-by Adam Willis-
Bear with me for just a bit while I try to get you to consider a new way of looking at Wing Chun - an art that many consider to be old or classical. However, I hold firm that Wing Chun is anything but classical.
Please understand that there will be many of those that will disagree with what I'm about to state. In fact, many may rather me just keep my thoughts to myself. To these people. I offer no apologies.
Who will be able to give this short article a chance? Only those that can be open-minded enough to let go of their pre-concieved notions, if even for a short time. This article is targeted at those that won't allow themselves to be bound by confining limits. Whether those limits stem from noble purposes or not, isn't relevant. Just let go for just a minute and consider my take on Wing Chun - something that may help you to look at Wing Chun in a new light.
First and foremost, don't think of Wing Chun as a style. Think of Wing Chun as a concept-based process of efficiency and simplification. It really is limitless. Think of Wing Chun as a guide that takes you through a never-ending pursuit of an ideal. Its a process of learning how to move your body scientifically while adhering to certain guiding principles.
Secondly, forget about the idea of Wing Chun techniques. Recognizable techniques define other martial arts. Recognizable techniques aren't what defines Wing Chun. Wing Chun is its concepts and principles. In Wing Chun, unlike other martial arts, concepts are the reason behind its movements. Trying to define Wing Chun to techniques (as most styles define a martial art) limits the very essence of what Wing Chun attempts to free you from.
Next, Wing Chun can look like anything. Do away with what your idea of what Wing Chun should look like. Concepts are what defines Wing Chun. It doesn't need to be bound by a predefined shape. Like techniques, set forms and shapes define other martial arts, not Wing Chun. Founded on principles from taoist philosophy, Wing Chun's elusive nature reveals itself in many ways.
What's more, there are no traditional blocks in Wing Chun. Defensive movements usually aren't seen. The best defense in Wing Chun is offense. Wing Chun strikes flow through subtle defensive positions on their way to an attack. Movements move forward intercepting an opponent's energy and then deflect it while on the way to a strike.
Simply free your mind from any fixed ideas of Wing Chun. The entire idea of Wing Chun is much more elusive and undefinable. It takes more of an esoteric philosophical approach to training founded in taoist philosophical thought.
Yet Wing Chun does have a general strategy. Wing Chun practioners are generally pressure fighters. Wing Chun believes in moving forward at every chance, sticking to an opponent, seeking the opponent's center while simultaneously attacking and defending. Believing that offense is the best defense, a Wing Chun practioner aims at putting the opponent on the defensive. The strategy holds to the belief that if your opponent is too busy defending, they won't have time to attack.
Hopefully this article has given you a new take on an art that seems to constantly be labeled and filed under the wrong place. If nothing else, I hope you've been able to see how elusive an art like Wing Chun can be to define.
Author's Bio
Adam Williss has made it his mission to empower individuals and help them get access to the same simple and effective self-defense concepts used by world-reknowned experts. He delivers on his mission as the editor behind Wing Chun Magazine and as the owner of Adam Williss Martial Arts San Clemente, which provides highly functional close-quarters self-defense concepts for everyone - from everyday people to the most experienced martial artists.
Adam Williss has educated, empowered and entertained individuals through his seminars, websites, articles, publications and speaking engagements. An educator and speaker to groups ranging from employees of large corporations to military and law enforcement agencies, Adam and his work has been featured in several publications both online and in print. As an executive self-defense trainer, he has trained numerous professionals, corporate executives and high-profile VIPs.
Adam serves in top positions of several associations such as President of the California Wing Chun Association and as a Director and State Representative of California for the World Ving Tsun Athletic Association. He was approved for induction in the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, is an Associate Member of the International Kung Fu Federation, member of the International Combat Martial Arts Unions Association, the United States Kuo Shu Federation, Wing Chun Kung-Fu Association, Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association, National Qigong Association and many more.
ocho-onda Thanks for an informative account of Wing Chun.
The study of martial arts have come a long way to have reached its zenith, at this point in time.
And as far as the Chinese system of Martial Arts is concerned, it is attributed to Bruce Lee who incidentally,in his formative years,was a student of Wing Chun's famous master - Master Yip Mun.
Bruce Lee single handily opened up the secretive door of Chinese Martial Arts to the non Chinese !
And Chinese Martial Art has since evolved from its cradle in Asia to its present ever growing popularity, the world over!
Martial Arts is now no longer just an art but a science as well. There are many Martial Arts Academies in the U.S.A. and all over the world where martial arts is offered not only as a study of fighting and combat skills but of the philosophy of Life itself albeit from the martial art's perspective.
Cheers.