Wing Chun is a kung fu style that emphasizes close combat, quick punches and tight defense to defeat opponents. This traditional Chinese martial art destroys the opponent's stability through rapid footwork, simultaneous defense and attack, diverting and deflecting the opponent's attack energy to win the fight. A complex kung fu method that takes years to master, however, beginners can easily learn Wing Chun by understanding the principles, theory and basic skills.
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Part 1 of 5: Learning Wing Chun Principles
Step 1. Learn the median line theory
The basis of Wing Chun martial arts is the protection of your midline. Imagine a line that starts at the center of the crown of the head, continues through the middle of the chest and stops at the bottom of the abdomen. This is the midline of the body and is the part that is most vulnerable to attack. Therefore, it must be constantly protected.
- According to the midsection theory, you should always strike along that line into your opponent's body while making defensive moves against your own body.
- The basic open stance position in Wing Chun is based on the midline theory. In an open stance, stand facing forward with your knees bent and your toes slightly facing out. By facing the enemy head-on, you will be able to attack with the most balanced force.
Step 2. Be wise and save energy
The key to the Wing Chun principle is that when fighting, energy should always be conserved and used as sparingly as possible. Use your opponent's energy by parrying or deflecting your opponent's punches.
Move wisely and frugally. The point here is that your body must be able to move as close and as fast as possible to touch your opponent's body. This technique at the same time helps save your own energy
Step 3. Stay relaxed
A tense body will only waste energy in vain. Keep your body relaxed so you can move more easily.
If you have experience with other silat arts, (especially "hard moves"), first you have to "empty the cup" or get rid of bad habits from other silat arts. Wing Chun is a gentle martial art that has many attack neutralizing techniques. This requires you to be "gentle" and relaxed. Conditioning muscle memory and building a relaxing habit can be very frustrating and time-consuming, but it pays off in the long run
Step 4. Hone your reflexes
In Wing Chun martial arts, you as a fighter must be able to react using quick reflexes to counter attacks and change the fight to the tempo and direction of the fight in your favor.
Step 5. Change the battle strategy by adapting to the opponent and the surrounding situation
Your enemy may be tall or short, big or small, male or female, and so on. Likewise, the environment in which you fight must also be different-outdoors, indoors, rainy, hot, cold, and so on. Always be prepared to adapt the fighting style to the existing conditions.
Step 6. Learn Wing Chun techniques
The practice of Wing Chun is broken down into a succession of six distinct sets of techniques, each of which builds on the previous technique. In each technique, you will learn the correct stance, body position, hand and foot movements, and balance. These techniques are:
- Siu Nim Tao
- Chum Kiu
- Biu Gee
- Muk Yan Chong
- Luk Dim Boon Kwun
- Baat Jam Dao
Part 2 of 5: Deciding How to Learn Wing Chun
Step 1. Find a Wing Chun school
Martial arts schools often focus on only one type of knowledge, especially for students who are serious. Wing Chun schools or clubs may also be affiliated with martial arts associations. Look for local Wing Chun schools online or in the phone book.
- Ask your local silat school if they also teach Wing Chun. Maybe they'll only teach you the basics, and if you're serious about learning more, you'll have to go somewhere else that really specializes in Wing Chun.
- See a sifu (teacher or instructor) and ask about their background. How many years of experience do they have? What is their history in learning Wing Chun?
- Sit in a Wing Chun class. Feel how the sifu carries the class and how the students respond.
- Learning Wing Chun in person (learning between teacher and student) is the best method.
Step 2. Learn Wing Chun from the internet or on DVD
Many websites offer self-taught Wing Chun learning. Usually in the form of videotapes and subscription-based levels of teaching with graded levels depending on your skills (beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc.) and access to course material. This is useful if there are no good instructors or Wing Chun schools in your area. It's also a great way to strengthen your personal practice if you do study at a Wing Chun school. Choose a DVD package or online course taught by a Grandmaster or Wing Chun Master.
- Some courses also offer instructor certification for advanced students who wish to teach or open their own classes.
- There are internet courses that offer face-to-face webcam teaching with a Grandmaster.
- There are several apps that can help you learn Wing Chun, available for both Apple and Android phones.
- Examples include the “Online Wing Chun Course,” released and endorsed by the Ip Man International Association of Wing Chun Martial Arts, as well as the “Distance Learning Wing Chun Kung Fu” course.
Step 3. Set aside a special place to practice
Find a place in your home where you can practice Wing Chun. Make sure there is enough room to move your body in all directions. Confirm this by swinging your arms and legs around. Do not let the movement be hampered by furniture in the room.
Ideally, the room should also have a mirror, in order to see and confirm the movements being trained
Step 4. Find a partner to practice with
Learning silat moves on your own will limit your achievements. Ultimately you have to learn how your moves connect to your opponent's body. Having a partner practice will hone you in reacting to your opponent's moves. Couples can also provide encouragement and input about the moves and techniques being trained.
