought an opponent with much more experience and a hell of a lot more stamina than me and more than held my own. My fear of losing of what  might happened was gone… I was free to move and attack as I wished and blocked out the crowd and negative thoughts.  I was free and able to move at will. The lesson here is it is only when we abandon that fear   of failure and focus on the task at hand on its merits is when we have true learning and succeed from it.


It was this thinking that allowed me to win the black belt trophy while in my first year ever of martial arts… be sure to tune it again as I describe exactly how I did it.

 

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I recently came across an article that Robert Downey Jnr had taken up Wing Chun training as part of his preparation for the his role as the legendary Sherlock Holmes .


If you haven’t heard he is one of the most talented if not troubled actors of our time.  Unfortunately most of his publicity has surrounded his drug use and arrests.


But what really struck me was the impact that wing chun training had on him.


He said it gave him focus and was a life changing experience 


That is not so uncommon.  Wing Chun, as with any martial art, is the focus of energy and discipline into a channelled force.  For me I can say that I have a lot of nervous energy, which led to scattered thoughts, which needed an outlet. 


Our scattered thoughts can be best resolved whenever we have a conduit to focus our energies and target that on a single purpose.  That’s when we see progress and gain a sense of achievement. This why in order to reach a level of proficiently in any martial art, whether you’re starting your wing chun training or practicing aikido techniques or even karate- it is not an easy process.


That is why the martial arts go a long way to improve your self-esteem and confidence. It can have a ripple effect into other areas of your life.  When I started wing chun, I was all excited on learning how to be the next Bruce Lee and learn all these moves and look cool.  I couldn’t wait to shoe off my new moves.  But as I progressed I gained respect for the art and my fellow students .  As well as other martial artists. I learnt that I did not have to show off my new skills and prove anything to anyone else.  I had to have the confidence in myself.    I did not have to prove my self in any confrontation unless it was necessary.


Others pick a fight to see how tough they are to prove to others they are a great fighter- how strong they are. 


This is the height of insecurity and a true wing chun practitioner or any martial artist does not need to prove themselves in such a way.  They already have the confidence and high level of self worth in themselves and respect for other to go down such a petty path.


Indeed Wing Chun training not only taught me to be a better fighter, but also to be more comfortable and confident with who I am and the kind of person I want to be. 

 

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Perhaps my favourite technique of wing chun training is the fact that it focuses on body mechanics and distils fighting down to a science.  It takes the emotion out of it and deals with only what works- and throws out what does not.

 

The first  principle in wing chun that I was taught and without doubt the number one reason I was able to excel at wing chun…was to focus on my opponent. More specifically to focus on my opponents’ elbows and the region around them.

 

Quite simple yet this one technique will put you one step ahead of your opponent.  You will appear to be faster and anticipate your opponents every move.

 

The reason for this is that by focusing on your opponent’s elbows allows you to see what your opponents intentions are early.  Think about it and try it. If your opponent goes to punch, the first move they make is to extend at the elbow.  You see this movement much earlier  than just focusing on their fists.  This is the last signal in your opponents movements and will be perhaps too late.

 

However focusing on your opponent’s elbows you get a clear view of your opponents attacking methods.  If they punch with their lead fist. The elbow will rise to move forward.  If they attack with the rear the elbow at front will move. It needs to it, because it is all part of the body mechanics –its the mechanics of the body.

 

If the opponents go to kick, the elbows will drop back. This allows you to have your opponents telegraph their movements.

 

Also by focusing on the elbows you are distracting from the opponent’s eyes and face. Which can be intimidating. Staring into the eyes of someone that wants to do you harm can be a little frightening and also does not allow your opponents an in, trying to psyche you out.  Indeed you will appear cool calm and collected.  Your opponents may be even put off by your cool demeanour and clinical approach. 

 

No matter how hard they try your steely determination will show show through and start planting the seeds of doubt in the mind of your opponent.

