Monday, 19 October 2009

Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun - Seminar Report - October 2009


We were very pleased to welcome WSL Coach Alan Gibson of 'The Wing Chun Federation' to our Bury St Edmunds club on Sunday 18th October 2009 to hold a seminar based on the Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun (wing chun) methods.

The event began with a short talk about the basics of the system and the fundamental importance of learning to use the correct stance and structures in our practice from early on, this would have been an obvious subject and something which all wing chun instructors would promote, though it was quite clear as we began the practical stance testing exercises that their base was much more stable, rooted and aligned than anything we had experienced in the past with various groups.

The seminar progressed at an enticing rate with each part building well on the previous aspects covered with Alan demonstrating the outstanding direct, efficiency of these methods time and again with the students he brought along to assist and various attending students - the main focus being tying the strong, yet mobile stances and soft, yet powerful bridge-arm structures with a dynamic positive fighting mentality to achieve your goal of subduing your opponent within one or two movements - rather than a mere showcase of skills to leave us in a bubble of awe and questions, everything was explained clearly and broken down so no points were missed and all areas were openly taught in a hands on manner so as to give us the keys, understanding and more importantly the 'feeling' to the fundamentals of this approach.

Having completed the Ip Chun Wing Chun methods with the Grandmaster himself before moving onto the WSL lineage Alan was in a perfect position to relate to any differences or difficulties we encountered and comprehensively explained and demonstrated how and why they prefer this approach, that is not so say other interpretations are incorrect or simply no good, but in my opinion you would be hard pushed to find a wing chun practitioner that didnt appreciate the sheer beauty and common sense found here.

It was like a breath of fresh air to see and train a wing chun method which so closely follows and encompasses the core concepts, principles and strategies like no other, although many groups pay lip service to these ideals, few actually follow them through into the teaching (often without knowing perhaps) and it would do no harm at all for many other practitioners of this facinating art from other lineges to drop their ego and status for a while to experience what this interpretation has to offer - afterall it is based on the real-life research into what works best in a real situation from the many challenge matches (Beimo) Wong Shun Leung took part in during the 1950's and adapted accordingly - a man who also had a very large impact and influence on the development of a man named... Bruce Lee.

I myself couldn't be more pleased that I took a daunting step and truly analysed what we had been practicing to realise some things didn't completely follow what I had read during my years of study into the wing chun system which led me to research into this lineage and approach Sifu David Peterson and in turn Alan Gibson and got the ball rolling.

Both myself and my students have thanked Alan and his colleagues at great depth and all look forward to his next visit in a few months, he has opened the path to us (and our eyes)..it is is now down to us to walk that path.

Alan Gibson has various books and dvd's available on the WSL methods and can be contacted through his website
www.wingchun.org

Paul Blissett

Monday, 5 October 2009

Alan Gibson Seminar Confirmed


The Wing Chun Federation's Head Coach - Sifu Alan Gibson (pictured) is visiting our club in Bury St Edmunds to conduct the first, of hopefully many, Seminars with the first being an 'Introduction to Wong Shun Leung Wing Chun Methods' on...

Sunday 18th October 2009 - 3.30pm - 6.30pm

at - Moreton Hall Health Club, Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 7BL

£25 per student

Alan will explain the difference between the WSL approach and other common approaches commonly taken in this country towards the teaching and practice of effective Wing Chun and use partner drills to demonstrate these concepts further.

For more information or to book a place call Sifu Paul Blissett on 07891699272 or E-mail - nextlevel.enquiries@yahoo.com

Brief Historical Development of 'Wing Chun Kuen'




Wing Chun (aka ving tsun, wingtsun,weng chun, yong chun, wing tjun etc) is a pragmatic, close quarter fighting system with its roots in the Southern Chinese Shaolin (Siu Lam) Temple and later Foshan & more recently Hong Kong, America, Europe, Australia and the world over.

It caries the discipline and moral code of ancient martial skills into the modern world, addressing the needs of today's self-defence approach by its close range methodology. Wing Chun is a cleverly designed conceptual art and has few techniques/concepts to learn but what it does contain can be extremely effective and has no flashy movements - although effective skills can be learnt in only a short diligent time of practice, to master Wing Chun, as any art may take a lifetime of study and practice, if at all anyone ever does master it.

Most lineages of Wing Chun Kung Fu contain within their practice 3 Empty hand Forms - Siu Nim/Lim Tau (little/young idea) - Chum Kiu (seeking the bridge) - and Biu Jee (thrusting/darting/pointing fingers) a Form utilising a Wooden Practice Dummy called 'Muk Yan Jong' and 2 weapons forms, a long, heavy pole 'Luk Dim Boon Gwun' (six and a half point pole) and the 'Baat Jaam Dao' (eight cutting broadsword techniques) - practice involves partner training sets of San Sau (separate hands), common form applications and a unique training practice called 'Chi Sau' or sticking/clinging arms) to develop close range sensitivity and contact reflexes to enable a practitioner to feel the direction and intent of his opponent upon contact and nullify or deflect the attacks with needing to see them - at an advanced level, Chi Sau is practiced blindfolded!

