Tips to practising Ving Tsun Wooden Dummy Techniques
By: Grandmaster Ip Ching
Muk-Yan-Chong (Wooden Dummy Form) is the essence of the three sets of Ving Tsun Kung fu forms, and is also the key to training your ability in Ving Tsun Kung fu. There is a saying, "if you practice kung fu without training hard, you will end up with nothing." I have seen a lot of people practice the Wooden Dummy form incorrectly. On the surface, their strokes seem full of power. Those who know nothing about the principles of Ving Tsun kung fu would be very impressed. But this kind of practice is only superficial. Some of the fact is that this kind of practice Ving Tsun kung fu. For instance when practicing the Wooden Dummy form, in the course of changing from Tan-Sau to Garn-Sau, some people do not take the shortest distance. Rather, to generate power, they draw their hands back. Then they hit the dummy with great force. The fact is that this kind of practice defeats the purpose. The dummy is your opponent. And the moment you pull your arm back, you leave an opening to be attacked.
It is not difficult to become proficient in the Wooden Dummy form. When you practice, adjust the dummy to a suitable height. You also need to understand the application of stroke movements for the dummy and how you switch from defense to offense. In addition, you must be aware of the principles of practicing the Wooden Dummy form as well as the correct hand movements and footwork for every stroke. In performing every set and stroke, you must pay attention to have the waist and footing coordinated in exerting force.
I hope that all Ving Tsun clansmen will assess their movements in each stroke in practicing the Wooden Dummy form to find out whether they are in line with the principles of Ving Tsun Kungfu.
ˇ@
By: Grandmaster Ip Ching
When
we learn Ving Tsun, we must know the objectives of three forms first. After
knowing those objectives, we have the right direction to do practice most effectively.
Since Siu Nim Tau is the first set, many people think that it is only a beginning course. It is partially true. I consider Siu Nim Tau the basic of Ving Tsun. All the movements of Chum Kiu, Bil Gee, Muk Yan Jong (Wooden Dummy),ˇ@even Bat Dzam Dou come from Siu Nim Tau.ˇ@So Siu Nim Tau is not the beginning course, but the important FOUNDATION.
How about Chum Kiu? To the best of my knowledge, Chum Kiu helps us to understand the techniques of Ving Tsun, while Bil Gee tells us how to use the force. All these three Fist sets have their own objectives. Usually, we have to practised for a long time before we can fully understand Chum Kiu and Chi Sau. So Bil Gee will not be taught before a large amount of practice of Chi Sau. As a result, many people think that Bil Gee won't be taught. It is not true.
When giving a lecture at Manchester on 1992, I gave the following analogy. When we learn English, we learn 26 letters first. If we cannot handle the pronunciation of each letter, then our English will never be good. The magnitude of the fist set Siu Nim Tau in Ving Tsun is the same as that of the letters in English. If we don't master Siu Nim Tau well, we can never do well in Chum Kiu, Bil Gee and Muk Yan Jong (Wooden Dummy).
After learning 26 letters, we know how to form a word by grouping some of them. After learning Siu Nim Tau, Chum Kiuˇ@and Bil Gee, we know many methods of attack and defense. If we could practise Chi Sau by those methods, it would be the same as if we could make a proper sentence in English. If we could apply those methods in free fighting smoothly, then we could write a passage.
(From the tape-record of Master Yip Ching's lecture on Siu Nim Tau )
Chi Sau with Grandmaster Ip Ching
By: Richard Manson & Tammi Willis
We
first went to Hong Kong to train with Grandmaster Ip Ching in 1998. Our lessons
with him exceeded all our expectations. Sifu Ip Ching has a very warm and generous
heart and was open and honest with his extensive knowledge of Ving Tsun. We
stayed for 5 months and spent most of that time playing and investigating the
forms.
It was when we returned to further our training in 2000, that we gained a much deeper insight into Sifu Ip Ching's skill, as we spent much more time playing Chi Sao.
Chi Sao is really when the forms of Ving Tsun explode into life. It is a chance to put the skills you have gained from your forms into action, to hone what you have so far learnt, in a contact situation.
It is possible to gauge your skill in Chi Sao in several ways, some of which are:
1. Are you fast with your reactions?
Using too much muscle power and not enough elbow energy will make you tense. This will result in a loss of speed and fluidity of movement.
2. Do you have control when attacking?
It is not justifiable to use aggression and unnecessary strength when sticking hands as Chi Sao is a training exercise (a precursor to Ving Tsun sparring - Lat Sao). Uncontrolled and heavy handed blocks and strikes do nothing but dissuade others from training with you.
3. Are you turning correctly?
To ensure the lower body is working with the upper body in creating optimum power, the point of contact with the ground must be the entire foot (as opposed to the heel or toes) to enable better balance. The pivot point must be the heel as this creates a lining up of the power points (ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow and fist) and allows the energy to move forward towards the target. If you turn on the toes you are effectively moving your power/energy away from your target!
