Category Archives: AWCA Notes

Volume 9 Issue 4

Welcome to the April 2012 edition of AWCA Notes. Last month we took our first look at the dummy by examining how to open the stance for proper positioning, as well as working Huen-bo and Hau-bo for footwork.

This month we continue our dummy training by examining how to ensure that the upper and lower bodies are united. We do this by learning how the dummy can be the teacher vs merely a training aid.

We will also examine how the dummy creates the “burst” type of power due to short ranges. This type of power is cultivated with dummy training solely because the dummy does not move. It is a facet of training that most practitioners vie to achieve.

Volume 9 Issue 3

Welcome to the March 2012 edition of AWCA Notes. This month we will take a first look at Wing Chun’s wooden dummy and how we can use this tool to improve our skill set. Most, if not all, practitioners are familiar with or already have a dummy in their gyms. The real question, though, is how many know how to use it properly, as well as what it can accomplish?

Volume 9 Issue 2

Welcome to the February 2012 edition of AWCA Notes. This month we will look at how Chi-sau and Lap-sau are directly related to actual fighting. All practitioners work their entire training careers in Chi-sau and Lap-sau without ever really knowing the true potential that these valuable skill sets relate.

NOTE: Always consult your personal physician before engaging in any fitness or self-defense related program. If you experience pain or difficulty with these exercises, immediately stop and seek the care of a trained medical professional.

YOU ASSUME ALL RISK AND LIABILITY FOR THE USE OR MISUSE OF ANY INFORMATION RELATED IN THIS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA CREATED OR DISTRIBUTED BY THE ARIZONA WING CHUN ASSOCIATION.

Chi-sau

Sticking-hands

Chi-sau is the concept of making contact with the opponent’s arms and feeling the direction and pressure in order to enact our response. Many will start with Chi-dan-sau, or Single-arm Sticking-hand, in order to begin this process, and then graduate to Chi-sheung-sau, or Double-arm Sticking-hands.

It is the Chi-sheung-sau stage we will focus on, but essentially what most know by the term Luk-sau. Luk-sau is Rolling-arms with forward pressure/energy and is the more commonly-used term for describing Chi-sau.

Luk-sau
Rolling-arms with forward pressure/energy

When we think of Chi-sau, Luk-sau is usually what we see. Although there are many stages of Chi-sau training, the simple act of double-arm rolling is what conjures up the Chi-sau image we are all used to.

For those new to Wing Chun, this is the point we dream of. I remember the first time I experienced a rudimentary form of Chi-sau, which was experienced prior to learning Wing Chun.

While in the U.S. Army in 1984, I checked out a Fred Villari Shaolin Kempo Karate school. While there, one of the drills they were working involved tieing their belts together and working what they considered to be Chi-sau. After a long discussion and demonstration of what they considered to be Chi-sau, they proceeded to whack away at each other. Stepping, ducking, bobbing and weaving, and working drills while tied together.

They stated they could feel what was happening and I am sure they could to a point on some things. And since I had no clue what Chi-sau was really about, I was impressed.

A few months later I was exposed to Wing Chun for the first time and after seeing what Chi-sau really is, I stopped going to the Fred Villari school.

I learned quickly that while it “is” possible to take from some systems and blend them in with others, the concept behind many actions is what makes it work. As good as any movement or series of movements may be, how and why it is used is the true catalyst.

For those that train as described, I recommend stopping immediately because you are probably cheating yourself. Chi-sau is not about beating the crap out of each other and seeing who can take a punch. Instead, it is all about feeling, about making contact with an opponent’s arm and learning to feel the pressure and angle of their attack.

Once learned, it gradually increases in speed and power so that in the end, you are engaged with full-speed, full-power assaults and using the opponent’s actions to dictate your response. Yes, this takes years of training, and yes, it is a later stage for all-out engagement. However, that is the goal vs being someone’s punching bag.

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Luk-sau

With a slight forward pressure, the practitioners begin to roll the arms. The goal of Luk-sau is to feel every nuance of angle and pressure during the roll.

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Luk-sau
(continued)

Continuing the roll, the wrists remain as close to the centerline as possible, shoulders relaxed and back kept straight.

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Luk-sau
(continued)

The completed roll. The practitioners now roll back to the other side, with this action being repeated continuously to develop pressure sensitivity.

Luk-sau should be worked alone vs adding any attacks are defenses until a smooth flow is achieved. It is tempting to want to throw a palm or punch when you start feeling comfortable, but this is detrimental.

The entire scope of Luk-sau is solely to feel your partner’s pressure at every angle during the rolling, while simultaneously keeping yourself protected. Introducing anything beyond this until your rolling is smooth, controlled and correct will set you up for bad habits that have to be corrected later.

Once this rolling is smooth and correct, then basic attacks, basic defenses, stepping, turning, and the Chi-sau sections can be introduced gradually so that you always build on the foundation you are creating here.

Lap-sau

Deflecting-arm

In tandem with Luk-sau, we also introduce the Lap-sau. Meaning Deflecting-arm, Lap-sau is a basic introduction to sparring by way of learning to use the entire body to reinforce the limbs. Wing Chun is all-encompassing and does not rely on one specific element; instead, the whole body plays a role. Lap-sau is representative of that and uses Bong-sau as the beginning action.

As seen on AWCAOnline’s Lap-sau section, we first begin with the Lap-sau drill. Before embarking on the below series of movements, it is recommended that you first become competent in the basic Lap-sau drill.

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Lap-sau Section 1

From the Lap-sau drill…

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Lap-sau Section 1
(continued)

… Wu-sau changes to Yan-cheung and stamps the practitioner’s arms down, while Bong-sau begins changing to Chau-chong-kuen. Simultaneously, explode forward until you are in fist range.

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Lap-sau Section 1
(continued)

Continuing to stamp the arms down, Chau-chong-kuen drills or lifts up and into the chest or throat.

With Chi-sau and Lap-sau working in unison, a practitioner frees him/herself from the average one-two type of fighting. There is no thinking required; you meet the attack, Chi-sau guides the way through the attack, and Lap-sau has created a structure that lets you respond with specific actions for the given moment.

Because of Chi-sau and Lap-sau’s sectional training, an endless repertoire of movements could be amassed. However, this is actually negative to a certain degree because we can mistakenly create a set pattern of responses vs feeling what we should do. The situation is never the same so expecting a response can lead to reacting to that response, even if the response is not present.

