| Wing Chun is one of the most popular martial arts on | | | | China. There are multiple histories of Wing Chun in |
| the planet and yet here in America it is still virtually | | | | existence today, however, this is the generally |
| unknown. There are schools in almost every state | | | | accepted story. At that time the Southern Shaolin |
| and yet they seem to be under the radar. You would | | | | Temple was sanctuary to the Chinese revolution that |
| think that having Bruce Lee as one of its practitioners | | | | was trying to overthrow the ruling Manchu. |
| it would have gained more popularity here in the | | | | A martial arts system was being taught in the temple |
| United States. Hopefully this article gives a good | | | | but it took almost 20 years to produce an efficient |
| enough description to help remedy the matter. | | | | fighter. Realizing the need to produce efficient |
| If you were to translated literally, Wing Chun means | | | | fighters faster, five of China's grandmasters met and |
| "beautiful springtime," or "forever springtime." Wing | | | | chose the most efficient Kung Fu techniques, |
| Chun is Romanized in several different ways "Wing | | | | theories and principles from the various styles. They |
| Chun", "Wingtsun", "Ving Tsun" or "Wing Tsun." In | | | | then developed a training program that produced |
| Wing Chun there are several ways of defeating the | | | | efficient fighters in 5-7 years. Before the program |
| enemy: striking, kicking, joint locking, controlling, | | | | was put into practice, the temple was raided and |
| throwing and the use of weapons are the most | | | | destroyed. |
| common. | | | | Of those that escaped, Ng Mui was the only survivor |
| The way the art produces efficient fighters in a | | | | who knew the full system. However, she realized |
| relatively short amount of time is by sticking to | | | | that much of what she had learned was ineffective |
| several core concepts and by paying strict attention | | | | for a small, frail woman to use on a larger, stronger |
| to positioning. Much training time is spent cultivating | | | | man. Discarding techniques that were slow or that |
| "Sensitivity or Contact Reflexes." The student | | | | relied on strength or size, She revised everything she |
| practices guarding various zones about the body and | | | | had learned. Her system blossomed into a system of |
| deals with whatever happens to be contacted or | | | | fighting that enabled a smaller, weaker person to |
| touched in that zone. This allows for a minimum of | | | | destroy a bigger, stronger person within a few |
| technique for a maximum of application, and for the | | | | seconds. Ng Mui's new system was well guarded and |
| use of an automatic or subconscious response. | | | | passed on to only a few, very dedicated students. |
| Because of this it is especially suited for the blind or | | | | The style became known as Wing Chun, after Ng |
| visually impaired. In fact, Wing Chun's unique training | | | | Mui's first student, a woman named Yim Wing Chun. |
| method seems tailor made for any visually impaired | | | | Yim Wing Chun was a native of Canton in China. Her |
| person to defend themselves as good, if not better | | | | mother passed away just after her betrothal to |
| than those who can see. | | | | Leung Bok Chau. Her father, Yim Yee, was later |
| Most of the techniques taught are hand techniques | | | | wrongfully accused of a crime. He did not want to |
| and the style is best known for its quick punches. | | | | risk Jail so Yim Yee and his daughter left the area |
| Only low kicks are used. Traps and other kinds of | | | | and settled down at the foot of Mt. Tai Leung. It |
| controls are important as well. Trapping and speed | | | | was here Ng Mui met Yim Yee and Wing Chun. Wing |
| are developed through the famous "sticky hands" | | | | Chun was a beautiful teenager who had attracted |
| (Chi Sao) training, which also teaches balance. The | | | | the unwanted attention of a local man who |
| Mook Jong, a wooden dummy used for training | | | | continuously tried to force her to marry him by |
| footwork and alignment, is also a well-known training | | | | threatening to harm her father. Ng Mui learned of this |
| method. There are three forms used in the style: Siu | | | | and agreed to teach Wing Chun fighting techniques |
| Nim Tao, Chum Kiu, and Bil Jee. | | | | so that she could protect herself. Wing Chun followed |
| Traditionally only two weapons are taught in Wing | | | | Ng Mui into the mountains to White Crane Temple, |
| Chun. The Dragon Pole and the Butterfly Knives are | | | | and began to learn Kung Fu. Wing Chun trained until |
| generally taught only once the student has a firm | | | | she mastered the techniques. She then challenged |
| foundation in the art. However, we teach modern | | | | the bully to a fight and defeated him. |
| weapons as well to enhance our training methods. | | | | The Wing Chun System was passed on in a direct |
| Weapons training drills offer the similar ideas and | | | | line of succession from its origin. After her marriage |
| concepts as the open hand system, including the use | | | | to Leung Bok Chau, Wing Chun taught him Kung Fu. |
| of Contact Reflexes. Many of the weapon | | | | He in turn passed these techniques on. As techniques |
| movements are built off of or mimic the open hand | | | | were passed along, the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole |
| moves - this is the reverse process of Kali/Escrima | | | | was incorporated into Wing Chun Kung Fu. During the |
| Arnis, where weapon movements are learned first. | | | | Chinese Cultural Revolution, Wing Chun, like other |
| Being a survival system, Wing Chun deals with | | | | martial arts, was banned in China and survived only |
| personal safety. Although it has traditional roots, it | | | | through the persistence of practitioners like Yip Man. |
| adapts and utilizes modern training methods. It is | | | | The veil of secrecy around the art was finally broken |
| considered to be a twenty-first-century, highly | | | | in 1949, when Grandmaster Yip Man brought the |
| refined, street fighting system, designed to be used | | | | style out of China into Hong Kong and eventually to |
| against armed and unarmed attackers. | | | | the rest of the world. |
| Wing Chun addresses a wide variety of aggressive | | | | In 1949, Leung Jan found out that one of its most |
| acts which include punches, kicks, chokes, bear-hugs, | | | | famous teachers, Yip Man was currently in Hong |
| headlocks, grabs, as well as defenses against multiple | | | | Kong. He had heard about Wing Chun since he was |
| attackers and assailants armed with a firearm, edged | | | | quite young. Leung Sheung promptly introduced Lok |
| weapon, or blunt object. It integrates elements | | | | Yiu and Tsui Sheung-Tin to Yip Man, and the three of |
| related to the actual performance of the fight | | | | them became the first batch of Wing Chun students |
| including the psychological dimensions of self-defense, | | | | in Hong Kong. |
| with the use of the environment to your advantage. | | | | From 1949 until 1978, Leung Sheung remained Yip |
| There are no competitions or tournaments because | | | | Man's most senior student. He trained under Yip Man |
| of Wing Chun's combat-orientation. | | | | intensively and taught Wing Chun until his passing in |
| A Shaolin nun named Ng Mui, a master of Kung Fu, | | | | 1978. |
| developed the art nearly 300 years ago in southern | | | | |