What is Wing Chun?

Translated literally, Wing Chun means "beautifultechniques that were slow or that relied on strength or
springtime," or "forever springtime." Wing Chun is alsosize. She developed a system of fighting that enabled
written "Ving Tsun" or "Wing Tsun." According to Winga smaller, weaker person to destroy a bigger, stronger
Chun, there are several ways of defeating the enemy:person within a few seconds. Ng Mui's new system
striking, kicking, joint locking, controlling, throwing and thewas well guarded and passed on to only a few, very
use of weapons are the most common.dedicated students. The style became known as Wing
The way the art produces efficient fighters in aChun, after Ng Mui's first student, a woman named
relatively short amount of time is by sticking to severalYim Wing Chun.
core concepts and by paying strict attention toYim Wing Chun was a native of Canton in China. Her
positioning. Much training time is spent cultivatingmother died soon after her betrothal to Leung Bok
"Sensitivity or Contact Reflexes." The studentChau. Her father, Yim Yee, was later wrongfully
practices guarding various zones about the body andaccused of a crime. Rather than risk jail, Yim Yee and
deals with whatever happens to be contacted orhis daughter left the area and settled down at the foot
touched in that zone. This allows for a minimum ofof Mt. Tai Leung. It was here Ng Mui met Yim Yee and
technique for a maximum of application, and for theWing Chun. Wing Chun was a beautiful teenager who
use of an automatic or subconscious response.had attracted the unwanted attention of a local man
Because of this it is especially suited for the blind orwho continuously tried to force her to marry him by
visually impaired. In fact, Wing Chun's unique trainingthreatening to harm her father. Ng Mui learned of this
method seems tailor made for any visually impairedand agreed to teach Wing Chun fighting techniques so
person to defend themselves as good, if not betterthat she could protect herself. Wing Chun followed Ng
than those who can see.Mui into the mountains to White Crane Temple, and
Most of the techniques taught are hand techniquesbegan to learn Kung Fu. Wing Chun trained until she
and the style is best known for its quick punches. Onlymastered the techniques. She then challenged the bully
low kicks are used. Traps and other kinds of controlsto a fight and defeated him.
are important as well. Trapping and speed areThe Wing Chun System was passed on in a direct line
developed through the famous "sticky hands" (Chiof succession from its origin. After her marriage to
Sao) training, which also teaches balance. The MookLeung Bok Chau, Wing Chun taught him Kung Fu. He in
Jong, a wooden dummy used for training footworkturn passed these techniques on. As techniques were
and alignment, is also a well-known training method.passed along, the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole was
There are three forms used in the style: Siu Nim Tao,incorporated into Wing Chun Kung Fu. During the
Chum Kiu, and Bil Jee.Chinese Cultural Revolution, Wing Chun, like other
Traditionally only two weapons are taught in Wingmartial arts, was banned in China and survived only
Chun. The Dragon Pole and the Butterfly Knives arethrough the persistence of practitioners like Yip Man.
generally taught only once the student has a firmThe veil of secrecy around the art was finally broken
foundation in the art. However, we teach modernin 1949, when Grandmaster Yip Man brought the style
weapons as well to enhance our training methods.out of China into Hong Kong and eventually to the rest
Weapons training drills offer the similar ideas andof the world.
concepts as the open hand system, including the useLeung Sheung had heard about Wing Chun since he
of Contact Reflexes. Many of the weaponwas quite young, and in 1949, found out that one of its
movements are built off of or mimic the open handmost famous teachers, Yip Man was currently in Hong
moves - this is the reverse process of Kali/EscrimaKong. Leung Sheung promptly introduced Lok Yiu and
Arnis, where weapon movements are learned first.Tsui Sheung-Tin to Yip Man, and the three of them
The system of Wing Chun is a survival system dealingbecame the first batch of Wing Chun students in Hong
with personal safety. Although it has traditional roots, itKong.
adapts and utilizes modern training methods. It isFrom 1949 until 1978, Leung Sheung remained Yip
considered to be a twenty-first-century, highly refined,Man's most senior student. He trained under Yip Man
street fighting system, designed to be used againstintensively and taught Wing Chun until his passing in
armed and unarmed attackers.1978.
Wing Chun addresses a wide variety of aggressiveAmong Leung Sheung's more well know students are
acts which include punches, kicks, chokes, bear-hugs,Kenneth Chung, Leung Ting, Jack Ling, Siu Wong, and
headlocks, grabs, as well as defenses against multipleothers. Our lineage descends from Kenneth Chung
attackers and assailants armed with a firearm, edgedwho best retained Leung Sheung's methods and most
weapon, or blunt object. It integrates elements relatedimportantly, his unique energy.
to the actual performance of the fight including theOur line is unique in many ways and extraordinary
psychological dimensions of self-defense, with the usebecause each master in the line is a senior student of
of the environment to your advantage. Because ofthe previous teacher and all living masters remain in
Wing Chun's combat-orientation, there are nocontact and train with each other.
competitions or tournaments.Our lineage is as follows...
There are multiple histories of Wing Chun in existenceYip Man (deceased)
today, however, there is a generally accepted legendLeung Sheung (deceased)
that says that a Shaolin nun named Ng Mui, a masterKenneth Chung
of Kung Fu, developed the art nearly 300 years ago inBen Der
southern China. At that time the Southern ShaolinKen Werner
Temple was sanctuary to the Chinese revolution thatKarl Godwin
was trying to overthrow the ruling Manchu.Bill Graves
A martial arts system was being taught in the templeArmando Sainzetc...
but it took almost 20 years to produce an efficientYip Man's students began gaining noteriety for besting
fighter. Realizing the need to produce efficient fightersmany systems and experienced opponents in
faster, five of China's grandmasters met and chosestreetfights and "friendly" competitions. The art gained
the most efficient Kung Fu techniques, theories andeven more popularity when one of its students, Bruce
principles from the various styles. They then developedLee, began to enjoy worldwide fame.
a training program that produced efficient fighters inOver time our Wing Chun has been refined to it's
5-7 years. Before the program was put into practice,highest levels by Karl Godwin who is arguably the
the temple was raided and destroyed.most skilled and uniquely knowledgeable person in
Of those that escaped, Ng Mui was the only survivorWing Chun today. He has been teaching Wing Chun
who knew the full system. However, she realized thatsince 1982 and produced several masters of the art.
much of what she had learned was ineffective for aAmong those masters is one of Karl's most senior
small, frail woman to use on a larger, stronger man.students, Bill Graves.
She revised everything she had learned and discarded