To that end, we explore basic sparring actions to combine Chi-sau with Lap-sau, which in turn creates Lat-sau scenarios. Lat-sau, or Fight training, is a wonder unto itself, and AWCA Notes will be addressing many of these scenarios in later issues. For now, let’s take a look at the first step for combining Chi-sau and Lap-sau.

Combining Chi-sau and Lap-sau

When we think of combining Chi-sau with Lap-sau, you can begin in either Luk-sau or the Lap-sau drill. Regardless of which you start in, your attacks and defenses will inevitably find you in the other. And this is when it gets really fun.

Let’s look at the beginnings of how we combine Chi-sau and Lap-sau in order to free us up from typical “standardized” drills.

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Beginning in Luk-sau…

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… an opening exists to attack. The attacker initiates Yan-cheung and Chau-chong-kuen from Lap-sau section 1.

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Staying relaxed, the defender turns into the attack with Jut-sau in order to move the attacker off the line.

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Jut-sau becomes Gwat-sau and “wipes” the attack off to the other side with a simultaenous punch. This is defended with Bong-sau.

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Turning back to the front with Tan-dar, this is defended with Kuen-siu-Kuen.

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Feeling a neutral position, both practitioners resume Luk-sau and it all starts again.

When combining these skills, it feels rather unwieldy at first because you are used to one or the other. Chi-sau is a specific curriculum and so is Lap-sau, making the act of blending them together confusing at first. In a very short time, though, you will find that the line that divides them is actually very small, and there are certainly more similarities than differences.

Can one be worked without the other? Most certainly. Keep in mind, though, that the sensitivity of Chi-sau is what is telling your arms to do, which is where Lap-sau reinforces. Almost every action in the Chi-sau curriculum has a counterpart in Lap-sau, which is why they are instrumental to each other. You can train one without the other, but if you do, it will not amount to much.

Free Wing Chun eBooks

Three Free Training eBooks

As my special Thank You for visiting AWCAOnline and reading this month’s issue of AWCA Notes, I invite you to check out the free online eBook training guides below to assist your training. These titles include “Concepts of Wing Chun,” “Principles of Wing Chun Punching” and “Principles of Wing Chun Kicking.”

• Free Online eBooks

Wing Chun Minute

Training Tips In Under One Minute

From Lynette in Indiana:

Si-fu Phil… This isn’t really a training issue. Instead, it’s a basic question: If Wing Chun is so good for women (and it is), why don’t we see more of them training? I’ve been doing Wing Chun for over 15 years and I just don’t understand why more women don’t train. What’s your take on that?

That is a question I have asked myself many times, Lynette, so trust me, you are not alone. Even if the stories of Wing Chun being created by a female are not true, it still capitalizes on logic and common sense vs the typical martial art requiring strength and flexibility. Women are phenomenal Wing Chun practitioners and there “are” a lot of them, but not as many as I would think there should be.

I wish I had more of an answer for you but admittedly I, too, have no clue why more women do not get involved in Wing Chun. Not only is it perfectly suited for their body structure, but it is also an art that does not require the typical male’s strength.

Maybe those who are reading this can help spread the word to our female friends and get them more involved. You never know, it could become the start of a new Wing Chun revolution. It would be nice to get everyone’s wives, sisters, daughters, even their mothers involved. We all know how effective and fun it is. Wouldn’t it be great to pass it on to them and know that we are helping them with something that might one day help keep them safe?

Good luck in your training!

To ask a question and have it posted here, contact Si-Fu Phil Bradley.

Next Month…

Next month’s issue will be of particular interest to many. We will take an in-depth look at the wooden dummy and examine how this training aid can propel one’s Wing Chun to brand new heights. The next couple of months will be a great time, so I hope you will join us in March!

Until next month,

Si-Fu Phil Bradley
Arizona Wing Chun Association

Guidelines for Use

The AWCA is happy to provide a forum for comments and discussion of Wing Chun. So first, make sure you SUBSCRIBE NOW! Naturally it is free, but subscribing will also gain you access to subscriber-only articles once those begin coming out in the near future.

Now for the guidelines.

Our blog guidelines are simple and direct:

1. Keep it clean. Profanity will not be tolerated. If you disagree with someone, by all means feel free to voice your own opinion; however, do not forget courtesy.
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3. Stay on topic.
4. Be responsible. Do not post media that belongs to others without the proper permission from the copyright holder. AWCA media is not licensed nor permitted to be posted to any other site or project.
5. Suggest removal of comments that violate these standards.

AWCAOnline’s blog is open for comments by all lineages/families of Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun. There are very few guidelines, but those that do exist are to be adhered to.

AWCAOnline.com reserves the right to remove any image, video, post, comment, or message that may be perceived as problematic, inflammatory, libel in nature, or violates the media rights of others.

AWCAOnline.com and all employees, sponsors, and associates are not liable for any comments posted on this site by any outside party nor any content on websites linked to or from AWCAOnline.com

By posting on this website, you agree to adhere to these stipulations and agree to hold AWCA employees, sponsors, and associates free from any and all liability in any context.

That’s it. Basic but important stuff. We all love forums since we learn a great deal, and even though the weblog is focused on Wing Chun, it is also open to non-Wing Chun arts.

So have fun and feel free to get involved by SUBSCRIBING NOW.

Volume 9 Issue 1

Welcome to the next generation of AWCA Notes. As most of you know, our first newsletter format was solely text-based for almost four years. We switched to an HTML-based newsletter reader for another four years, and in 2010 we discontinued the newsletter in order to move everything over to what you see now.

It has been a long road but I hope the wait was worth it. Now that our website’s platform is in position to do everything in the way we want it, there are no more plug-ins, manual archives, etc. Everything is done automatically and you can access all back-issues over the coming years with ease.

With our January issue, you will also begin seeing the monthly drills from each article included at our AWCA YouTube Channel Video of the Month. This way, you have a printable article for your notes and gym training, plus the convenience of video training via YouTube.

NOTE: Always consult your personal physician before engaging in any fitness or self-defense related program. If you experience pain or difficulty with these exercises, immediately stop and seek the care of a trained medical professional.

YOU ASSUME ALL RISK AND LIABILITY FOR THE USE OR MISUSE OF ANY INFORMATION RELATED IN THIS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA CREATED OR DISTRIBUTED BY THE ARIZONA WING CHUN ASSOCIATION.

Controlled Stepping

How To Get The Most From Step Training

One of the most essential skill sets that all practitioners should constantly train is footwork. Without competent footwork, your body is like a powerful cannon without wheels. Competent footwork also increases your skill set for kicks since your mobility is improved.

