Wing Chun Kung-Fu

Wing Chun is a southern style of Chinese Kung Fu, and is the most influential Chinese martial art in modern times. Wing Chun kung fu emphasizes self-defense to its most streamlined rudiments: Simultaneous attack and defense with multiple straight-line strikes at extremely close range. Every punch, poke, strike, slap, or kick in the system has been designed to serve as a defense; double as an attack. Rapid hand techniques combined with low kicks tend to be featured in an aggressive array of constant forward pressure.

Wing Chun does not have a set pattern of combat. It trains one to respond freely, thus, it is very practical for self-defense. Wing Chun enables a small and weak person to defend oneself against a bigger stronger opponent. Wing Chun students are taught to insure the most effective deployment of their striking techniques by controlling, or "apping", one or more of an opponent's limbs whenever possible.

Apping skills are developed through a competitive form of resistance training called "Chi-Sau", or "sticking hands", which besides strengthening the upper body tends to make a student combat - effective faster.

In Chinese Kung Fu, a style can be considered either hard or soft. Styles that rely on yang, or firmness of attack, and great power such as the Crane and Hung Gar styles, are effective only when the fighter is considerably more powerful than his opponent. Styles that rely on yin, or pliable softness, and which are usually very graceful and flowing, such as Tai Chi Cheun or Sim Yee Cheun, rely on much speed and agility.

The most common mistake of martial arts experts is to assume that yin and yang are two separate forces, each self-sufficient within itself. For instance, some experts try to attain softness through hardness as in Karate, while others attempt to attain hardness through softness as in Tai Chi. Yin and yang are one in a great reality, each interacting with the other. An example of this is to try driving a car with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake - the car cannot move because the two forces are working against each other. But if the feet are moved alternately, one in harmony with the other, the car moves smoothly.

The philosophy of Wing Chun is the same; The hardness flows with the softness to create a positive, continuous flow that surrounds your opponent. You bend with the strength of his attacks, and then strike when he is weak and lacks energy. In this way, you can overcome superior strength easily, with little or no harm coming to you. This philosophy is clearly evident in the techniques of Wing Chun. Each technique trains one aspect of a person in relation to our philosophy.