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Perhaps the hardest part to any martial arts is beginning.  Making the decision and walking into a kwoon (school) and taking action, to suit up and arrive to participate can be very intimidating.  This can be more so intimidating for women, especially when confronted with a class full of guys who are bigger stronger and more experienced.  This takes an even more daunting tone and is certainly one of the reasons why women may be a bit put off by beginning a martial art.

 

The beauty of wing chun training is that it does not rely on brute strength, or size to be effective.  In fact to be honest that can be a hindrance, especially if your size tends to slow down your movements.  Wing chun was designed by a woman for women.  

 

Apart form this the training also comes with a whole swag of benefits.   First of all continued practice has a great benefits to your health and fitness. As well as our flexibility.  If you are looking to get fit alone this is more beneficial than joining a Gym and pounding away on a treadmill and heaving free weight causing all kinds of chronic injuries to your joints.  This kung fu training looks to avoid this.

 

Personally I prefer to incorporate further learning in my fitness regime that’s why martial arts does it for me.  Secondly and most obvious wing chun is one of the most dynamic marial arts and self defence systems in the world and is relatively easy to learn if you apply yourself.  In today’s society for women to learn the arts of self defence is quite a handy thing to know.  Not only are you able to protect yourself you will be amazed how high your self esteem will soar.    I would like to also add that in my experience women make great martial artists.  I wont go to say they are greater or better—but I have found that women have a greater tendency to apply themselves to tasks once they set their minds to things—especially more mature women.  They are more meticulous and disciplined than most men.  (Well- at least more so than this man).

 

The advantage of wing chun is that it relies on manipulation of strength rather than its brute application.  It relies on executing proven concepts to put your opponents off their guard. The biggest mantra in wing chun is do not use force against force.  This is a concept that men have difficulty coming to terms with early on in their training as  we have it ingrained in us to push back once we are under attack.  Women don’t have this natural reaction. Because of this they can adapt to different situations as they arise-because they have to.  Wing chun teaches to strike specific “soft” point for devastating results so the wing chun practitioner doe not have to be very strong to be effective.  These techniques can be further perfected on the wing chun dummy -so you can practice on you own to further refine your skills.  However the biggest step is having the courage to take that first step. To make that decision to begin. Because once you decide you take away all other choices and excuses you make available and you focus on your end goal.

 

 

 

 

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Your ego can be a crippling thing paying less attention to it is the first step in mastering your wing chun training or any martial art

 

Behind our ego lies a subtle intelligence or a basic human emotion that is primal in nature.  It’s is part of our DNA

 

If sensing we re in a losing situation it will quietly rationalise why we should not even try.  It will guarantee that t we will never fail by not even attempting it in the first place.  That’s why paying less attention to your ego is the first step in towards the path of greater learning and understanding.

 

That’s why having the credo in your kung fu training or any new endeavor should be: Leave your ego at the door.

 

This can be quite difficult for the beginner martial artist as it is not a natural instinct but something worth striving for.  Our ego wants to win and want to be right.  That why it will squirm, turn your insides in knots and come up with excuses when in a position where there is a likelihood that we will fail.  It will come up with different situations to avoid us to do this.  The corrosive interference of your ego will prevent you from doing anything. Hence overcoming your ego is one of he most important hurdles if you want to experience growth & learning as human beings.

 

There are some schools that are very challenging to the ego ..whether its kung fu training, karate, ju jitsu, aikido techniques or any martial art… There is no place for the ego to hide as it is constantly assaulted.  This is a good thing!

 

As it ultimately allows us to live in a state of peace and bliss where our ego does not have to be fed and nourished for us to live in this state of contentment. Learning to develop this flexibility is important in all aspects of our lives.  We don’t know what’s around the corner and what wont kill us will make us stronger as they say.  If we are to attempt things that no one else is willing to do – we must do the things that most people don’t want to do.  Be it wing chun training starting a new venture, or even asking out that cute girl you see at the bus stop.  

 

Most people don’t even consider doing any martial art so the simple act of beginning is an indication of your path to excellence that remains out of reach to most people. The achievement of the extraordinary requires people to do extraordinary things.  Who would settle for anything less.  EVERYONE!  