In other words, you are where you need to be, when you need to be there.

Let’s take a look at the most common method to relocate your body from Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma to Juen-ma. This allows you to explode forward into your opponent, and with a slight 45-degree angled step, can also put you at an advantage by being to the side of your opponent.

Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma, or Character “Two” Adduction stance, sees us in a weight distribution of 50/50. With this stance we can move equally to either side without having to shift weight. Because of Wing Chun’s unique Huen-bo, or Forward Circling-step, this “J” type of stepping action keeps us protected when advancing. When done properly, it also keeps us from telegraphing our intentions while advancing.

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Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma

The Character “Two” Adduction stance. It is called this because if you look down while in this stance, the short line “connecting” the toes over the longer line “connecting” the heels resembles the Chinese character for “two.”

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Huen-bo

The Forward Circling-step. With an explosive burst, one leg swings slightly inward and then drives forward along the central plane of the body.

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Juen-ma

The Frontal-stance/Lead-leg stance. As the lead leg steps down, adduction of the knees pulls the rear leg under the buttocks. 100% of the body’s weight is now on the rear leg, freeing up the lead leg to kick, jam, etc.

Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma
Character “Two” Adduction stance

Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma is the first and most basic of stances, but it is also the most important. The primary goal is to lower the body’s center of gravity from the chest to the waist, while linking the knees to create adduction. This is how we take an opponent head-on.

To explode forward, the stepping leg must be fast enough to move slightly inward at an angle and then immediately explode forward. This has the action of wedging the leg into the opponent’s structure, while simultaneously defending against kicks should they occur while midstream. I have had many opponent’s attempt to kick while moving forward, and Huen-bo has successfully defended all of them. Wing Chun generally does not assume an “in case of” approach like this for other areas, but when it comes to footwork, this particular concept serves a viable purpose.

Huen-bo to Juen-ma
Forward Circling-step to Frontal-stance

As the stepping leg enacts Huen-bo, the first concept teaches us to think of it more like a reach than an actual step. This is to instill in us that we never transfer weight to the lead leg when stepping because if you do, and you are engaged with a competent, alert opponent, you can easily see your lead leg swept and now you are looking up at him from your back.

The leg reaches only to the length of the leg itself while the body remains in position. Pause briefly while the foot is fully planted, then pull the entire body forward so that the rear leg is now under the buttocks. If done properly, you should be able to turn 90-degrees to the side and be in a proper Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma.

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Juen-bo
Advancing-step

With 100% of the body’s weight on the rear leg, the lead leg reaches forward a couple of inches and steps down.

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Juen-bo
(continued)

Adduction of the knees drives the rear leg forward.

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Juen-bo
(continued)

The completed step.

The concept here is work protective stepping while strengthening the adductor muscles. Everything must go slowly at first and focus on using the correct musculature. Going to fast too soon will always see weight being moved forward, which can easily off-balance you.

As the leg plants down, pull the entire body forward just a few inches while simultaneously moving the rear leg under the buttocks. This action is driven solely from the adductor muscles, not the hamstrings. If you weigh 150 lbs, then you should be pulling 150 lbs. The weight in the leg is only the weight “of” the leg itself. There should never be any weight transference to the lead leg yet because you can definitely get swept by a competent, alert opponent.

As mentioned, we have seen practitioners that transfer weight to the lead leg when advancing, which in turn causes them to unknowingly set themselves up for a jam, sweep, or other leg attack. With the weight on the lead leg, they then have to shift in another direction in order to use the leg. All of this takes time, of course, so having a different approach of advancing will eliminate this gap altogether.

As this “reaching” action becomes fluid, time will see you getting faster and faster. At this point, the body becomes aware of differing angles and opportunities, which in turn now allows you to branch out a bit with explosion and weight distribution.

For example, rather than merely reaching with the leg, the lead leg can explode forward while the rear leg pushes slightly. This will give you more reach but also keep you protective, while in turn still adhering to using the adductor muscles for pulling rather than seeing weight on the lead leg. Remember that this is only after you are competent with basic stepping, though, and it should never be rushed. “Too fast too soon” will see you getting dumped, whereas slow, steady and patient will see your footwork excelling.

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Solo Training vs Gym Training

Pros and Cons

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a school or training partner at their disposal. In these situatons, we have to sometimes be very creative on how to accomplish a workable training session that is still viable for the real world.

Many solo practitioners might be unaware, however, that what they encounter at home is also what a lot of gym practitioners also experience. Regardless of your training status, many of these pros and cons apply equally to both and as long as we know what to look for, we can limit the cons while simultaneously increasing the positive aspects.

Forms Training
The first consideration addresses forms training. A form is very important because we learn the mechanics of the movements that we will be using. It does not replace actual fight training because it is devoid of an opponent, but it is still vital to efficient Wing Chun training and should be worked as often as possible.

Whether solo training or belonging to a school, forms training should be worked mostly at home and only briefly at a gym. A classroom is where you work with your partners to gain valuable fight training. Forms training can be be inspected by your Si-Fu for correctness, but it should not be a major part of your school training because you waste time doing something in the gym that can be accomplished at home. A lot of supplemental training can be good for you physically, but we must never lose sight of the main intent for our training.

Many years ago at a seminar with a well-known master, a Si-Fu of the school asked him, “What do you think about including jogging or running to increase fighting fitness?”

The reply was straight forward. “If you have to fight, why are you running away? If you want to get good at fighting, then fight.”

What he meant was that if you want to get good at something, then do that “something” vs something else. Getting good at fighting means that you first have to learn the movements. Learning the movements means learning the form, and you can never get enough forms training. It must be So regardless of whether you are solo training or This is done at home when solo training vs taking up class time with something that can be done on your own time, so this is vital to do regardless of whether you are solo training or a member of a class.

Step Training
Footwork is among the more common of problems I generally see in practitioners. Because Wing Chun is predominantly a fist-fighting system, the majority of movements are focused on punches. In order to get to the opponent, though, footwork is paramount, for without it, you are at a standstill and waiting for an attack.

Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma
Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma, or Character “Two” Adduction stance, is the foundation of Wing Chun. It all starts here so do not brush it aside simply because it is the first exposure to the art. With a correct, solid Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma, everything else will fall into place.

After you open the stance, tilt your pelvis forward by tightening the buttocks. This will drive weight into the adductor muscles (inner thighs) and ground you more thoroughly.

