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Ranks and Levels of the Arizona Wing Chun Association
Introduction | Student Grades | Instructors | Senior Instructors
he AWCA follows the basic grading structure taught to us via Master Leung Ting's WingTsun® style. With curriculums changing through the years, though, today's WingTsun curriculums will undoubtedly be different from the late 1980's/ early 1990's.
I believe that this is an excellent pattern to continue following since it provides a logical, progressive manner in which to train. Additionally, any student can train with another student, and solely from their level they can know quickly where to pick up with their individual lessons.
There are twelve (12) student grades in the AWCA training curriculum, with each level denoting the completion of a form's section or obtaining a skill set in a particular area.
For example, Student Grade 1 covers section 1 of the Siu-Nim-Tau, Student Grade 2 covers section 2 of the Siu-Nim-Tau, and so forth, up to and including Student Grade 12.
Each rank level takes approximately 3 months of training to complete if training twice weekly for a minimum of 45 minutes to 1 hour. Naturally, everyone has more or less time, depending on their particular schedules of life, work, etc. I have seen some students reach Instructor level in as little as 18 months, while others have been so busy with life and work that even after 6 or 7 years, they are only half way through the student curriculum.
Time is not a factor in Wing Chun. What is a factor is that everyone loves training and being a part of such an efficient method of training.
The uniform for all Student levels consists of the white AWCA training tshirt and black kung fu pants (alternative: black shorts.
When a student reaches Student Grade 8, he/she continues their training but now also delve into learning "how" to teach. I learned a long time ago that good martial artists do not necessarily make good instructors; instead, they either learn by trial and error, or they are "taught" how to teach. How? By gaining experience in the classroom with their Sifu.
| Student Grades 1 - 7 | ||
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Student Grade 1 |
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Student Grade 2 |
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Student Grade 3 |
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Student Grade 4 |
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Student Grade 5 |
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Student Grade 6 |
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Student Grade 7 |
Refinement of Siu-Nim-Tau/ Chum-Kiu forms/drills/applications Refinement of all Chi-sau/Lap-sau drills Refinement of Chi-sau sections 1 and 2 attack and defense Refinement of Lap-sau sections 1 and 2 attack and defense Refinement of basic weapons skills Good performance in a free fight at medium power |
Student Grades 8 - 11 encompass the Apprentice Instructor Program (AIP), while Student Grade 12 is considered an Assistant Instructor. This level of student is preparing for Instructor Level 1, so a great deal of time is spent in both their personal training and leading classes in order to give them the experience necessary for running their own schools
| Student Grades 8 - 12 | ||
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Student Grade 8 |
(Apprentice Instructor)
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Student Grade 9 |
(Apprentice Instructor)
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Student Grade 10 |
(Apprentice Instructor)
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Student Grade 11 |
(Apprentice Instructor)
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Student Grade 12 |
(Assistant Instructor) Biu-Tze section 3 Continue refinement in all forms, drills, and applications Continue refinement in all Chi-sau/Lap-sau drills/sections Chi-sau section 4 attack and defense Lap-sau section 4 attack and defense Excellent performance in a free-fight at full power Lead two classes per month with Sifu's supervision Report on student's progress for teaching purposes Prepare for Instructor Level 1 |
There are six instructor levels at the AWCA, with the first four being the completion of the system itself. And as with the student grades, each Instructor level indicates a particular skill set.
The uniform for Instructor Levels 1 - 4 consist of the black AWCA training tshirt and black kung fu pants/ shorts. As the levels progress, the striping and rank patches change, as noted below
| Instructor Level 1 | ||
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Instructor Level 1 |
To obtain Instructor Level 1, a practitioner must demonstrate competence in the Biu-Tze. The Instructor-candidate will spend a great deal of time at Student Grade 12 in order to master the entire Biu-Tze curriculum before being considered for Instructor Level 1. When ready, the Instructor-candidate will undertake a rigorous testing event in which everything he/she has ever learned about Wing Chun will be demonstrated both verbally and physically. All three empty-hand forms, their concepts and theories, their drills and applications, and also the complete Chi-sau, Lap-sau and Chi-gerk curriculums must be demonstrated to competence. For Instructor Level 1, the Instructor-candidate will learn the remaining Chi-sau and Lap-sau sections as they relate to Siu-Nim-Tau and Chum-Kiu, as well as the Biu-Tze Chi-sau curriculum. Additionally, the Instructor-candidate will also learn the four sections of Chi-gerk, or "Sticking-legs," to compliment their Chi-sau and Lap-sau skills. Also at Instructor Level 1, Chi-sau sections 5 and 6 will be learned, as well as the fifth and sixth Lap-sau attack/defense sequences. Lastly, a competent free-fighting demonstration must be performed with Sifu Phil Bradley, with the only protective equipment being gloves, a mouth guard and a groin protector. From verbally explaining the forms and concepts to performing a competent free-fight, this is an arduous test that puts the practitioner at the very edge of their training. Those that succeed in obtaining Instructor Level 1 are now granted the title of Sifu, or teacher. To retain their credentials, they must remain under the AWCA banner for continued learning and training until they reach Instructor Level 2. At this time, there are no instructors with the AWCA at Instructor Level 1. |
