When I first met my Sifu Mr Yip Man I did not know of him. I actually met him because I used to go to Zai Gung Fut (a Buddhist temple in Hong Kong) with my Suk Por (叔婆, Grand-Aunt). Inside there was a fortune teller who was from Futsan, called Chan Bik Sung. He was good friends with Mr Yip Man back in Futsan. Seeing that we were so weak, he suggested we learn a martial art. He introduced us to Mr Yip Man. You may notice that I refer to my Sifu as Mr Yip Man. This is because in Futsan they would greet him as “Yip Seng”, meaning 葉先 生 (Yip Sin Saang) as a sign of respect. Mr Yip Man was very mild mannered. He was a well educated scholar and a traditional Chinese gentleman. As soon as we met him, we knew we were lucky to have been introduced to him. Shortly afterwards we Bai See (拜師) and I formally became his student. I studied with him for four years.  In this time I did not see him being cruel or aggressive. But he definitely engendered our respect. He was the kind of person that you would not dare to tell a lie in front of. We knew that his Gung Fu (功夫) was of a very high level, and with him as our teacher, we were very dedicated to our training. “Mr Yip Man was very mild mannered. ​He was a well educated scholar and traditional Chinese gentleman.   What teaching style did Mr Yip Man use? First you would learn Siu Nim Tau, for at least 3 months. Then Chi Darn Sau (Single Sticking Hands) for 2 months. Then Seung Chi Sau (Double Sticking Hands). After this you would practice on your own. After around 9 months of practicing Siu Nim Tau, you would learn Chum Kiu. You would do this for 9 months. After this, it would depend on your individual aptitude. If it was not good, he would not continue to teach you. Some students only learnt Biu Tze after a few years. It would depend if you were clever learning Gung Fu. Mostly it would take you four years to learn the Wing Chun system. He would pair suitable students to train with each other. Students who were not clever did not receive attention, even less those who asked questions. Sometimes he would sit down and appear to be sleeping, but he could clearly see every single person in the room doing Chi Sau. He would make comments like “Your Bong Sau is not good”, and you would have to figure out why. Or “Your stance, do it properly.” That’s all he would say. You would be lucky to have hands on teaching with him. What was the most memorable part of your training under Mr Yip Man? ​During the week, I used to go to training straight after school and trained for at least an hour every day, 6 days a week. I recall one year during Hong Kong’s Monsoon season,class attendance was affected by heavy rain, and often, I found myself alone with Mr Yip Man. Mr Yip Man was very considerate and he spared some time to Chi Sau with me so that I didn’t feel neglected. During these sessions, Sifu demonstrated a lot of things but I was only able to physically sustain no more than 15 minutes of it each day. This continued for three months during the rainy season, during which I realised Mr Yip Man was helping me develop my Jut Sau skills. Each day I went home and analysed what had happened during Chi Sau with Sifu, how he managed to get past my defences and how I might counter his moves. Over time, I found out that the stance, coupled with fast footwork, was crucial for training Jut Sao.  The more proficient my footwork became, the less arduous those 15 minutes were for me. “First you would learn  Siu Nim Tai, for at least 3 months. Then Chi Darn Sau (single Sicking Hands) ​for 2 months. Then Seung Chi Sau.”     I heard the wooden dummy was taught individually to each student in private back in the 1950s; could you share with us how your wooden dummy training began ?  ​After I had learnt Chum Kiu, around one year into my training, Mr Yip Man advised me I was to start learning the Muk Yan Jong (wooden dummy form). The Muk Yan Jong was taught one-on-one and in private at the time, and I learnt it in the same fashion. To facilitate this, the wooden dummy was actually located in the kitchen as a hint to others not yet learning it to respect Mr Yip Man’s privacy.  There was no reason to go in there, say to wash your hands, for example, since the bathroom was available for that sort of thing. I continued to train hard on the Muk Yan Jong whenever I was there but after one month, I wasn’t satisfied with my own progress so I asked Mr Yip Man what I should do since I didn’t have a wooden dummy at home. Mr Yip Man explained that there’s no need for a wooden dummy – train the Hoong Jong (Empty wooden dummy form). Simply put a shoe in front of you and treat that as the wooden dummy. Thereafter, I continued to train hard in my Hoong Jong. “The wooden dummy was actually located in the kitchen as a hint to others not yet learning it to respect Mr Yip Man’s privacy. “ During the time you were training, who did you see the most often? ​I would see Hui Siu Cheung, Kan Wah Chit, Choy Siu Kwong and Chan Chee Man often. There was also the Bus Company group. Ng Chan, Wong Jok, Wong Cheung and others. There was a big group of them. ​ Siu Nim Tau is often translated as “Little Idea” – what is

