Wing Chun is a unique Kung Fu fighting martial art that specializes in close-combat with a focus on taking out your opponent as soon as possible. Even though as martial arts go, it is very young, it has grown quickly in popularity because of it is practicality and the fact that it can be learned in a relative short period of time (see notes at the end of this blog). The techniques focus on fundamentals and timing, instead of strength and speed. Therefore, people of all sizes, shapes, and athletic ability can practice Wing Chun.
Like many martial arts, the history of Wing Chun is not definitive. Many believe that Wing Chun's history is a mix of fact and fiction. This may be due to it’s early secrecy and methods that were passed from Master to student. The student was a type of apprentice and training often took place in the Master’s home. However, most historians believe that Wing Chun was developed in southern China, approximately 300 years ago. Legend states that it was created by the Ng Mui, a Buddhist nun and master of Shaolin Kung Fu.
There are many different Wing Chun lineages, branches, forms, and schools. There is no “pure” Wing Chun form, although some similarities can usually be found. You may have seen Bruce Lee or other Masters or practitioners in movies, on television, or on YouTube performing Wing Chun, and wondered what martial art it was.
Surprising to some, Wing Chun is considered a soft martial art. Practitioners train physically and mentally. They use breathing and force to develop Qi in a relaxed manner. The aim is to maintain flexibility and softness, while at the same time keeping the strength to fight back. Wing Chun utilizes striking and "sticking" (controlling) and specializes in close-range combat.
Stances in Wing Chun are relatively high and narrow. The elbows are kept close to the body with hands usually vertical across the centerline. This is not only protective but also allows the practitioner to quickly negotiate blocks and fast blows to the vital striking points; namely the neck, chest, abdomen, and groin. Depending on the lineage of the form, shifting or turning is done on the heels, balls, or middle of the foot. High kicks are discouraged by some Wing Chun styles because of the risk of counter-attacks to the groin.
Key Principles include:
Always protect your center (centerline principle) and angle your body away from your opponent.
Turn your opponent's body and strength against him.
Use deflection for defense and straight line when attacking.
Stay glued to the opponent's forearms which provides more information than their eyes.
When met with a greater opposing force, give in and restructure your movements.
Follow your opponent if he retreats, keep up the pressure, and don’t allow him to make a new plan of attack.
Use your speed and your body mass instead of your punching force.
Consistent practice of Wing Chun builds a high degree of physical fitness, mental focus, sensitivity, balance, endurance, relaxation, and coordination. Structure is emphasized. Wing Chun is said to be “sneaky” because during training you assume that you are being violently attacked or assaulted at high speed without warning. In other words, it defends and attacks at the same time. Hits come without warning, from any position. Therefore, practitioners are trained to exhibit a strong reflex response in order to interrupt the attack/assault, get the attacker off balance, and fight on their terms. They don’t stop until the attack/assault has ended!
Most viewers do not find Wing Chun visually pleasing, like many other martial arts forms. For example, Tai Chi forms. Wing Chun can actually be quite brutal!
And lest some readers get really excited because it can be learned in a “relatively short period of time”, this usually means two to three years of consistent practice. Of course, to “master” Wing Chun, the time period is much longer.
It bears repeating, like all martial arts, Wing Chun takes regular practice and commitment!
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