History of Wing Chun

Wing Chun (Chinese: 詠春 or 咏春, lit. "singing spring"), sometimes spelled Ving Tsun, is a concept-based fighting art, form of Southern Chinese kung fu and close-quarters system of self-defense. In Mandarin, it is pronounced "Yong Chun."

Origins

The definitive origin of Wing Chun remains unknown, and is attributed to the development of Southern Chinese Martial Arts. Complications in the history and documentation of Wing Chun are attributed to the art being passed from teacher to student orally, rather than in writing. Another reason is the secrecy of its development, due to its connections to Anti-Qing rebellious movements.

There are at least eight different distinct lineages of Wing Chun, each having its own history of origin. Additionally, there are competing genealogies within the same branch or about the same individual teacher. The eight distinct lineages of Wing Chun which have been identified are:

* Ip Man
* Yuen Kay-shan
* Gu Lao Village
* Nanyang / Cao Dean
* Pan Nam
* Pao Fa Lien
* Hung Suen / Hung Gu Biu
* Jee Shim / Weng Chun

Other, smaller branches derive from these main eight lineages.

Regardless of the origins espoused by perspective Wing Chun branches and lineages, there is much third-party controversy and speculative theorizing regarding the true origins of Wing Chun. In the West, Wing Chun's history has become a mix of fact and fiction due to the impacts of early secrecy and modern marketing.

Contemporary Wing Chun, with its characteristic six forms and the ''Chi Sao''/''Poon Sao'' training exercises, can be traced back to the studies of the teachers of Ip Man and Yuen Kay-shan.Leung Ting, Roots and Branches of Wing Tsun, ISBN 9627284239 The other lineages contain separate techniques, instructions, forms and/or weapon uses. The Jee Shim lineage of Wing Chun has enough deviations to the curriculum to be considered a separate/sister martial arts style, Weng Chun.

Wing Chun in present

The Ving Tsun Athletic Association was founded in 1967 by Cantonese master Ip Man and seven of his senior students. The first public demonstration of the Wing Chun fighting system, according to Ip Man, took place in Hong Kong at an official exhibition fight in the winter of 1969 at what was then the Baptist College (now the Hong Kong Baptist University). Leung Ting, a student of Ip Man, invited his master and some well-known representatives of the martial arts scene of the time to the college and conducted the exhibition fights in front of the specialist audience.

Organizational structure in the past

In ancient China, Wing Chun, like all other martial arts or craft guilds, was traditionally passed on in a familiar way, from master to student. The master, who had personal responsibility for the entire training of the student (apprentice), was addressed as Sifu (master). The lessons often took place in the master's house, where a personal bond would develop between the master and his family and the student (apprentice), with certain mutual obligations. The first public martial arts schools were established in Hong Kong. Since then, Wing Chun lessons have taken on a more modern, academic, and commercial character.

In some schools, however, the family system was still maintained. Lo Man-kam, a nephew of Ip Man, still teaches his students in his home in Taipei. Suitable selected long-term students are still accepted into the inner circle of the Wing Chun family by the Sifu in the traditional way, through a master-student tea ceremony. This ceremony underlines the deep personal bond that has developed between master and student through the long training period.

Organizational structure in modern Europe

There is no uniform umbrella organization in Europe under which Wing Chun practitioners are grouped, but rather numerous, sometimes competing and divided associations, schools, and individual teachers. Most associations do not appear in the legal form of associations that have voluntarily merged to form an association, but as commercial organizations in which associated schools are integrated, which are authorized and certified by the association. Some of the associations are organized in a franchise system.

In some associations, based on the family system that was used in the past, obedience and obligations towards the master and his teacher are emphasized, although these are rarely directly related to their training students.

Characteristics

General

Wing Chun favors a relatively high, narrow stance with the elbows close to the body. Within the stance, arms are generally positioned across the vital points of the centerline with hands in a vertical "wu sau" ("protecting hand" position). This puts the practitioner in a position to make readily placed blocks and fast-moving blows to vital striking points down the center of the body, i.e. the neck, chest, belly and groin. Shifting or turning within a stance is done on the heels, balls, or middle (K1 or Kidney point 1) of the foot, depending on the lineage. Some Wing Chun styles discourage the use of high kicks because this risks counter-attacks to the groin. The practice of "settling" one's opponent to brace them more effectively against the ground helps one deliver as much force as possible.

Key principles

The fundamental principles of Wing Chun are:
* Always protect your center, whether in attack or defense.
* Use the opponent's strength to turn it against him.
* Use the principles of deflection of force for defense and the straight line for attack.
* When the bridge has been established, stay glued to the opponent's forearms (the "sticky hands" principle, ''Chi Sao'') because information passes more quickly through physical contact than through the eye.
* If the opposing force is too great, give in and use your movement system to restructure.
* If the opponent retreats, follow him and keep up the pressure, do not let him make new strategies.
* Do not use your punching force but the speed and mass of your body.

Relaxation

Softness (via relaxation) and performance of techniques in a relaxed manner, and by training the physical, mental, breathing, energy and force in a relaxed manner to develop Chi "soft wholesome force", is fundamental to Wing Chun. On "softness" in Wing Chun, Ip Man during an interview said:

Forms

Most common forms

The most common system of forms in Wing Chun consists of three empty hand forms, two weapon forms, and a wooden dummy form.

