Since its inception, Wing Chun has captivated with its sophisticated self-defense techniques. The Chinese martial art focuses mainly on people who are physically inferior to their attacker. The techniques are designed to use the strength or even the weak points of the opponent to your own advantage. In addition, you as a trainee learn to put yourself in the position of the aggressor

The most important in a nutshell:

  • Wing Chun is particularly suitable for women, children and seniors because of the techniques involved
  • It is a weaponless form of self-defense. However, trainees learn to defend themselves against knife and stick attacks.
  • Wing Chun trains the body and mind thanks to the refined techniques
  • Reflex training takes an important role in Wing Chun

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History & Background

Wing Chun represents a special type of Chinese kung fu. According to reports, the newer version of the martial art originated in the 19th century. The term stands for the expression Ode to Spring. Written reports prove the existence of the martial art in 1854.

Translation & spelling

Beautiful Spring, Eternal Spring as well as Praise of Spring are other well-known translations which stand for Wing Chun. Other well-known spellings include Yong Chun, Wing Tsun, Ving Chun as well as Ving Tsun.

Yuen Kay Shan as well as Yip Man are among the inventors who represent today’s Wing Chun. The latter was the grandmaster of the traditional variant of this martial art. It originated in a Shaolin monastery. This was located in a province of China called Fujian. The traditional variant has its origin in the early 18th century.

Yip Man is considered the founder of Wing Chun, which enjoys worldwide popularity. Furthermore, there exists an association, which goes back to his existence. The name of the association is Ving Tsun Athletic Association (VTAA). Yip Man and seven of his ambitious students founded it in 1967 shortly before his death. The association has its headquarters on a peninsula called Kowloon. It is located in Hong Kong.

Yip Man is also known from movies, here is a summary of popular scenes

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Features of Wing Chun

Wing Chun is a pure art of self-defense. The goal is to immobilize the opponent within a short period of time. Physical strength and physical size do not play a role. Physical stamina is equally secondary. Instead, this particular style of Kung Fu relies on the skills that each person possesses.

No competitions exist in Wing Chun, as it is designed exclusively for the self-defense of physically inferior individuals. As a result, Wing Chun followers do not have any prerequisites or acrobatic skills before they decide to practice this martial art. In addition, there are different exercise groups for children, women, adults and seniors.

Wing Chun exercises rely on the natural flow of movements. Superfluous movements are not found in this martial art. Furthermore, the techniques are characterized by flexibility and simplicity. Furthermore, you need a minimum of force to perform them correctly. However, you will achieve maximum penetrating power.

Reading & listening to the opponent

Wing Chun is one of the martial arts that develop the student’s ability to empathize . Empathy stands for the ability of a person to consciously put himself in the position of his opponent. If you are strong in empathy, you can more easily recognize the intentions of your fellow human beings or your attacker. In Wing Tsun, masters also teach their students not to label the attacker as evil or bad. In training, you learn that your opponent can be a good fighter as well, but one who is up to no good.

  • Therefore, reading the body language of the attacker is one of the basic training techniques of Wing Chun. This will enable you to correctly interpret their intentions. Before physical contact begins, your eyes perform this important task.
  • However, before you allow physical contact, your limbs, such as arms and hands, sense your attacker’s intentions. They also sense their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Reading your opponent requires special exercises. They are composed of reflex training. The name of this exercise is Chi Sao. It means “sticking hands.”
  • Certain hand and arm movements act as an exercise to “hear” the attacker. This allows you to search for your opponent’s weak points and then exploit them to your advantage. Furthermore, you will instantly recognize your attacker’s deceptive intentions.

Training exercises

Chi Sao techniques are practiced blindfolded after a certain period of time. This way you ideally focus on your reflexes. This situation is analogous to a quick close combat. Your eyes also do not make any decisions. Instead, they take away valuable time that you need to react correctly.

In addition, the training includes different defense systems. You learn these one after the other. However, they also work independently of each other.

Beginners learn the proactive variant. It works according to the motto that the attack is the best defense. The concept is called Blitz Defence. Efficient practice sequences include both psychological and communicative methods. These have known conflict situations as their basis. These include setting boundaries for women. Also included is ritual combat for men.

The second part of the defense system deals not only with the reactions of the attacker, but also with how you can react when you reach your limits. This may be due, among other things, to the fact that the aggressor is precisely a trained fighter. That’s why the development of your abilities plays a crucial role. You learn to improvise. In practice this can be more important than the knowledge of fixed techniques.

Wing Chun wooden dummy & weapons

The wooden dummy helps to learn arm and leg techniques. It also establishes the connection between Kung Fu and Wing Chun. Wing Tsun is a self-defense method without weapons. Nevertheless, different weapons are used in the training. However, the training encourages you to become better. The same principles always apply. They do not depend on the weapon used.

  • The long stick called Luk Dim Boon Kwun and the double knife called Baat Jam Do are used in Wing Chun. You learn in training to defend yourself against attacks with these weapons.
  • In terms of equipment, there are no special rules in Wing Tsun as in other martial arts that require you to wear a GI. Martial arts shoes, martial arts trousers as well as a comfortable T-shirt are sufficient to participate in the training. As a rule, Wing Chun followers dress in black.

FAQ Wing Chun

Update: 2023-05-28 / Affiliate Links / Bilder von der Amazon Product Advertising API