Issue No. 53 Table of Contents

Issue 53 of Wing Chun Illustrated featuring Sifu Thomas Schrön

"Always excellently done, always thought-provoking, always interesting content, very well balanced, and always presented with grace and respect for all. I wish that all our Wing Chun brothers and sisters were as mindful in their day-to-day interactions with each other."

LARRY BUTLER

United States

The simple and profound truth about Wing Chun Illustrated is that it delivers! In a world where bias is omnipresent, hagiography widespread, and superficiality the norm, Wing Chun Illustrated truly does provide a forum for many perspectives and approaches, always with depth and content—meaning that it’s impossible to pick up an issue without gaining new, worthwhile insight into our beloved art. Truly, if one is serious about understanding Wing Chun, regardless of spelling tradition, Wing Chun Illustrated is de rigueur. Consequently, never settle for “just” present and future issues, but do get the full package, including all the back issues!

CHRISTIAN A. STEWART-FERRER

Denmark

This is an impressive magazine and I am set back with each issue by its quality of appearance and content. Clearly, this has the potential to overshadow many other national martial arts publications. Stay the course and always protect the line. Excellent job. As always, thanks and continued success.

MOSES McCLENDON

United States

I have purchased Wing Chun Illustrated in printed format and I have to say that it is simply the highest quality magazine I have ever owned! Beyond the quality paper and printing techniques utilised, the articles themselves are thorough and true to the Wing Chun system. I really appreciate owning a piece of history and I look forward to future issues!

JAMES BUMPAS

United States

I have looked forward to this magazine for months and was not at all disappointed. The articles are well written, nonbiased, and most importantly very informative. This is the first magazine that I have ever read from cover to cover. I’m encouraging all of my Wing Chun brothers and students to subscribe. I’m very much looking forward to the next issue!

WIZE SHABAZZ

United States

I have been practising Wing Chun for the best part of 30 years. In my time, I have read a huge amount of material on the art; however, I can honestly say that your magazine is by a long, long way the finest collection of articles I have come across. The fact that all views (and you and I both know there are so many) on the art of Wing Chun are made readily available in one place, without prejudice, is really inspirational and will hopefully serve as a guiding light and a template for dialogue within the art itself.

CHRIS HARVEY

United Kingdom

Cover Feature

THOMAS SCHRÖN:
Bringing European WingTsun into the Modern Era
By Alex Richter
Sifu Thomas Schrön is one of the pioneers of WingTsun in Europe. He started learning WingTsun in 1979 and has since risen to prominence as one of three students of Sifu Kernspecht to be graduated as a Grandmaster in WingTsun. Despite his tremendous accomplishments, Sifu Schrön continues to innovate and help move WingTsun forward by including his grappling experience in the programme. Among Sifu Kernspecht’s team of Grandmasters and senior masters within the EWTO (European WingTsun Organisation), Sifu Schrön, who holds the 9th degree, is maybe one of the most versatile.

Columns

SECOND NATURE
The Wooden Dummy
Wing Chun’s Ruler
By Wayne Belonoha
The Wooden Dummy is Wing Chun’s ruler. It provides the guide upon which a person can measure the quality of their movements.

EMBRACE THE JOURNEY
Canton Wing Chun
The Journey Begins
By Alton Miller
Sifu Miller provides an insightful overview of the Wing Chun journey that students participate in at his Canton Wing Chun school.

UNDERSTANDING WING CHUN
Understanding Adrenaline
By Colin Ward
Adrenaline can be a friend or foe, depending on you knowing how to look for the signs, as well as how to use them to your advantage.

THE INNER CIRCLE
Deeper Insight
By Jim Roselando Jr
There is nothing in one’s martial art life that can replace experience. Experience brings not only knowledge but also invaluable insight. Sifu Roselando shares greater insight into Gulao Wing Chun.

THE STRAIGHT LEAD
Jim Driscoll
Bruce Lee’s Forgotten Source
By Jason Korol
It’s said that talent borrows but genius steals. Well, Bruce Lee was a genius because he stole the core ideas of JKD from Jim Driscoll, the former featherweight champion of the world.

Features

STICKING RE-INVENTED
The Difference That Makes the Difference
By Keith R. Kernspecht
Often asked what distinguishes his ChiSao Kuen from other traditional Wing Chun styles of “Sticky Hands”, Sifu Kernspecht explains this scientific approach to re-invent the teaching and understanding of sticking.

MICHAEL MEHLE
Strength Lies in Calmness
By Kleber Battaglia
Sifu Michael Mehle began his martial arts journey in Germany at the age of seven. In the early 1990s, he fell in love with Wing Chun and has been teaching Gary Lam Wing Chun since 2011.

OPTIMISE THE BRIDGE
A Simple Feeling Is Your Guide
By Francis Der
Managing the bridge with your opponent is the key to good Wing Chun. “Retain what comes, send off what leaves, upon loss of contact, immediately charge in.” Learn how to apply this popular saying with a simple exercise.

STEVEN CHU
Preserving Yuen Chai Wan’s Art
By Zhang Tianyu
Sifu Steven Chu teaches the very rare art of Yuen Chai Wan Wing Chun, which can be traced back to Xinan from Imperial Constable Fok Bo Chuen and Imperial Marshal Fung Siu-Ching, during the end of the Qing Dynasty.

WING CHUN UNDER PRESSURE
By Jef Sutherland
Sifu Sutherland has competed in martial arts tournaments since 1977 and believes that Wing Chun should be pressure tested by interactions with non-compliant opponents, both in competition and in real-life street self-defence scenarios.

Departments

STRUCTURE AND APPLICATION
Wing Chun’s Devastating Kicks
By Dr Robert Chu
Wing Chun is said to have “Eight Kicks”, which is a colloquialism alluding to the devastating nature of these kicks. Having been on the receiving end of Sifu Hawkins Cheung’s kicks, Sifu Chu can tell you there are over eight legs!

THE KUNG FU GENIUS
What Kind of Partner are You?
By Alex Richter
Sifu Richter describes five universal negative archetypes of training partners. The question is, which one are you?

MY MARTIAL ARTS JOURNEY
Overtraining
The Unspoken Issue
By David Lampert
There lurks a very dark side to the world of Wing Chun, martial arts, fitness and exercise. Often not mentioned by the masses, but many of us flirt with the underworld that is “Overtraining Syndrome”.

Reviews

IN PRINT
Lafayette Harris reviews the following books: The Mastery of Martial Arts: End Fights In Seconds by John Hennessy and Jeet Kune Do: In-Fighting by Jason Korol.

SCREEN FIGHTING
David Peterson reviews the following movies: Undercover Punch and Gun, ManHunt, and The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter.

SCREEN EDUCATIONAL
Dwight Hennings reviews the following educational DVDs: Moy Yat: Chi Sau II and Todd Taganashi: Wing Chun Butterfly Swords Vol. 1.