Quote of the Year 2012

"Ving Chun is like a giant pool of water. 

The teacher leads you to the pool,
but how much you drink is up to you."

Se7en Ving Chun Kuen Health Benefits

There are at least se7en areas where Ving Chun has a positive affect on your mental, emotional or physical well being. 

1. Fitness:  

I lost weight and lowered my blood pressure by practicing Ving Chun. Naturally, the level of fitness you achieve depends on your motivation and goals. Practitioners must worked out after kung fu class and watched their diet carefully. All of this added together with Ving Chun will lead to amazing results.

2. Relieves Stress:

Getting a good workout, especially a cardio workout helps purge the stress. And it’s good for the heart too. Plus, training Ving Chun forces you to focus on the here and now, not on your problems. Getting rid of stress has really helped me clear my mind and allows me to do better work in my job.

3. Better Reflexes:

In Ving Chun we train both contact (chi sau) reflexes and visual reflexes. This training also improves our muscle memory. Which is when your body makes the right moves on it’s own.

4. Better Coordination:

One of the great things about Ving Chun is that we train both sides of our bodies (left and right). Better still is the fact that Ving Chun, and kung fu in general, trains you to use finer skill to fight. For example, it takes a lot of coordination to attack using a finger jab or simultaneously block, strike and kick at the same time.

 5. Improves eye focusing:

When you’re not in contact range you have to rely on visual reflexes (your eyes) to keep you safe and a threat to your opponent.

6. Improves speed and power:

Ving Chun is well known for its speed. And when you train correctly you learn to back up the speed with explosive power. This is good for your overall health because you want to have ”reserves” available in an instant. In other words, you don’t want to be so well tuned that you’re always cruising around at maximum efficiency. You need extra capacity to deal with physical, emotional or mental shocks.

7. Builds Internal Energy and Wellness:

Most people have heard how Tai Chi and its slow forms are good for your health and helps develop internal “Qi” power. There are dozens of medical studies that support this.Well, if you do your Ving Chun forms slowly and deliberately, like Tai Chi forms, you’ll get many of the same benefits. 

What’s nice about using Ving Chun empty-handed forms, is you can workout in a small area, like a corner of your bedroom, hotel room if you’re traveling and even in the showers.

The Ving Chun Kuen "Baat Jaam Dou" (Eight Cutting Broadswords)

Today there are few if any opportunities that warrant knowledge of weapons like the Baat Jaam Dou, but training with this weapon also serves the dual purpose of refining empty hand abilities. If and when a student is ready to learn the Eight Cutting Broadswords, it is not taught principally to develop a fighting ability with the weapon, but rather to heighten already seasoned open hand skills. Traditionally the Baat Jaam Dou was reserved only for students close to completing their formal training; this is due to the fact that skill with the double knives is directly linked to an advanced ability in the empty hand techniques. It is said that if the open hand techniques are good then the knives will also be good. If a student trains before he/she is ready then the knives will not be properly learned, and consequentially advancement of open hand usage will be adversely influenced. What is true though is that if you train correctly, the Baat Cham Dou will greatly improve the students closing style abilities and the over all timing of open hand actions. The Eight Cutting Broadswords movements and usage is nearly identical to open hand moves, without a through background in the Ving Chun hand techniques there would be little purpose in learning this deceptively complicated weapon.

Baat Jaam Dou training begins with learning the eight basic movements; these are further combined and trained as moving lines. Thus the eight individual techniques are combined into separate combinations. At this stage correct structure and timing are emphasized. Free style lines of techniques are also practiced, further engendering natural execution of all the basic techniques.

These eight basic techniques are:

1. Stabbing
2. Chopping
3. Block and cut
4. Double block
5. Deflection
6. Deflection forward
7. Stopping
8. Deflect out and stab

The eight basic actions serve to introduce the fundamental form, usage and fighting concepts of the Baat Jaam Dou. Also practiced here are arm strengthening exercises done with heavy weight Baat Jaam Dou. The training is conducted slowly, building a strong foundation over long months of practicing only the basic movements.

