What is Wing Chun Kung Fu?

Can a smaller person defend themselves against someone bigger and stronger? Many people believe that it is impossible. However, in the martial art called Wing Chun Kung Fu, it has been proven time and time again that it can be done. Why is this?

One reason is that we learn how to use less energy to defend ourselves and then use an opponent's energy against them. Another reason is because Wing Chun uses footwork to move when attacking and defending, creating more possibilities for attacking or defending without using energy.

Wing Chun is not difficult to learn and very quickly you can begin practising techniques and footwork to improve your level. My Sigong (Grandteacher) Grandmaster Michael Tse says, "My Sifu, Great Grandmaster Ip Chun, is only a small man, weighing less than 100 lbs. However, I have seen him do Chi Sau (a way of practising the Wing Chun techniques in training with a partner) with Westerners much bigger and taller than him and every time he easily controls them."

"They always try to use strength against him, but being smaller, he knows that he does not have the same strength to fight back. So he uses his sensitivity to "listen" to his opponent's hands and body movements. In small ways, they will give their intentions away before they have actually committed all of their energy. He can then move or change his position to defend and even change their energy to trap them and attack back. Anyone who sees Grandmaster Ip Chun is impressed by his skill, especially as he is now over nintey years old and still very fit and healthy."

History of Wing Chun Kung Fu

The martial art "Wing Chun Kuen" is named after a woman, and its roots go back some 400 years to the Shaolin Temple. At that time the Shaolin Temple was home to some of China's best martial artists and a refuge for freedom fighters who opposed the ruling Qing Government.

An army was sent to attack the monastery and wipe out the monks. However at first they were unsuccessful, then with the help of some traitors within Shaolin, the temple was finally burnt down. Many of the monks were killed, though among those who survived was the Abbess Ng Mui.

Ng Mui found refuge at the White Crane Temple on Tai Leung Mountain near the Yunnan-Szechuan boarder. In a town near Tai Leung Mountain lived a bean-curd seller called Yim Yee and his young daughter named Yim Wing Chun, and it was whilst selling bean-curd they met and befriended Ng Mui.

Yim Wing Chun was engaged to her love, Leung Bok Chau, but a local bandit wanted her for himself and tried to force her to marry him. Seeing this, Ng Mui took pity on her and so taught her martial arts. After training very hard, Yim Wing Chun fought and defeated the bandit, and thus was free to marry her love.

That is the legend and there is a great deal of debate over its accuracy, but certainly Wing Chun Kuen has become one of the most popular styles of Kung Fu in the world.

This widespread popularity can be credited to one person, the late Great Great Grandmaster Ip Man. During his younger days, whilst living in Foshan, South China, he became famous for his Wing Chun Kung Fu and was undefeated. He refined and developed Wing Chun, but it was only when he moved to Hong Kong did he begin teaching and spreading his knowledge. Ip Man taught many, the most famous being the film star and martial artist Bruce Lee. Ip Man died in 1972. Since this time his eldest son, Ip Chun, has carried on his father's teaching

What will I learn in the classes?

Classes are taught on a one-to-one basis where you will be taught movements of forms, application, self-defence techniques and a unique form of partner training called Chi Sau (Sticking Hands)

Forms and Applications

Compared to many other martial arts, Wing Chun has a seemingly very small syllabus. There are three main empty hand forms, a Wooden Dummy form and two weapons forms. Despite this, there is a lifetime’s worth of knowledge and skill to develop. Initially, you will begin learning the first form, Siu Lim Tao, which will familiarize you with the stance and basics hands of Wing Chun as well as train your posture and leg strength. Along side the forms, you will also train in different applications of the positions and movements in the form. Working with a partner, this will help to show you how your footwork, position and the amount of strength you use will improve your self defence.

Chi Sau

Chi Sau, or Sticking Hands, is an integral part of Wing Chun training. This is a partner technique, similar in some ways to sparring, but designed to test and develop our Wing Chun skills against a live opponent. At first you will learn set patterns with a partner to understand how to gauge your position from your opponent, and how to change your position without giving your opponent an opportunity to hit you. Once you have a grasp of these elements, you will start to practice Chi Sau in a more freestyle manner, where you and your partner can use any applications or techniques you wish to try. This is where the real fun of Wing Chun lies and you will find that techniques that work in one situation or with one partner, are useless with another. The challenge is in finding out what works, what doesn’t and why.