A lot of people are skeptical about Wing Chun’s practicality, because no practitioners of Wing Chun have performed well in MMA. To dissolve this skepticism, I think it is important to shed some light on this topic. All martial artists are limited by their perspective and the way they train. It is often said, “never box a boxer and never wrestle a wrestler”. If you fight an opponent on his turf, he is likely to win. A lot of people have asked me: “do you think a top Wing Chun practitioner could beat a top MMA practitioner?” The answer is simple; it depends on the terms. In a cage or a ring, under MMA rules, the MMA practitioner will most likely win. The MMA practitioner can make use of the cage or ring and keep the distance and attack from the outside or take the fight to the floor where he has superior experience. But in a small room or a crowded place, the Wing Chun practitioner has the advantage. He can make use of the lack of space so the MMA practitioner cannot keep his distance and use feints or surprise attacks. He can keep the MMA practitioner at punching distance, where he has superior experience. MMA strategies favour moving in and out of range, bobbing and weaving, using feints for takedowns, ground-and-pound and submissions. If the MMA practitioner is out of reach, the Wing Chun practitioner can think of using the battlefield and improvised weapons or he can move to an area with less space to move around. To really get the full perspective, you have to understand the way MMA and Wing Chun differ and what they have in common. Commonalities between Wing Chun and MMA: This comparison is based on high quality Wing Chun and high quality MMA. It requires an understanding of both fighting systems. 1 – Both systems take into account the distance/range of an unarmed fight, even though their preferences are different. 2 – Both focus on the most effective way to fight under the expected terms. 3 – Both share many of the same training parameters e.g. positioning, control, precision, balance, stability, flexibility, relaxation, endurance, power, force, coordination, speed, distance, timing, momentum, fluidity, adaptability, agility, creativity, tactile and visual reflexes and breathing. 4 – Both include the mental aspects e.g. positive expectations and staying in control of your inner dialog and your behaviour. 5 – Both focus on economy of motion and on using the whole body as a tool for offensive and defensive moves. 6 – Both focus on continuous effective attacks to vulnerable targets. 7 – Both focus on exploiting advantages, positioning and manipulation of the opponent’s balance. 8 – Both use adaptability to handle the opponent’s superior power or positioning. 9 – Both focus on optimal body mechanics in their techniques. 10 – Both focus on a safe distance and surprise attacks. Differences between Wing Chun and MMA Wing Chun’s reputation has suffered due to poor representation on the Internet. Three things have been misunderstood. First, people think that the low quality Wing Chun they see on the Internet represents the true art. There is also a lack of understanding of the fundamental principles of the system as well as the strategies and biomechanics behind the techniques. Finally, there is lack of exposure of quality masters using it in combat. It is difficult to show Wing Chun’s true effectiveness without really hurting somebody, and no one should be sacrificed to make a point. If people are really interested, they can understand Wing Chun’s effectiveness by spending time testing it with a high level Wing Chun practitioner. As a metaphor; “you don’t have to shoot somebody to prove a gun works, you just have to understand how the gun works”. This is one of my goals – to help the world see the efficiency and effectiveness of this amazing close combat system, and to make it accessible for anyone with the right attitude and mind-set. Things Wing Chun can learn from MMA You have to integrate some kind of full contact situational sparring to get a sense of how it feels physically and mentally when the opponent does not hold back. You also have to train against somebody who is skilled in the kind of attacks you most likely will encounter in a real fight e.g. feints, circular kicks and punches, throws/ takedowns and ground fighting. This does not mean that you should use these techniques. But you should train against somebody who knows how to use them. Things MMA can learn from Wing Chun