Baat Jaam Dou is about timing, speed and courage. It is meant to swiftly kill the enemy with a two handed simultaneous action. The target is the opponents weapon hand and there bodies vital regions. Hand to hand fighting is considered gambling; fighting with Baat Jaam Dou is a kind of suicide, you must become like someone unafraid to die. To succeed you cannot fear for your life, this is a special attitude, a killing mind, a mind of war.

The Baat Jaam Dou are almost entirely dependent on the sharpened edge of the blade for power. What matters here is not the body’s physical power but instead technique and position, the structure of the Baat Jaam Dou is concerned with maintaining and attacking with the knife-edge and point. Footwork is also modified in knife training, using a special way of stepping forward and moving sideways. This is of course done in conjunction with a standard simultaneous attack and defense knife action. This places the body safely behind our knife actions, providing maximum protection from being cut or stabbed by the enemy.

Knife training with a partner begins by defending and initiating attacks against the Luk Dim Boon Kwan, this includes single and double-sided pole attacks. Each of the basic techniques are brought into play, the student must rely on correct footwork and knife holding structure to respond effectively against full power pole attacks. This style of training also develops double to single knife fighting, always conscious of not being on the facing angle of the enemy’s weapon. The double knife vs. double knife training is reserved for the advanced level training, here courage, timing and speed are all important. Techniques here are almost exclusively on the opponents outside line. The safest method of training this is to use rolled up magazines as mock Baat Jaam Dou, this prevented serious injury but not serious bruising.

As with all martial arts the highest levels of skill are measured by the practitioner’s natural, instinctive ability. On this lofty level of mastery what can appear to be a simple action, is in reality founded on decades of training and experience. With the Baat Jaam Dou it is no different. The knife techniques are a specialized way of using the open hand actions, without that background there is no Baat Jaam Dou.

The Muk Yan Jong Training

Well known but often misunderstood, the Muk Yan Jong is considered Wing Chun’s most powerful tool for developing true mastery of the art. The Wooden Man as essential for the refinement of a Wing Chun practitioners advanced skills. The goal of wooden man training is the goal of Wing Chun itself, that is to integrate and harmonize all of one's training into a coordinated and unfixed expression of the concepts and skills that define the form of Wing Chun Kuen Gung Fu. The wooden man training is one of the essential steps to understanding and achieving this goal, of going beyond the outward appearance and form of Wing Chun and instead freely working with its fundamental nature in a spontaneous and undetermined way. 

The Muk Yan Jong’s construction presents three positions for the arms, one position for the legs and of course the center trunk representing the opponents body. It is traditionally mounted on a wall or implanted in the ground. This provides a stable three-dimensional training surface, allowing for the practice of movements against the inside and outside angles of an opponents body. The traditional form has 108 separate movements; this has been expanded upon, and now boasts 116 or even 120 techniques. Changes like this take place because Wing Chun is not a static martial art, it is always seeking to improve and develop itself, and innovations have occurred. Innovations such as these come from a teachers experience in application or through fighting competitions.

These four essential qualities needed for the mastery of Wing Chun techniques and application to reach a higher ability, student must make these qualities their very own:

1. Precision
2. Stability
3. Speed
4. Power 

The Muk Yan Jong provides a controlled, deliberate opportunity to enhance and bring together these four qualities of mastery. A hidden fifth quality is sometimes spoken about and that is cruelty. This fifth quality is not a physical attribute per say but instead is an attitude necessary for combat, a commitment required for survival.

The wooden dummy is like your second Sifu or training partner. This is due to the fact that as you train on the dummy it will correct your actions, your position, help you develop power and train your timing. Practicing at his full potential the student should be thinking about what the dummy is doing, visualizing himself in an actual confrontation. He should unite his actions with his intent and endeavor to harness his emotional power. The Muk Yan Jong, as with many things in Wing Chun, appears simple, but in application can take years to master.

Finally students train Muk Yan Jong by practicing away from the dummy, done by going through the movements in the air. This training perfects control in the form and helps to point out where any obvious mistakes or lapses are. Wooden dummy training ultimately becomes a challenge match with a shadow or thinking enemy. The training routine is imagined as a real encounter, the practitioner sees each move as a response to an enemy’s attack; this deeply impresses perfect control of the actions and their automatic application in combat. The Muk Yan Jong is not a piece of wood to toughen the students arms and legs on, rather when used properly is a sophisticated tool for developing and mastering the most advanced skills in Wing Chun. It has a unique and profound place in martial arts training, being an essential study in the training of the best Wing Chun fighters for hundreds of years.