Huen-bo
Huen-bo, or Forward Circling-step, is accomplished by placing weight on one leg and then explosively circling the leg slightly inward and then forward. This trajectory should resemble the letter J.

Juen-ma
Juen-ma, or Lead-leg stance/Frontal-stance, should have 100% weight on the rear leg and 0% weight on the lead leg. Any weight on the lead leg means you have to transfer weight to the rear leg if you need to kick. The less weight on the leg, the faster you can respond.

Juen-bo
Juen-bo, or Advancing-step, is accomplished by reaching with the lead leg a few inches, planting the full flat of the foot on the ground, and using adduction to pull the body forward. Do not land on the heel of the lead leg, and do not lift the heel of the rear leg.

Hau-bo
Hau-bo, or Backward Circling-step/Withdrawing-step, is the exact opposite of Huen-bo. Examine Huen-bo and simply reverse the process for a correct withdrawing step.

Wang-bo
Wang-bo, or Side-step, is best worked by stepping a few inches to the side and using adduction to pull the entire body over.

Wall Bag Training
A wall bag is vital to developing punching power. Rather than a swinging bag that allows your force to move it, a wall bag will not move. Because of this, the rebound you feel will condition the body to generate more power through the target.

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Wall Bag Training

The proper location of the body to the wall bag is when your fist touches and you still have a bend in the elbow. Too close puts you in elbow range, while too far away puts you in kicking range.

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Wall Bag Training
(continued)

Drive the fist into the bag so that only the bottom three knuckles make contact.

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Wall Bag Training
(continued)

Return the fist to the starting position and repeat.

Always keep in mind that the bag is not the target; instead, it is the wall “behind” the bag. By envisioning this as your target, your punches will produce more power because the angle of the elbow is still at a point that it can drive through the bag to reach the real target.

Wooden Dummy

The wooden dummy is a primary training aid that replicates a 24×7 training partner. Work efficient and correct actions vs slamming in to the arms or trunk. The leg also ensures that your steps are efficient and proper.

Work all drills you know on the dummy but never slam in to it. Some lineages train that the dummy’s primary purpose is to condition your arms, but this actually just a by-product of training. The real intent is that 1.) it acts as a stand-in partner to maintain/increase your skill set, and 2.) to ensure that all angles are being worked according to Wing Chun principles.

Naturally there are other elements being developed such as uniting the upper and lower bodies, as well as strengthening your bridge arms. However, maintain the primary principles of training and you will see an enhancement in your skills.

BOB
The Body Opponent Bag, or BOB, is a great training aid that I believe every practitioner should have in their gym. I believe this so much that you will find a separate article covering it below.

Summary

Just because many are solo trainers, do not discount what Wing Chun can still do for you. Yes, the optimum environment is to have as many partners as possible, as well as those partners being more advanced. After all, being taxed is the best way to advance.

However, never listen to the nay sayers who claim that you absolutely cannot glean a valuable skill set in Wing Chun just because you train solo. With today’s training aids and the passion to learn, everyone can most certainly train and learn this valuable martial art.

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Body Opponent Bag

B.O.B. for Wing Chun

What first seemed like a fad has been shown to be a phenomenal training aid. The Body Opponent Bag, or BOB, affords a sense of realism over a standard wall bag or hanging bag.

But how do we make the most of BOB for Wing Chun? Let’s see.

The first thing you will notice with BOB is that having a life-like punching bag can put you in a different state of mind. You have actual targets such as a face, throat, sternum and stomach. Striking a wall bag or heavy bag just sees fists, elbow and kicks striking a target without really conditioning the mind to focus “on” a specific target.

Striking a BOB, however, can see your precision not really being what you thought it was. So that in itself is a very positive training aspect.

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Body Opponent Bag

For practitioners at the Siu-Nim-Tau level, striking the sternum teaches the first of precision-level attacks in order to reinforce the importance of the centerline.

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Body Opponent Bag
(continued)

For practitioners at the Chum-Kiu level, elbow attacks are more realistically trained since the distance can be unnerving for some.

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Body Opponent Bag
(continued)

For practitioners at the Biu-Tze and Muk-Yan-Chong levels, vital area targeting now becomes more precise in that we never again have to worry about injuring our training partner or hitting non-realistic targets like the wooden dummy.

The second thing you will notice is that when you strike, the covering of BOB is different than striking a bag. Naturally it feels different than skin but it is still better than a wall bag or heavy bag. And trust me, it can still rip your hands up if you arc your punches vs punching straight. I have had students see bloody knuckles solely from arcing when they thought they were punching straight.

To train BOB for Wing Chun movements, you want to target the face, side of the neck, throat, and back of the head. Working the sternum is also very good, of course, but I want to up the anty, so to speak. This is my time to really drive in with fighting-ending actions and in a way that I will not hurt my training partner. With BOB, I have that option.

Another valuable element with a life-like training aid such as this is footwork. By having a realistic target in front of you, you can see how your footwork translates in direct proportion to how far away or too close your opponent’s body and face really is.

We generally have to imagine these with the dummy or a regular bag, but the mere look of a BOB changes that element to a more realistic nature. I can literally see my opponent vs having to imagine where the targets are, and because of that, my own footwork and body translation has improved in a very short amount of time.

I recommend checking your local karate supply store or the Internet to see about price differences, and then purchase a BOB for your own training as soon as possible. Be mindful that prices will vary, so do your research beforehand so that you do not find a better deal later on.

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Free Wing Chun eBooks

Three Free Training eBooks

As my special Thank You for visiting AWCAOnline and reading this month’s issue of AWCA Notes, I invite you to check out the free online eBook training guides below to assist your training. These titles include “Concepts of Wing Chun,” “Principles of Wing Chun Punching” and “Principles of Wing Chun Kicking.”

• Free Online eBooks

Wing Chun Minute

Training Tips In Under One Minute

From Greg in Peoria, Illinois:

Every time I kick, I find that my body raises up. Is there a way to keep this from happening? It also happens when I spar or even just work drills. What’s happening and how do I fix it?

Good question, Greg, and one that you are not alone in. A lot of practitioners have that same issue but it is actually an easy fix.

Remember that with Hoi-ma, or Opening the Stance, you lowered your body 45-degrees so as to place your center of gravity from your chest down to your waist. The result is Yee-chi-kim-yeung-ma and its purpose is so that you can borrow your attacker’s force by not engaging with your own force. A key point of this stance teaches us that once we sink, we never go back up.