(*some older/alternative lineage versions from mainland China also have differing syllabus, forms, weapons and two person practice sets - Wing Chun Kuen, Saam Bai Fut, Sup Yee Sik, Jong Kuen, Yee Jee Dit Ming Dao...and many others...)

More importantly Wing Chun is a conceptual system of close quarter combat comprised of striking and defensive methods, guiding principles, internal and external force flow energy development, compact footwork..with each piece of the puzzle supporting each other as a complete system.

Shaolin (Siu Lam) Era:
Wing Chun is said to have been named after its first student, a girl named 'Yim Wing Chun' or Beautiful/Everlasting Springtime who was taught a new combat system by the Buddhist Nun 'Ng Mui' to repel an unwanted suitor - though this tale may well be folklore as certain lineages of the art attribute the birth and development of Wing Chun in the early 1700's by a Monk named 'Yat Chum Daai Si' or 'Speck of Dust' Monk) a 22nd generation Shaolin Grandmaster who was pivotal in the creation of the style, he was said to have taught soldiers the essence of the art in a small secret area of the Southern Shaolin Temple named the 'Wing Chun Tong' or 'Always Spring Hall'.

Yat Chum Daai Si was said to only have one disciple, a famous Chinese Opera performer named Cheung Ng, who had taken refuge in the temple to escape capture and certain death by the Manchurians who sought Ng out in the north of China where he was known for making anti -political speeches after his performances. Cheung Ng fled south to the temple and was said to be taken under the wing of Yat Chum where he was taught the life saving skills he may have needed in the future.

Red Boat (Hung Suen) Era:
Cheung Ng founded and managed the 'Hung Fa Yi Goon' or 'Red Flower Opera Union' and organised the 'Hung Suen' ('Red Junk') opera performers, and passed on traditional Chinese opera and martial arts to the performers, among whom were Wong Wah Bo, Dai Fa Min Kam and Leung Yee Tai who taught the separate skills of Wing Chun to a famous Foshan Herbal Dr Leung Jan.

In other lines of Wing Chun development a Siu Lam monk named Chi Sim was said to have fled the temple and went into hiding, disguising himself by working on one of the Red Junk vessels as a cook where he passed on his Siu Lam Weng Chun to Wong Wah Bo and Dai Fa Min Kam (painted face kam)...who in turn taught Foshan based Leung Jan and imperial constable/bounty hunter Fung Siu Ching who completed his training and was said to be very competent pole fighter as well as highly proficient in Wing Chun's Kum Na (seizing and holding) (*more information on this lineage by researching following students Fok Bo-Chuen - Yuen Kay San - Sum Nung*)

Fatsan (foshan) era:
It is noted in historical records that Dr Leung Jan was a famous fighter and won many challenge matches (Bei Mo) in Foshan - as Dr Leung got older he began to take on students in the fear the style would be lost. At first Master Leung taught his sons Leung Bik and Leung Chun (traditionally kung fu was kept within the family or taught to only one trusted disciple per generation in order to keep the style pure)

The local Bank Cashier 'Chan Wah Shun' sought tuition from Leung Jan after spotting him one day teaching the art to his sons after work. After much deliberation Chan Wah Shun was taught Wing Chun though being a largely built man and not well educated did not appreciate some of the finer skills of the system and he used his strength rather than technique when practising.

When Leung Jan retired to the Gulo Village - he passed on a 40 point system to locals there which concentrated on separate applications and not forms practice, to perhaps further refine and simplify Wing Chun practice??



In time Master Leung Jan and his eldest son Leung Chun passed away and Chan Wah Shun being a bold, brash character wrongfully claimed himself the new 'Grandmaster' of Wing Chun.
Leung Jan's surviving son, losing face, left Foshan for Hong Kong to start a new life.

In the early 1900's a young boy came to Chan with 'Thirty Taels of Silver' a small fortune in those days, and asked to learn Wing Chun.
Chan, at first refused thinking the boy had stolen the money and escorted him home to his parents house where they confirmed that the young 'Ip Man' (pictured) had saved the money himself to learn Kung Fu. This impressed Sifu Chan and took him on as his disciple.

Sifu Chan was very old when Ip Man began his studies and died shortly after, leaving Sifu Chan's top student 'Ng Jung So' to complete Ip Man's Wing Chun tuition and in time 'Ip' became the pride of the Wing Chun School.
Ip Man taught a handful of students in Fatsan at this time, among who Kwok Fu and Lun Gai are the most noted...research suggests that Ip Man may not have learnt any wing chun knife training and perhaps also no pole form at this point, but this is largely speculation although interviews with Lun Gai which he admitted this are common knowledge

Hong Kong Era:
A chance meeting with Master Leung Jan's surviving son 'Leung Bik' whilst Ip Man was studying English at Stanley University in Hong Kong turned into a blessing in disguise as Ip Man was left red faced after crossing hands with Leung Bik and having his every move controlled and countered - Ip Man studied under Leung Bik from this point learning the complete methods of Wing Chun and finer points of the system .