Wing Chun: The Mind

Wing Chun is designed as a combat system. For this reason, the system emphasizes confidence, timing, intercepting, capturing the center-line, shocking the opponent, setting up for consecutive strikes, and trapping. But the most important weapon in the Wing Chun system is the mind. The mind is the center of the system revolves upon. Having a calm mind will determine your success in combat. The Wing Chun mind is the mental frame of mind you need to survive.

If you’re not confident, you will be a disaster in fighting. If you have fear, you will lose. Don’t fight it if you have too much to lose. If you must fight, you must destroy your opponent and not stop until he is defeated. You must have the fighting spirit and attend to the job on hand. Don’t have fear, let your fighting instinct guide you in destroying your opponent. This is the kind of confidence you need to face your opponent.

The basic drills pak sao (slapping hands), lap da (grabbing and striking) and dan chi sao (single sticking hands) give a beginning student a sense of facing an opponent. The first form, Siu Nim Tao, advises the student to ‘not think too much,’ and gives the basic tools and how to utilize them, as in learning to drive a car, which you eventually do without having to think The wing chun system was designed to develop a person with no knowledge of martial art to eventually become a proficient fighter.

If you’re facing an opponent, you must have the confidence to walk straight in on his punch or kick. There is no retreating step in Wing Chun. The idea is you have to ‘eat up’ your opponent’s space and step in. It’s not Wing Chun if you take a sidestep or retreat from an attack.

Newton’s laws of physics states that only one body can occupy a space at a time. One must rush in with absolute confidence because if a practitioner can’t fulfill this requirement, he or she may as well study another style.

Change and adaptation are essential to survival. That is why there are so many types of martial arts. A good Wing Chun player is a great pretender. He can adapt and change his tactics. One must change and adapt to circumstances to survive. That is the Wing Chun mind.

A master can only be a master today. You can’t tell what the future is, as the situation may change. You can only be a master up to the present. An individual has to develop, continue with his own research and grow everyday.

20th Anniversary Dinner & Award Presentation

Ving Chun Kuen Gung Fu Techniques

The Martial Art of Ving Chun Kuen Gung Fu has some techniques such as Bong Sao (wing arm), Taan Sao (palm up hand), Pak Sao (slapping hand), Lap Sao (grabbing hand), Fook Sao (controlling hand or bridge hand), Biu Sao (stretching deflection block), Jut Sao (jerk hand), Gan Sao (plowing hand), Kwan Sao (Taan and Bong deflection block), Gum Sao (pinning hand), Kan Sao (splitting block), Fak Sao (swinging arm), Wu Sao (protecting arm) and Lau Sao (slipping hand) and Huen Sao (rotating hand). All these fighting techniques come from the Ving Chun Kuen empty-handed forms especially about 80% coming from Siu Nim Tao  (Little Idea Form) and also the Wooden Dummy form. Here are some of the most common techniques:

Bong Sao (Wing Arm)

The Bong Sao technique is used from practitioners in order to stop a punch attack and use their arm in a side position (the arm) similar to wearing a watch and looking at the time, the elbow stands higher than the shoulder but the wrist lower than the elbow. The height that the practitioner put his elbow depends on his opponent.

Taan Sao (Palm Up Hand) 

At the Taan Sao technique, practitioners have their hand straight, hold their fingers together and they hold their thumb inside the palm and they would be able to deflect a strike of an opponent. The Taan Sao is interesting as it is applied differently in many Ving Chun circles. Practitioners have to hold their thumb inside their palm because with this way, the practitioner can use the sliding taan sao, rolling taan sao, reverse taan sao or as well as flipping taan sao. Also, into the Siu Nim Tao, the first Ving Chun form, the Taan Sao techniques is frequently used by practitioners.

Pak Sao (Slapping Hand)

 

Pak Sao or slapping hand is the technique where the practitioner slaps the opponent’s hand down in order to strike the opponent’s face. Pak Sao is realized with the  palm and the fingers which are hold together and it is a very effective block because practitioners use some of their strength to deflect an incoming strike and then they can  counterattack. Also, into the Siu Nim Tao, the first Ving Chun form, the Pak Sao technique is frequently used by practitioners.