The Body mechanics of Wing Chun´s defensive tactics in punching range could have great benefits if adapted within clinching / trapping range (Chi Sau principles). At this range, Wing Chun has ideal structure for stability, mobility, shock absorption, short power generation, redirection of force and structure manipulation. The punching distance can then be a controlled distance which can provide an advantage for the fighter with less weight, reach, power or speed, provided he has trained to mastery. Economy of motion such as, simultaneous movements with short power generation could also be adapted. In todays MMA, most stand-up fighting techniques are inspired by Boxing, Kick Boxing or Muay Thai, where the techniques are based on strikes and blocks, wearing boxing gloves. Then you have bare-knuckle arts like full-contact Karate, where punching is primarily aimed at the chest. All of these arts have a similar paradigm when it comes to striking distance. They rely on visual reactions and not in controlling the “bridge”. Their attempt at control is the clinch or the takedown, because their game is largely inspired by Wrestling, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. This is another one of my goals – to help talented and skilled MMA fighters integrate principles from Practical Wing Chun in their skillset. This would allow them to take their opponents into unfamiliar territory and beat them there. It is not about changing the MMA fighter’s skillset, but more about increasing

The history of the Wing Chun long pole is veiled in mystery. We can only make assumptions relying on historical data that we have. The conclusion of my research has led me to believe that the shape of the pole as we know it today, in its various interpretations, did not consist of a complete form until the time of the red boat opera era (1850). In support of this theory, we must discuss  the legend of Chi Sim.  It is believed that he took refuge in the red boat opera company, where he taught the pole form to traveling actors. Chi Sim is also credited as the ancestor of the Hung Gar Kyun style. Legends often contain some truth and we can find many similarities between the  six and a half points pole of Wing Chun and the form of eight trigrams of Hung Gar. After the Opium Wars, China was shaken by revolutionary movements aiming to oust the Qing-Manchu ethnicity  and restore the Ming Dinasty. This gave rise to anti-Qing secret societies: for example Tian di Hui is the point of contact and exchanges between the two styles. A question that my students often ask: “Was Wing Chun originally a weapons style that later became empty-hand?”. Empty hand fighting though, has much more in common with sabers than with the pole. Time, space and energy Good practice with the long pole is certainly related to technique, but also requires good time and space management. Regarding time management, there are 8 times one needs to know: Four forward, that is the timing of forward movements and 4 retreating, that is timing of the weapon’s recall. The Four forward times are:  •    Hand’s time  •    Body’s time  •    Step’s time  •    Stride’s time It’s very important to understand this chronological list because in situations of armed conflict, one must keep in consideration the distance between us and our opponent. Sometimes it is sufficient to move only the arms to defend or to attack. In second time, you have to take into consideration the change of body and feet positioning. It’s the same when you have to pull back your weapon. When we need to retreat, we have to know four retreating times. •    Stride’s time •    Step’s time •    Body’s time •    Hand’s time This allows us to use the weapon to occupy the center  whilst we retreat. To do this, it’s necessary  to be aware of the distance one needs to  cover between the tip of the attacking weapon and the target. This way of thinking is beneficial for both defense and attack. Regarding space management, we have to keep in consideration what in our system we call the four  rulers: • Judgment: the ability to judge fighting range. Where you can reach your opponent and where you cannot. • Measure: the ability to recognize one’s own space for attacking and defending; • Timing: the ability to know when to attack and when to defend. • Space: the natural consequence of the three previous points is to be able to take away the opponent’s space and put him under pressure. We can summarise like this: by judgment I can keep my measure, by measure I can find my timing and by timing I can gain space. Ω 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Viber 0 Whatsapp 0 Telegram 0 Email