Empty hand

Weapons

Wooden dummy

Other forms

San Sik (Chinese: 散式; Cantonese Yale: Sáan Sīk; pinyin: Sǎn Shì; 'Separate forms'), along with the other three forms, is the basis of all Wing Chun techniques. They are compact in structure, and can be loosely grouped into three broad categories: (1) Focus on building body structure through basic punching, standing, turning, and stepping drills; (2) Fundamental arm cycles and changes, firmly ingraining the cardinal tools for interception and adaptation; (3) Sensitivity training and combination techniques.

Empty hand

Both the Wai Yan (Weng Chun) and Nguyễn Tế-Công branches use different curricula of empty hand forms. The Tam Yeung and Fung Sang lineages both trace their origins to Leung Jan's retirement to his native village of Gu Lao, where he taught a curriculum of San Sik.

The Siu Lim Tau of Wing Chun is a form that includes movements that are a combination of Siu Lim Tau, Chum Kiu, and Biu Ji of other families. The other major forms of the style are: Jeui Da (), Fa Kyun (), Jin Jeung (), Jin Kyun (), Jeui Kyun (), Sap Saam Sau (), and Chi Sau Lung ().

Wooden Dummy

The Star Dummy consists of three poles that are embedded into the ground in a triangle with each pole an arm's span apart. The associated form consists of kicking the poles using the various kicks found in Wing Chun: front kick, front kick with the foot pointed out using the broad area of the foot and knee rotation to outside, and sidekick.

Weapons

The Yuen Kay Shan / Sum Nung branch also historically trained to throw darts (Biu).

Sensitivity training

Wing Chun includes several sensitivity drills. Although they can be practiced or expressed in a combat form, they should not be confused with actual sparring or fighting.

Chi Sau

Chi Sau () is a term for the principle and drills used for the development of automatic reflexes upon contact and the idea of "sticking" to the opponent (also known as "sensitivity training"). In reality, the intention is not to "stick" to your opponent at all costs, but rather to protect your centerline while simultaneously attacking your opponent's centerline. In Wing Chun, this is practiced by two practitioners maintaining contact with each other's forearms while executing techniques, thereby training each other to sense changes in body mechanics, pressure, momentum and "feel". The increased sensitivity gained from this drill helps a practitioner attack and counter an opponent's movements precisely, quickly, and with appropriate techniques. The center-line principle is a core concept in Wing Chun Kung Fu. You want to protect your own center-line while controlling your opponent's. You do this with footwork. Understanding the center-line will allow you to instinctively know where your opponent is.

According to Ip Man, "Chi Sau in Wing Chun is to maintain one's feeling of opponent's movement by staying relaxed all the while keeping in the strength to fight back, much like the flexible nature of bamboo".

Chi Sau additionally refers to methods of rolling hands drills (). Luk Sau participants push and "roll" their forearms against each other in a single circle while trying to remain in a relaxed form. The aim is to feel the force, test resistance, and find defensive gaps. Other branches have a version of this practice where each arm rolls in small, separate circles. Luk Sau is most notably taught within the Pan Nam branch of Wing Chun where both the larger rolling drills as well as the smaller, separate-hand circle drills are taught.

Some lineages, such as Ip Man and Jiu Wan, begin Chi Sau drills with one-armed sets called Daan Chi Sau () which help the novice student to get the feel of the exercise. In Daan Chi Sau each practitioner uses one hand from the same side as they face each other.

Chi Geuk

Chi Geuk () is the lower-body equivalent of the upper body's Chi Sau training, aimed at developing awareness in the lower body and obtaining relaxation of the legs.

Pak Sao

Pak Sao is a blocking technique similar to a parry used in boxing. With ''Pak Sao'', the hand comes directly out of the center of the body to slap away an attacker's strike to one's head. Effective application of ''Pak Sao'' involves creating an angle of deflection through which the opponent's blow can be slapped away with minimal effort.

An overcompensating ''Pak Sao'' may allow the attacker a free shot. This is because excessive effort creates the risk of being trapped by one's opponent if said opponent pulls the ''Pak Sao'' down and traps one's other arm with it.

In film and popular culture

Donnie Yen played the role of Wing Chun Grandmaster Ip Man in the 2008 movie ''Ip Man'', and in its sequels ''Ip Man 2'', ''Ip Man 3,'' and '' Ip Man 4''. The Ip Man series of movies is credited in reviving interest in the martial art in the 2010s.

In December 2019, a new Wing Chun fighter named Leroy Smith was introduced to the fighting game ''Tekken 7'' roster as downloadable content. When creating characters to represent real-world martial arts, the developers wanted to introduce a new fighter utilizing Wing Chun. The developers consulted Ip Man's nephew, who provided motion capture for the character.

Simu Liu uses Wing Chun along with other types of martial arts when playing the title character of the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe movie '' Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings''.

Notable practitioners

Some notable practitioners of Wing Chun are Ip Man and his sons Ip Chun and Ip Ching, Max Zhang (Zhang Jin), the martial artist Bruce Lee, Donnie Yen, and Dan Inosanto, and actor Robert Downey Jr.

See also

* Chinese martial arts
* Wing Chun terms
* Wushu
* List of films featuring Wing Chun

Notes

References

Bibliography

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External links

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Communication with Wing Chun Kung Fu System

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Chinese martial arts

Buddhist martial arts