Part 3 of 5: Understanding Siu Nim Tao
Step 1. Learn Siu Nim Tao
Siu Nim (or Lim) Tao, or “Little Idea,” is the basis for many movements in Wing Chun. Siu Nim Tao is the first form of movement in Wing Chun, and it is also here that you will learn proper stance, posture, relaxation, and the basics of hand movements.
Each section of Siu Nim Tao must be fully mastered before advancing to the next section, and before learning other techniques
Step 2. Understand Gong Lik:
Gong Lik is the first part of Siu Nim Tao and focuses on structure and good relaxation. Here you learn open stances, which bring you face to face with your opponent. Try to keep your body relaxed.
Practice the Gee Kim Yeung Ma stance, or open stance. In these stances, stand facing forward. Slide the sole of the foot slightly outward. Keep your knees bent. Your weight will be spread evenly on both feet. Focus on positioning your arms and elbows to start learning hand and arm movements. These direct challenging stances will be of great benefit in combat, as they allow both arms and legs to protect your center line. Both sides of the body can be used in a balanced way, not just one part
Step 3. Understand Fajing:
Fajing is the second part of Siu Nim Tao. Fajing developed an energy release technique. Here you learn how to use power and maintain strength and energy. Focus on a relaxed body position until the second your hand is ready to strike.
One of the most common moves in Fajing is the open palm strike (yan jeung) in which your hand opens, rotates downwards, then moves downwards to hit your opponent
Step 4. Understand Basic Skills:
The third part of Siu Nim Tao is learning the basic skills of hand movement and parry, which will form the basis for learning other Wing Chun techniques.
These basic skills include Pak Sau or Huen Sau (punching), Tan Sau (flying palms), Gan Sau (opening hands), and Bong Sau (wing-like hand movements to parry). Most of the Siu Nim Tao trained in this section include a combination of all these moves. Once you have mastered this skill, you should practice it for the left side first, before moving on to the right side
Part 4 of 5: Understanding Chum Kiu
Step 1. Learn Chum Kiu
Chum Kiu, or “finding the bridge,” introduces full-body movements to complement what has been learned in the basic Siu Nim Tau movements. In Chum Kiu, you will focus on how to carry your body correctly and efficiently, paying attention to weight distribution and balance. Foot movements such as twisting and kicking are also introduced here.
Each part of Chum Kiu must be mastered before advancing to the next, and before learning other techniques
Step 2. Understand Chum Kiu's First Part
The first section, called Juun, focuses on movement, balance and structure. In Juun, you also start to pay attention to your surroundings, even behind your back, in order to fight effectively. This section also introduces intermediate arm moves, such as Jip Sau (break arm attack) and Fut Sau (goggle eye).
Step 3. Understand Chum Kiu's Second Part
In the second or Ser, part of Chum Kiu, the emphasis is placed on how to deflect an opponent's attack and turn the energy of the attack back at him. You'll learn to move your arms and legs as a whole, then learn how to move all of the parts individually.
Step 4. Understand Chum Kiu's Third Part
The when part of Chum Kiu focuses on harnessing strength along with leg and arm movements. This section also uses a combination of stiff hand movements with limp body movements to accommodate various combat scenarios. You'll also learn to turn left and right to practice balance and find your center line when fighting.
Part 5 of 5: Learning Higher Wing Chun Techniques
Step 1. Understand Biu Gee
Biu Gee, or Snapping or Snapping Fingers,” focuses on using force at very close range. Pupils also learn emergency techniques such as how to regain center line when resisting a fall or being trapped. In each of the three parts of Biu Gee, you will use a combination of hand and foot movements from the previous two forms or techniques to recover from a bad position. This will put you in an attacking position, where you can use short-range power to knock out your opponent.
Step 2. Understand Muk Yan Chong
Muk Yan Chong, or “Wood Puppet,” is a high-level technique where you practice with a stationary enemy (wooden puppet). This helps you identify and learn how your hand and foot movements relate to your opponent's.
Step 3. Understand Luk Dim Boon Kwun
This technique, also known as the “6.5-Point Stick Technique,” uses a stick as a weapon when attacking an opponent. Fighting with sticks can improve your balance and defense skills.
Step 4. Understand Baat Jaam Dao
Baat Jaam Dao, or “Eight Cutting Swords” or “Butterfly Knife,” is a supreme technique where you use two short swords as weapons. This technique is not simply taught to everyone who reaches this level. Only a select few are allowed to learn Baat Jaam Dao. This technique mainly focuses on precision, technique and position. The movement of the legs and arms is slightly changed from the previous techniques due to holding the knife.
Tips
Many books provide guidance on the principles and techniques of Wing Chun martial arts. But books alone will not be as effective as studying in a classroom with a real teacher, or learning from the internet or via DVD. Although pictures and stances, techniques and moves are included, books cannot demonstrate what proper movement looks like, and this can limit your ability to learn properly
Warning
- You may experience slight swelling and blisters while practicing or competing in Wing Chun. But don't let this keep you from practicing for fear of getting hurt. Proper Wing Chun training shouldn't hurt more than minor abrasions and bruises.
- See a doctor before starting any fitness program.
