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BEGINNING WING CHUN: WHY WING CHUN WORKS First published by The Peacenik Press in 1998 Previously published as Why Wing Chun Works by Summersdale Publishers Ltd in 2002 This edition published in 2006 by Summersdale Publishers Ltd. Copyright © Alan Gibson 2006 All rights reserved. The right of Alan Gibson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Condition of Sale This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent publisher. Disclaimer Every effort has been made to ensure that the Chinese terms used in this book have been translated accurately. Should there be any omissions or errors in this respect we apologise and shall be pleased to make corrections where applicable in any future edition. Summersdale Publishers Ltd 46 West Street Chichester West Sussex PO19 1RP UK www.summersdale.com Printed and bound in Great Britain. ISBN: 1-84024-546-8 ISBN: 978-184024-546-2 BBeeggiinnnniinngg WWiinngg CChhuunn__IINNSSIIDDEE__SSPPRREEAA22 22 1199//0099//22000066 0099::2288::1188 BBeeggiinnnniinngg WWiinngg CChhuunn__IINNSSIIDDEE__SSPPRREEAA33 33 1199//0099//22000066 0099::2288::1188 Acknowledgements Main photography was by Robert Dunning from Solentstudios. com, David Peterson supplied the Wong Shun Leung photos, Kevin Bell, Kevin McLaren and Christian Riley were models. David Peterson provided the foreword and the ‘Loi Lau Hoi Sung, Lat Sau Jik Chung’ section, along with much advice, ideas and proofreading. Andre Ibbett helped in the history section; Kevin McLaren wrote the Strength and Conditioning section; Kevin Bell wrote the Fighting Practice section and contributed generally; Mark Page proofread the manuscript. Thanks to all at Summersdale for bringing this book to print, especially Lucy for her patience and understanding during editing. Thanks also to my family – Sarah, Tabitha and Theo – for their continued love and support. BBeeggiinnnniinngg WWiinngg CChhuunn__IINNSSIIDDEE__SSPPRREEAA44 44 1199//0099//22000066 0099::2288::1188 Contents Foreword.....................................................9 Preface.......................................................11 Introduction...............................................12 Tradition, History and Legend...................16 Wing Chun Principles................................24 Triangulation.........................................................24 Central Axis Theory.............................................26 Contact Reflexes..................................................29 Loi Lau Hoi Sung, Lat Sau Jik Chung....................30 Simultaneous Attack and Defence.......................32 More Power to your Elbow.................................33 Efficient Use of Energy or Force..........................34 Short Force and the Inch Punch..........................35 Importance of Stance and Posture........................36 Stance Testing........................................................38 Pivoting to Recycle Force........................................41 Simplicity..............................................................42 The Basic Shapes and Footwork Types of Wing Chun...................................43 Taan Sau...............................................................44 Fook Sau...............................................................44 Bong Sau...............................................................45 The Five Basic Footwork Types...........................48 Understanding Tui Ma..........................................51 Kicking and Sweeping...........................................53 Defending Against Kicks.......................................56 BBeeggiinnnniinngg WWiinngg CChhuunn__IINNSSIIDDEE__SSPPRREEAA55 55 1199//0099//22000066 0099::2288::1199 Solo Forms.................................................58 Siu Nim Tau..........................................................59 Cham Kiu .............................................................61 Muk Yan Jong ........................................................63 Biu Ji .....................................................................65 Luk Dim Boon Gwan...........................................66 Baat Jaam Do........................................................68 The Wing Chun Drills................................70 Daan Chi Sau........................................................70 Daan Chi Sau With a Step....................................76 Using Fook Sau Concept to Intercept Punches...80 Wu Sau.................................................................83 Wu Sau and Punch: General Turning Punch Drills................84 Wu Sau and Punch: General Retreat drills...........................89 Laap Sau and Paak Sau..........................................91 Laap