About Wing Chun Kung Fu
About the Art
Wing Chun Kung Fu was created over 400 years ago and its origins go back to the shaolin temple. Over recent years the style has become even more widely known and respected and is practiced all over the world.
Wing Chun Kung Fu is a unique style that can be used by practically anyone, regardless of build or stature. Rather than relying on brute force or strength Wing Chun utilises speed and natural power, which is achieved through relaxation. Instead of trying to stop attacks using muscle, we redirect our opponents force. This enables us to use our opponents energy against them while conserving our energy. Wing Chun Kung Fu enables people of a smaller stature to be able to defeat larger opponents but once again, it is a system that anyone can benefit from.
Wing Chun Kung Fu can be used effectivly in close range and at long distance and is an excellent form of self defence for men and women. Through practice you will be able to generate power from short distances using good body mechanics. The Wing Chun one inch punch made popular by the late Bruce Lee is a perfect example of this short range explosive power. Bruce Lee was a student of Ip Man and based his own style (jeet kune do) on what he learnt in Wing Chun.
In a fight there is no time to think, you need to be able to react spontaneously and to help train your responses for this we practice Chi Sau (sticking hands). Through the study of Chi Sau we learn how to combine our sensitivity, energy, technique, footwork and positioning and we re-programme ourself so that instead of responding with tension, our movements come from a state of relaxation. When practicing Chi Sau two people are attacking and defending while trying to manipulate each others energy. This is where you see how well you've absorbed the information and what areas need attention. This is trained in a controlled manner and no one needs to get hurt but it is important to experience the exchange of energy which occurs and that we pay attention to what we are feeling. It is through listening to what we feel that the right timing for attack and defence will present itself. Simplicity is the key in fighting and any wasted movement needs to be eliminated. We attack in the most direct way possible depending on the circumstances and once an opening has been created, our spring-like energy can quickly move in. Taking control of the situation, as long as tension doesn't interfere with the flow.
Wing Chun Kung Fu is not a sport and its philosophy is not concerned with point scoring, but rather with life. This is a Martial art that can get you fit while developing good focus, awareness, confidence, reflexes, concentration and many other essential life skills. Wing Chun is very much like water how it can flow or crash depending on the situation and has been described as a moving meditation. Wing Chun Kung Fu is a fascinating martial art which can take you on a journey of self discovery and if Ip Man's students are anything to go by a good way to stay healthy, as many of them are now over or approaching 80, and still training Wing Chun.
There are three bare hand forms in the Wing Chun system. In addition there is the butterfly knives, the pole and the wooden dummy form. The first, Sil Lum Tao meaning “little idea form” is where we learn all of the fundamental principles and learn to execute them using correct energy, technique and power. The first form is like our alphabet of concepts and is where we meditate on correctness. Once you have learnt this alphabet you can begin to articulate yourself more freely. If your understanding of the form is good it will be able to be seen in your Chi Sau. Amongst the principles taught within this form is the centre line theory. The centre line is an imaginary line, drawn down the centre of our self, and it is also a passage which all technique flows through. For a more detailed description and videos of the forms please go to the forms page.
Brief History
Legend has it that Wing Chun derived its name from a young woman called Yim Wing Chun, who lived in China. A local warlord was harassing Yim Wing Chun and was attempting to force her to marry him. The warlord was relentless and Yim Wing Chun knew she had to do something before it was too late.
She started to learn a new Kung Fu system under the guidance of a Buddhist nun called Ng Mui and became proficient at the art. When Yim Wing Chun returned to her village, the warlord pursued her again, but this time she agreed to marry him if he could beat her in a one on one fight. If she won, he would leave her alone for good. Of course the warlord accepted her challenge, believing she stood no chance of winning. He was wrong, Yim Wing Chun beat the warlord and married her love. She then taught her husband this new system of self defence and he in turn passed on the knowledge.
It's said that the Buddhist nun Ng Mui created the Wing Chun Kung Fu system after having witnessed a fight between a snake and crane. Unlike other kung fu systems she didn't set out to directly mimic the exact movements of the animals but took concepts like directness from the snake, and simultanious attack and defence from the crane to form the basis for this new style.For many years this style was only taught to a handful of people
In more modern times, Wing Chun Kung Fu has reached a global status due to the efforts of Ip Man who was instrumental in the system spreading through China to Hong Kong and beyond. In China there is a museum dedicated to this legendary man and recently there have been films based on his life. Ip man died in 1972. His students are today’s grandmasters and are still spreading their wisdom of Wing Chun on a global stage.
Ip Man