AWCAOnline - What is Wing Chun?

ing Chun Kuen is a Chinese martial art that capitalizes on simultaneous attack and defense, using speed as power vs. relying on physical strength, and "borrowing" an attacker's actions in order to make use of it.

With these traits, Wing Chun has become known as one of the most efficient methods of self-defense in existence.

Every martial art consists of movements designed to deal with specific attacks. Punches, kicks, combinations, ground fighting, locking, trapping, throwing, etc., are trained extensively, as well as any weapons that that art might work with.

By its very nature, a martial art also generally sees the practitioner being required to possess a superior level of fitness in order to work the actions being trained. This is why you see the more "acrobatic" actions being performed by those in their younger years vs. those in their later years.

Wing Chun, however, takes a different approach to the entire spectrum of self-defense that other arts train in.

The mindset of this system is that everything we do in our youth, we should be able to do until the day we die. Many Wing Chun masters have demonstrated that they are more skilled in their later years than they were in their youth. This comes from years of training, of course, but also because they have grown more relaxed and pliable, as well as being able to move more efficiently in order to borrow the attacker's actions.

For example, if someone punches and you block the punch, you are contending with force-vs-force. Whoever is the strongest of the two forces will generally have better odds of success.

But instead of blocking or halting that force, what if you could simply dissipate that force with a slap of the hand? I have seen colleagues in other methods spend years developing their punches that would go through brick walls, yet with a simple Pak-sau (Slap-hand), all of that force was moved to the side.

Or what if you are a small-framed woman being attacked by a 250-lb. behemoth? You cannot realistically go head-to-head with such force, as sheer brute power will overwhelm you. Instead of taking all of that force head-on, Wing Chun teaches to "borrow" that force and use those actions to determine your defense.

That might sound a little mystical, but in reality, it is one of the most efficient ways of approaching real life.

Because you have no way of knowing what skills your attacker has (if any), the training of pre-set patterns is unrealistic. What if your attacker does something that you haven't trained to defend against? Training skill that requires you to be physically stronger or more flexible than your opponent are skills that will degrade simply with age, too.

It might be useful in our youth, but simply getting older will decrease or even negate it completely. Instead, a more logical approach is to create a skill set based on common-sense principles, principles that apply to men, women, and even children (note, however, that Wing Chun was not created with children in mind, and there are many concepts and movements in the system that they have a difficult time in learning).

Rather than training for sheer physical strength to overcome the opponent, Wing Chun teaches to "give up" our force so that we can "borrow" the actions of the attacker. For example:

Using principles such as simultaneous attack/ defense, relaxing in order to create explosive speed, and adhering to the Centerline and Straightline Principles, Wing Chun is the exact opposite of what you see for most martial arts.

Creation and Development of Wing Chun Kuen
A variety of stories exist that illustrates Wing Chun's creation. Of these, the most well-known story revolves around the Buddhist nun Ng Mui and her revelation of a new concept by watching a fight between a crane and snake (crane and fox, crane and something, etc. There is usually a crane and some other animal when hearing these stories).

Others feel that Wing Chun is so radically different from the arts of that period that it could not have been created by just one person. Instead, the followers of this belief feel that the art was created by a variety of practitioners, some being generals and/or experts at fighting.

There are also those that believe that instead of something brand new, it is actually a descendant of an art created in Thailand (and a quick look at this Thai art definitely makes one go "hmmmm").

Further still, there are those that believe that Wing Chun was created at the Shaolin temple and has nothing to do with the other stories. Instead, they believe that Wing Chun has always been a form of Shaolin, just not taught until a monk has mastered their previously-chosen systems such as crane, dragon, tiger, etc.

I personally have a hard time believing that particular story, especially since the arts are night-and-day to each other. Why would a monk spend half a lifetime learning a particular method or methods, only later to learn something completely different and contrary to the very concepts of what they spent their lives mastering?

In the end, how Wing Chun truly came to be will probably remain a mystery. There is no solid proof one way or the other as to when, where, or how Wing Chun came into existance. Instead, there are legends, myths, and folklore that point to a myriad of possibilities.

