DONALD MAK
Warrior and Scholar
By Martin Murphy
Sifu Mak shares his insights in his traditional training and more advanced aspects of Wing Chun. With almost 40 years of experience in Wing Chun, Sifu Donald Mak is a practitioner and scholar, having researched Wing Chun’s history and theories and written a book, Willow in the Wind. While studying for over 20 years with Master Chow Tze Chuen, one of Ip Man’s direct students, Sifu Mak’s training emphasised, not only the conventional aspects of Wing Chun, but also kicking, footwork, and its soft approach, which he later crystallised into a standard curriculum, based on the teachings Master Chow learned from Ip Man and his own discoveries.
SECOND NATURE
Don’t Trust the Floor to be There
Preventing Foot Sweeps
By Wayne Belonoha
It’s well-known that Wing Chun has embedded in its forms several methods of devastating foot sweeps. When used well, your opponent can cause the floor to disappear. And when you fall, you fall hard.
MOON POINTING FINGER
Wing Chun in Film
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly (Part 1)
By David Peterson
To celebrate the portrayal of Wing Chun on screen, this three-part series will look at the history of Wing Chun in the cinema of Hong Kong and China, and see if we can classify them into the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
When is Wing Chun not Wing Chun?
By Shaun Rawcliffe
Is Wing Chun changing or evolving? In recent years, more variations are being “discovered” or added to its training. As it grows in popularity, so does the list of techniques and methodologies. So, when does it stop being Wing Chun?
THE INNER CIRCLE
Vietnamese Wing Chun
By Viet Le
Yuen Chai Wan taught Wing Chun in China and Vietnam. Now, few people have insight into his teaching. We explore the history of the famed older brother of Yuen Kay San.
THE STRAIGHT LEAD
Let’s Talk about Sparring
By Jason Korol
Sparring is often confused with fighting. It isn’t. It’s a drill that should safely give students a laboratory for testing.
SIUKEE WAN
Seeking the Internal Path
By Kleber Battaglia
Sifu Siukee Wan is part of a growing number of new-generation Wing Chun practitioners, who have adopted an Internal approach to their training and teaching. Here, he brings us a controversial, but credible and logical, interpretation of Wing Chun.
LEUNG SHEUNG
Too Important to Overlook
By Adam Williss
Despite being recognised as one of the best Wing Chun practitioners Ip Man ever produced, Leung Sheung is arguably one of the most overlooked masters in Wing Chun history.
LUK DIM BOON GWAN
Don’t Believe the Hype (Part 1)
By Alex Richter
Sifu Richter discusses how he discovered the similarities between Ip Man’s Luk Dim Boon Gwan and Lam Sai Wing’s Hung Ga version. These discoveries directly contradict the fabricated controversy peddled by some in recent years.
COMBATIVE VANTAGE
Law and Lore
By John Lobb
Sifu Lobb discusses conditions and misconceptions regarding Wing Chun that lead to innovation surrounding equipment and regime to exercise the system as an applied method.
USE OF “IDEA” IN INTERNAL GUNG FU
By John Kaufman
Sifu Kaufman discusses the use of idea and related condition as it relates to developing Internal Power in the Chu Shong Tin lineage.
BODY STRUCTURE
Are we doing Chi Sau correctly?
By Dr. Robert Chu
Often, people criticise Chi Sau as “not realistic”, “not sparring”, “not pressure tested”, “prearranged”, “over-emphasised”, and “worthless in actual combat.” Here, Sifu Chu shares his insights into the “why” and “requirements” for Chi Sau.
THE INQUISITIVE HAND
Fighting Against the Darkness of Depression
By Alan Gibson
Can Wing Chun help fight mental illness? This testimony from Sifu Alan’s friend, Kevin Price of Malvern Wing Chun, brings all philosophical discussion into pin sharp perspective.
BUILT UPON FUNCTION
Is your Sifu Built for Function?
By Mark Hobbs
Sifu Hobbs talks about the role of a Sifu in building fighting skills and challenges some sacred cows.
IN PRINT
Lafayette Harris reviews the following books: Striking Distance: Bruce Lee & the Dawn of Martial Arts in America by Charles Russo and A Path of Mastery: Lessons on Wing Chun and Life from Sifu Francis Fong by Jim Brault.
SCREEN FIGHTING
David Peterson reviews the following movies: The Master (aka The Final Master), Mr. Six, and Call of Heroes.
SCREEN EDUCATIONAL
Dwight Hennings reviews the following educational DVDs: Moy Yat: A Trace of Ving Tsun Roots 1 and Sifu Sergio Ip Man Series: 116 Wooden Dummy.
