Most accounts of Wing Chun's history in Foshan focus solely on their subject (Ip Man or, less frequently, Yuen Kay San) before moving on to post-WWII events. From the view of a cultural historian, this is a significant flaw because neither of these individuals was "typical" of the average Wing Chun practitioner, let alone a martial artist, during this period. This erroneous emphasis undermines our...
Wing Chun
Chi Sau is one of the factors that distinguishes Wing Chun. No other martial art has a training exercise that can teach highly high skill levels at the same rate. A pushing hands drill is used in Tai Chi and other styles (akin to Daan Chi Sau in Wing Chun). This exercise teaches a different skill by only using one hand or side at a time. Chi Sau is a unique exercise that makes us sensitive to our...
Modern folklore portrays Ip Man as a somewhat distant father whom his wife chastised for not being more involved with his children. The claim was perpetuated by a recent spate of vaguely biographical films (some of which benefited from the advice and input of his still-living family members). This incident suggests that there may be some truth to this portrayal. Pushing on a Wing Chun student to test...
Footwork in Wing Chun is easier to understand if we follow a few ground rules. Keeping it simple makes it easy to categorize and practice all possible variations and interpretations. This is not to say that these are the only paths we can take, but if we stick to these techniques, we should be able to handle most situations. They are taking a step forward to attack. This is first taught as a straight...
Modern folklore portrays Ip Man as a somewhat distant father whom his wife chastised for not being more involved with his children. The claim was perpetuated by a recent spate of vaguely biographical films (some of which benefited from the advice and input of his still-living family members). This incident suggests that there may be some truth to this portrayal. Pushing on a Wing Chun student to test...
Wing Chun is a martial art that has many branches. It's well known for its emphasis on footwork and low stances, and it's frequently used in movies and TV shows as an action-packed fighting style. But while some of Wing Chun's most famous practitioners are Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, there are also other branches of Wing Chun that have their own traditions, styles, and histories. The branches...
Wing Chun is a martial art based on concepts that originated in southern China that focuses on close-range combat and employs striking and "sticking" or controlling techniques. It is a young martial art, with most historians agreeing that it originated in southern China around 300 years ago. According to legend, the Buddhist nun Ng Mui, a Shaolin Kung Fu master, created Wing Shun. Using her martial...
Wing Chun has a relatively recent history compared to other Chinese martial arts. Many people wonder, "How did Wing Chun originate?" " and the answer varies, thanks partly to oral traditions. Wing Chun's history has many branches, but at its heart are common threads of Wing Chun's development. This article will discuss the central origins of Wing Chun's history. Wing Chun's legendary origins ais...
Benefits of Wing Chun Wing Chun, a southern Chinese Kung Fu style, also called VingTsum, is a form of self-defense that requires quick arm movements and strong legs to defend opponents. The fundamentals of Wing Chun are based on its softness and performance of techniques in a very relaxed manner. Wing Chun generally favors a relatively high, narrow stance with the elbows close to the body. This form...
Wing Chun is one of the oldest martial arts in the world, and it's also one of the most exciting. The movements in this style of fighting are so fluid that you can't help but be impressed by their speed, agility, and power. The most distinctive feature of Wing Chun is its emphasis on hand positions and footwork. Like other traditional martial arts, it uses strikes and throws to incapacitate or kill an...