AWCAOnline - What is Wing Chun?

ing Chun Kuen is a Chinese martial art that capitalizes on basic actions and principles to achieve a realistic fighting skill set. Whereas many arts require that the practitioner be physically stronger than their attacker, Wing Chun is the opposite in that instead of overcoming the opponent with sheer brute force, we "give up" our force so that we can "borrow" the force from the attacker.

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 completely negate it. 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.

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:

Instead of blocking, we will re-direct or deflect

Instead of trying to "out-muscle" him, we will side-step and attack the open areas

Instead of stepping back during a kick, we will "explode" forward into him so as to decrease the kicking distance (thereby limiting how much power that his kick can produce)

Instead of blocking and then counter-attacking, we will counter-attack while re-directing or deflecting his attack

Simultaneously, we will be continuously punching and keeping him/her on the defensive.

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.

A variety of stories exist that illustrate Wing Chun's creation. The most well-known story revolves around the Buddhist nun Ng Mui and her "revelation" 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 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 that everyone else tells.

So in a nutshell, Wing Chun's "creation" will probably always be a mystery, and no one will ever know the "truth" behind these legends and myths. However, what we do know is how Wing Chun 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.

There are a variety of Wing Chun styles throughout the world, with a myriad of names, too. Wing Chun, Ving Tsun, Wing Tsun, WingTsun, Wing Tzun, Wing Tchun, and a host of others that boggle the mind for spelling them. Suffice it to say that these methods will continue to develop and spread the art far and wide.

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, though, 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.

And the same analogy can be applied to the many differing Wing Chun styles that you see.

One style will train in one way, while another style might train things slightly different. For example, Wu-sau might be one fist-width distance from the chest, whereas others prefer one open-hand distance. Bong-sau's elbow will be above the shoulder whereas someone else trains never to do that.

Bits and pieces here and there might be different, and those differences are what creates the various styles. Overall, however, it is still Wing Chun (Ving Tsun, Wing Tsun, etc.)

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. Why? Well, to be honest, 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 also contribute positively to self-defense. However, "age" will take its toll on these attributes.

So if the art we train requires strength and stamina in order to be used effectively, then our competency to defend ourselves would be severely hampered just simply by getting older.

Correct biomechanics for using the entire body as a complete unit

Training the lower body to be both stable but mobile

Using the centerline for keeping "on target" with the opponent

Immediately going on the offensive as a response to any attack

Simultaneous attack and defense so as to defend the attack and counter-attack at the same time

Using low jamming kicks and stomps that accompany every hand attack (the lower the kick, the harder it is for the opponent to see it; therefore, it is harder to defend against)

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.

Just for a moment, think about what's happening. We have all thought to ourselves, "If this happens, I'd do this or that," but this time it's 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.

We all read in the paper of a brutal crime being committed, and periodically, 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 lbs., had a criminal history of sexual assault, and was wanted by the police for previous charges. Jaime, being around 5' 6" and barely 120 lbs, had an immediate 100+ lb disadvantage, as well as never having a fight in her entire 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 lbs, 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.

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) in your area are offering classes. Check your local martial arts bookstore and see if someone advertises there, too.

If you find that you don't 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, with some good and 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.