Wing Chun
The Wing Chun Name
Wing Chun (Glorious Springtime, Beautiful
Springtime or Humming in the Springtime) is a structurally aggressive, yet
simplistic close quarter southern Chinese Kung Fu style. Although Grandmaster
Yip Man (Ip Man) was accredited to teaching the system outside of China, it was
made famous by one of its more prominent practitioners, the late Bruce Lee.
The system was named after a young woman
called Yim Wing Chun, however the founder of the system is accredited to Ng
Mui, a Buddhist Abbess (nun) and one of the original Venerable Five of Shaolin.
The system is believed to be the only historic and effective kung fu system
devised by a woman.
Today many versions of the system exist,
varying from the three main historic systems referred to as the Foshan, Hong
Kong and Mainland Wing Chun styles, to other modified systems and variations
caused by individuals having different body types, strengths, opinions and
influences.
The Wing Chun system remains one of the most
popular and wide spread of the Chinese martial arts today.
Wing Chun History
Roger Smart's Studio of Martial Arts
acknowledges the history of Wing Chun according to the personally written
record left behind by the late Grandmaster Yip Man (Ip Man). This account (his
own words and translated into English) is:
"The founder of the Wing Chun style, Yim
Wing-Chun was a native of Guangdong in China. She was an intelligent and
athletic young girl, upstanding and forthright. Her mother died soon after her
betrothal to Leung Bok-Cho, a salt merchant of Fujian. Her father, Yim Yee, was
wrongfully accused of a crime and, rather than risk jail, they slipped away and
finally settled down at the foot of Daliang Mountain near the
border between Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.
There they earned a living by running a shop that sold bean curd.
During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the
Qing Dynasty (1662-1722) fighting skills became very strong in the Shaolin
Monastery of Songshan, in Henan Province. This aroused the fear of the
Manchurian government, which sent troops to attack the Monastery. Although they
were unsuccessful, a man named Chan Man-Wai, a recently appointed civil servant
seeking favour with the government, suggested a plan. He plotted with Shaolin
monk named Ma Ning-Yee and others who were persuaded to betray their companions
by setting fire to the monastery while soldiers attacked it from the outside.
Shaolin was burned down, and the monks and disciples scattered. Ng Mui, Jee
Shim, Bak Mei, Fung Do-Dak and Miu Hin escaped and went their separate ways.
Ng Mui took refuge in the White Crane Temple
on Daliangshan. It was there she met Yim Yee and his daughter Wing-Chun from
whom she often bought bean curd on her way home from the market. At fifteen,
with her hair bound up in the custom of those days to show she was of an age to
marry, Wing-Chun's beauty attracted the attention of a local bully. He tried to
force Wing-Chun to marry him, and his continuous threats became a source of
worry to her and her father. Ng Mui learned of this and took pity on Wing-Chun.
She agreed to teach Wing-Chun fighting techniques so she could protect herself.
Wing Chun followed Ng Mui into the mountains, and began to learn fighting
skills. She trained night and day, until she mastered the techniques. Then she
challenged the bully to a fight and beat him.
Ng Mui later traveled around the country, but
before she left she told Wing-Chun to strictly honour the martial arts
traditions, to develop her fighting skills after her marriage, and to help the
people working to overthrow the Manchu government and restore the Ming Dynasty.
After her marriage Wing-Chun taught martial
arts to her husband Leung Bok-Lao. He in turn passed these techniques on to
Leung Lan-Kwai. Leung Lan-Kwai then passed them on to Wong Wah-Bo. Wong Wah-Bo
was a member of an opera troupe on board a Red Junk. Wong worked on the Red
Junk with Leung Yee-Tai. It so happened that Jee Shim, who fled from Shaolin,
had disguised himself as a cook and was
then working on the Red Junk. Jee Shim taught
the Six-and-a-Half-Point Pole techniques to Leung Yee-Tai.