 

Look at most people who lead their lives it is mostly a mundane existence where they go about their day to day 9-5 jobs and go home to dinner than retire to the couch only to relive the same day again and again.  This is an incessant trap. By Friday they are at their wits end and the thought of change briefly crosses their mind only to have the weekend come and like a drug hit  they have their release of stress, forgetting their troubles.  At last the weekend comes just at the right time to have them forget about their troubles and wanting that change only to have Monday come again, starting the cycle again.

 

Sorry, but I don’t want to contribute further to this society.  I want to live an extraordinary life. I want to do extraordinary things.  We should not need to settle. Each uncomfortable step we take will lead us to the destination we desire.  It will be hard, you will trip but you can get through it.  Don’t worry if you graze your knee on the way down.  Expect to have your pitfalls and much more, just know that you are able to achieve your goal.

 

As hard as it may sound you need to not have an emotional attachment to the outcome.  Really it’s a test result– if you are learning a new technique or even attempting something new,, no doubt you will fail at first.  Don’t take it personally your ego will have all these things running through your mind saying you cant do this, that etc etc.

 

Don’t worry about what others say and try living by other peoples guidelines..they don’t live your life, they don’t pay your bills, let go.. And by letting go of your current conventional thinking you allow your mind to be more innovative , and the more you let your ego go , the more innovative you will be.

 

The more willing you will be to try new things. This goes back to the crux of this article.  The more you let go, the less you will need to win, the less you will need to be right or needing to be safe all the time- then the more risks you will take and the more you will discover.

 

It is a process that should frighten anyone, for there is great joy in discovering new things-even if they reveal our shortcomings- or perhaps more so because they do.

 

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Out of your wing chun training the most dynamic of the wing chun forms Bill jee was designed to be the last form of attack and the most lethal.  For the uninitiated bill jee is form and system designed for finger strikes. It is the last form you will learn in your wing chun training system. And that’s a good thing.  You see the system starts off with the basics.  It essentially strips away the redundant techniques found in other kung fu styles and just focuses on what works.  You learn the basic hand movements of the system- the principles of engagement with your opponent – the centre line theory and the importance of using technique vs force.  

 

Bill jee takes it a step further.  To get the most out of bill Jee though you must understand is that on its own it’s very powerful, however when combined with other kung fu techniques and methods it becomes deadly.  More specifically the teachings of chi kung and the theory of Dim Mak make Bill Jee even more lethal.  

 

Beginning with the practice itself the value of a finger strikes is huge.  Where wing chun emphasizes close quarter fighting where every inch counts the extension of the fingers allows for greater reach than a punch –thus increasing your advantage.  

 

However you do need to condition your hands and fingers to deliver this strike.  After all if your hands and fingers are soft and not up to task you will hurt yourself at best, at worst break a few fingers.  The beauty of Kung fu training in general is that imposes conditioning of the body and mind as part of the training.  This is more so emphasized in the hands which is the primary instrument of the wing chun training system.  

 

Next is the targeting of the strikes.  As you can imagine the finger strikes to be effective is is best if they hit a soft target.  The softer the better ..that why a finger strike to the cheek bone although would hurt, it wont have the immediate desired effect.  That is why Bill jee teaches to strike at the softer points such as the eyes, the throat.- and here is a unique tip you may not have thought of—the armpit. As you can see these strikes have a devastating effect and should be used only as either demonstrative purposes or a life and death situation.  It is with great responsibility that you learn this technique and adopt maturity and judgment.

 

This is true with any martial art where you are learning any deadly  techniques.  Learn them and use them responsibly for your own betterment and education.

 

 

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In your wing chun training you will learn to wield the two weapons of wing chun.  The 61/2 point pole and the butterfly swords.

These two weapons have deep tradition in their own right and have been brought into the wing chun kung fu system by various masters.  During the history of wing chun a lot of its teachings where underground and part of secret society.  One major society was the travelling opera boat group. They had a perfect cover that allowed them to use various tools that can be considered part of their act. So in a way their training and practice was camouflaged buy their artistic endeavours.