(* Recent research indicates there may have been more to this story than first accounts relate - a Wing Chun Grandmaster by the name of Wai Yan, in the spirit of wanting to create a clear concise system to pass on the art and skills took it upon himself to use one of his trading houses in the market area which sold poultry and named Dai Dak Lan to operate as a developmental cooking pot of Wing Chun by inviting well know masters to exchange and practice skills away from the public eye. The first being Grandmaster Chu Chung Man from Macau, who in their initial exchange with Wai Yan got the better of him and was appointed chief instructor...also invited were the masters Lo Chi Woon, Tam Kong (a master of Kum Na) and Tang Yik.
Sometime during the 1950's Ip Man visited the Dai Dak Lan research project and was said to have been beaten in a fight with Chu Chung Man - from this time Ip Man began to be taught and be influenced by the five masters of Dai Dak Lan who helped refine his thinking and skills*)
Grandmaster Chu Chung Man




Grandmaster Tang Yik

Modern Era:
Ip Man is recognised today as one of the main Grandmasters of the Wing Chun style, passing the skills to hundreds of students including his sons 'Ip Chun' and 'Ip Ching', Leung Sheung, Tsui Sheung Tin, Lok Yiu and Wong Shun Leung among many others and most famously the late martial artist and film star 'Bruce Lee' and is responsible for the structure of its modern day development of 'Popular Wing Chun' as its known in the west as he was the first well known master to teach publicly - although it is worthy of note that there are many branches and lineages of Wing Chun and many different representations of this fascinating Martial Art.
A detailed historical research overview can be found via Sifu Sergio Iadarola videos on Youtube or via his online articles and many other online sources now have good information for those students with an extra enquiring mind.

Today we see a big surge of popularity in Mixed Martial Arts which has swayed to some degree peoples views on traditional kung fu practice and whether Wing Chun requires addition or a particular focus.
What we also see is a large amount of politics and infighting, internet experts and closed minds over whose Wing Chun is more functional, whose is more direct, who chases hands and who chases centre...too much Chi Sau..not enough Chi Sau, too fast, too slow etc etc etc...many feel they have the pot of gold when it comes to answers (or their Sifu/coach/lineage does)

Wing Chun Kuen is open to interpretation, the concepts and theories are guidelines to be followed and can be applied in many ways - Ip Man himself changed what he practised and taught over the years (as I feel we all do)..so 1950's students learnt differently to 1960's and again the same for 1970's students...they are all correct (and maybe incorrect) to some degree...its all Wing Chun

For me, I feel at this point in my understanding and development at least that Wing Chun still offers many things to many people - if a student or sifu wants to become a technical master at forms and drills and play chi sau (in whatever form or intensity) and it makes them happy...so be it..
If you want to test your skills you can up the ante from a Chi Sau or free sparring platform, even to the point of gloving up and pressure testing the concepts semi or full contact with like minded classmates...you can even take it one step further as many are doing like Alan Orr and Mark Hobbs in the UK?abroad and develop a team of Wing Chun MMA fighters (who yes ALL Chi Sau alot as part of their overall system)...testing it at street level hopefully isnt high on your list unless serving time in prison is also in your plans..but a functional skill set and mindset should be present to some degree in your martial training for that isolated chance of needing it for REAL

However you approach the system, do so with intent to improve and develop yourself and your partners, stay open minded, train hard and regularly - avoid where possible the arguments and politics
and enjoy the process of keeping YOUR Wing Chun skills alive.

"LOI LAU - HOI SUNG - LAT SAU JIK CHUNG" 

"RECEIVE/MEET WHAT COMES - FOLLOW/ESCORT WHAT LEAVES - UPON LOSS OF CONTACT GO TO THE CENTRE"


Welcome to the 'Next Level'


Welcome to 'Next Level Wing Chun Academy' - we are a Martial Art club based in East Anglia, UK which teaches the complete Chinese Kung Fu system of 'Wing Chun Kung Fu' the original fighting art of the late Bruce Lee.

Wing Chun is a close quarter fighting system ideal for use in todays modern society as an effective self-defence method to deal effectively with a variety of 'realistic' scenarios, you may counter in a street level confrontation.
This martial art is also an excellent way to improve self confidence - health and fitness - relaxation - social interaction - and the simple methods can be learnt in a friendly, co-operative environment.

Class times and location are as follows:

Every SUNDAY - 4PM - 6PM

MORETON HALL HEALTH CLUB
MOUNT ROAD
BURY ST EDMUNDS
SUFFOLK
IP32 7BL

Tuition Fees: Pay as you go: £10 per 2 hour session
Monthly Charge: £35 per calendar month

Private one-on-one or Small Group Tuition Available at Affordable Prices

For further information please contact: Next Level Wing Chun Academy - Chief Instructor

Sifu Paul Blissett - 07891699272

or E-Mail - nextlevel.enquiries@yahoo.com