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
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