Also a key aspect of kung fu training was that most of the weapons stemmed from your everyday nondescript farming equipment.  Such as rice flails, or boating such as poles and staff. Staffs where used to carry water to and from wells thus techniques for self defence where developed from familiar objects to hand.

The 6/12 inch pole is named as such as it refers to the 6 main movement of the form.  The main theory behind the pole form is to attack opponents from a distance the poles length is used to keep opponents at bay.  The pole is used to thrust at the opponent-keep the distance and strike in a straight linear form- keeping the centre line principles intact.

The butterfly swords on the other hand have a different function. They are for more close quarter fighting where you can slice and dice your opponent. The moves are essentially used as deflections and the hand from of the wing chun training system are closely adhered to.  Indeed its key principle is that the swords are extensions of the hands of the wing chun practitioner. 

Legend has it the pole and swords where introduced when two masters confronted each other.  One using the pole the other the swords.  The tactics where obvious the master using the pole would keep his opponents at furthest length while the swordsman would try to deflect the attacks and get in close to strike. The end result saw the butterfly swords triumph. However the efficiency and skill that the pole utilised so impressed the swordsman that it was to be embraced as part of wing chun training systems and remains the cornerstone of the system even today.

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Wing chun training enables you to keep your self defence skills greatly enhanced  it also allows for a greater level of health fitness and flexibility.  Your wing chun training enhances your focus, strengthening your joints, sinews wrists, knees and hips.  Indeed depending on what stage you are in your wing chun training or whatever your age, wing chun can train your body and be conditioned for greater vitality. It has many complementary features of tai chi and it has elegant movements that don’t emphasise hard physical stress on the joints. 

 

Indeed I remember when I first started there where a couple of veteran amateur boxers who started wing chun kung fu training not long after me.  They where a lot more experienced fighters than me, as they had spent 20 plus years in the boxing ring, and where a mountain of knowledge. They said they were tired of fighting and training with sore joints and tired of getting black eyes after a regular sparring sessions.  Imagine having to go into to work the next day with a black eye…and that this was happening regularly because you are a dedicated trainer.  This would indeed be a concern. 

 

 This is the opposite in your kung fu training. As you get older your wing chun training will actually help your body become more supple and relaxed. You will not be doing hard exercises that put stress on the joints or any hard impact. 

 

Wing chun training has a strong element of Chi Kung, the Chinese martial art of inner energy.  This can be derived by the internal meditative chi kung of the Sil Lim Tao form, to the hard Chi Kung postures that help you with strengthening your legs improving your stance and form.  These combinations are complementary and you will learn that through your wing chun training that you will develop a greater level vitality and actually your level of proficiency will improve remarkably as you will not feel the soreness from high impact exercises. Believe me your joints will love you for it.

 

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In my early days of my wing chun training I came across this little story of its origins.  There has always been some contention behind all of this but I like the story and adds to the legend of the Wing Chun Training System- So I though I would share it with you…..

 

Over 250 years ago the Chinese people where ruled by the Manchus.  Harsh restrictions were imposed upon them, including the banning of weapons and kung fu training.

 

The Shi lim tao temple became a secure training ground for a revolutionary Army congregated to begin their kung Fu training. Five grandmasters assembled at the Temple to devise a new fighting system, choosing the most effective techniques from each of their respective styles.

 

Mistress Ng Mui, one of the Grandmasters was said to have observed a fight between a crane and a snake, and adapted the strategies and principles of this encounter to suit the human frame.

 

Before the new system could be put into practice, the Manchus raided and burned the Shi Lim Temple and the Grandmasters fled.

 

Ng Mui went south where she met a young girl to whom she taught the Kung fu system developed at the Temple.  The name of the girl Wing Chun representing;

 

“HOPE FOR THE FUTURE”

 

Wing Chun eventually married and passed on her knowledge of the new system. Over the years the style became known as Wing Chun.


 

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