How to Learn Wing Chun Kung Fu

Learn the Centerline Theory. The fundamental principle of Wing Chun Kung Fu is to protect the centerline of your body. Imagine a straight line running from the top of your head down through the center of your chest to the lower part of your body. This is your body's centerline, the most vulnerable part. You must always guard it.

• According to the centerline theory, you should always attack from your centerline downward and counterattack on your opponent's centerline.
• The basic open stance of Wing Chun Kung Fu is based on the centerline theory. In this stance, you stand facing forward with slightly bent knees, and your feet angled outward. This position helps you to strike with maximum balance and force.

Utilize your energy wisely and efficiently. A key principle of Wing Chun is to conserve and use your energy sparingly while engaging in combat. Redirect the opponent's energy by deflecting their attacks.

• Move effectively and intelligently. The idea is to cover the shortest distance in the least amount of time to connect with your opponent. This also helps conserve your own energy.

Relax your body. A tense body wastes energy unnecessarily. When you relax, you will feel more comfortable.

• If you've studied other martial arts (especially the "hard" ones), you may need to "unlearn" what you've learned or forget bad habits. Wing Chun is a fluid martial art with many techniques that require you to be "soft" and relaxed. Adjusting muscle reflexes and forming the habit of relaxation might be challenging and time-consuming, but it's essential in the long run.

Train your reflexes. In Wing Chun, fighters develop quick reflexes to block attacks and guide the flow of the fight to their advantage.

Adapt your strategy based on your opponent and environment. Your opponent may be taller or shorter, bigger or smaller, male or female, and so on. Likewise, the fighting environment can vary—outdoors, indoors, rain, heat, cold, etc. Be prepared to adjust your fighting style to fit the surrounding conditions.

Learn the forms of Wing Chun. Wing Chun is divided into a series of six different forms, each built upon the one before it. In each form, you'll learn stances, body positioning, hand and foot movements, and balance techniques. The forms include:

• Siu Nim Tao
• Chum Kiu
• Biu Jee
• Wooden Dummy Form
• Six-and-a-Half Point Pole
• Butterfly Swords

Find a Wing Chun School. Martial arts schools often focus on teaching a specific discipline, especially for serious practitioners. A Wing Chun school or club may be affiliated with a martial arts association. You can search online or in the phone directory to locate a local Wing Chun school.

• Ask around at local schools to see if they offer Wing Chun. They might only teach the basics, and if you're interested in more advanced training, you may need to find a place that offers higher-level classes.
• Meet the instructor (master) to inquire about their experience and expertise. How many years of experience do they have? How did they learn Wing Chun?
• Attend a Wing Chun class. Observe how the instructor teaches and how other students learn.
• Learning directly from a master is the best approach.

Learn Wing Chun Online or via DVD. Many websites offer lessons for self-learning Wing Chun. They typically provide videos at various levels, with subscription fees based on your expertise (beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc.), and access to additional resources. These websites can be helpful if you can't find a skilled instructor or a Wing Chun school nearby. They can also enhance your live classes if you're currently studying at a martial arts school. Choose an online course or DVD set taught by the grandmaster or Wing Chun masters.

• Some online courses also offer certificates for advanced students who wish to teach Wing Chun.
• Some websites offer webcam lessons with the master in a one-on-one format.
• There are apps available to help you learn Wing Chun, for Apple or Android phones.
• Examples include the “Wing Chun Online Course” released and certified by the International Wing Chun Association, and the “Wing Chun Kung Fu Long Distance Learning” course.

Create a dedicated space for training. Find a space in your home where you can practice Wing Chun. It should be spacious enough to allow you to move freely in all directions. Test it by swinging your arms and legs around to ensure you won't hit any furniture.

• Ideally, the space should have a mirror so you can see your movements.

Find a training partner. Practicing moves on your own will only take you so far. Eventually, you'll need to learn how to connect your movements with an opponent. Training with a partner helps you practice responding to their attacks. They can also motivate you and provide feedback on your technique.

Understanding the Tieu Chi. The Tieu Chi focuses on utilizing power at very close distances. Students will learn techniques for emergency situations, such as regaining the central line when knocked down or trapped. In all three sections of Tieu Chi, you will combine hand and foot movements from the first two forms to escape an unfavorable position. Afterward, you will regain your offensive stance and use close-range power to neutralize your opponent.

Understanding the Muk Yan Jong. The Muk Yan Jong, also known as the "Wooden Dummy," is an advanced form that requires practicing with a stationary opponent (the wooden dummy). This helps you recognize and understand the interaction of the hands and feet when striking an opponent.

