Swiss Elite Athletic Association

WING CHUN
Self-defense

Wing Chun, Wing Tsung and Wing Tzun are all Martial arts , which come from the same Chinese tradition. They have slight differences in their techniques and execution, but are basically the same.

詠春功夫

Martial arts with a system - Wing Chun uses the power of the opponent

Fast reflexes are the ultimate in Wing Chun. This does not mean the natural reflexes, such as ducking the head or blinking the eyes, which usually only hinder us in combat situations, but special reflexes designed for attack and defense. hands, arms and legs of a Fighter react quickly and efficiently to touch and immediately execute rehearsed movement patterns.

He recognizes enemy attacks not only with his eyes, but also with his sense of touch. At the same time, deceptive manoeuvres of his opponent no longer remain hidden from him, because he now not only sees the direction of a blow, but also feels its strength. Training these reflexes is the great challenge of the student. First, the basic movement sequences are rehearsed. Afterwards, the newly acquired techniques are deepened with a training partner. Chi Sao, for example, is one such partner exercise. From Chi Sao, numerous techniques can be applied and automated over time. This is also very good for self-defense and makes this martial art efficient.

The origin of the myth of Wing Chun

The founder Yim Wing Chun lived in the province of Canton in China. She was an athletic and intelligent young girl. Shortly after her engagement to a salt merchant, her mother died and her father, Yim Yee was accused of a crime. To avoid his imprisonment, the two fled and finally settled at the foot of Mount Tai Leung, near the border between the provinces of Szechuan and Yunan. They earned their living by selling bean paste.

Michelle Yeoh as Yim Wing Chun in the '94 Hong Kong Film

Ng Mui, a Buddhist nun from the Shaolin Monastery of Mount Sung, had fled during the destruction of the monastery (more on this in the history of Shaolin Kung Fu) and sought shelter in the Temple of the White Crane at Mount Tai Leung. There she met Yim Yee and his daughter Wing Chun for the first time, from whom she often bought bean paste.

A particularly fast and effective way of self-defense

At the marriageable age of fifteen, her hair tied up in the traditional way, the pretty Wing Chun attracted the attention of a well-known bully in the village. He wanted to marry her immediately and the constant threats became a big problem for Wing Chun and her father. Ng Mui heard about it and decided to help her. So Wing Chun followed the nun Ng Mui into the mountains and began to learn Kung Fu. She practiced day and night until she mastered the techniques. After her return, she challenged the bully – and defeated him. Ng Mui left the village a short time later, but before leaving, Wing Chun urged her to always strictly follow the traditions of Kung Fu, to develop the technique and to help the people overthrow the Manchu government.

After their marriage, Wing Chun taught Kung Fu to her husband, Leung Bok Chau. This was passed on to Leung Lan Kwai and he in turn to Wong Wah Bo. Wong Wa Bo was a member of an opera troupe aboard a junk. It was pure coincidence that the abbot Chi Shin of the Shaolin Monastery was working as a cook on the junk at that time. He got along very well with Leung Yee Tai, another member of the opera troupe, and taught him techniques with the long stick. Wong Wa Bo and Leung Yee Tai exchanged their knowledge about Kung-Fu and so the long-stick movements were integrated into the fighting system. Leung Yee Tai passed on the combat system to Leung Jan, a well-known herbalist in Fat Shan. Leung Jan realized the efficiency and deeper secrets of Wing Chun and became very famous. Many challenged him, but he defeated them all. Later, he passed on the fighting system to Chan Wah Shan and he in turn took me and my older Kung-Fu brothers Ng Siu Lo, Ng Chung So, Chan Yu Min and Lui Yu Jai as his students, so many decades ago.

Thus, these techniques have been passed down from generation to generation. I am writing this story in respectful memory of my predecessors. I am infinitely grateful to them for the skills I now possess. A man should always think about the source of the water he drinks. It is this feeling of connection that holds us Kung-Fu brothers together. Yip Man

Excerpt from: My Father's Story – Yip Man the Gross Master of the Wing Chun style of Master Yip Chun

What makes a good school?

The instructors are experienced, knowledgeable, and committed to teaching the art form. They should create a positive learning environment and foster an atmosphere of mutual respect among their students. In addition, a good school should offer both self-defense courses and traditional martial arts training. This ensures that students gain a comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and understand its principles in order to be able to protect themselves in any situation. The student must experience quality instruction and have many opportunities to learn through trial training and self-defense classes.

The difference between Wing Tsung, Wing Tzun, Wing Tsun, Ving Tsun...

Wing Chun, Wing Tsung, and Wing Tzun are all martial arts that originate from the same Chinese tradition. They have slight differences in their techniques and execution, but are basically the same. The difference in spelling is mainly due to the numerous different ways in which these terms can be translated into English, as well as cultural differences between the regions where these martial arts are practiced.

The most common spelling is Wing Chun, but it can also be written with a "T" instead of a "C", which can lead to confusion. Wing Tsung is an alternative spelling that reflects a more accurate translation of the Chinese characters, while Wing Tzun is another variant based on cultural dialects. All three forms of martial arts have their roots in ancient Chinese traditions and share similar principles and techniques, but are slightly different from each other.

Wing Chun (or Wing Tsun or Ving Tsun no matter which spelling) is an effective combat system that uses melee combat techniques such as trapping, blocking, punching and kicking. Yip Man, who is considered one of the greatest martial artists in history, had a great influence on this Martial arts and was instrumental in making it what it is today. In recent years, the popularity of this style has increased due to its effectiveness in self-defense situations, as well as its use in Hollywood films such as Ip Man (2008) and The Grandmaster (2013).

Not to forget the name Bruce Lee, of course, but we won't go into more detail about it at the moment.

WING CHUN Self-defense