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Of all the various Kung Fu styles, Wing Chun is perhaps one of the most unique systems. Wing Chun was founded by a Buddhist nun, Ng Mui, of the famous Shaolin Monastery, over 400 years ago. The reason for developing a new style was she felt that all the other Kung Fu styles emphasized too heavily the “Horse Stance”, and relying on sheer brute strength and too many exaggerated movements. The training methods of these styles were far too strenuous and torturous for the men, let alone the women. So, instead, Ng Mui came up with a system of body dynamics and techniques that required the minimum of movements and energy. This was based on intrinsic (internal) energy, and stresses “center-line punching”, utilizing the fact that “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.” Wing Chun reckons on practicality; Meek to overcome the strong and manipulation of the attacking force against the attacker. Great importance is placed on simultaneous attack, defense and counter attack, forever pressing forward with a series of fast punches and close-quarters footwork. This is designed to unbalance your opponent, without giving him a chance to recover. “Stand and Deliver”, rather than retreating is most important in Wing Chun fighting. The most important aspect of Wing Chun is a student is given the basic principles and from there forward they must build their own unique style, incorporating only what is within their own capabilities and disregarding what is awkward or inefficient.
The Wing Chun style was named after a young female student of Ng Mui’s, Yim Wing Chun. At about the time Ng Mui was experimenting with her new fighting system, a certain boxer of the Shaolin style met her student, Yim Wing Chun. The boxer, Mr. Leung Bok Cho of Fut San, Kwan Tung Province, later asked for Yim’s hand in marriage. Ng Mui made a deal with him; if he could return after three years time and defeat Yim Wing Chun, he could marry her! He did return, but was defeated and ended up a student of Yim Wing Chun. Later, when the teacher and student became emotionally attached, Yim Wing Chun’s father gave his consent to their marriage. It was from her husband, Leung Bok Cho, that she learned the “Butterfly Knives,” known as “Bart Jarm Do” (eight slash knives), and the “Look Deem Boon Gwun”, (6.5’ stick) pole fighting. |
