WHAT IS WING CHUN?

HOW DOES THE WING CHUN STYLE OF KUNG FU WORK?

In a real self defense situation chances are your opponent will be bigger than you, stronger than you, or both. It would be rare to see a small, weak person attack a larger, stronger person. Wing Chun teaches economy of energy and movement and believes in the importance of not confronting your attacker's force directly. Instead, in Wing Chun you gain the ability to work around and with your attacker's energy, working against his weakest point thereby turning the advantage to you, the Wing Chun practitioner.

WHO CAN LEARN WING CHUN KUNG FU?

It is not important that you be a super athlete to learn Wing Chun. Its design makes this style attractive to men, women, and children alike. People of all ages are increasingly being drawn to this system for its health benefits, self-defense, practicality, development of confidence, and increased powers of concentration.

THE ELEMENTS OF WING CHUN

It is important to understand the purpose of the tools of Wing Chun training. These are often mentioned and demonstrated but too often their purposes are misunderstood. Here, in brief, are listed some of the important tools that every Wing Chun practitioner needs to understand...

1. Forms

Shil Lum Tao - Teaches how to form a good base, the fundamental hand positions and how to move one's energy away from (down the center line) one's body.

Chum Kil - Teaches proper assessment of angles and angle structure to allow safe movement while bridging the gap. It also coordinates multiples of the movements from Shil Lum Tao in combination.

Bil Gee - Teaches the wrist rotation movement for finger thrusting, the elbow rotation for elbow strikes, recapturing the center line, additional footwork, and coordinates additional hand movement.

NOTE: In Wing Chun, forms do not teach application. Attempting to impose application on the movements in the forms will only serve to restrict their usefulness in battle.

2. Wooden Dummy
The Wooden Dummy translates the movements and positions in the forms into textbook/root applications.

3. Chi Sao
Is not a form of sparring and should never be viewed as such. Utilizing Chi Sao as sparring totally defeats its purpose. Chi Sao is used to develop contact reflexes or the ability to interpret movement through touch.

4. Self defense sets
Are for the purpose of simulating possible street encounters and should synthesize as closely as possible real life threatening situations.

5. Micro Study Sparring
Light sparring (not prearranged) where one can practice new applications in a less threatening atmosphere.

6. Full Contact Sparring
Full contact, virtually anything goes, sparring. Protective gear should be worn for this sparring. This helps the student learn to penetrate with powerful hits and also to perform well under stress.

Remember that Wing Chun was designed to enable the user to overcome a larger stronger opponent. For this reason mobility and the concept of never fighting force with force are very important.

The training tools outlined in this article show the importance of training in a way that effectively prepares you for the street. What looks good in the classroom, where all must abide by the same rules may, not work effectively on the street. On the street there are no rules, no referees, and no timed rounds. If you are hurt, you can't stop to lick your wounds. Also, on the street do not expect your opponent to "fight fair". Your attacker may have a weapon, or more than likely there will be more than one attacker. Traditional Wing Chun prepares you for this and more.

Many students in Wing Chun (and probably other styles as well) learn the mechanical moves without ever gaining insight into what makes the system work In order to get the maximum advantages from the Wing Chun system there are certain principles that it is necessary for a practitioner to understand.

In the Wing Chun method, I believe there are 39 + one key principles that it is especially important to understand. Some instructors may refer to these by different names. That does not matter. As long as you understand the nature of these 39 + one principles, getting the most out of Wing Chun will be easier for you. Without knowledge and understanding of these principles, high levels of proficiency will be impossible. See how many of these you understand.