Grandmaster Ip Ching is remarkable at staying just above the level you choose to Chi Sao. If you try to step it up, he responds willingly! A great sense of humour, a naturally modest attitude and a remarkable level of skill, all make a Chi Sao session with the Grandmaster an incredibly fun, but humbling experience. If you are open and willing to learn, Sifu will hold back on nothing. "Secret" is not in his vocabulary, though he will expect you to question and analyse every aspect of Ving Tsun, just as he has done. It does, however, seem impossible to arrive at a different conclusion.
Grandmaster Ip Ching has taken the simplicity of Ving Tsun and simplified it!
by Ron Heimberger
Whenever
a students begin learning Wing Chun things look very difficult. Even the task
of learning Sil Lim Tao may seem daunting and they may be tempted to give it
up before the real fun of attaining skill has been realized. Self-doubt is the
nagging enemy of every new beginner - no matter the activity. So, how do we
effectively set ourselves onto the path of discovery with full confidence and
the mindset to persevere? It's easy: just relax.
The art of Wing Chun brings an individual into a fast realization of their inherent power and creative ability by first teaching them the principle of Relaxation. It is your ability to dynamically and properly relax that releases your body's natural abilities and frees your mind from the shackles of rigidity. By fully expressing this principle you will find the resources to fuel your ability to completely protect yourself, as well as perform well in every aspect of your life. Now, what exactly does relaxation have to do with the self-protection environment?
When you find yourself in a threatening situation, your first thought is probably not to relax, but it should be. The principle of relaxation makes you able to fully protect yourself for many reasons.
One reason is that when you are relaxed you reduce the risk of being hurt when your opponent strikes you or wrenches your joints. When you match force against force you accept the full force of the blow or joint wrenching movement. But when you relax, the part of the body that is struck or being manipulated can move with the blows and the wrenching movements without accepting your opponent's full force.
Imagine dropping a large stone into a pool of water. The water just moves out of the way and then surrounds the rock. But if the water is frozen, the ice will crack and shatter. Similarly, if you are tense when your opponent strikes you or tries to wrench your limbs, the force will do much more damage to your body than if you were relaxed.
Perhaps the most important reason you should practice relaxation is that it will help you develop explosive, deadly power. An equation taken from Newton's Second Law of Thermodynamics states that Mass times Acceleration equals Power. So, to increase your power you must increase both your body's available mass and speed, with an eye toward developing the ability to utilize every ounce of available mass behind each movement and move with maximum explosive acceleration. But how do you gain the ability to do this?
Have you ever tried to pick up a sleeping baby? If you have, you know the baby seemed heavier than when it was awake. This is because the baby was relaxed and all of its body mass was settled. Similarly, when you relax, your muscles seem to have more mass because they are being allowed to make each movement with every cell of muscle tissue settled and available. When you tense your arm during a movement you artificially support the tissue and disallow its most efficient operation.
Relaxation also increases your power by increasing your speed. When your muscles are tense they pull against each other and hold each other back. Fighting with tension in your muscles is like driving a car with one foot on the accelerator and one foot on the brake. Tension in your muscles slows your attack and retards the power. But when your muscles are relaxed your movements will have much greater speed, and therefore much greater power.
Relaxation creates an environment for the muscles in your body to operate in their most efficient manner. Your muscle tissue will be settled and will smoothly transfer the increased mass to the target. The muscle fibers will be able to accelerate each movement without hesitation, making you move at maximum speed. The two together - mass and speed - when utilized in an attacking movement such as a punch, creates a powerful momentum that then translates to the target in the form of a devastating kinetic energy powerful enough to stop any attacker.
Beyond even the physical benefits that proper relaxation grants you are the even more important mental powers that will be realized through this practice. When your mind is calmed and alert through conscious relaxation you will find that your awareness is significantly expanded, your ability to process sensory information will become quicker, and your decisions will become more powerful and fluid - without the mental hesitation often experienced.
To help you relax when you find yourself in a confrontation, take a deep breath. This will help you relax both physically and mentally. This is a tactic used by public speakers, professional athletes, and even soldiers. When you take a deep breath you send your brain more oxygen and you are able to think more clearly. Increased oxygen also alleviates the feeling of panic and stimulates the flow of adrenaline. Taking a deep breath will help you to relax your muscles so you can move with greater power. In a fight, you will do the same things you do when you practice, so get in the habit of relaxing in a confrontation by relaxing during your practice time.
When your ability to relax has become intrinsic you will have found the key that Wing Chun has given you to unlock your power and give you full freedom of expression. You will find that your mind is not easily disturbed, and will experience situations that used to be crises are now only challenges that are easily surmounted.
# About the Author
Master Ron Heimberger is a direct disciple of Grandmaster Ip Ching. He is a Director of The Ip Ching Wing Chun Athletic Association in the USA, and Director of the Wing Chun Kung Fu Council, a world organization. Please visit us on the official web page at www.wckfc.com
The Course of Change in Wing Chun
by Jay Ferrari
Wing Chun may be the most ironic martial art. For all the style's effective simplicity, it is enveloped in an intricate realm of controversy. There are several lineages that claim flawless fidelity to the true system, while others offer that their modifications, enhancements and refinements have improved wing chun to make it more effective, practical and applicable today.
