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Introducing Kung Fu

Kung Fu is a basic translation of a Chinese term that means 'hard work'. Kung Fu, therefore, is a pretty generic term that is commonly, but not exclusively, used to embrace all of the Chinese Martial Arts. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of styles of Kung Fu. Many have the suffix 'Kuen' or 'Gar' meaning fist and family. So in China you can simply have Mr X's fist fighting style.

The martial art television series 'Kung Fu' and the Shaolin monks who tour the world demonstrating their impressive skills, are showing many different arts. They can all be put together with the term Kung Fu as they clearly show the hard work that has gone into their mastery, and the reflection that they are demonstrating the Chinese approach to martial arts, but it is an amalgam of systems, styles and ideologies. So, Kung Fu is not the ONE style that most people believe, that does not, in fact, exist. The five animal styles -Hung Gar- will be as close to the impression of Kung Fu that most people have. Wu Shu is another term that generalises/encompasses Chinese martial arts.

It may also help those that are new to Martial Art if we point out that the term 'Martial Art' is again a generic term for military self defence arts. Therefore, it is easy to see why some approaches are not suited to Western competition with rules, they are in effect battlefield skills, and clearly for life and death situations. They are effective fighting systems and require considerable discipline in order to be able to perform when one is under immense pressure. Life and death is about as tough as it gets! Hence why army discipline is so strict.

However, it should be pointed out that self defence and martial arts/kung fu are two quite different things. Most people we meet at the UKWCKFA still have an urgent need to learn how to keep themselves safe and we teach common sense and good body language to avoid becoming a target in the first place. Physical confrontation should always be avoided if at all possible.

Violence is dangerous and frightening and it takes many years of disciplined training to have any chance if you have to fight back. You can now see that self defence against a potentially hidden threat is very difficult. On the battlefield you will kill the enemy and even stab them in the back, you will hope they never see you before you see them. However, even on the battlefied where stakes are so high you can sometimes engage facing one another in close quarter combat. Terrorism on the other hand is completely different, and is the violence meted out on most women in attack situations. The assailant, terrorised the woman 'approached from nowhere' and ensured his own safety was high.

As you continue on your martial journey your intial reasons for starting will no longer hold fast. You will change perceptibly in your manner, confidence and physicality. Martial art training is hard work. We know you will lose up 50% of your class training skills under pressure. If you have little skill in the first place then all you have is fitness and conditioning. This is why UKWCKFA beginners are pushed. If you are a frail or overwieght individual your chances of survival in a physically violent confrontation are lessened considerably. You would even find it difficult to hold out fighting back long enough for the perpetrator to fear being seen or caught. If you honestly know you could not run from a situation, please do not be fooled into believing that a few martial art tricks and skills will save you.

There are many gimmicks claiming to train you in just four hours. Claims to be able to reprogramme your responses in a violent situation in just a few lessons. These are foolish claims from the unscrupulous. You need to learn the skills to stay safe first before dealing with a physical confrontation. Every person will fight to survive, that does not mean they will win. You will fight as hard as you feel loved or love yourself. Many victims of bullying etc. do not hold themselves well and portray a lack of energy or confidence. This image can often result in them being chosen to be violated by a depraved mind. You are seen as a safer target.

So why learn Wing Chun when self defence is so difficult? Well Wing Chun is a direct, simple and effective approach. It was designed from the outset by two women to deal with adversity. However, sometimes the criminal mind is like a Ninja's. They approach and pick a victim minimising the danger to themselves. They do not wish to be indentified, certainly don't wish to be caught or punished for their actions. If you place yourself as a target to them, you will have little or no chance. Therefore, it is clear that for Wing Chun to work there has to be a chance. So you will also need to learn how to create a chance. In the UKWCKFA we specialise in teaching self defence and Wing Chun Kung Fu side by side to help all of our students have a better chance.

Introduction To Wing Chun Kung Fu

Wing Chun is simply the name of a woman, so adding Kuen (Fist) indicates that the style of Wing Chun Kuen is a 'fist' fighting style named in her honour. It is just one of many styles of martial arts whose origins are to be found in southern China and, compared to other arts, is a relatively new style.

Wing Chun is known as a 'soft' style, but is in fact a blend of both hard and soft techniques. This blending of hard and soft is due to the fact that a sensible balance is necessary. One story is that Wing Chun Kung Fu was originally developed by a woman. It is also said that the originator (said to be a Buddhist nun named Ng Mui) observed a battle between a cobra snake and a crane bird. From her observations sprang ideas to develop this art. Mimicking animal movements is particularly common to Chinese martial arts and stems from a respect for nature.

'Wing Chun is based on three principles, namely:

• Simultaneous Defence and counter attack by Interception
  
  
• Economy of motion in every technique
  
  
• Centre line

The last point is viewed as being the most definitive part of the Wing Chun system as there are many strikes, which seek to obscure the vision of the aggressor. This 'Centre Line' is also protected at all costs as many of the fatal striking points lie along its path. By protecting the centre line and attacking from it, the Wing Chun practitioner has a good advantage in self defence. Practitioners are not the aggressors in a confrontational situation. Wing Chun is an art of self-defence where one is reacting to an initiated threat. This does not mean we do not strike first, if the threat is very high this is sometmes necessary, but it must be emphasised this is due to the actions of another creating the 'threat'. This realistic approach is not a softer option as Wing Chun is a very effective counter striking style.

If one is fighting multiple assailants the situation will dictate the need to attack aggressively. The need to strike and escape as soon as possible is the main objective in such a situation. The Wing Chun stylists' use of finger strikes, elbows and knee kicks is of great value. Even the most skilled Wing Chun practitioner can only fight one person at a time, it is the clever use of footwork skills which help when under great threat.

One of the techniques performed in Wing Chun is called BONG SAU (Wing Arm) - Like a bird's wing. This technique is a major building block in the framework of the style. It is taught to beginners as a basic cover against an attack, and is the founding principle in Lok Sau, Single Chi Sau, Double Chi Sau and the Wooden Dummy (See photo). It is particularly useful to the students understanding of the style. The shape is more important than the strength, it is designed to cover a wide area, to fold under extreme pressure, whilst never allowing the arm to get trapped. It can change easily into taan sau (palm up block) allowing one to slip the hand free, and the rear guard hand (wu sau) can grab and deflect the incoming strike. The bong then becomes an effective throat cutting hand.

This one technique demonstrates how flexible the Wing Chun system is. It also shows that if one technique can be used in many situations why learn many different moves for many situations? This reinforces simplicity as a main tenant in the system.

For a woman in a street situation a male aggressor would already be considered emotionally unstable. Therefore, the female Wing Chun practitioner has to respond using the skills of Economy of Motion, using his weight, size, and strength and turning them to her advantage. Whilst we may refer to the aggressor being male, there are situations where females are also aggressive, however, the same principle applies whether the aggressor is male, female, smaller or larger.

Wing Chun is suitable for all ages and abilities with children as young as 5 years of age attending classes and developing well. People with various disabilities including the blind, paraplegic and persons with learning difficulties can all find Wing Chun adaptable and suitable. It is a clever, flexible system enabling most people to achieve a reasonable skill even in the face of adversity. Some students may find they have physical limits, but this does not limit their enthusiasm and enjoyment.

For More Information Contact:
UK Wing Chun Kung Fu Assoc HQ , Lubards Farm, Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 9QG
Phone: +44 (0) 7860 276923
Send mail to info@ukwingchun.com with questions or comments about this web site.

Copyright © 1998 United Kingdom Wing Chun Kung Fu Association