Sau...............................................................................91 Laap Sau Drill.......................................................................92 Variations on Laap Sau Drill.................................................93 Paak Sau...............................................................................94 Paak Sau Drill.......................................................................94 Variations on Paak Sau Drill.................................................96 Chi Sau: The Wing Chun Laboratory.................110 Chi Sau Roll........................................................................113 Single Hand Drill in Chi Sau Roll........................................114 Hand Changes and Lat Sau in Chi Sau...............................117 Chi Sau Roll, into Under-Laap............................................120 Chi Sau Roll, into Laap/Paak and Punch to Enter...............123 Turbo Charge the Elbows.................................................125 Tui Ma Retreat Drills from Chi Sau ....................................126 Jat Sau From Chi Sau..........................................................127 Chi Geuk Drills...................................................129 BBeeggiinnnniinngg WWiinngg CChhuunn__IINNSSIIDDEE__SSPPRREEAA66 66 1199//0099//22000066 0099::2288::1199 Impact Work............................................133 Strength and Conditioning.......................135 Fighting Practice......................................137 Fence and Reality Drills...........................139 Personal Development.............................149 Glossary...................................................150 Siu Nim Tau Form (Photographs)............154 BBeeggiinnnniinngg WWiinngg CChhuunn__IINNSSIIDDEE__SSPPRREEAA77 77 1199//0099//22000066 0099::2288::1199 BBeeggiinnnniinngg WWiinngg CChhuunn__IINNSSIIDDEE__SSPPRREEAA88 88 1199//0099//22000066 0099::2288::1199 Foreword This marks the third time that Alan Gibson has honoured me by inviting me to write an introduction to one of his fine books. In doing so, Alan has effectively taken me full circle with him on his journey along the Wing Chun road. Having offered my limited contributions to his second and third books in this series, I have now been able to actively participate not only in the complete revision and re-writing of the book that started it all, Why Wing Chun Works, but more importantly, to have played at least a small part in Alan’s personal discovery of the amazing legacy left to us all by the late and great Wing Chun scientist and philosopher, Sifu Wong Shun Leung. Having now had six very successful and enjoyable sojourns to the United Kingdom over the past three years, whereby I have been able to interact with Alan and a number of his colleagues in both public and private training sessions, I have witnessed Alan’s strong desire to both acquire and share the knowledge and skills associated with the Wong Shun Leung method. His open- minded approach to learning and his passion for teaching comes through strongly in this excellent volume that you now have in your hands. If you are someone who has read and enjoyed the original work, you will immediately be struck by the detail that has now been added to the text, but at the same time recognise the same reader-friendly style of writing and clarity of presentation that makes Alan’s books amongst the best available. If this is the first time that you have read one of Alan’s books in the Why Wing Chun Works series, you will soon be rushing out to buy copies of the companion volumes. 9 BBeeggiinnnniinngg WWiinngg CChhuunn__IINNSSIIDDEE__SSPPRREEAA99 99 1199//0099//22000066 0099::2288::1199 BEGINNING WING CHUN Superbly illustrated with hundreds of photos shot especially for this edition, expanded and updated sections on all aspects of the system, and with new detailed sections on training drills and supplementary training concepts, this book is by far the very best available today for anyone seeking a practical approach to personal protection concepts and a better understanding of what the Chinese art of Wing Chun Gung-fu is all about. With regard to the history, concepts, techniques and most importantly, in terms of appreciating the combat reality of this fighting system as compared with most others practised today, Beginning Wing Chun is one book that no serious martial artist can afford to ignore. Congratulations to Alan on producing this fine book, and congratulations to the reader for choosing to purchase it – you now have the martial arts equivalent of pure gold at your disposal! David Peterson, Chief Instructor and Founder of Melbourne Chinese Martial Arts Club 10 BBeeggiinnnniinngg WWiinngg CChhuunn__IINNSSIIDDEE__SSPPRREEAA1100 1100 1199//0099//22000066 0099::2288::1199