Wing Chun is a Chinese Martial Art system that comes from Foshan in mainland China. It was brought over to Hong Kong by Ip Man. One of Ip Man’s most well known students was Bruce Lee who was the Kung Fu legend and film star of 1970’s, whose legacy lives on today.
In martial arts speak scientific terms like force, momentum, power, etc can come under the general bracket of ‘energy’. It is important to note that it is the real use of energy through those that is discussed with regard to Wing Chun.
Wing Chun is a very scientific, logical and intuitive fighting system, which is straight forward in thought and movement, with the aim of doing the job quickly and efficiently, using the minimal amount energy and effort, whilst at the same time being direct by taking the shortest distance to reach the target (usually a straight line).
Wing Chun is a close quarter combat system, which integrates attack with defense in order to control—neutralizing and opponent’s attack and removing their defense to initiate a sustained and devastating barrage. This can be done by learning to use two or three limbs simultaneously.
The moves are small in number but very flexible and there is no promoting the use of one move per situation, but rather an ethos of reacting intuitively in the moment and free flowing.
Wing Chun does not rely on using brute strength for power, instead it uses your potential energy, such as from the elbow energy (developed through training) to generate speed and power. Switching this on and off as required, which allows a rapid deployment of an attack as well as defense. After each move there is relaxation, and this allows for greater sensitivity and reactivity in order to feel and predict what is going to happen in that instant.
Sensitivity can be developed through partnership training methods unique to Wing Chun: Dan Chi Sau (single sticking hands), Chi Sau (double sticking hands), and Chi Gerk (sticking legs).
Through such training methods a student:
- Acquires sensitivity in their arms and legs to feel an opponent’s energy and learning how to use opponent’s strength, energy and movement against them.
- Refines their capabilities until it becomes instinctive.