Information for New Wing Chun Students

Next Level Wing Chun Academy

Welcome to our classes in Wing Chun Kung Fu and the Next Level Wing Chun Academy.

Wing Chun is a Southern Chinese Kung Fu system which specialises in close quarter fighting methods ideally suited to modern day self protection situations and follows some unique concepts and principles, the key ones listed below;

* Simplicity - Wing Chun is said to be simple to learn but difficult to master - the word Kung Fu translates literally to - hard work/time spent - there are no shortcuts

* Centreline Theory - the main vulnerable areas of our body are located along our central axis (eyes/nose/throat/solar plexus/groin) so Wing Chun trains us to attack and defend these areas at all times as well as gaining control or taking the balance of our opponents centre of gravity whenever possible - without balance our opponent will struggle to attack us or defend themselves

* Simultaneous Attack and Defence - most of the techniques in Wing Chun are characterised by their specific action and described as such - ie; subduing hand, dispersing hand, slapping hand etc -  a Wing Chun strike often has a defence built in and vice versa with our ultimate aim to defend by counter attacking utilising the skeletal structure and angling or positioning to deflect incoming attacks while we deliver our counter measure.

There is NO blocking in Wing Chun - only deflection, redirection and recycling of our opponents energy. Wing Chun does not fight force with force so is geared towards defence against a larger stronger opponent.

* Economy of Motion - small movements and adjustments are made at close quarters to enable the above to be successful using the correct amount of energy to achieve the task - learning to relax under relative pressure is a key skill to develop in Wing Chun and can overlap into everyday life in many ways. There are no big, superfluous movements in Wing Chun, everything is trained to be simple, direct and efficient.

Forms and Drills:

Wing Chun is comprised of 3 empty hand practice forms (Siu Nim Tau/Chum Kiu/Biu Tze) 1 form with a Wooden Dummy (Muk Yan Jong) a Long Pole form (Luk Dim Boon Gwun) and a Double Knife form (Baat Jaam Dao) as well as many solo and partner training drills to develop footwork, striking, self defence situation practice and Wing Chun's unique close quarter sensitivity training 'Chi Sau' or sticking hands.

Chi Sau gives the Wing Chun practitioner a distinct advantage at close range when contact is made to feel the direction and intention of the incoming attacks and nullify or redirect the energy given as well as naturally feeling for an opening or the path of least resistance to utilise our Wing Chun skills.

In this way we don't know how or when we will counter as this is dependant on what our attacker is doing in the moment, following Wing Chun principles of chasing and closing down the centre, being direct and efficient we are more able than most to deal with many self defence situations that may occur at street level.

Your Instructor:

The Chief Instructor of Next Level Wing Chun Academy is Sifu Paul Blissett.

Paul began his Wing Chun training in the mid 1990's and has been teaching Wing Chun since 1998 with various nationwide organisations under well known UK based instructors including Andrew Cameron/Paul Hawkes, Kevin Chan, Kwok Wan Cheung as well as attending intensive seminars to further his studies of Wing Chun from Simon Lau, Patrick Leung Ting Kwok, Keith Kernspect, David Peterson, Alan Gibson, Ernie Barrios and others.

Paul also has cross training experience of boxing, muay thai and brazilian jiu jitsu as well as self protection training via the Royal Marines and control and restraint training as a Police Officer.

Paul has trained almost daily since beginning his Wing Chun studies and went the first 6 years of training without missing a single lesson, even showing up when ill to write notes so not to miss out.

Paul is passionate about teaching the complete Wing Chun system to a high level and founded the Next Level Wing Chun Academy in 2009

CLASS LOCATIONS:

 Sudbury:  82 Cornard Road, Sudbury, CO10 2XB - (follow path through open gates to the training shed)

Monday and Wednesday 6pm - 7pm - Beginners Wing Chun

                                         7pm - 8pm - Mixed Level Wing Chun

Fees are £30 per calendar month payable by cash or standing order which can be cancelled at any time should you cease training. This fee covers you for all Sudbury based classes in any calendar month.

Pay as you go fee - £5 per hour

Bury St Edmunds: Moreton Hall Health Club, Mount Road, BSE, IP33 7BL

Sunday: 4pm - 6pm - Beginners and Mixed Level

Fees are £30 per calendar month or £10 per 2 hour session pay as you go

ALL INCLUSIVE FEE - £40 per month for Sudbury and Bury classes

(Standing order form available if required - please inform me as and when this is set up and the start date of monthly payment)

Private Tuition:

Private Tuition is available at the Sudbury location at a rate of £30 per hour

Learning privately is great way to gain more detail in your training and understanding of the Wing Chun forms and drills and can be used if you have to miss a lesson here or there due to holiday or illness etc. Class training is the ideal learning environment as you get to train with people of all shapes, sizes and experience levels as well as making friends with likeminded people, so I tend to promote this over private tuition but an ideal combination of class training supplemented with a private session once a month or so can add real depth to your skill base and knowledge

Further Information:

Please feel free to join our Facebook page; Next Level Wing Chun Academy or Google our Blogpage of the same name for articles and information

Email: next.levelenq@yahoo.com

Mobile: 07891 699272 - Sifu Paul Blissett

''A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step''

Training Ideas Exchange with Sifu Chris Thompson

On Sunday 14th June 2015 myself and 11 of my students travelled to sunny Southend for another Wing Chun Training Ideas Exchange with Sifu Chris Thompson and his students at Absolute Arts, Southend.

I taught the first hour and covered the use of side Paak Sau (slapping hand) with a palm strike from all positions (outside gate/one hand in one hand out/inside gate) Thus ensuring that whatever hand you have forward (in a passive hands up guard) would still allow one of the options a natural path to simultaneous attack and defence should we get caught relatively unprepared in a natural defensive manner instead of the way we usually train the Paak Sau concept to attack the attack and disrupt the centre of mass while doing so..highlighted by the fact we don't all walk around on high alert ready to burst forward aggressively in everyday life.

I then moved onto using the Lat Sau Jik Chung (lost hand thrust forward) concept to intercept the timing of a straight grab or push/punch action by slipping one hand inside while covering outside and making sure facing theory was followed while we moved the opponents centre and followed the counter attacking action closing down and keep the opponent off balance while we continued to strike.
Everything I teach is broken down into three stages - slow and correct, fluid then when that is achieved, dynamic and sharp so a student has a full understanding of the training drill and is able to de-construct and develop the drill at their own pace.

Sifu Chris then took over and taught speed methods to transition from one counter attack to the next highlighting the need for triangulation, facing and footwork to achieve that objective.
He did this through counter methods versus a straight attack, two consecutive straight attacks and the same with round line attacks.

These ideas exchanges are a great opportunity to train with students and learn from teachers you don't usually train with or learn from who may have different approaches and levels of understanding and experience, which in turn helps you to keep an open mind to options and methods to enrich your Wing Chun journey.
There is no extra charge for these sessions (this was the 5th or 6th joint event since 2009) other than your usual training fees and everyone involved enjoyed the experience.

More of the same to come no doubt in due course.

Thank you again to Sifu Chris Thompson and his students for hosting us and look forward to seeing you all again soon.