Sifu Giuseppe Schembri: Issue 71

Wing Chun Illustrated Issue 71 featuring Sifu Giuseppe Schembri 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 Giuseppe Schembri Cover Feature

GIUSEPPE SCHEMBRI
A Beacon of Tradition in a Modern World
By Alex Richter
Sifu Giuseppe Schembri, a pioneer of WingTsun in Switzerland and a longstanding member of the European WingTsun Organisation (EWTO), recounts his early interest in martial arts, his martial arts background and journey, and how he eventually came to learn WingTsun from Grandmaster Keith R. Kernspecht in Germany. He also shares stories from his trips to Hong Kong, including a visit to legendary actor and martial artist Kwan Tak-Hing, and meeting with other students of Grandmaster Ip Man. Soft-spoken and affable, Sifu Schembri shines the light on the classical WingTsun programme in the ever-modernising landscape of martial arts.

Columns

SECOND NATURE
Delivering Energy
To Maximise Hitting Power
By Wayne Belonoha
Ultimately, techniques don’t matter. They are a means to an end. If you can’t deliver energy into the opponent, then you won’t be able to win a fight.

TALKING HANDS
The “Little” Bang Theory
The Form That Never Grows Old
By Glenn Landers
Siu Nim Tau is usually the opening “Mass” of most Wing Chun schools. Is this stationary form a brilliantly evolved “Management System” or a tired old ceremony with “little” in the way of new ideas?

TRAINED INSTINCT
Chasing the Shadows
Forgotten Targets and Lost Function
By Neil Parris
Is the energy being left out of energy drills? Sifu Parris explores how and why you may be chasing shadows instead of pursuing the target, and how shifting your focus affects training outcomes.

THE INNER CIRCLE
Gulao Wing Chun
Signatures of the Ancestors
By Jim Roselando Jr
Gulao Wing Chun has undergone changes, yet most people are unaware of these changes. Learn about a few of the different signatures, and some of the early masters.

THE STRAIGHT LEAD
Using Your Head
JKD’s Most Powerful Weapon
By Jason Korol
Many people confuse the surgical head-butt with the theatrical “head-smash”. But in Jeet Kune Do, everything is about economy of motion—especially with the head-butt.

Features

THE LAND OF STYLELESS STICKINESS
Kernspecht’s Internal 4 Corner WingTsun
By Keith R. Kernspecht
Sifu Kernspecht, the founder of the European WingTsun Organisation, shares insights into the development of his “Inner WingTsun”, an internal system, and the quest to uncover its full capabilities.

SANDY WONG
The Power of Persistence
By Donna Yap
Sandy Wong, a Wing Chun practitioner for over 50 years, talks about the challenges for women in martial arts and how Wing Chun has helped her develop confidence and assertiveness.

MASTER YOUR CENTRE
The Magnificent Secret of Internal Martial Arts
By Harinder Singh
The ultimate aim of trying to master your centre is to get you to a point where you no longer have a centre to protect. There is a fearlessness. When you are fearless, you will become limitless, and you can tap into your true internal power.

CHAN WAH SHUN WING CHUN
The Art of the Chan Family
By Zhang Tian Yu
Sifu Ho Leung Hing, a senior master of Chan Wah Shun Wing Chun, shares information about the style, recognised as an intangible cultural heritage in 2013. The style has an expansive curriculum, with twelve empty-hand sets, six pole sets and three knives sets.

WINGTSUN OF THE CENTRE: PART TWO
Practical Implementation and the Idea of Non-Violence
By Samuel Lutz
In the concluding part of his article, Sifu Lutz applies the model of the Vector Equilibrium for analysing the nature of developing punching power and balance boundaries. He also explains his idea of a non-violent WingTsun.

Departments

STRUCTURE AND APPLICATION
A Deeper Look Into the Straight Blast
By Dr Robert Chu
Bruce Lee trained the Wing Chun “Straight Blast” as his go-to. Lee wanted a rapid, aggressive and overwhelming attack to dispatch his opponents quickly. The Straight Blast is the core of both Wing Chun and JKD.

THE KUNG FU GENIUS
Would Modern MMA Fighters Fear Qing-Era “Death Waivers”?
By Alex Richter
Sifu Richter discusses the validity of an argument he recently read in a book concerning the bravery of the modern MMA fighter.

WING CHUN’S REBIRTH
The Art of Sparring
Wing Chun’s Continued Struggle in MMA
By Joseph Musse II
Is Wing Chun truly ineffective in MMA and real-life combat? Sifu Musse argues that the problem lies with misinformed teaching and a lack of real-life sparring, rather than the art itself.

Reviews

IN PRINT
Lafayette Harris reviews the following books: Combat Martial Philosophy: An Understandable and Philosophical Approach to Combat and Self-Defense by Chance Fine and Chum Kiu: Wing Chun’s Art of War by Jason Korol.

SCREEN FIGHTING
David David Peterson reviews the following movies: Yes, Madam! and Iceman Cometh.

SCREEN EDUCATIONAL
Alex Danos reviews the following educational DVDs: Randy Williams: Chee Sau Concept & Strategy Part 2 – Combat Sticky Hands and Benny Meng: Ip Man Wing Chun Series 7 – Dummy Section 1-4.