System of training
Forms and techniques of The Traditional Wing Chun
1. First Form - Siu Lim Tao
Siu Lim Tao - a type of work on yourself at the physiological and psychological level. The disciple keeps full control over body during the execution form and over the internal state and, therefore, all himself or herself saying and doing. Thus, the form is powerful tool for managing yourself.
The term Siu Lim Tau consists of three concepts: Siu - small, Lim – an idea, and Tao - head. Hence, an idea in my head. That is firstly we think, draw something in our imagination, and than we put it in some form, and then display this in external movements - as well as any idea that we want to implement.
The first form - the form of own elbows control. It carries out in neutral stance, only arms from elbows are moving, the shoulders remain stationary. Knees should be slightly bent, feet about shoulder-width apart, pelvis pushed forward slightly, body and neck, keep straight. The disciple should find the most comfortable position during fulfillment the form and work only by hands.
Siu Lim Tao - a set of basic movements of Wing Chun. During performing the form the disciples are training:
- proper breathing;
- independent, simultaneous movement of both hands;
- constant concentration (to focus on the hand movement; clearly concentration achieved when the form is performing very slowly - about half an hour);
- make proper stand;
- emphasis on relaxation, thereby increasing the speed of hands.
The importance of the first form can not be overestimated. If you perceive it as a meaningless set of movements, it will remain a working off of a mechanical exercise. Actually, all the movements of the form are practical importance, and in the process of learning Wing Chun adepts learning how to apply Siu Lim Tao, and results of proper execution.
Man makes the form, the form makes a man.
Advanced Siu Lim Tao
Studying the advanced form of Siu Lim Tao the disciple understand the basic principles of footwork and some techniques of protection. Advanced form is taught only by Grandmaster William Cheung and also by personally certified students.
2. The second form - Chum Kiu
Chum Kiu is translated as "search of support". This is the second form of the traditional Wing Chun, which develop foot movements. Studing the first form the disciple trains (practice) to control own breath and elbows, but comparing to the second form the person also trains mobility and coordination of arms and legs movements.
Before learning to attack by Wing Chun the worshipers trained to protect themselves that allows them to be invulnerable to enemy attacks. Hence, all learners attack only and pay little attention to themselves protection, so they could win the battle, but can get heavy damage.
This form perfects the evasion of direct attacks of your opponent. Followers learn to take a more advantageous position in relation to the attacker. The practitioner learns to change the static neutral stand on the side, front and T-stands, and it also copes with circular movements.
This form also contains a side parallel displacements, which are always handy in hand-to-hand fighting.
In Chum Kiu footwork is presented (three strokes ahead, and the lower side impact):
• Kick forward base of the big toe;
• Kick forward heel;
• Kick advance of the whole foot;
• Bottom side heel kick.
Also it introduces a new technique of hands:
• Blow your finger (Bil Jee);
• A circular block of the hand (Huen Sao), and motion of the hand;
• Beat palm (Jen);
• Power-Grab (Larp Sao);
• grabbing hands;
• Power-push (thrust – Bil Sao);
• Double kick with a hand (Po Pai Jen).
Link to Chum Kiu performance by Grandmaster William Cheung: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq5SdwQgbF8
- The third form – Bil Jee
Bil Jee is translated as "thrusting fingers" or "flying fingers ". This is the final form of the traditional Wing Chun without weapons and additional tools using. This is the most advanced form.
At this level Wing Chun adepts should have sufficient maturity and strong character not allowing them to abuse the newfound knowledge.
Practicing Bil Jee, person’s hands work together performing blocks and attacks. In every action the disciples embed the whole force of the body and impart their moving a great power and efficiency. The third form consists of 108 techniques for the hands that cover the full range of combat situations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT31imivQao
Chi Sao
Chi sao (or "sticky hands") is one of the most important exercises in Wing Chun art. Chi Sao technique involves large number of paired movements aimed to the development of sensitivity and reaction rate, but no for sparring.
Learning to control own hands and the hands of the opponent adept trains own nervous system may cooperate with partner`s movements, and so adept can easily find weaknesses and choose the most effective way to attack the rival and defense.
Some situations need lightning speed to respond with. If you do not use subconscious mind, the brain may not give the desired response time – you always think at least a few seconds.
Chi Sao is just trains the reflexes that we need so much during frantic pace of our lives, and with help of which we can attack and defend ourselves intuitively without thinking and without afraid to make mistakes.
You can note strength and direction of the opponent’s attack with your eyes in case there is some distance between you. When you are in contact you stop see by eyes and make moving by the tactile sensations only.
Practicing Chi Sao, you develop the sensitivity of touch and acquire the ability to adapt quickly to the partner’s technique and strength and to use its own motions for your victory.
