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Wing-chun

Wing-chun was an obscure and little known art until the mid twentieth century. Thanks to the late Bruce Lee, it is one of the most popular external Chinese styles. Lee's first formal training came in Wing-chun in Hong Kong, under the late master, Yip Man. It is the only kung-fu style created by a woman, founded over 260 years ago by a Buddhist nun named Ng Mui.

About 260 years ago, the Southern Shaolin Temple was sanctuary to the Chinese revolution that was trying to overthrow the ruling Manchu. A classical martial arts system was taught in the temple that took 15-20 years to produce an efficient fighter. Realizing they needed to produce efficient fighters at a faster pace, five of China's grandmasters met to discuss the merits of each of the various forms of kung-fu. They chose the most efficient techniques, theories, and principles from the various styles and developed a training program that would produce an efficient fighter in 5-7 years.

Before the program was put into practice, the Southern temple was raided and destroyed. A lone nun, Ng Mui, was the only survivor who knew the full system. She wandered the countryside, finally taking in a young orphan girl and training her in the system. She named the girl Yimm Wing-chun (which has been translated to mean beautiful springtime, or hope for the future), and the two women set out refining the system.

The system was passed down through the years, and eventually became known as Wing-chun, in honor of the founder. The veil of secrecy around the art was finally broken in the early 1950's when Grandmaster Yip Man began teaching publicly in Hong Kong, and his students began gaining notoriety for besting many systems and experienced opponents in street fights and "friendly" competitions.

Compared to other traditional Chinese combat systems, Wing-chun may be learned relatively quickly. The way the art produces efficient and adaptable fighters in a relatively short time is by sticking to several core principles and constantly drilling them into the student, as well as taking a very generic approach to techniques. Instead of training a response to a specific technique, the student practices guarding various zones about the body and dealing generically with whatever happens to be in that zone. This allows for a minimum of technique for a maximum of application, and for the use of reflex responses.

Wing-chun is a explosive linear art that uses low kicks and fast hand techniques, and teaches the concept of simultaneous attack and defense. It specializes in in-fighting using close multiple short attacks using the body to project power. Often users grab or pin an opponent's limb with one hand while attacking with the rest of the body.

The primary principle is not to use force against force, which allows a weak fighter to overcome stronger opponents. Generally, a Wing-chun practitioner will seek to use the opponent's own force against him. A great deal of training is put in to this area, and is done with the cultivation of a concepts called contact reflexes and economy of motion.

Wing-chun is often referred to as "the thinking man's art" because of its scientific approach to training. It uses "feminine qualities" such as softness, passivity, and sensitivity.  It teaches that force should not be met with force. Redirection also plays an important role in the art's defensive moves, as does protecting the body's centerline.

The "mother line" is an imaginary pole running vertically through the center of your body. From the it emanates the "center line", a vertical three dimension grid that divides the body into a right and left half. Most of the vital points of the body are along the center line , and it is this area that Wing-chun students learn to protect as well as work off of while using their own offensive techniques. Also emanating from the mother line is the central line. It is seen as the shortest path between you and your opponent, which is generally where most of the exchange is going to take place. Because of this linear concept, most of the techniques seek to occupy one of the two lines and usually take on a linear nature.

Only two weapons are taught in the system (only to advanced students), the dragon pole and the butterfly swords.

Much training time is spent cultivating "contact reflexes." The idea is that at the moment you touch your opponent, your body automatically reads the direction, force, and often intent of the part of the opponent's body you are contacting, and subconsciously deals with it. This leads to the generic concept of zoning.

Contact reflexes and the concept of not using force against force are cultivated through unique two-man sensitivity drills called chi sao. The concepts of guarding and working off of these lines and zones are learned through the practice of the three patterns Wing-chun students learn, which contain the basic techniques of the system; Shil-lum-tao, Chum-kil, and Bil-jee.

Another unique aspect of the system is the use of the mook jong, or wooden dummy, a wood log on a frame that has three "arms" and a "leg" to simulate various possible positions of an opponent's limbs. A wooden dummy pattern is taught that consists of 108 movements and is meant to introduce students to various applications of the system. It also serves to help students perfect their own skills.

Weapons training drills use the same generic ideas and concepts as the open hand system (including the use of contact reflexes). Many of the weapon movements are built off of, or mimic, the open hand moves, which is the reverse process of Kali/Escrima/Arnis, where weapon movements come first ,and then open hand movements mimic them.

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