Month: February 2020
Wing Chun Concepts
THE ESSENCE OF WING CHUN KUNG FU The Art of Close Range Combat Wing Chun is a simple but effective method of self-defense based in the traditional Chinese martial arts of Kung Fu. It is a relatively young system, but in the last few hundred years it has spread to every corner of the Earth because it is practical, can be learned in a short period of time, and can be practiced by people of all sizes and ranges of physical ability. Wing Chun has no delusions of being the “ultimate martial art.” There is no sport or competitive aspect,…
Wing Chun Training Schedule
Two of the core principles of Wing Chun Kung Fu are effectiveness and efficiency. This applies not just to structure, movement and technique, but everything about the system. In this case, we are going to apply it to the training schedule. There is a concept best illustrated by the old story of the student who approaches the master and asks how long until he will master Kung Fu. “Practice one hour each day, and you will know the system in two years,” the master replied. The student asked again, “How long if I practice two hours per day?” The master…
Wing Chun Concepts Level One
Whenever you begin the process of building something, your first step is to create a solid foundation. This is the goal of the Level One curriculum. Here you will be introduced to the first of three empty hand forms, known as Siu Lim Tau or “the Little Idea.” You will also learn the basic structures that form the “hands” of Wing Chun, explore core concepts and principles, and practice the initial set of trapping and reflex development drills. It is important to follow the progression exactly as presented. The Wing Chun grandmasters carefully designed this hierarchy of training material to…
The Wing Chun Salute
The Wing Chun salute is an ancient tradition used to begin a training session and to show respect for the Sifu, your training partners and your training space. There are variations, but the most common form is an open left hand placed over a closed right fist. The fingers of the left hand are kept extended and not flexed to wrap around the fist. Used by many styles of Shaolin Kung Fu, the salute is known in Chinese as 武术抱拳礼, roughly translated as “the Kung Fu courtesy of covering one’s fist.” In this first lesson, we’ll review both the formal…
The Wing Chun Training Stance
Wing Chun uses a single training stance for the Siu Lim Tau form and most of the foundation level drills. Called “Yee” Jee Kim Yeung Ma, this stance conditions the legs, introduces you to the concept of “rooting,” and trains one of the essential components of Wing Chun: full body integration. The remainder of this lesson is restricted to registered students at Level One status and above. If you are a currently enrolled student, please click the Student Login button below to continue.
Wing Chun Glossary
Anatomical Planes of the Body The human body can be divided into various sectors, with the dividing lines represented by planes such as the Sagittal, Coronal and Transverse… Cha Jee Sau Cha Jee Sau Introduced during the opening sequence of Siu Lim Tau, this cross-armed block is used to mark the centerline from low to high… Cheh Kuen The concept of one fist punching forward as the other simultaneously retracts. In most cases, the retracting fist will have the same power or energy as the punching fist… Dan Tien The center of balance and gravity in a standing human body,…
Fundamental Battle Punches
In this lesson you will learn the foundational concepts behind Wing Chun’s signature strike. The emphasis is on accuracy, structure and speed through relaxation. The remainder of this lesson is restricted to registered students at Level One status and above. If you are a currently enrolled student, please click the Student Login button below to continue.
Pak Sau: Palm Block Partner Drill
In this first partner practice, one person will be working on new layers of the Chair Hung Choi fundamental punching drill while the other will be learning Pak Sau, or the forward palm block. This drill focuses heavily on taking the centerline, and introduces new concepts such as Forward Energy, Sensitivity and Gates. While Pak Sau is shown here as a single lesson, it is actually a multi-layer drill that evolves over multiple practice sessions. The first phase focuses on structure, and allows the use of cadence or set timing to introduce the motions. The second phase breaks the timing,…
Tan Sau Palm Up Defense Block
Tan Sau – 摊手 – is introduced as the first of Wing Chun’s Three Poison Hands, and is used primarily to disrupt an incoming attack, redirecting and possibly trapping the attacker’s arms. Tan means “spread,” and is most often translated as “dispersing hand” based on the action of redirecting an attacker’s incoming energy. Tan Sau is also called “Serving Hand” based on the most common shape of the hand and arm. Often the arm is pressed forward with the palm held open and flat towards the sky as if you were holding a plate or serving tray. It is disruptive,…