So rather than look for incorrect elements of your kicks or wondering why you are getting off-balanced when engaged with an opponent, I would venture to guess that it is nothing more than raising your weight back up vs leaving it down.

As you work your kicks or engage in sparring/drills, check to see if you are still down. If not, immediately drop your weight and go through it again. If so, then let me know and we will take the next step to see how to fix it.

To ask a question and have it posted here, contact Si-Fu Phil Bradley.

Next Month…

Next month’s issue will take a look at how Chi-sau and Lap-sau are directly related to actual fighting. All will work Chi-sau and Lap-sau curriculums, but sometimes it is difficult to see the connection between this skill set and how it is used for real.

Next month will tackle that issue and give you something to think about the next time you are working your sensitivity drills.

Until next month,

Si-Fu Phil Bradley
Arizona Wing Chun Association

Editor’s comment: This article was initially posted to a previous AWCA newsletter on 09/05/2001. It is being re-posted here for back-issue reading.

The previous name of AWCA Notes was “The AWCA Notebook”. The newsletter is re-printed here in its entirety. I have removed all of the HTML links since it does no good to have pointers to something that is no longer there.

This is essentially when I began learning communications so take all of this as a learning experience on my part. I hope I have improved my writing style over the past 9 years. At least a bit.

AWCA Notebook – September 2001

Volume 2, Issue 9

Please maximize your screen for the best readability.

Welcome to the September 2001 issue of the AWCA Notebook. We are nearing the end of our second year in publication, and I want to personally thank all of you for your positive emails on our continued success.

Forms

The forms in Wing Chun can be considered a “catalog” of Wing Chun concepts.  They are much more than physical movements, however.  They are the concepts discovered by our ancestors, the knowledge they wanted to share, and the learning they wanted us to experience.

There are three empty-hand forms (Siu-Nim-Tau, Chum-Kiu, Biu-Tze), the wooden dummy training (Muk-Yan-Chong),  and two weapons forms (Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun, Bart-Cham-Dao).  For many Wing Chun styles, there are also extensive curriculums in chi-sau, Lap-sau, Lat-sau, chi-gerk, and ground fighting/ takedowns.   Not all, but many employ these additional training skills.  But what really is the best way to approach your forms training?

From my 16 years in Wing Chun, I have seen that one of the most important aspects that is continuously neglected is timing.  Timing in this sense means that there should be a distinct look from movement to movement.  Each movement should be evident.  For example, the Siu-Nim-Tau.  From the double Lap-sau, a practitioner transitions to Jut-sau.  But many times this transition is sloppy, almost indistiguishable.  The result?  They’ve lost the concept or don’t even see it.

In this example, the transition from Lap-sau to Jut-sau is extremely useful when the arm is grabbed.  Many times we can employ Huen-sau to escape, but if the grab is higher, we also want to immediately counter-attack while escaping.  And this is exactly the concept employed during this particular set of movements.  And naturally, if the form here is sloppy and the movements are not distinguished from each other, the concept is lost and there is nothing left but technique-based application.

Within almost every movement of every form, there are readily two or three concepts that are being displayed.  Look further and you will find even more!  But it is not at all from the “application” they can be used for; rather, it is from a view of the concept itself.  The forms relate the application but theyare also showing you the concept contained within.

Another aspect that many times a practitioner will overlook is too much concentration to the hand or foot movement, and taking attention away from the body’s positioning.  The body must continually remain in the correct position for the concept in question.  The back must be kept straight, head up, no leaning backward or forward, and the knees must always be linking together.  Many times a practitioner will think they have grasped the concept, yet they get pushed off balance.  Why?  Generally it is because their body is not doing its job of being correctly positioned for the concept being applied.

Forms training should be done at least twice weekly in order to refine them.  For your current level, you should train each form at least 5 times per training session in order to examine the body weight, the footwork, the hand and elbow placement, and the center of gravity.  During training, allow yourself to periodically stop and examine where you are:

1. Is your weight correct?
2. Are the arms and elbows properly positioned?
3. Is it cumbersome, or are you easily transitioning?
4. Are you maintaining the linkage between the knees?
5. Do your feet return to the correct position?
6. Is your head neutral and looking forward, or are you looking down?
7. Are your kicks parallel, or too high/low?
8. When you kick, do you lose your balance?
9. Where are your hands when you kick? Are they positioned properly?

A seminar I watched once was being conducted by a very knowledgable speaker.  He was talking about how people manage their lives and how they envision where they will be or why they aren’t getting out of life what they think they should.  He said, “If all you do is what you’ve always done, then all you’ll get is what you already got.”

And that is exactly what happens when a Wing Chun practitioner doesn’t take the time to seriously examine his or her positioning during forms training.  You must be your very worst critic and truly examine every aspect of the form.

When you do, you will also find yourself discovering the concepts that actually create the form and that particular application.

In the coming issues, you will see many areas of a variety of forms being described.  Without the correct analysis, however, it will mean little.  If you approach it with the correct mindset and proper view, you will see first-hand what our ancestors wished to pass along.  When that happens, it will unlock more barriers than you can begin to imagine.

Concepts

Naturally, all forms are important to a martial system.  But why so in Wing Chun?  If Wing Chun is a  concept-based vs. technique-based method, why would there even be forms?  The GuLao Wing Chun style doesn’t have forms, yet they are said to be quite accomplished practitioners.  How, then, can Wing Chun still train with forms if the concept is more important?

As expressed in Forms, the forms in Wing Chun can be considered a “catalog” of Wing Chun concepts. They are much more than physical movements, however; they are the concepts discovered by our ancestors and the learning they wanted to share for their future generations.

It is very important to remember that this concept-based vs. technique-based method demonstrates the entire premise around which Wing Chun was created.   I could demonstrate a particular application for a particular attack, and you would understand what it was all about.  But when it comes to demonstrating feeling or showing how a concept should be viewed, it becomes quite a different task.  Is it possible?  Most certainly.  But it also takes a bit of thinking on your part to envision and grasp the concept being taught.

The forms in most martial arts are simply the basic physical movements required.  In Wing Chun, though, the forms also impart the concept to one paying attention.  For example, have you noticed that each empty-hand form includes Gaun-sau and Kwun-sau, as well as opening with straightline punches?  This is because the concept of centerline and vertical midline is so important to a practitioner’s understanding.  It is to reinforce over and over again the absolute necessity that we maintain the centerline and remain as efficient as possible.

