About

The Art

Wing Chun, or Ving Tsun, is a southern Chinese martial art that focuses on close-range striking, trapping, and low kicks.  Oral tradition attributes its creation to Ng Mui, a Buddhist nun in Qing-dynasty China, for smaller practitioners to overcome a larger and stronger opponent.  It was first taught publicly by Ip Man (1893-1972) in Hong Kong, whose students have since popularised the art in Hong Kong and internationally.

Our Wing Chun is taught by Sifu Leo Lit.  Sifu Lit is a student of Grandmaster Tsui Sheung Tin (1933-2013), who was a senior student of Ip Man, and is widely considered to have been one of the greatest modern practitioners and teachers of Wing Chun.

 

The Syllabus

Wing Chun training includes three empty hand forms: Siu Nim Tau (The Little Idea), Chum Kiu (Seeking Bridges), and Biu Gee (Darting Fingers); the Mook Yan Jong (Wooden Dummy); and two traditional weapons: the Look Dim Boon Gun (Six and a Half Point Pole) and Baat Jam Do (Knives).  Partner work focuses on Chi Sau (Sticky Hands), which involves application of Wing Chun principles and movements in an increasingly resisting environment.

 

Empty Hand Forms

The first form is called Siu Nim Tau, or “The Little Idea”.  It is the foundation of Wing Chun and contains not only the basic movements, but also the fundamental principles of balance, structure, and intent unique to this art.

The second form is called Chum Kiu, or “Seeking Bridges”, refers to the general concept of “bridge” between two people’s arms and the path to their target.  It applies the fundamentals of the Little Idea in stepping and turning, where movement and rotation of the body create two simultaneous planes of force to power various trapping and striking applications.

The third form, Biu Gee, or “Darting Fingers”, requires a strong foundation in the fundamentals of the Little Idea and Seeking Bridges.  By practicing at full speed and intent, practitioners can concentrate great destructive force into their attacking extremities.

 

Partner Training

Chi sau, or “Sticky Hands”, is the main partner exercise in Wing Chun through which movements and fundamental principles from the three empty hand forms are honed.  Sticky Hands covers a range of aims and intensities through which technical and fundamental Wing Chun skills can be practiced with an increasingly noncompliant partner.

 

Traditional Weapons and Training Tools

The Mook Yan Jong, or “Wooden Dummy”, is a tool that allows for a practitioner to train the characteristic movements and principles of Wing Chun at speed with force.

The Look Dim Boon Gun, or “Six and a Half Point Pole”, and the Baat Jam Do, or paired knives, are the two traditional weapons of Wing Chun.  Weapons training includes tactics for long and short weapons respectively, and further development of fundamental Wing Chun skills extending to held objects.

 

Are you still curious? Come and train with us to find out more!