Types of Chi Sao:
- Dan Chi Sao – single hand drills (mostly the exercises with Bon Sao, Tan Sao, Fook Sao – mouvements from the first form)
- Shun Chi Sao – two hand drill (one hand attacks, other hand defends)
SiFu with Grandmaster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KPFpiaDGT0&feature=player_embedded
Wooden Dummy technique
Wooden Dummy technique, also known as Muk Yan Jong Fa, is the most advanced technique without the weapons usage. It is devoted by the polishing previously learned movements as well as training of attack and defense angles.
«The wooden man» Muk Yan Jong has three «arms» - two upper and one middle and also one "leg". "Extremities" are just imaginary lines of opponent`s attacks. Dummy adept trains depart from the line of attack, regardless of which hand or foot is attacking your opponent, and immediately attacks from any position.
The dummy must be made individually by the size of practitioner who wants to work with it.
SiFu with Grandmaster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXrk6Hr1vJ8&feature=player_embedded
SiFu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuNZgMYOTQU&feature=player_embedded
Butterfly Swords
Technique Butterfly Swords, or Bat Cham Dao - the most complex and study at more advanced stages.
Bat means "eight", Cham - "whip, cut to pieces", the Dao - "the knife" or "sword with a blade". According to the book of Grandmaster William Cheng "The Butterfly Swords" figure eight in the title came from the description of the special effects technology to eight joints.
The History of the Wing Chun swords are rooted in the XVI century. Chinese pirates are constantly attacked by European vessels, and had to fight to the very limited space on the decks. They could not pay attention to user-friendly boarding cutlasses seafarers sailing fleets - and collecting trophies, local robbers immediately altered their own way. Simplifying design and making hatchets guys, they invented very effective weapon in the battle - compact, easy to manufacture and inexpensive.
About this time, Wing Chun finished form as separate style of fighting at close range, and swords, butterfly became his first weapon.
Bat Cham Dao:
· develops and strengthens the wrist;
· learns how to use both hands to defend and attack simultaneously;
· trains sparingly movements;
· develops resistance, increases mobility, promotes coordination;
· trains to apply footwork in full;
· develops the ability to focus on different circumstances, especially in befor-contact combat stage;
· develops contact reflexes, the ability to feel the weapon as part of the body, as well as by the sword feel, whence comes the power of the enemy's weapons in order to effectively deal with them.
Bat Cham Do - is the best method of training the eye and contact reflexes. Practitioner Bat Cham Dao will have a huge advantage over those who practice other styles, even if he/she will have to use other weapons.
Long pole
Luk Dim Boon Gwun literally translated as "six and a half point of the long pole". This is the second form of Wing Chun techniques weapons include. It has six different movements that are repeated in different directions and one half-technique - throwing the pole. Therefore, Luke Dim Boon Gwun is more easier to train than dealing with butterfly-swords, which includes over 100 combinations of movements. Long pole is sometimes called "Dragon Pole".
The story of Long Pole Wing Chun begins in the third millennium BC when it applied for hunting and protection from neighboring tribes. After bronze and iron discovered, men invented spades, axes and other dangerous weapons, but six remained by domestic use and always at hand.
all times shaolin monks preferred the pole to other weapons: it’s harder to mutilate or maim with it, but it is possible to effectively repel the attack.
According to legend the style Luk Dim Boon Gwun came up with Jee Shim, one of the Five Elders, who founded the Wing Chun. one of the elders, Ng Mui did not taught the technique Yim Wing Chun, passing her only the forms without arm and knowledge of butterfly-swords.
Grandmaster Jee Shim transmitted his knowledge of the "Dragon Pole" to his disciples and for some time it was separate branch of Kung Fu.
Yim Wing Chun’s husband named Long Bok Cho also mastered Kung Fu and once he chose his nephew Wong Wah Bo for the successor of Wing Chun technique. Wong Wah Bo already had known the long pole technique at that time. By legend Long Bok Cho and Wong Wa Bo decided to hold friendly battle to see who was the best artist.
The first armed with butterfly-swords and the second came with the pole, which was used to control the boat. Long was very skilled so Wong had to retreat to avoid being injured with sharp swords. But as soon as Wong was out of reach of swords he was able to use his pole. Long could not attack he could only defend himself. He gave up, eventually, and the "dragon pole" technique was added to the Wing Chun system and transferred to the present day.
Usually the pole is one and a half times longer than the practitioner’s growth, and it is thinner at one end. Adept holds it to its base (thick end), and this why the Long Pole Wing Chun style differs from other styles, where practitioners use both ends of the poles.
Due to the large size of the pole it is not so easy to learn how to use it, and there is a theory that it was invented for the fights at long range on the battlefield. In close contact they used butterfly-swords.
Throwing the pole in this case was preceded by the use of swords, and this movement was really important in fact.
Luke Dim Boon Gwun helps strengthen the body and be more aware of the principles of Wing Chun. The practitioner must be strong enough to hold the pole. This form helps to develop coordination. If you deviate from the center line of a centimeter hand you do not notice it most likely. If it happens with the pole, the other end will be much farther from the goal than you need. Thus, working with the pole leads to an improvement of previous techniques by correcting small errors.