The curious martial artist interested in wing chun would learn after just a little research that the chorus of commentary surrounding the art is far more complex than wing chun itself.
Where does on begin? Who is right? Are terms like "authentic" and "original" valid? Or do term like "modified" and "improved" offer more intrigue?
After a silence that for many suggested he was unwilling to contend with rival kung-fu philosophies, wing chun grandmaster Ip Ching has become increasingly willing to share his many decades of experience and insight.
As a son of Ip Man, arguably the heart and soul of classic wing chun, Ip Ching has had to fend off ceaseless challenges - both physical and theoretical - to his father's art. His previous strategy, as if culled directly from Sun Tzu, was simply to avoid direct conflict with the challengers. He simply refused to match the negative energy of those who would call traditional wing chun outdated or obsolete. His mindset? Continue training, improve skill, and let others talk themselves silly.
Critics have called this focus "indifference". They may be surprised to know that it is really a kind of patient acceptance that has fueled the grandmaster's silence.
It was over dim sun in Chicago's Chinatown that my sifu, master Philip Nearing, master Samuel Kwok of Blackpool, England, and master Eric Li of Vancouver, British Columbia, and I heard the observations of the grandmaster directly. Speaking through the interpretations of sifu Li and master Kwok, the grandmaster spoke with candor as direct as a centerline punch.
When I asked how he regards the whirlwind of modified styles and criticism that surround classical wing chun, I expected at least a touch of irritation. Would he redress critics, debunking their perspective with a few choice words?
Not at all.
Rather, he merely wants to ensure that original wing chun, which is to say that lineage which extends back to his father, Ip Man, shares the same regard that its more outspoken, or enthusiastically marketed derivations have.
"This discussion," he began, "has actually been going on for a long time. It began in earnest just the years after the death of my father."
He explained how may "spokesmen" stepped into the void left bye the passing of Ip Man. And as most wing chun practitioners know, there are many relatively new ideas advocated by those who feel they've improved on original wing chun, whether it's through a subtle change in foot position, a different trajectory on the punch, ideas about the generation of internal energy, or any number of notions both plausible and absurd.
Could anyone then claim to be a genuine heir? Did any wing chun derivations really possess the most intrinsic martial value?
To my astonishment, the grandmaster explained the determining what makes the best kung-fu does not lie with a teacher, regardless of how many years of experience he has. Who determines good kun-fu, he explained patiently, are the students.
"If a technique works, it will be approved by the next generation," he said. "Of you have an idea, and think it will work in concept, principle and theory, as well as application, then you must learn how effective it really is. If it does not work, people will simply not accept it."
Such straightforward measurement of how techniques work explains why wing chun could flourish for well over 500 years. That several strains of wing chun continue to thrive is testament to the fact that refinements are working, but it also demonstrates that original wing chun remains rock-solid in its application and dissemination.
The grandmaster offered this example: "In the '50s, the jum sau was compared thoroughly to the gan sau in terms of which was better for various situations. Countless exchanges and hours of training proved the gan sau a better block in many cases. Therefore, teaching the gan sau replaced teaching the jum sau to suit the need."
The ultimate measurement of effectiveness, for the grandmaster, must be the student. If a modification really is better, it will be approved by the next generation. If it does not work, it has no foundation, and fades.
Plainly put in the grandmaster's words, "a technique can adapt if it is accepted. But if you cannot pass it on, you are studying to be outdated."
As for concerns of students being skeptical of new ideas, the grandmaster was again direct. "if it works, it will be accepted. If it is accepted, it will be passed on."
Wing chun's continued effectiveness serves as a living example of the grandmaster's thinking. He bears no malice against wing chun stylists who try to deconstruct the original system. But he also radiates a confidence that the original system is as effective as ever.
As for the aspiring kung-fu student wondering which strain of wing chun to pursue, the grandmaster has this advice: "Do some research. Rely on your wisdom. Then make your judgment."
The notion that a student should have such confidence in his ability to evaluate an art may intimidate the beginner, but that kind of curious, skeptical mind drives the dedicated kung-fu player.
Ultimately, what the authentic wing chun community wants to encourage is inclusion and recognition. When some claim "new and improved," grandmaster Ip Ching urges careful consideration. If an improvement is genuine, it will endure. If not, beware that it is gimmickry.
Once a quiet voice in the kung-fu community, traditional wing chun has emerged
to dispel the growing notion that it represents antiquated, ineffective techniques,
or is an ancient, imperfect system requiring some contemporary polish. For proof,
grandmaster Ip Ching urges, don't look to the teachers, but rather in those
that they teach."
# About the Author
Jay Ferrari is a Midwest-based martial artist and freelance writer.
ˇ@