Regardless of this, what we do know for certain is how Wing Chun has developed over the years.

Because of the various branches and lineages, some styles remained basic while others included additional sets. For example, some styles have Siu-Nim-Tau and a smattering of Chi-sau, while others have Siu-Nim-Tau, Chum-Kiu, Biu-Tze, etc. Further still, some styles have forms in common with other styles, but also include another four or five additional forms that include non-Wing Chun methods.

As for "names," you will see a wide variety of spellings to indicate the Wing Chun system. Wing Chun, Ving Tsun, Wing Tsun, WingTsun, Wing Tzun, Wing Tchun, and a host of others that can give you a headache if you think about it too long.

Suffice it to say that these methods will continue to develop and spread the art far and wide.

The Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun Families
Many will ask, "What is the difference between Wing Chun, Ving Tsun and Wing Tsun," and that is a valid question. As you learn more about the styles, you start to learn these differences.

In a nutshell, you have the Wing Chun system (and yes, it "can" be called Ving Tsun, Wing Tsun, etc). This system encompasses a set concept of efficiency which includes core elements such as simultaneous attack and defense, using the centerline and straightline concepts, etc.

Regardless of style, most will agree that there are core elements that all will train in.

As for "styles," it really comes down to interpretation, and that is what sets them apart. A good analogy is like two people watching the same car accident, yet being on the opposite sides of the road. One will see it from their vantage point, while the other may see it from a completely different point of view. They witnessed the same accident, yet both have two different views about what they saw.

This is somewhat akin as to how you can have one Wing Chun system, yet so many differing styles. Not all practitioners comprehend things in the same way, and their individual teachers might relate the methods in a way different from each other. All things considered, however, one look at any Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun style will readily demonstrate what the system is.

Does Wing Chun Really Work?
In a word, YES. There are hundreds of thousands of practitioners around the world that will tell you point blank, "yes." And some organizations estimate that the actual count is now in the millions of practitioners.

As for myself, I can vouche for Wing Chun's effectiveness because I have had the opportunities of learning this first-hand. From careers where protection was required to opening the AWCA, I have had multiple challenges with single unarmed opponents, single armed opponents, multiple unarmed opponents, and multiple armed opponents. I am still here and still training, so yes, Wing Chun most definitely works.

There are a lot of Wing Chun practitioners out there that, quite honestly, cannot use their skills as effectively as they think they can. They see Wing Chun as being the "best" martial art out there, and because they are Wing Chun practitioners, that automatically makes them the best, right?

Regardless of the method, you still have to train it. And if you do not train it the way it should be trained, then it will not work. But if you do train, and you train with dedication, common sense, and heart, then yes, it really is as effective and efficient as people say it is.

In Wing Chun, we do not rely on our own physical makeup to overcome the opponent. Physical strength, flexibility, etc., are good attributes to have, and they certainly benefit you when you have to defend yourself. However, to rely on those attributes will set you up for a false sense of security as you get older. Remember that age will take its toll on you. If any art requires strength, stamina, and flexibility in order to be used effectively, then our competency to defend ourselves would be severely hampered just simply by getting older.

While some might think that this type of training takes a great deal of time to put into real use, the opposite is true. You would be surprised at what you can get out of just one class.

In fact, one of my previous female students is a perfect example of what Wing Chun can do.

Being small in stature and very attractive, "Jaime" (name changed by request) was periodically harassed by men. She wanted the skills to protect herself, so she came to me. Little did she know that after her very first class, she would be forced to use the skills that she just learned... only this time, it would be for saving her life.

After my first Wing Chun class, I went out later with some of my friends to a local club. At closing time, everyone was leaving and I found myself having to walk alone to my car. I know, it was stupid, and I never do it. I always have someone go with me. But this time, I was alone.

We have all thought to ourselves, "If this happens, I'd do this or that," but this time it is for real. It is not a movie, it is not class, and it is not a game. This time it is real life and it is happening right now.

Jaime used to wonder, too, but not anymore. Her "what if" was actually happening: she was alone in a parking lot with no one around to help her, and she was being attacked.