Lap Sao (Grabbing Hand) 

Lap Sao means “Deflecting arm”. The practitioners of Lap Sao technique train themselves at six sections of attack and defense of it. Also, Lap Sao is the “Pulling hand or Grabbing hand” and practitioners use it to pull their opponent’s hand in order to lose their balance and at the same time you can hit them with the other hand, with different techniques.

Fook Sao (Controlling Hand or Bridge Hand) 

Fook Sao and as it is well-known is the controlling arm. Practitioners use this technique to pull at their side the opponent and make to them a strike easily. The hand is turned to the left (for example of the right hand), the fingers are hold together and the elbow is kept tucked in to protect the mid section. Also, the Fook Sao technique is used by practitioners on the Chi Sao exercise with one hand and with the two hands (Sticky hand exercise). Also, into the Siu Nim Tao first Ving Chun form, Fook Sao technique is used by practitioners.

Huen Sao (Rotating Hand)

This technique Huen Sao is very useful to release non threatening energy. Rotating 360º using the wrist  and fingers. When a practitioner pushes aside another practitioner's arm, then the second practitioner can use Huen Sao technique in order to return his arm to its original position or he can attack. Now, we can say that this complies with not fighting force against force.

Kwan Sao (Taan & Bong Deflection Block)

Gan Sao (Plowing Hand)

The GrandMasters 《一代宗師》 - Official Poster

Synopsis:

With martial arts getting more popular in the Thirties, more people seek to learn them via the professionals at Foshan in Southern China. Some of the experienced masters like to challenge their counterparts and undergoing battles. To have their whole concentration, it is their practice to lock up the venues and no one is allowed to leave during battles. No food and no rest before reaching any results.

Ip Man is a young rich man extremely talented in martial arts, but he chooses to keep a low profile. Yet this doesn't keep him out of these troubles ahead. One day he is trapped in this battleground so he has to use every means in order to get out of there. The masters are amazed by his abilities. Master Kung and his daughter Kung Yi are amongst, and the latter is attracted to this newcomer.

A high warlord is assassinated by his own guard Yi Xian Tian. All masters in Foshan vow to take Tian down no matter what....

Wing Chun - Taan Sao

Taan Sao is interesting as it is applied differently in many Wing Chun circles. You have Sliding, Rolling, Reverse and Flipping Tan Sao.

Each version has its place and none can be said to be the only way. Lets examine them one by one.

1. Sliding Taan Sao

Firstly lets understand how linear movement is achieved. As Taan Sao normally is considered linear.

Three main muscle groups are needed to complete the Taan Sao movement.

1) The shoulder represented by the circular path on the image to the left with 1, 2, 3 labeled.
2) Also Triceps represented by upper curve.
3) Their are also chest muscles acting on the elbow position, pulling the elbow towards the middle of the body.

The wrist should travel in a linear line from when the elbow reaches points 2 to 3. This is achieved by timing both the shoulder and Triceps extension. 

So the effect of what appears to be a straight line that the palm travels on is really a complex set of timed moves with groups of different muscles. This type of Taan Sao is used mainly against high round attacks. It's deflection comes from the angle applied and slides over the oncoming punch.

There's not a great deal of movement with Taan Sao normally as your guard position would have the arms in front of the body. Round punches can generate a lot of momentum.

So how does Taan Sao stop the attack?
Because Taan Sao does not oppose the attack on the exact opposite angle it does not have to equal the on coming energy. The attacking energy is dispersed over time as it it forced to redirect or slide on a downward angle. With your defending elbow being driven from the middle of the body, your whole body mass assists in stabilization of your technique, whereas the opponents round punch has only the momentum energy. As it slows down there is little stability.

2. Rolling Taan Sao

Rolling Taan Sao may seem similar to sliding Taan Sao, but its purpose is very different. Its defense is against high straight punches, and deflects from the side of the attack by rolling the palm as it travels forward. There are two angles to consider when using Taan Sao.

1) The angle of the technique itself.

This angle is more important when applied to the round punch, as it determines the amount of deflection as it travels over the attack. But when applied to the straight punch it is not just this angle that initiates the deflection, the roll of the palm moves the straight punch across while the angle of the technique moves to its final point.