Did you also notice that the concept of Kwun-sau is not really explored heavily until the Chum-Kiu?  (I thought I noticed you noticing)  This is because Kwun-sau, or Twisting-arm, is a very difficult concept to put into practice at first.  It requires that both hands are feeling a very specific force at that very moment, and if employed prior to that, it will almost always cause you to get trapped.  On the flip side, though, Kwun-sau is trained right from the beginning in order to teach the arms how to perform properly. Since it has been trained from the very beginning, it will be ready for use once the body has learned correct positioning and the footwork is sufficient to accept and redirect force.  Without those two pre-requisites, Kwun-sau is very risky.

In the coming issues, a variety of concepts will be examined closely.  Many will be heavily scrutinized and “put to the test”.  That is how Wing Chun thought is expanded, by testing it.  If it works, it works.  If it doesn’t work, examine it to find out why.  That is how Wing Chun is best approached.

Health & Fitness

With summer in full swing, it is important to insure that you are drinking enough water.  The body will dehydrate long before your thirst mechanism triggers, so don’t wait!  Drink at least eight 12-ounce glasses of water every day (and more certainly won’t hurt).

The AWCA partners with two companies fully recognized as being leaders in their fields.  Our topics include Wing Chun, but also health and fitness, as well as Christian martial arts.  Having two organizations to affiliate with that are so respected in their fields is a great pleasure.

Global Health and Fitness
GHF is an online fitness training and performance nutrition organization that is truly remarkable in the field of health and fitness.  For the cost of a 1-year $49.00 membership, this is less that just 1 HOUR with a Personal Fitness Trainer!  In addition to their personal services created specifically for each member, you can also download their FREE fitness training software (a $32.95 value), ProTrack.

ProTrack allows you to create your own specialized exercise routines, as well as download an entire series of 12-week fitness programs tailored specifically for your fitness level.  From beginners to hard-core bodybuilders, ProTrack tracks weights, reps, sets, and also cardiovascular exercises.

GHF offers a variety of free tools, both to members and non-members, that also assist you in improving your health and fitness.  From free body analysis measurements to BMR (basal metabolic rate) counters, all will find something of use on the Global Health and Fitness website.  I’ve used them for over 6 months and I have never regretted it for a minute!

BigFitness.net
When you’ve made the decision to improve your health and fitness levels, you need the correct equipment. Most folks go to the local sports or fitness stores for what they need, mainly out of convenience or in case they need to have something serviced or returned.  But BigFitness.net capitalizes on those areas, as well.

You truly cannot find a better fitness equipment supplier anywhere.  From benches and weights to steppers and treadmills, BigFitness.net has every piece of equipment you could possibly need to begin your your fitness program.

Christian Wing Chun Association

The AWCA sponsors and maintains the Christian Wing Chun Association, a collective of Christian Wing Chun websites from around the world.  If you have or know of a Christian Wing Chun site and would like to see it listed, please access the below URL for inclusion.  We will soon be listing a variety of resources for the Christian Wing Chun practitioner, as well as including outreach and ministry materials for those interested.

News/Special Events

AWCAOnline Reviews
The Arizona Wing Chun Association provides reviews for a variety of books, videos, CD’s, and DVD’s, all available on AWCAOnline.

Annual AWCA Training Camp
Our annual training camp will be taking place October 26, 27, and 28 at Rocky Point, Mexico.  All AWCA and TVTA members are invited to attend and as usual, there is no fee (other than the house/hotel, food, gas, entertainment, etc).  Register with Si-Fu Phil Bradley no later than Monday, September 24.

Editorial

With so many inquiries from around the world, I wanted to let you know a bit more about what I have in store for the AWCA that was not included or expanded on in much detail from our August issue of the newsletter.

Publications
It’s been a long time coming, but a few of the AWCA-produced publications are in their final stages of formatting.  Still left are the variety of photos required, which has a projected timeline of 1 month. This means that in the first week of September we start shooting, and from that point on we will have 1 month to have all photos completed, formatted, and in place for the publication.  Since all of this will be accomplished by myself and my students, it will be tight to keep to the timeline, but we’re up for the challenge!

The first publication to be made available will be “Strategic Wing Chun”, a project that I’ve been working on for over 5 years. Straight-forward and to-the-point, SWC will encompass real-world examples and Wing Chun concept in action.  Naturally, members of the AWCA Mailing List will receive a discount during its first 2 months of being available, but you will also be receiving special announcements prior to its release.

Videos
The AWCA is also beginning preparation for filming its first of five scheduled videos on the Wing Chun system.  Encompassing forms, wooden dummy, weapons, training, and street combative principles, the AWCA video series is built around professional quality but with a low budget.  Again, all aspects will completed by the AWCA, so you will be guaranteed of top quality but at a very affordable price.

Partners
As you’ve seen, the AWCA is partnering with a variety of leading businesses in the areas of online learning, health and fitness, and home-based business planning.  We’re excited, to say the least, that we can provide these businesses and our research to you, and we hope you take advantage of the many areas we’ve already done the leg work on!  Our goal is to provide ample paths to explore and let YOU make the decision what to do with it.  I have received numerous e-mails from visitors thanking me for leading them to information they were searching for, and it’s a pleasure to give back to a community that has given ME so much.  It makes the effort very worthwhile.

Regards,
Si-Fu Phil Bradley

Ok, so that was pretty basic. And a little nasty when I see the many grammatical errors. How time flies. I wanted to post more back-issues but as I look through the many posts I am re-posting here from our previous weblog, it would be a waste of space.

Maybe in the future I will create an archive of previous text-based issues. I would have to be pretty bored for that, but you never know. Never say never.

Editor’s comment: This article was initially posted to a previous AWCA newsletter on 05/16/2006. It is being re-posted here for back-issue reading.

Safe & Effective Kick Defense

With Wing Chun being primarily a fist-fighting method, sometimes it is difficult to deal with an opponent’s kicks. So how does our method approach this?

The first element to consider is the distance itself. A kicker can only use a kick if there is room to kick. So, when someone kicks, drive directly into them and shorten the distance. This requires a great deal of footwork training targeted for forward stepping (what many call entering drills).

Basically, an entering drill is getting from point A to point B as quickly, efficiently, and protectively as possible. We term this as “blasting” or “exploding” forward in order to envision the correct action, and the body’s weight distribution must be checked so that we are not sacrificing our own structure during this forward motion.

I heard a story some years ago that a famous Wing Chun ancestor spent quite a few years (yes, years) doing nothing but entering drills. Afterwards, he became undefeatable because the fight was over in a matter of seconds.

