Principles

The Wing Chun system can be used in close quarter fighting or distant fighting, as well as for self-defense and utilizes the following principles:

  • Guard the Center
  • Face the Point of Contact
  • Economy of Movement
  • Touch Reflexes: Chi Sao
  • Watch the Leading Elbow
  • Use Linear Striking Action
  • Avoid Fighting Force Against Force
  • Train to Use Two Arms at the Same Time
  • Use Pressure Points to Make Striking Techniques More Effective
  • Use the same Meridian Pressure Points as Treatment of Sports Injuries

SI-FU LEROY AND GRANDMASTER WILLIAM CHEUNG

Forms & Techniques

Wing Chun forms and techniques were developed and refined by a group of Shaolin Masters who needed to create a kung fu form that was most efficient and easy to learn.

Like all martial arts, it doesn’t matter how strong, quick, or intelligent you are, if you don’t take the time to properly learn the technique of the system.

Here are some pointers that can help you in your quest to perfecting your Wing Chun forms and techniques.

Forms & Techniques

  • Empty Hands Forms
  • Butterfly Swords
  • Dragon Pole
  • Wooden Dummy
  • Chi Sao
  • Form
  • Drills/Techniques
Training Aids

At Wing Chun Kwoon, we follow the Shaolin Temple principles which require a practitioner to be not only a warrior, but a scholar. This means training in martial arts requires not just the physical aspects, but the intellectual and philosophical as well.

In addition to instructional videos and equipment, the following information is an introduction to:

  • Wing Chun Terminology
  • Chinese Acupuncture
  • Five Element Theory

You can also learn about the Wing Chun Grading Structure and different level requirements.

Terminology

The Chinese language has hundreds of dialects. Some are so different they are like seperate launguages. Though they all read the same characters. Most westerners are exposed to Mandarin or Cantonese.

Kung Fu is Mandarin for Gung Fu. So Wing Chun Kung Fu is a mixture of two dialects. Wing Chun is Cantonese, so Wing Chun Gung Fu is correct in Cantonese. Yung Chun Kung Fu is correct in Mandarin.

We will use Kung Fu here because most people world wide are familiar with “Kung Fu”. Kung fu/gung fu means any acquired skill. A doctor, lawyer or a carpenter is doing kung fu. The proper term for the martial arts in Chinese is Wu Shu or Mo Sut.

Chi, or Qi is Mandarin for Hei in Cantonese. Chi will be used because of it’s familiarity.

 MANDARIN CANTONESE ENGLISH
 Shaolin Siu Lum Small forest
 Chi, Qi Hei Air, breath, intrinsic energy
 Wu Mei Ng Mui Five Plums
 Kung Fu Gung Fu Acquired skill
 Wu Shu Mo Sut War Art, Martial Art
 Yung Chun Wing Chun Speak of spring forever
 Chuan Kuen Fist

Cantonese translations
 Counting in Chinese
 Yat One
 Yee Two
 Saam Three
 Sei Four
 Ng Five
 Luhk Six
 Chaat Seven
 Baat Eight
 Gau Nine
 Sahp Ten
 Chinese Phrases
 Jeun Bai Ready
 Jeun Geung Attack
 Woo Wia Defence
 Sifu Teacher
 Sihing Senior
 Sidi Junior
 Haih Yes
 Ng Goi Sorry
 Do Jeh Thank you
 Jo-on Good morning
 Man-on Good night
 Ng-on Good afternoon
 Movement and Exercise
 Baat Jaam Do Eight-chop broadswords (butterfly swords)
 Biu Jee Finger thrusting form
 Bong Sao Wing arm
 Chi Sao Sticky hand exercise
 Muk Jong Wooden dummy
 Chum Kiu Bridge seeking form
 Fook Sao Bridge-on arm
 Gan Sao Plowing hand
 Kwan Sao Tan and Bong deflection block
 Gum Sao Pinning hand
 Jut Sao Jerk hand
 Kan Sao Splitting block
 Kuen Fist
 Fat Sao Swinging arm
 Pak Sao Slapping block
 Siu Lim Tao Little idea form
 Tan Sao Palm-up arm
 Wu Sao Protecting arm
 Dai Jeung Reverse palm strike
 Po Pai Jeung Double palm strike
 Jong Elbow
 Ma Stance
 Biu Sao Stretching deflection block
 Lau Sao Slipping hand
 Kwai Ma Kneeling stance/horse
 Yee Jee Kim Yang Ma Character two pinching stance/horse
Grading Structure

A student entering a kwoon to begin their training is given the White Sash of Level One Grade 0.