2) The angle the technique in regards to the attack.

This is the minimum angle for which a rolling Taan Sao can deflect an oncoming straight attack, but the defense has to be just to the side of the punch. Because the attack spends most of its energy in a forward direction, it doesn't take a lot of energy to move it across as the punch is still able to extend.

3. Reverse Taan Sao

Reverse Taan Sao is an efficient deflection when applied from an extended arm position. Used mainly against high straight punches. It may be that you initiated an attack, your opponent also punches over your arm at the same time, your arm is not in a suitable position for a normal Taan Sao as it is extended past its normal position. The reverse Tan comfortably deals with the attack.

4. Flipping Taan Sao

With flipping Taan Sao the starting point is across the body. This technique uses speed and momentum to flip over the top of the attack. This technique is certainly the most aggressive of all the Taan Sao's used, but under certain circumstances extremely efficient. Applied against high straight punches or to create an opening. Footwork must be applied otherwise you will open your centre.

Contact area
The surface area used by the Taan Sao varies with the Type of Taan Sao used.

Sliding Taan Sao contact area
 

Rolling Taan Sao contact area

Reverse Taan Sao contact area

Flipping Taan Sao contact area

Summary
It is certainly possible to make any one of the Taan Sao's shown to work for other circumstances. In this way if you are shown flipping Taan Sao against round punch or sliding Taan Sao against straight punch and so on it does not mean they are wrong. It comes down to where you spend your time training, you can make virtually anything work if you train hard enough. On the economy scale though it may be worth looking at the different ways that a technique is applied, and if nothing else at least you can understand the mechanics behind them. 
Kudos to KWCKF.

Does the Wing Chun punch have real power ?

Does the Wing Chun punch have real power ?

It's all about technique and speed.
 

The definition of Power is:
Power = Work / time
A standard cross punch, say in boxing no doubt requires more work than a Wing Chun punch. The shoulder and waist are used to propel the punch and therefor certainly feels more powerful. The problem is that power is "Work divided by time" So even though the punch feels greatly more powerful than a Wing Chun punch, a Wing Chun punch can be thrown three times in the time it takes to throw a cross punch.
 

So what does this mean?
If we used an electronic measuring device that we could punch and get a reading, we may find that a cross punch registers higher than a Wing Chun punch, but it does not mean that it is greater in power. You would also need to measure the time it took to punch. With that a cross punch would need to be triple the result of of a Wing Chun punch just to be equal in power, due to the speed of the punch.

Newton's Third law of motion states:
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
 

So here is where technique comes into it. Lets see how a cross punch and Wing Chun punch are treated when used on a 50kg bag.

When both punches are used a resistance from the bag act against the punch in the opposite direction.

Notice at the point of contact, the arrow represents the bag reaction to the punch. You can see that nothing supports the punch behind the elbow. The punch gets its stability from body tension and momentum. It is this momentum that makes this punch harder to control, interrupting and stopping the punch accurately is extremely difficult.

So the body needs to slow down earlier to avoid joint damage and over commitment. This means that from point of contact to the end of the move the punch tends to slow down.

Here we see the structure of the Wing Chun punch being a lot tighter with the elbow starting close to the center of the body. When contact is made with the bag the elbow still has the body behind it, giving support and stability to the punch. This is the main reason why the one inch punch works, no momentum is needed because the body supports the punch. This also means that the punch is very controllable, allowing you to interrupt the move if necessary or keep accelerating to the end of your punch. So once you make contact with the bag you don't slow the punch.

A good punch technique can retain maximum speed to the end of the move and stop at an extended position without joint injury.

We can add even further power to this punch by stepping with it, as the step is separate to the upper body we can still apply the same technique to the punch but the supporting structure (the body) also moves in the direction of the punch adding to the end result.

So how does the Wing Chun punch hold up against other punches?

In most cases it is not only faster and as powerful as any other punch, but you also have the ability to interrupt the punch in case your opponent reacts to you. The down side is that it is more difficult to master as it feels natural to put your shoulder into it and the elbow position takes time to get used to. But this is why we can use our other arm at the same time allowing us to simultaneously defend and attack. Now that's gotta be worth the extra effort.  