In this article we will discuss the purpose and benefits of a good Wing Chun stance. We will outline some of the common elements that the top masters, despite their differences, have in common. In martial arts, stances are the distribution, foot orientation and body positions (particularly the legs and torso) adopted when attacking, defending, advancing or retreating. The Wing Chun stance used for the execution of Siu Nim Tao is not exactly a fighting stance but more of a power generating stance. It teaches the practitioner to transmit relaxed power from the ground, through the legs and into the arms and hands.  The stance should not be a dead and rigid structure, but a springy, dynamic state. In time, the structure can more or less be discarded as the internal principles it develops become second nature. Keys to Success – The legs should have twisting intent, as if trying to drill into the ground.. There is a spiraling of the legs and feet that places the weight emphasis on the outside of the leg. This is very subtle and should not be overdone. This winding is a method by which we put  pressure on the body tissues via specialised stretching and rotation, in order to reduce the “slackness” in the structure.  – Keep the body as one by aligning the spine and the thighs in a straight line. The knees are slightly bent so that they are vertically above the toes. The knees should be kept springy. – Sit on it. Drop your tail bone slightly as if you were sitting on a high stool. – Stretch / elongate the spine as if trying to press an imaginary ceiling with the top of your head or else imagine the sensation of the upper body being held up by string. The 3 joints are used to spring load the stance, much like a sprinter does when at the starting blocks. Ankles – the ankle is in a state of rotation and flexion to maintain a good connection to the earth.  Knees – The knees are not the source of power, but facilitate the flow of power by being loose, relaxed and slightly bent. Hips – The hips control and co-ordinate the power of the centre and torso with the action of the legs. The tendons and the fascia of the legs can be  tensioned like elastic rubber bands. This facilitates the transmission of power from the ground. In fact, the Siu Nim Tao form is a type of dynamic Yoga, whereby power is obtained through stretching and spiraling. Good Posture Keys • Straight line from the ear through the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle joint. • The head is centered. • Shoulders, hips, and knees are of equal height. • Slight coiling of legs and feet • Pushing up head and pushing down of tail bone, as if sitting. Keep your weight down. • Loose and relaxed lower spine • Knees slightly bent • Relaxed structure which is flexible and mobile. Not rigid and fixed. • Weight emphasis is on outside of foot and legs, or Yang channel. Common Postural Flaws • Arched lower back • Excessive anterior pelvic tilt (protruding backside) • Excessive inward pointing of the toes  and clamping of the knees, which places strain on the knees and weakens overall structure. • Excessive posterior protruding pelvic tilt (protruding abdomen/pelvis) • Lordosis– The condition is commonly referred to as ‘swayback, saddle back’ or hyper-lordosis. It is an inward curvature of a portion of the vertebral column. • Rounded Shoulder or ‘Slouch’ syndrome– common in sports with dominant forward motion. It has been found that the fascia of humans have a similar kinetic storage capacity to that of kangaroos and gazelles. This is not only made use of when we jump or run but also with simple walking, as a significant part of the energy of the movement comes from the same springiness described above.  Snake Body  The purpose of Siu Nim Tao and the Wing Chun stance is to develop spiral / spring energy. It’s like a snake coiling to strike, or pulling back the string of a bow and arrow. Many arts have similar concepts. Just look at the Muay Thai stance and you will see it allows fighters to essentially load their bodies in preparation for throwing and receiving kicks. A good Wing Chun Stance  should allow you to coil the body in a relaxed manner in preparation for an explosion of speed and power. A good stance will have good lines, much like in dancing. Dancers are required to extend their lines through movements. Creating longer lines is important for the transition steps that take the dancer into the air and is equally important for power generation in Martial arts. When one knows what to look for, one can distinguish a powerful and correct stance from a mediocre one by observing the lines, the coiling and spring loading of the body. It will look powerful and ready to spring. Ω JAVIER GARCIA 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Viber 0 Whatsapp 0 Telegram 0 Email

