2006 AWCA Training Camp
AWCA Gym - Peoria, Arizona

The annual AWCA Training Camp was held this year at the AWCA on October 27, 28 and 29. This 22-hour event worked through the Siu-Nim-Tau, Chum-Kiu, and the Chi-sau sections. The focus revolved around introducing elements of Wing Chun to students that have not experienced these levels yet, as well as to enhance our understanding for those that "are" at these levels.

Naturally all elements of these forms and their concepts could not be covered in 2-1/2 days, but it was a lot of fun trying.

Day 1: Siu-Nim-Tau

Day 2: Chum-Kiu

Day 3: Chi-sau

Kicking off the event started with a step-by-step progression through the Siu-Nim-Tau. Starting with section 1 and working through section 3, we explored the entire form, a myriad of concepts, and worked a variety of drills from 8:00am until about 5:30pm.

We went in-depth into a variety of elements throughout the form, including the reasoning behind opening the stance in this manner, why the center of gravity is dropped from the chest to the waist, and why our punching methods use vertical fists vs. horizontal fists like other arts.

We also discussed and trained Tan-sau, Gaun-sau and Kwun-sau, as well as their relationship to one another. Following this, we went through section 1's slow Tan-sau/ Fook-sau/ Wu-sau cycle for 20 minutes on each side. This internal type of training introduces the practitioner to relaxing their body and learning a slow, rythmic breathing.

- Slow Tan-sau/ Fook-sau/ Wu-sau Cycle (3.77 MB | 2 minutes 7 seconds | WMV format)

The Slow Tan-sau/ Fook-sau/ Wu-sau Cycle
-1-	-2-	-3-
To begin, the hand opens and you can either bring it to the front and go slow from that point on, or open the hand and go slow right then.	Powered by the elbow, the wrist remains on your centerline and ever-so-slowly move Tan-sau forward.	The arms stops when the elbow is one fist-width distance from the body. Periodically use your other fist to check the distance. Maintain your breathing (in the nose, out the mouth), keep your back straight and head level, and keep the hips tucked in so as to pivot the pelvis forward (which drives your force into your adductor muscles and keeps your rooted).

Section 1 should always be trained for at least 20 minutes each side when working solo in order to learn what is known as "Immovable Movement." In short, the arm is moving so slowly that you cannot see it moving. You can only feel it, and even then, just barely. During this slow cycle, we focus on adduction of the knees, maintaining body structure, and breathing.

After this, we discussed a bit about Pak-sau (Slap-hand) and how it is one of the more effective defenses in the Wing Chun arsenal.

- Discussion of Pak-sau (1.32 MB | 45 seconds | WMV format)

Discussion of Pak-sau
-1-	-2-	-3-
Examining Pak-sau, such as where it is most effective...	... how it translates to actions after its completion, and	... how driving it too far is detrimental to realistic defense.

Throughout the day, we examined other concepts from sections 2 and 3, as well as exploring the fundamentals of turning, forward stepping, side stepping, and withdrawing when closed in and you cannot move forward or to the side.

Even though it is the first curriculum a practitioner is exposed to, it is also the most important. Without a solid understanding and competence of Siu-Nim-Tau, everything that follows will be of little to no use. And as basic as it is, that is exactly why it works in the first place: there is nothing flashy or showy about it. It is logical, efficient, and geared strictly to realistic fighting, applicable even in today's world.

Day 2 took us through the primary elements of Chum-Kiu. Beginning with section 1, this form focuses on "seeking out" the opponent and, once found, how to "sink" through his defense in order to strike. The arms are used as "bridges" or to "connect the bridge" between us and our opponent, so a bit about this concept was explored while we worked the drills.

- Chum-Kiu, Section 1 (1.11 MB | 27 seconds | WMV format)

Chum-Kiu Section 1
-1-	-2-	-3-
Pie-jarn ("Hacking-elbow").	Yan-cheung, or "Stamping-palm." This action is trained as Pak-sau by some.	Jing-cheung ("Erect-palm").

The Chum-Kiu also teaches Wing Chun's three primary kicking methods of front, side and slant-thrusting. I introduced the participants to some of the leg conditioning drills necessary to get the most power out of the kicks, and needless to say, that was an eye-opener.

After killing everyone's legs by working single-leg drills and holding these positions for 2 minutes on each side, we jumped back into a variety of drills that corresponds directly to the Siu-Nim-Tau. Throughout the system, many elements enhance or "overlap" concepts that were previously learned so as to push them even further. A lot of this was explored on day 2.

From trapping, kicking and intermediate stepping drills to leg conditioning, close-quarters concepts, and anti-grappling/ anti-takedown concepts, day 2 saw a marked improvement in everyone's understanding about the art as a whole. After just 18 hours of training, I saw improvement in everyone, from the highest-ranked to those brand new to the art.

It is very motivational to see when someone "gets" Wing Chun since it always sparks some great discussions about a variety of elements. Now if my legs would just stop being sore, life would be a lot better.

Our third and final day of this year's Training Camp entailed a full four hours of nothing but Chi-sau. All students were familiar with single-arm rolling, but four of them had never learned double-arm rolling.

That ended today.

After explaining what the purpose of double-arm rolling was all about, we took things step-by-step through these elements and started a very good foundation. While newer students were involved with the basics of double-arm actions, the rest of the students were working on sections 1 - 7 of our core Chi-sau curriculum, exploring how things play into each other and the many different actions that can result even if just a very small angle is different from movement to movement.

- Luk-sau and Its Elements (1.73 MB | 52 seconds | WMV format)

- Introduction to Bong-sau (1.11 MB | 27 seconds | WMV format)

- Advanced Chi-sau (2.85 MB | 50 seconds | WMV format)

The entire weekend was very enlightening for all of us, and it reinforced a great deal of our basic actions for others. It was a great training experience and we all walked away with an even deeper appreciation for the art that we all love.

If you operate your own school, I highly recommend taking a couple of times each year and just spending it with your students during a weekend event like this. It is a lot of work, and you definitely get tired, that's for sure. But it creates an even stronger familial bond when everyone is just working hard and sweating, training the art we depend on to protect us.

Thanks to everyone for their hard work this weekend.