Thumbs Up to: KWCKF.

Wing Chun - Body Structure

Wing Chun is based on simple movements and positions of both arms and legs which work off, simple and natural, geometric shapes that are easy to maintain, even during a stressful situation such as combat.

The main shape that is referred to throughout the system is a triangle and this is referred to as triangulation. The reason behind this is that a triangle is the strongest shape known to man and is used throughout the construction industry today.

Grandmaster Ip Man demonstrating the basic free-fighting stance

In Wing Chun your arms and legs form various triangle shapes which in turn form other triangles with other parts of the body, such as shoulders, hips, hands, knees and feet etc. Using these shapes, the body is then positioned in such a way that it “closes off” an opponent’s direct access using obstruction and this is done using deflection or indirect blocking methods. This blocking method removes the need to block using force and using the natural alignment of the body position, disperses the oncoming force. This reduces the need to use strength thus making movements faster and more efficient, which in turn make your counter attack faster.

With all this in mind, this makes the Wing Chun practitioner work less whilst the opponent has to work very hard indeed. 

Each individual position of both hands and feet has its own set of unique characteristics one needs to refer to several structural principles in order to adopt the correct body structure.

Uncommitted techniques in Wing Chun

Wing Chun 詠春 is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.

Wing Chun techniques are uncommitted. This means that if the technique fails to connect, the practitioner's position or balance is less affected. If the attack fails, the practitioner is able to "flow" easily into a follow-up attack. All Wing Chun techniques permit this. Any punches or kicks can be strung together to form a "chain" of attacks. According to Wing Chun theory, these attacks, in contrast to one big attack, break down the opponent gradually causing internal damage. Chained vertical punches are a common Wing Chun identifier.

 Wing Chun teaches practitioners to advance quickly and strike at close range. While the Wing Chun forward kick can be considered a long range technique, many Wing Chun practitioners practice "entry techniques"—getting past an opponent's kicks and punches to bring him within range of Wing Chun's close range repertoire. This means that theoretically, if the correct techniques are applied, a shorter person with a shorter range can defeat a larger person by getting inside his range and attacking him close to his body.

Wing Chun is based on 3 principles, namely:

- Simultaneous Defense and Counter Attack by Interception
- Economy of Motion in every Techniques
- Centre Line

Chi Sao Made Easy

Chi Sao (Chinese 黐手, Cantonese chi¹ sau², Mandarin chǐshǒu) or "sticking hands". Term for the principle, and drills used for the development of automatic reflexes upon contact and the idea of "sticking" to the opponent. In Wing Chun this is practiced through two practitioners maintaining contact with each other's forearms while executing techniques, thereby training each other to sense changes in body mechanics, pressure, momentum and "feel". This increased sensitivity gained from this drill helps a practitioner attack and counter an opponent's movements precisely, quickly and with the appropriate technique.

Chi Sao additionally refers to methods of rolling hands drills. Practitioners push and roll their forearms against each other in a single circle while trying to remain relaxed. The aim is to feel forces, test resistances and find defensive gaps.

In some lineages (such as the Ip Man Wing Chun), Chi Sao drills begin with one-armed sets called Dan Chi Sao (Single Hand Drills) which help the novice student to get the feel of the exercise, each practitioner uses one hand from the same side as they face each other. Chi Sao is a sensitivity drill to obtain specific responses, it should not be confused with sparring/fighting, though it can be practiced or expressed in a combat form.

It normally takes years to develop a skill in applied Chi Sao. But, if taught with a scientific structure and detailed in a simple format with practical drills, then Chi Sao can be learned in a much shorter period of time.

Types of Chi Sao - (soft, medium and heavy). The type of Chi Sao will depend on the amount of Spring Load, from light and fluid down to Heavy and aggressive. Light and Medium Chi Sao can be aggressive, but it is a more spontaneous and twitchy energy.

Malaysia Ip Man Wing Chun teaches a soft Chi Sao. The logic is that you can easily add energy and become firmer or hard, but it is very difficult to start out hard and reduce it to softness.

 

The more specific information, the easier it is to understand. Keep it direct and simple.

Malaysia Ip Man Wing Chun Appreciation Dinner, Award Ceremony & Official Tea Ceremony 2010

Photo & Video Shoot Diary