Along with stepping, we also have to consider the upper body. Closing the gap means nothing if we are getting pummeled on the way in; therefore, we have to consider this decreased distance when encountering a kick.

For example, our opponent has initiated a roundhouse kick. We exploded forward into them, thereby decreasing the distance, which in turn removes a great deal of the kicking power. Without reaching extension, the kick is still in motion. It then becomes more of a push and has not built up the momentum necessary to release its full power.

What should our arms be doing? In this example, we utilize basic concepts from section 3 of the Siu-Nim-Tau, with the primary two concepts being Gwat-sau (Wiping-arm) and Lau-sau (Scooping-arm).

Gwat-sau acts somewhat like a windshield wiper, “wiping” the kick out of the path. However, the problem is that sometimes a practitioner will wait too long and then have to deal with the forward momentum generated when a kicker’s body lurches forward.

Instead, just as contact is made, it is a two-fold combinational concept: Gwat-sau still “wipes” but now the arm also immediately lifts or “scoops”.

By doing so, the defender has effectively blocked the kick and is now lifting the leg straight up, and from here a lot of things are taking place.

With the leg being driven upwards due to our lift, and because we are still blasting forward, our opponent has two choices:

1. He can attempt to strike with his fists, or
2. He gets dumped to the ground.

While striking seems like it would be the first choice, the sheer velocity at which we are exploding forward makes this virtually impossible. Therefore, we continue the forward attack and drive him up and back.

Some schools teach an additional concept, such as simultaneously stepping in with the back leg while lifting and taking the opponent over that leg to the ground (in essence, dropping him in place on his back or neck). It sounds complicated, and it does take a bit of training; but once you “got it,” you would be surprised at how easy it is employ it.

In fact, it becomes so fast and simple, you wonder why anyone would even attempt to kick above the knee or thigh.

Editor’s comment: This article was initially posted to a previous AWCA newsletter on 03/14/2006. It is being re-posted here for back-issue reading.

Important Steps Forward

As many of you know, Dai-SiFu Don Grose, Headman of the Tucson Ving Tsun Academy and President of the International Ving Tsun Kung Fu Federation (IVTKFF), hosts the Annual Southwest Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun Gathering. These events are always very informative, but their primary goal is to bring the WC/VT/WT families together in order to get to know each other and our various schools/lineages.

It is no secret that past rivalries between the lineages have detracted from progressing the art to the populace, but many of those barriers have been removed due to events such as the annual Gathering.

But what do these types of events really mean in the long-term scheme of things?

I remember our first Gathering in 2004 when Dai-SiFu Don said that there was a time when getting the families together would have broken out into a fight. And he was absolutely correct.

There was a time when getting multiple lineages under the same roof was almost impossible, and if it did happen, more than likely the police would be called.

Sad but true. Here we are, practitioners of one of the most well-known and effective methods of self-defense with a distinguished history of extremely competent fighters, yet putting our various family members together in the same place at the same time is a problem.

I guess in one way it is understandable to a certain degree; after all, “family pride,” “lineage pride,” etc., is present in all martial arts. But at the same time, we as martial artists and members of the Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun families should be bigger than that, you know?

I liken it to raising a child: you do everything you can to ensure that they get everything they need in order to be prepared for the world. You nurture them as much as possible while also teaching them how to live in society and be a good citizen. And when it is time for them to go out on their own, you hope they make the right choices in life.

Sometimes those choices are good and sometimes they are not, but in the “not so good” choices, you hope they learn from them and do not make the same mistakes twice.

How does that relate to Wing Chun? Because we have those same choices.

We can choose to either make friends and learn from our families, or we can keep the barriers up and make what I believe is a not-so-good choice.

Provided that any event in which we can share information with each other is not abused, the events can go a long way to removing some of the barriers we all still encounter periodically. I have learned a great deal from my teacher, as well as teachers of other lineages. I have had the fortune of training with some truly exceptional practitioners of many different lineages, and the one thing I can say is that everyone – regardless of what they believe – had something of value to pass on. What we do with it after we have learned about it is entirely up to us, and personally, I would rather pass on a good view of our art to my students and those that follow us rather having a back-biting attitude or one of discontent.

We all make our own choices, and in that choice, we make known our inner selves.

So what do events like these really do over the long haul? They bring us together, which is still very new to a lot of people. And those that make these attempts – people like Dai-SiFu Don Grose – should be commended for making the continuous effort of bridging the gap between the families and making us a whole unit vs. a “collection of parts”.

If there are schools in your area, go over for a visit. Introduce yourself and your students so that you can create a more close-knit bond with your fellow practitioners. Whether you agree or disagree with what they are doing, who cares? Does it really matter if they teach something different than you? Of course not. They have their views about things, you have yours. But that does not mean that there has to be animosity at any level.

I have met some practitioners here in Arizona where there is little about their Wing Chun I agree with. The same holds true for them, I am sure. But we remain good friends in spite of that and periodically train together. That proves that with an open mind, willing to accept what someone else does because we share the common bond of being WC/VT/WT families, we can overcome these limits.

It simply takes time, and patience, and the willingness to want to do it. But it all has to start somewhere, and that is really what events such as the annual Gathering accomplish.

Editor’s comment: This article was initially posted to a previous AWCA newsletter on 05/08/2006. It is being re-posted here for back-issue reading.

Making The Most of Your Training

When most of us train, it is usually against another Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun practitioner. It makes sense, of course, because it is practical. At the same time, however, if we do not get exposure to anything outside of our normal training, what might we encounter?

Some will say that if you train with realism and dedicated persistence, you have no need to experiment with training against other styles. While I can understand the argument, I personally feel that it short-changes your skills if all you ever do is work against the same-style partners.

Over time with the same people, you learn their quirks, especially where their strong and weak points are. They will favor their strong points (particularly if they begin losing) and neglect their weak points. At that point, “tactics” will tell you to exploit their weaknesses vs barrel into their most closely-defended structures.

Because of this, we can unknowingly create a false sense of security since we are never breaking out of what we are already familiar with and never pushing ourselves to grow in the realm of what really works in today’s world of fighting.

Because there is still somewhat an air of superiority in the Wing Chun world, sometimes a practitioner will think that just because they are Wing Chun practitioners, they will automatically win.

As anyone with real fighting experience will tell you, this is not the case. The art has a lot to do with it, but there are many other factors that contribute to success or defeat.

We see it repeatedly, too, when someone who has trained for years gets pummeled by a simple haymaker coming out of left field, or some punk kid who threw a wild hook and dropped the master.