This guy suddenly came at me, and without even thinking about it, I was surprised that I suddenly started doing the same thing I just did in class a few hours ago. One of the drills I learned was called Pak-sau, which taught me how to forcefully slap a hand or fist away while simultaneously punching. Because this guy was so big, though, I had to Pak-sau a few times more than I thought I'd have to. Still, I kept slapping and punching as if my life depended on it, because this time, it did!

My Sifu said, 'When in doubt, punch!' so that's what I kept doing. Pak-sau and punch, Pak-sau and punch. Over and over. I was so scared that I couldn't stop doing it.

Everyday, our morning papers tell us about a brutal crime being committed somewhere in town, and sadly, there are times when it is someone we know. This time, however, there is a happy ending.

Because I was yelling for help while I was punching and trying to get someone's attention, some people coming out of the club heard me and ran over to help. They tackled the guy and held him until the police showed up.

I was petrified beyond belief, but I actually defended myself! As little as I am, and as big as that guy was, I still actually kept him off me. I always thought I might freeze in this situation, but I didn't. By pure luck, I learned something a few hours earlier that literally saved my life.

It could have easily been me in the newspapers and being reported as a statistic, but because of Wing Chun, I came out ok.

The police report would later show that Jaime's attacker was over 230 pounds, had a criminal history of sexual assault, and was wanted by the police for previous assault and battery charges. Jaime, being around 5' 6" and barely 120 pounds, had an immediate 100+ pound disadvantage, as well as never having a fight in her life.

Did one class suddenly make her an experienced fighter? Of course not. It takes dedicated training to create that particular skill set. However, did one drill make the difference in this particular situation? It most certainly did.

For those thinking that a female cannot realistically protect herself against someone that outweighs her by 100 pounds, or that it takes years and years of training to learn simple protective skills? Think again.

It does not matter how big or powerful someone is. Wing Chun uses simple physics to counter force with pliability, and quickly takes advantage of a situation. It is real, it works, and anyone - regardless of stature or gender - can learn how to quickly and efficiently protect themselves against almost any situation imaginable.

Of course, Wing Chun is not a bullet-proof vest, and you should always use common sense when you are "out and about." However, when trained correctly, it is one of the most efficient and effective fighting methods that you will ever find.

How Can I Start Learning Right Now?
If Wing Chun is where your passion lies, there are a variety of avenues for exploring it.

First, I recommend checking your local telephone directory and seeing if any schools are in your area. Personal instruction is always the best method for learning a physical skill, so you want to seek out a reputable school that teaches competent methods.

Most commercial schools will advertise their location, while some prefer word-of-mouth or personal referrals. You will also find a variety of schools without a commercial location; instead, they might teach in their home gyms, backyards, public parks, etc. Remember that Wing Chun was always taught privately until Grandmaster Yip Man brought it out to the public, and many Instructors (myself included) still prefer teaching at home vs. running an expensive commercial school.

Besides the telephone directory, you can also perform Internet searches for "wing chun," "ving tsun," or "wing tsun" and see what schools (if any) are in your area and offering classes. Check your local martial arts bookstore, too, and see if someone advertises there.

If you find that you do not have a school in your area, then the next step would be to obtain a good instructional manual, video, or distance learning course. There are a wide variety of all of these. Some are good, some are not-so-good. To be honest, it will be a hit-and-miss endeavor if you know little about the art to begin with. That is why you see the AWCA's eMedia resources becoming so popular.

I created the eBook Training Series after realizing that there were no training manuals created exclusively for self-study and learning. By incorporating photos, narrated video training packages, and in-depth discussions of concepts and theories into an approved distance learning format, the workbooks have become a popular addition to many practitioners around the world.

Taking it a step further, I used the eBook Training Series as the core for our Distance Learning Program, and also built it from the ground up using the same methods that programmers use for building applications. Keeping current with today's information delivery methods is extremely important to providing real-world training, and the AWCA is one of (if not the only) Wing Chun organization that provides this.

So, long story short: always attempt to find a qualified, reputable, and reliable Instructor in your area. But if you cannot find one or one does not exist, then check out the AWCA's training resources. I am confident that you will not be disappointed.