The Devils in the Detail! - Alan Gibson's 2nd Seminar - 18th April 2010

Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun Coach and Chief Instructor of The Wing Chun Federation, Alan Gibson, visited our club in Bury St Edmunds for the second time in six months to deliver a workshop on helping us understand the foundation of their lineage and approach of 'Wing Chun'. Alan was assisted by his student Sean Collison, who with under 3 years Wing Chun experience has an exceptional grasp of the WSL methods and was a great assistance to all.

(pictured Paul Blissett, Alan Gibson & Massimo Gaetani from Carisma Kickboxing - Cambs)

The seminar content began with the foundation of all Wing Chun - the Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma (basic stance), setting the stance correctly for your body frame and dropping the bodyweight on the thighs to enable a strong base. Then a look at how the stance works in motion and the importance of maintaining the power chain through correct joint alignment and keeping the heels rooted to derive power, hence support from the ground, employing the larger muscle groups (glutes, quads, core and back) so the smaller groups (arms, shoulders, feet) can relax.
Several exercises followed testing core strength, the power chain and aligning the body in the strongest structure whilst static and moving, leaving the students huffing and puffing and aware of the weaknesses in their basic postions.

The main focus from then on was Daan Chi Sau (single sticking hands) both from a static stance and followed with stepping motions using the Tui Ma (push step) - a WSL practitioner doesn't step back through choice but only goes back if they are forced back if their stance is compromised and then only to take a better angle in which to re-attack..a simpler idea to this is the weaker basic stance, collapses under too much pressure to the stronger front stance -
This tied in with the energy concepts of Loi Lau Hoi Sung - Lat Sau Jik Chung (receive what comes, escort what leaves - hand lost attack without reserve) makes the Daan Chi Sau exercise a simple but profound one and it is clear how much many other groups simply 'play' with the hands not employing any of these basic fundamentals in their regular practice, hence unnecessary additions, changes, attacks etc..when really the simple ideas contained within Siu Nim Tau form are more than sufficient to drill in the core Wing Chun conceptual approach, all of which is carried on into the advanced levels.

The group was split now with the more advanced working the Single Stick ideas in the Double Handed Chi Sau roll and the more junior students further understanding the basics of Chi Sau and using one hand to defend two by utilising small motions, positive intention and disruption techniques with todays seminar rounded off with the Siu Nim Tau form and a full explanation of how all the aspects drilled and discussed were basic ideas from the form.

Another very enjoyable day and we look forward to welcoming Alan back again in the future.

(Sean Collison tests structural alignment and rooting of the stance with student Steve Harris)