I am one of those Wing Tsun nerds who spends every waking moment, and even sometimes in my dreams, dedicated to the progress of my Kung Fu. When I was approached about writing this article, I was very honored and excited. Pretty much all I do is talk about Wing Tsun, be it to complete strangers, family and friends, or my students. I spend hours researching in books and videos, or having very passionate discussions on social media forums. But regarding this article, I drew a blank… What do I have to offer? I didn’t want to regurgitate the same old things, and I wanted a topic that everyone could relate to, regardless of their lineage or skill level. So I decided to take it all the way back to Wing Tsun 101 and offer a different perspective on one of the very basic fundamental concepts that drives this art: Forward Intent.  My Si-Hing once made the statement that “if a technique isn’t working properly for me, it’s usually because I failed to have forward intent”. That was a very profound statement and I’d like to address it here, although I’m not talking about my Taan Da or my Bong Saoz. As I look back over the last few years, I can remember when I first began my training. My goal at the time was to just become a skilled fighter and to be able to protect myself and my loved ones. That hasn’t changed. I have, however, achieved so much more.  There’s so much in Wing Tsun that I didn’t expect and wasn’t really interested in at the time. Yet those areas have made the biggest impact in my life. I constantly refer to these things as “secondary benefits” People say they do Wing Tsun for the health benefits, as a hobby, to relax, or whatever the case may be. That’s all fine and dandy if that’s what they choose, but all that is secondary because the primary function of Wing Tsun is combat. We understand from the very beginning that Wing Tsun, being a set of concepts and principles instead of a style per se, is there to take away the restrictions that bind us. The only limitations that it has are the ones imposed by our level of understanding and our ability to apply it. The part that we don’t fully grasp from the beginning is that these concepts and principles are not only applicable to combat, but to all aspects of our lives. The more we embrace our Wing Tsun, the more it becomes a part of us, and the more it changes the way we think. As our Kung Fu becomes our own, it reprograms us, becomes one with us, and we grow and evolve together in symbiotic harmony. It rebuilds you into a better version of yourself.  The more skilled I become at combat, the less I feel I have to use it. However, the more my Wing Tsun becomes a part of me, the more I use it in every other facet of my life. Forward Intent, Sticking, Yielding, Pursuing, these concepts are what has helped me to survive emotionally and psychologically these past couple of years, and to become a better man. It has allowed me to maintain my center, recover and control, keep moving forward against unthinkable adversity and overwhelming odds. And through all of my trails and tribulations, my Wing Tsun has not failed me even once. It has always been there to protect me, to comfort me, to better me, to keep me moving forward even when I felt like I couldn’t.  Sometimes we feel like the world is on our shoulders and life is trying to pull the rug out from under us. We just want to give up. I have had my Wing Tsun to push me like a metaphorical flashback of Mickey yelling at Rocky “get up you son of a bitch, ‘cause Wing Tsun loves ya!’”. I firmly believe that without this forward intent that has been so deeply ingrained into my being, I would have caved in under the pressure of some of the more stressful situations in my life, thrown in the towel on many occasions and given up because that seemed much easier than continuing to plow forward. Yet, I have continued to advance even in times that I felt that I just couldn’t. I have learned to yield and find another angle to continue forward. I face my problems head on and attack them instead of avoiding them or letting things get the best of me. I have run every gauntlet that life threw at me, making it out the other side stronger than ever. I have become a virtual steamroller.    I feel that this forward intent is one of the most important things that I have gained from my Wing Tsun. It has made me a better and stronger person, and I have claimed incredible victories that I never would have thought possible. I stand here as a testament to the strength and beauty of this system not because of how many people I can beat up, but because it has given me the unbreakable spirit of a warrior. If there is anything that I can instill upon the readers, I hope it’s the sense empowerment that Wing Tsun has given me. When the going gets tough, the tough keep moving forward.     By Jason Malik www.texaswingtsun.com 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Linkedin 0 Pinterest 0 Viber 0 Whatsapp 0 Telegram 0 Email