How is that possible? A lot of reasons, really. For starters, the art and method is only as good as the person training it. It can be the best thing since sliced bread but it still has to be trained in order to work.

Environment and pure luck are also factors. We can never pick-and-choose when, where or how we are attacked, and some things are just simply out of our control. It may be a losing situation right from the start, and these are things we can never know until the hammer falls.

It is close to impossible for a practitioner to be at their very best 24×7, and everyone hits a low point. Illness, injuries, emotional state, etc., will all play a role in fighting, as well as experience both within and outside their chosen art.

When we take all of these factors into account, we can readily see that fighting is more than just simple actions. It can be easily argued that unless we push ourselves to the fullest with each session, and experience how other fighters will respond to our methods (and what we can do about it), we can rarely reach a point of excellence.

If you do the same thing over and over, you tend to get used to it. And if you get used to it, it is easy to get relaxed with training. Like the saying goes:

If all you do is what you’ve always done, then all you’ll get is what you’ve already got.

Many Wing Chun practitioners wonder what they would do against a Muay Thai fighter, a mixed martial artist, a karateka, a taekwondo fighter, or even a western boxer. Well, rather than wonder about it, I recommend finding a school that will work with you and then experience it for yourself. Not all schools will be open to that, of course, because many are very protective of what they do (especially when working with someone other than their own students).

But if you are lucky enough, you might just find some of them out there. In many cases, they want to test themselves against a Wing Chun fighter, too, so you both have something to gain from the experience.

Some of the best experiences I have had were working with the many schools around Phoenix, San Diego and Las Vegas. Some great folks out there, let me tell you, and very open to working with non-students. Provided that your attitude is in check? You would be amazed at how friendly and open a lot of folks are.

Editor’s comment: This article was initially posted to a previous AWCA newsletter on 03/11/2006. It is being re-posted here for back-issue reading.

Nothing But Words

Some of the email responses to a previous post asked for more information about what I meant concerning “traditional” and “modified”. This stemmed mostly from those stating to be training in a “traditional” lineage.

We have all heard how Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun came to be by way of Ng Mui, the 5 elders, etc. And there are also a few other stories, such as one claiming that the art actually originated at Shaolin (Siu-Lam).

But when it comes right down to it, all of these are still legends. Nothing has been shown (at least, so far) as clear-cut, unequivocal evidence as to Wing Chun’s true origination. Therefore, clinging to these stories as the gospel truth and not being open-minded enough to accept that maybe, just maybe, something else is possible, is somewhat self-defeating.

Why? Because it creates a closed mind that cannot or will not grow.

There are some in the world that claim that they, and only they, are the true grandmasters or rightful heirs to a particular lineage. Maybe that is true, maybe it is not. Who really knows for sure except them and those that came before them? However, there is no one person that is the grandmaster of the entire Wing Chun system itself. How can I make that claim? Because not everyone is of the same lineage.

For example, there are the Yip Man, Yuen Kay San, Pan Nam, and Pao Fa Lien Wing Chun lineages, just to name a few. There are lineages that have branched out all over the world, with their own predecessors and successors. So to say that someone is the one and only grandmaster of the entire Wing Chun system is, as you can guess, a false claim.

In my view, “traditional” and “modified” are somewhat one and the same. For example, very few will disagree that Wing Chun/Ving Tsun as we know it today is the same as when it was created and developed. It took a few generations of practitioners to create what we have available in today’s schools, so now what? Are we all training in a “modified” version of what our ancestors created? Of course we are.

So where does “traditional” fit in?

To our ancestors, we are all training a “modified” version of what they created. And in my opinion, that is how it should be. We respond to the situations that continuously evolve, so if something needs to evolve with it, which would you rather cling to: something that can protect you? Or something that will get you knocked down, all for the sake of tradition?

When Wing Chun came to be, the methods were appropriate for the times our ancestors lived in. And even though a great deal is still viable in today’s martial arts world, naturally some things that were more prevalent then are not as appropriate for today’s society.

For example, where does Biu-Tze really fit in with the common scenario? How many of us have actually been in situations where we have truly had to fight for our lives? The possibility is certainly there, and will be for the existence of mankind.

But in general, is it really as common today as it may have been then? Some situations do in fact exist, but on the whole, most of us will agree that these situations are few and far between. While situations will always occur for some of us where we might find ourselves in that situation, it is safe to say that most of us probably will never encounter a life-or-death situation.

I have been in these situations before, but they also came with my job at the time. And for the others, all but two of them I could have walked away from. Instead, I was a foolish person who stood his ground, wanting to test what I had learned in order to see for myself if my skills were up to the challenge.

Chalk it up to immaturity and irresponsibility, because taking chances like that are foolish, needless and completely irresponsible.

But over time, we learn, we mature, and we grow up in the art to become educated, mindful and respectful citizens in the communities we live in. We are charged with keeping the peace, not detracting from it.

Because of our skills, our ancestors charged us with protecting those around us vs engaging in senseless acts. And where we need to start with that is from within our own groups. How can we truly take care of ourselves and our communities if we have a hard time even learning and growing with each other?

Our history is such that I have always wondered how far we would be right now if practitioners would embrace the varied lineages and families vs the many claims we have all seen of one way being the “best” or only “legitimate” way. There are so many people in the world that thirst for training, yet have no idea what to do because of the inner squablings that still exist.

Does it really matter if something is traditional or modified? Absolutely not. Do you like how you train? Do you believe in what you do? If the answers are “yes”, then who cares what lineage it is from or who is teaching it? If it is working for you and you dig what you are doing, then go for it!

But in that, also embrace other lineages and learn as much as you can from everyone you can. You are definitely worth getting as much exposure to everyone as you can, are you not? You want to have well-rounded skills and become an educated, knowledgeable practitioner of Wing Chun/Ving Tsun, continuing the tradition of passing on what you have learned to the next generations. Become the best you can be and forget all of the silly debates about what is traditional, modified, whether it is from Shaolin or whatever.

When you focus on what really matters – which is making your skill set the best it can be – then all of the other stuff does not matter. When the hammer falls and now you have to use your skills for real, I guarantee that your opponent will care less that you are a student of such-and-such lineage or who your teacher is. They will not give a tinker’s damn whether you are traditional, modified, or some other silly word that someone came up with.

All you should really care about is learning your craft as well as you can with the time you have, and representing all of Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun in brotherhood and peace. That is true familial caring, which is what our ancestors wanted us to display.