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Forms & Drills

Training Curriculum of Wing Chun Kuen

Siu-Nim-Tau

The Siu-Nim-Tau, or Little-Idea form, is the first stage of training for all Wing Chun practitioners. Encompassing the foundation of the art itself, this is why the Siu-Nim-Tau is the most important training we receive.

At the end of the Siu-Nim-Tau, a practitioner will begin training Chi-dan-sau, or Single-arm Sticking-hand, which is presented in a separate section for more detail. Light sparring is also introduced at this stage in order to acquaint the practitioner with using his/her skills.

Chum-Kiu

After completion of the Siu-Nim-Tau, a practitioner graduates to the Chum-Kiu, or Arm-Seeking form. In this curriculum, we learn the principles of “seeking out” the opponent’s bridge arms, as well as intermediate principles for turning, angling, kicking, and using the elbows.

Also during this phase of training, a practitioner will graduate to Chi-sheung-sau, or Double-arm Sticking-hands, as well as Lap-sau and Lat-sau training.

Biu-Tze

The final empty-hand form is called Biu-Tze. Meaning Thrusting-Fingers form, this curriculum addresses those times when we might find ourselves in a true life-or-death situation. Biu-Tze teaches us how to release penetrating power into our opponent, geared for permanent or fatal results. That is why this curriculum is never taught to anyone who has not already displayed an extremely strong moral character.

Along with this curriculum, the practitioner’s Chi-sau training graduates to Biu-Tze Chi-sau. Instead of just the arms being used, we close the distance to include elbows and knees.

Muk-Yan-Chong

After the empty-hand forms and drills are mastered, a practitioner embarks on the Muk-Yan-Chong, or Wooden Dummy. This inanimate training tool redefines and hones our skills by learning to overcome rebound, how to develop short-range power, and uniting the upper and lower bodies.

Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun

Wing Chun has two weapons, with the first being the Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun, or Six-and-a-Half Point Long Pole. Despite what some might believe, handling a long-range weapon such as the pole contributes a great deal to your empty-hand fighting in a variety of ways.

Some practitioners that have not trained with the pole believe that it is not as useful as it once was. While that might be true to a point since you rarely, if ever, see someone walking down the sidewalk with an eight-foot staff, the extension of the body via this weapon will directly translate to your empty-hand skills.

Bart-Cham-Dao

The final stage of a Wing Chun practitioner’s formal training is the Bart-Cham-Dao, or Eight-Cutting Broadswords form. With this training, a practitioner learns the final ranges of close and medium-range weapons fighting. Combined with the long range of the pole, our methods become even more precise.

Chi-sau

Chi-sau, or Sticking-hands, is a unique training method in Wing Chun that allows a practitioner to immediately tell the direction and power of an attacker’s movements, all through the sense of touch. Section 1 is presented in its entirety, as well as more discussion of what Chi-sau is about and how it relates to real fighting.

Lap-sau

Lap-sau, or Deflecting-arm, teaches us to deflect and redirect incoming attacks. There are two terms for Lap-sau: Grabbing-hand and Deflecting-arm. While Grabbing-hand is a movement, Deflecting-arm is a full curriculum that is taught in tandem with Chi-sau.

Chi-gerk

Chi-gerk, or Sticking-legs, is the lower body’s equivalent of Chi-sau. Having a competent skill set in Chi-gerk creates a more well-rounded fighter, capable of of immediately determining the opponent’s lower body actions. When combined with Chi-sau, a Wing Chun practitioner is capable of using his/her entire body to overwhelm an opponent.

Sparring

Although this section is still being created, AWCAOnline’s Sparring section will include a host of sparring-related training elements to demonstrate the nature of Wing Chun sparring.

One of the areas we are also in the process of creating is a “Wing Chun vs” section that addresses possible responses to boxers, jiu-jitsu practitioners, kick boxers, and a myriad of other martial arts.

AWCA Ranks and Levels

All WC/VT/WT schools have a rank and grading system of one kind or another, and the AWCA is no different. Click below for an overview of the ranking system we continue to pass on as it was taught to us.

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