Wong Wah-Bo was close to Leung Yee Tei and
they shared what they knew about martial arts. Together they shared and
improved their techniques, and thus the Six-and-a-Half-Point Pole was
incorporated into the Wing Chun style. Leung Yee-Tai passed his knowledge on to
Leung Jan, a well known doctor in Foshan. Leung Jan grasped the innermost
secrets of Wing Chun, attaining the highest level of proficiency.
Many masters came to challenge him, but all
were defeated. Leung Jan became very famous. Later he passed his knowledge on
to Chan Wah-Shan who took me and my sihing, such as Ng Siu-Lo, Ng Jung-So, Chan
Yu-Min and Lui Yiu-Chai, as his students many decades ago.
It can thus be said that the Wing Chun system
was passed on to us in a direct line of succession from its origin. I write
this history of the Wing Chun system in respectful memory of my forerunners. I
am eternally grateful to them for passing to me the skills I now possess. When
drinking of the water, a man should always think of the source; it is this
shared feeling that keeps our brothers together."
Wing Chun System Components
The Wing Chun system comprises three
practical empty-hand forms:
Sil Lim Tau
(little idea form);
Chum Kiu
(arm seeking form); and
Bue Gee
(thrusting fingers form).
In addition, there are only three other forms
in the system:
Mook Jong Fa (wooden dummy technique);
Bart Jum Tau (eight slashing techniques of the
butterfly sword); and
Luk Dim Boon Kwun (techniques of the six and a half
technique staff).
The wooden dummy (Mook Jong) is used as a
training aid to the Wing Chun practitioner. It comprises of a thick round pole
with three arms, representing high and midsection attacks, and one leg, having
a bend to represent a knee joint. The wooden dummy is used as a substitute
partner to condition the body and develop technique. There exists a special
form for this training aid, known as the Wooden Dummy Techniques (Mook Jong
Fa). Through the different Wing Chun versions taught by the late grandmaster
Yip Man, the number of techniques used in the form has varied. The original
Foshan system comprised of 17 sections and over 300 movements, whereas in the
Hong Kong style they were arranged into 108 movements and later became 116
movements although the number changes depending on what is counted as a single
technique. The Roger Smart's Studio of Martial Arts teaches the Hong Kong 9
sections and 176 movements first.
The six-and-a-half technique pole (Luk Dim
Boon Kwun), which may vary in length but typically measures seven feet and 2
inches, provides a means of Fa-Jing and strengthening of the upper body today.
The butterfly swords (Bart Jum Tau) are used
in pairs and act as an extension to the arms. Traditionally they were concealed
into the sides of long boots, and are designed for close combat fighting. At
the base of the knife, there is an 'ear' that is used to lock, trap and take
control of other weapons. The swords only have one sharpen edge, allowing the
opposite side to align against the forearm as a blocking device without
endangering the practitioner.
Another famous training technique very famous
to the Wing Chun system is the
Dan Chi Sau
(single sticking hands);
Sheung Chi
Sau (double sticking hands); and
Chi Dan Gurk
(single sticking leg).
Chi Sau is an important part of developing
the skills of the practitioner in feeling; sensing and responding to a partner,
as well as to develop close combat attack and defence skills. Similar in
concept to that of Tai Chi's pushing hands, Chi Sau is not a form or a set of
predefined movements or free fighting, it acts as a bridge between fighting and
forms, allowing practitioners to gain insight to the other component's rhythm
and being, with application of any combination of techniques. Two partners
attempt to attune themselves, free of thought, and unleashing any one or a
combination of techniques when sensing weakness, irregularity or an oncoming
attack. Ultimately skills in Chi Sau allow practitioners to sense movement of
intent or reflex in their components body. There is both arm (single and
double-hand) and single leg version of Chi Sau.
The Wing Chun system remains one of the most
popular and wide spread of the Chinese martial arts, and as it uses the power
of an opposing attacker is provides an efficient fighting art for women and men
alike.
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