Following is what a student learns during lessons. It is by no means the complete description but covers the main areas.
Forms in Wing Chun
Three Hand plus Wooden Dummy form:
- Sil Lim Tao (Little Idea): The basic framework or ‘chassis’ of Wing Chun.
- Chum Kiu (Bridge Seeking Arm): The ‘engine’, with emphasis on attack. Introduces elbows, kicks, use of hips, turning and forward movement.
- Biu Jee (Thrusting Fingers): All manner of things you need to know in order to get out of tight situations, if this was the A-Team it would be the ‘guns and missiles’, but equally the ‘airbags’.
- Muk Yan Jong (Wooden Dummy): Using a teaching aid which represents a dynamic human, the student enhances skills learnt in Chum Kui as well as footwork with seven sections. This can also be applied without the aid, know as ‘Air Dummy’.
Two Weapon forms:
- Baat Jam Dao (Eight Cutting Knives also known as Butterfly Knives): Training use and energy of short range weapons.
- Luk Dim Boom Gaun (Six and a Half Point Pole): Application of a long range weapon which stems from Shaolin Kung Fu.
Our Training Methods
- Dan Chi Sau (Single Sticking Hands): This partnership training method helps the participants understand the importance of and improve their sensitivity through relaxation. Hence learning to react to an opponents arm motions by feeling their energy and being able to stick to each other.It uses a fixed routine unlike its relation Chi Sau. Initially it is done without footwork with partners facing square on but eventually students will move about.
- Chi Sau (Double Sticking Hands): Unique to Wing Chun, this valuable partnership training method helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, thus enabling techniques and strategies to be practiced and refined. The student aims to apply the minimal effort necessary thus becoming more efficient as they progress.As sensitivity improves they will become accustomed to the slightest change in an opponent’s movement, strength, force and direction enabling them to use it against their opponent.It is through Chi Sau that the ability to switch on and off tension is developed Such as being tense at impact then instantly relaxing. The more relaxed the student is the faster they respond leading to a principle aim of Chi Sau: To accomplish Fan Sau.Unlike Dan Chi Sau, Chi Sau is not based on fixed routines, instead the student mixes and matches any techniques that are directly taught and what comes from experience. There is a degree of unpredictability, forcing the student to rely on sensitivity and reactions.
- Fan Sau (Returning Hand): Wing Chun at its most instinctive. Controlling the opponent to the extent that they are unable to complete moves whilst simultaneously attacking in rapid succession.
- Chi Gerk (Sticking Legs): Learning to block kicks with kicks and counter.
- Lap Sau Drill (Snatching Hand Drills): Learning to snatch an opponent’s arm and strike simultaneously, and how to respond to such a situation.
- Poon Sau (Rolling Hands): Similar to Chi Sau with the exception that the hands specifically make use of an action called Huen Sau (Circling hands).
- Entry Techniques (defence via initial attack): Lunge attacks designed to take out opponent’s defences and then employ Chi Sau and Fan Sau to completion. How to get into Wing Chun range.
- Technique Drills: Various drills to develop coordination, reflexes, etc.
- Combat: Defence under duress and countering excessive force, for example street attacks.
- Free Sparring: Wing Chun to Wing Chun sparring.
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