  • Level 1-1, 1-2
  • Level 2-0, 2-1, 2-2
  • Level 3-0, 3-1, 3-2
  • Level 4-0, 4-1, 4-2
  • Level 5-0, 5-1, 5-2
  • Level 6-0, 6-1, 6-2
  • Level 7-0, 7-1, 7-2
  • Level 8-0, 8-1, 8-2
  • Level 9-0, 9-1, 9-2
  • Instructor
  • Master Levels
Five Element Theory

Yin and Yang are two Chinese words to explain the duality of the universe. Yin, meaning moon, soft, dark, yielding, etc. Yang, meaning sun, hard, light, overpowering, etc. Some say that yin and yang or opposites but they cannot exist without each other. They are both interdependent, and conflicting. The relationships between yin and yang are used in traditional Chinese medicine to explain the physiology and pathology of the human body. Yin and yang are also used as a guide in diagnosis and treatment of patients.

The Five Element Theory teaches that the material world is made up of 5 basic elements which are, wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. We can adapt to the environment, but we’re also dependent on it. The Five Element Theory has a generation cycle and a destruction cycle. Wood generates fire, fire generates earth, earth generates metal, metal generates water, and water generates wood.

Each of the five elements has a relationship the internal organs. (The pericardium is the membrane that surrounds the heart and is not considered an organ in western medicine. The triple heater or san jiao is also not an organ, but a function.

The Five Elements

Wood

    1. Yin organ – liver
    2. Yang organ – gall bladder
    3. Season – Spring
    4. Weather – wind
    5. Color – green
    6. Direction – east
    7. Emotion – anger
    8. Sound – shout
    9. Flavor – sour
    10. Sense organ – eyes
  1. Sense commanded – sight
  2. Controls – muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments,brain
  3. Expands into – nails
  4. Liquid emitted – tears
  5. Smell – rancid
  6. Developement – birth
  7. Grain – wheat
  8. Meat – fowl
  9. Martial art movement – retreat
  10. Weapon – staff

Earth

  1. Yin organ – spleen
  2. Yang organ – stomach
  3. Season – late summer
  4. Weather – humid
  5. Color – yellow
  6. Direction – center
  7. Emotion – saddness
  8. Sound – sing
  9. Flavor – sweet
  10. Sense organ – mouth
  1. Sense commanded – taste
  2. Controls – fat and flesh
  3. Expands into – lips
  4. Liquid – saliva/spinal fluid
  5. Smell – fragrant
  6. Development – transformation
  7. Grain – rye
  8. Meat – ox/beef
  9. Martial arts movement – center, balance
  10. Weapon – hand

Water

  1. Yin organ – kidney
  2. Yang organ – Urinary bladder
  3. Season – winter
  4. Weather- cold
  5. Color – black
  6. Direction – north
  7. Emotion – fear
  8. Sound – groaning
  9. Flavor – salty
  10. Sense organ – ears
  1. Sense commanded – hearing
  2. Controls – bones
  3. Expands into – head hair
  4. Liqud emitted – urine
  5. Smell – putrid
  6. Development – storing
  7. Grain – bean
  8. Meat – pork
  9. Martial arts movement – gaze left
  10. Weapon – sword

Fire

  1. Yin organ – heart/small intestine
  2. Yang organ – pericardium/triple heater
  3. Season – summer
  4. Weather – heat
  5. Color – red
  6. Direction – south
  7. Emotion – joy
  8. Sound – laughter
  9. Flavor – bitter
  10. Sense organ – tongue
  1. Sense commanded – speech
  2. Controls – blood vessels/vascular system
  3. Expands into – complexion
  4. Liquid emmitted – sweat
  5. Smell – scorched
  6. Development – growth
  7. Grain – millet
  8. Meat – lamb
  9. Martial arts movement – gaze right
  10. Weapon – spear

Metal

  1. Yin organ – lung
  2. Yang organ – colon
  3. Season – fall
  4. Weather – dryness
  5. Color – white
  6. Direction – west
  7. Emotion – grief
  8. Sound – weep
  9. Flavor – pungent
  10. Sense organ – nose
  1. Sense commanded – smell
  2. Controls – skin and hair
  3. Expands into – body hair
  4. Liquid emitted – mucous
  5. Smell – rank
  6. Develpoment – harvest
  7. Grain – rice
  8. Meat – horse
  9. Martial arts movement – advance
  10. Weapon – knife