| Instructor Level 2 | ||
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Instructor Level 2 |
To obtain Instructor Level 2, a practitioner must complete the Muk-Yan-Chong (Wooden Dummy) curriculum in its entirety. With eight sections, this is a very long training phase; however, once it is completed, the practitioner has a new sense of Wing Chun and can demonstrate a fluid competence in their actions. Additionally, the final section of Chi-sau for Siu-Nim-Tau and Chum-Kiu will be learned, as well as the complete Biu-Tze and Muk-Yan-Chong Chi-sau curriculums. A practitioner who receives Instructor Level 2 is now authorized to branch out from the AWCA banner and can open their own school under their own name. The uniform for Instructor Level 2 retains the same rank patch, but now includes a 1/2-inch red stripe on the pants/ shorts, as well as a 1/2-inch stripe on the sleeves. At this time, Sifu Dennis Sigurnjak is the only AWCA instructor at Instructor Level 2. |
| Instructor Level 3 | ||
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Instructor Level 3 |
Instructor Level 3 denotes completion of the Luk-Dim-Boon-Kwun, or "Six-and-a-Half Point long pole." Training for this weapon includes all strength training drills, stance training drills, the pole form, Chi-kwun (Sticking-pole) and pole vs. knife drills. Full-contact sparring with the long pole is also learned and honed, and handling this long, heavy weapon can require years of training in order to be correctly used. The appropriate protective equipment is used at this level when sparring. Average time of training depends on the time put in to it. Generally, it can take up to 1 year for achieving the strength necessary for handling the pole, plus an additional year or so to learn the curriculum itself. The uniform for Instructor Level 3 retains the 1/2-inch red striping as for Instructor Level 2, but is now awarded the Instructor Level 3 rank patch. At this time, there are no instructors with the AWCA at Instructor Level 3. |
| Instructor Level 4 | ||
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Instructor Level 4 |
The final level of "formal" Wing Chun instruction concludes with completion of the Bart-Cham-Dao, or "Eight-Cutting Broadswords" (the double knives of Wing Chun). Similar to the Instructor Level 1 testing, this is a grueling testing event in which everything that he/she has ever learned about Wing Chun must be demonstrated. The primary focus, however, is on the Bart-Cham-Dao. The Bart-Cham-Dao requires a great deal of time spent in strength training to condition the wrists and body (as well as the footwork) in order to handle these heavy weapons. After sufficient strength training and coordination is attained, the form is learned, followed by drills and applications. The training is culminated with full-contact knife fighting using specialized protective equipment.
The uniform for Instructor Level 4 retains the Instructor Level 3 rank patch, but the red striping is now widened from 1/2-inch to 1-inch on both the pants/shorts and the sleeves of the training tshirt. At this time, Sifu Phil Bradley is the only AWCA instructor at Instructor Level 4. |
Senior Instructor Level denotes advancement in not only ranking, but also title. Whereas Instructor Levels 1 - 4 are known as Sifu, Instructor Levels 5 and 6 are known as Dai-Sifu, or Senior Instructor/ Senior Teacher.
Also called Dai-si, this means Great Teacher, a title that indicates a profound base of knowledge and skill
| Instructor Level 5 | ||
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Instructor Level 5 |
Instructor Level 5 denotes "master" ranking. Having a profound mastery of all skill sets and having completed the formal training of the Wing Chun Kuen system, this level of Instructor is able to employ his/her skills in all situations and with a degree of power relevant to the situation. There are no mistakes at this level, and precision and exactness are evident. Due to the high level of skill acquired, an instructor at this level is denoted as being Dai-Sifu, or Senior Instructor. The uniform for Instructor Level 5 retains the 1-inch red striping on the pants/shorts from Instructor Level 4, but is now awarded the red AWCA tshirt and the AWCA Instructor Level 5 rank patch. At this time, there are no instructors with the AWCA at Instructor Level 5. |
| Instructor Level 6 | ||
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Instructor Level 6 |
Instructor Level 6 is the final level of AWCA Wing Chun training. A practitioner at this level has reached the highest culmination of skill and has demonstrated excellence in his/her technique in both physical expression and verbal relation of all-things Wing Chun. This practitioner has demonstrated not only their understanding about Wing Chun, but also how it relates to other martial arts. A practitioner at this level may also begin to cease accepting students, preparing for their eventual retirement from Wing Chun. He/she may continue to teach their current students, or pass this honor to his/her head student for continuance. At that point, the Instructor would "close his door" and would no longer accept students for personal instruction. The uniform for Instructor Level 6 makes a vast change here. In addition to be awarded the Instructor Level 6 rank patch, all red striping is replaced with yellow. Additionally, the red shirt is replaced with the AWCA yellow shirt, indicating excellence in Wing Chun Kuen. At this time, Dai-Sifu Don Grose is the only AWCA Instructor at Instructor Level 6. Dai-Sifu Don is the Headman of the internationally-acclaimed Tucson Ving Tsun Academy, as well as President of the globally-recognized International Ving Tsun Kung Fu Federation (IVTKFF). He has been Sifu Phil Bradley's teacher since 1999. |
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Updated: 12.30.2009 11:49AM MST
