Sifu Alan Paterson: Issue 79

Wing Chun Illustrated Issue 79, featuring Sifu Alan Paterson, is available in print and digital editions.

"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

Sifu Alan Paterson Cover Feature

ALAN PATERSON
A Journey Through Tradition, Training and Transformation
By Kleber Battaglia
Sifu Alan Paterson, the Chief Instructor for Schools of Kung Fu by IWKA in the UK, has dedicated his life to martial arts, inspiring and guiding students across 13 locations with a profound and motivating vision. His journey began with a childhood fascination for the Kung Fu TV series, leading him to start training in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. In this insightful interview, he discusses the influences of his teachers, the importance of lineage, and the fundamental principles of Wing Chun. He also explores the challenge of preserving traditional practices while embracing modern training methodologies; the difficulties of maintaining Wing Chun’s authenticity in contemporary times, and the profound impact Wing Chun has had on his life.

Columns

THE MAGIC OF CHI SAU
Bridging the Gap
Transitioning from Forms to Functional Combat
By Keith R Kernspecht
Sifu Kernspecht explores the transition from traditional martial arts forms to practical, real- world self-defence combat application.

TALKING HANDS
Balancing Act
Chi Geuk, Please Remain Standing
By Glenn Landers
An understanding of strategic leg positioning is certainly an absolute must in close-range combat. Sifu Landers explains the ethos of WSLVT’s purposely minimalist approach to Chi Geuk.

THE MARTIAL MIND
The Front Kick
The King of Efficiency
By Kyle and Ted Ritter
Why is the front kick hailed as the “King of Kicks”? The Wing Chun Twins explore why they consider it the kick that should be mastered.

THE INNER CIRCLE
Ban Chung Fa Kuen
Unveiling the Kung Fu Legacy of San Zhi Village
By Jim Roselando Jr & Zhang Tianyu
Ban Chung Fa Kuen is a Kung Fu style from San Zhi village with Cantonese opera roots. Discover its history, training methods, core principles and efforts to preserve this Kung Fu treasure.

THE STRAIGHT LEAD
Defence & Evasion
Be Like Water
By Jason Korol
What happens if we’re confronted by a bigger and stronger foe? Bruce Lee took this question seriously, and so should we. He understood the importance of strong defensive skills.

Features

ENZO ZACCARIA
A Passion for Efficiency
By Glenn Landers
Wing Chun is a way of life for Sifu Enzo Zaccaria. A German of Sicilian descent, his ferocious passion and eye for precision have led him to embrace the WSLVT lineage under the guidance of Sifu Gary Lam.

UNVEILING THE POWER WITHIN
The Mother Fist of Gulao Pin Sun Wing Chun
By Donald Mak
Referred to as Mo Kuen, the “Mother Fist”, Dai Lin acts as a gateway to mastering advanced techniques, fostering skills in speed, power and precision for effective self-defence.

LEUNG JAN’S LEGACY
Unveiling a New Branch of Old-Style Wing Chun
By Zhang Tianyu
Dr Leung Jan taught the art to individuals in various locations, creating a rich Kung Fu legacy. Gulao Wing Chun is closely associated with him, but other lineages exist. One such lineage is that of Sifu Lam Yueh Heui.

THE EIGHT WING CHUN FINGER STRIKES
Part 2: Chi Sau Skills for Executing Finger Strikes
By Nancy McDonald
Interested in mastering finger strikes? In the second of her two-part series, Nancy details eight finger strikes created by her teacher, Sifu Augustine Fong.

WING CHUN’S LOWER TORSO KICKS
A Non-fancy Approach
By Joseph Musse II
The kicks in Wing Chun work extremely well because they were created for efficient combat, not to be fancy, pretty, superfluous, exaggerated, or lack economy of motion.

Departments

STRUCTURE AND APPLICATION
Wall Bag Training Revisited
By Dr Robert Chu
The Wing Chun wall bag is the best tool for solo practice, surpassing even the Wooden Dummy. Training with it unveils more about your skills than lineage, secretive teachings, or internal training ever could.

THE KUNG FU GENIUS
That Time I Recklessly Applied Biu Tze on a Senior: Part Two
By Alex Richter
Sifu Richter continues to discuss the time he needed a Biu Tze technique to defend himself against an overzealous senior and the backlash he received for this supposed breach of protocol.

WALKING THE WALK
The Punch Comes from the Heart
By Michael Speights
While the proper technique is the quintessential mark of a skilled fighter, Sifu Speights asserts that there are more important – yet less discussed – elements that are essential to becoming proficient at violence.

Reviews

IN PRINT
Lafayette Harris reviews Soft Front Strong Back: A Philosophy for Business and Life by Steve Rowe, and Secret Tactics: Lessons from the Great Masters of Martial Arts by Kazumi Tabata.

SCREEN EDUCATIONAL
Alex Danos reviews the educational DVD Wing Tchun Do: Training with Focus Pads by Paul Fernandez.