• Since the wooden dummy is immobile, it has been designed to serve as a suitable training device.
• There are several useful applications of the wooden dummy. You should be familiar with techniques that closely simulate real situations and some techniques that have various applications described through specific movements in the form.

Understanding the Luk Dim Boon Kwun. This form uses a staff as a weapon to attack your opponent. Practicing with the staff can enhance your skills in maintaining balance and defending yourself.

Understanding the Bat Cham Dao. The Bat Cham Dao is the most advanced form, requiring the use of a short sword as a weapon. Not everyone can learn the Bat Cham Dao, only those with sufficient skill. This form primarily focuses on precision, technique, and posture. The foot and hand movements are slightly altered from other forms because you must wield the sword.

Learning the Siu Nim Tau. The Siu Nim Tau lays the foundation for many movements in Wing Chun Kung Fu. It is the first form in Wing Chun and helps you learn proper stance, body alignment, relaxation techniques, and basic hand positions.

• You must master each section of the Siu Nim Tau before advancing to the next level or learning other techniques.
• Each movement in this basic form carries meaning, including rhythm, tension and relaxation, angles, and distances. There are no particularly complex techniques in this form.

Understanding Gong Lik: Gong Lik is the first section of the Siu Nim Tau, focusing on body structure and relaxation techniques. You will learn the open stance, which is the position you will take when facing your opponent. You will also learn how to keep your body relaxed.

• Practice the "Si Ji Kuen" stance, also known as the open stance. In this position, you will face forward with your feet slightly apart, knees slightly bent (so that when looking down, your eyes cannot see your toes). Your weight will be evenly distributed on both legs (both feet). The goal is to prepare your arms and elbows for hand and arm movements. This facing stance will give you a significant advantage in a fight, as you can use both your arms and legs to protect your centerline. You'll be able to use both sides of your body equally well, rather than relying on just one side.

Understanding Fajing: Fajing is the second section of the Siu Nim Tau. It develops the technique of releasing power. In this section, you will learn how to harness and preserve strength and energy. The focus is on relaxing the body until your hands are ready to strike.

• One common Fajing technique is the palm strike (yan jeung), where the left palm opens, rotates downward, and moves down to strike the opponent.

Learning Basic Skills: The third section of the Siu Nim Tau teaches fundamental hand movements and defensive skills, forming the base for other techniques in Wing Chun Kung Fu.

• Some of the basic stances include the Pak Sau or Kuen Sau (attack), Tan Sau (palm-up defense), Gan Sau (knife-hand strike), and Biu Sau (arm swing). In this section, students primarily focus on coordinating these stances. After practicing these skills on the left side, you will move to the right side for further practice.

Learning the Cham Kiu. The Cham Kiu guides the movements of the entire body, complementing what you have learned in the basic Siu Nim Tau form. In Cham Kiu, you will learn how to rotate your body effectively and efficiently, focusing on weight distribution and balance. This section also introduces leg movements such as turns and kicks.

• You need to master each section of Cham Kiu before advancing to the next stage and before learning other techniques.
• Mastering body transitions (moving from one side to the other) is crucial before moving on to the second form. This is important because the basic form only involves static stances.

Understanding the First Section of Cham Kiu. The first section is called Juun, focusing on body rotation, balance, and structure. You will learn how to be aware of your surroundings, including what is behind you, to fight effectively. Juun also incorporates mid-range arm techniques such as Jip Sau (wrapping hands) and Fuk Sau (hooking the eyes).

Understanding the Second Section of Cham Kiu. The second section is called Ser, which emphasizes deflecting your opponent’s attack and redirecting that energy back toward them. You will learn how to move both hands and feet in unison, and then how to move them independently.

Understanding the Third Section of Cham Kiu. The third section of Cham Kiu focuses on applying force in both hand and foot movements. This section also teaches how to coordinate powerful arm movements with relaxed body actions to deal with various combat situations. You will learn how to rotate your body to the right and left to maintain balance and find your centerline while fighting.

• There are many books available that explain the principles and techniques of Wing Chun. However, books are not as effective as attending classes, learning online, or watching DVDs. Although books feature pictures of stances and techniques, they cannot accurately demonstrate the movements, which can limit your ability to fully absorb the content.

• You may experience bruising and slight swelling while practicing Wing Chun or engaging in martial arts. However, you should not hesitate to practice due to fear of injury. Proper training in Wing Chun will not cause serious harm, aside from small bruises.
• Consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program.