Sifu Veka and Sifu Kati Rounevaara: Issue 61

Wing Chun Illustrated Issue 61 featuring Sifu Veka and Sifu Kati Rounevaara.

"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 Veka and Sifu Kati Rounevaara Cover Feature

VEKA & KATI ROUNEVAARA
Continuous Evolution
By Kleber Battaglia
Couples who work together and enjoy it are rare enough, but those who teach Wing Chun full time are even rarer. For the first time in our magazine’s ten-year history, we are delighted to feature a unique Wing Chun couple, Sifu Veka and Sifu Kati Rounevaara. Together, they teach Practical Wing Chun and Qigong at their school Kung Fu Home, in Pori on the west coast of Finland. Sifu Veka has over 20 years of experience in Wing Chun. He is the Regional Director and Head Instructor for Practical Wing Chun and Ironshirt Qigong in Finland and the Philippines. Sifu Kati is the third Sifu in Finland to be approved by Grandmaster Wan Kam Leung.

Columns

SECOND NATURE
The Wooden Dummy is a Guide
How The Wooden Man Shapes Your Technique
By Wayne Belonoha
Despite not moving, the Wooden Dummy has very specific positions. Thus, it becomes a kind of mould that will shape your hands and feet.

THE POWER OF PRINCIPLES
Wing Chun Weapons
The Benefits of Weapons Training
By Carina Cirrincione
The better you can control your body, the better you can defend yourself. Training with Wing Chun weapons can definitely help to achieve that goal.

UNDERSTANDING WING CHUN
Switch It Off!
By Colin Ward
Anyone can be relaxed, anyone can be tense, anyone can be relaxed, then tense. But not everyone can be relaxed, then tense, then relaxed again in a split second. When you can, you have discovered Explosive Energy.

THE INNER CIRCLE
The Future of Gulao Wing Chun
By Jim Roselando Jr
Sifu Fung Ka Fei is one of today’s most recognised teachers of Gulao Wing Chun. His passion for Kung Fu has established him as the future of Gulao Wing Chun.

THE STRAIGHT LEAD
JKD’s Secret Weapon: Deception
By Jason Korol
Just practising the techniques of Jeet Kune Do isn’t enough. To apply them, we must study the true heart and soul of the system: the art of feinting.

Features

BRYAN TALBOT
Essential Wing Chun
By Kim Squiers
Sifu Bryan Talbot has appeared in many worldwide publications and instructional videos with some of Wing Chun’s most prominent Masters. Now, it’s time to hear from “Kung Fu Jesus” himself and learn what’s essential in Wing Chun.

THE ESSENCE OF CHI SAU
Sensitivity and Reading
By Phil Morris
This isn’t a discussion of what is “right or wrong” in the practice of Chi Sau. Instead, Phil shares his journey through the Wing Chun landscape and his interpretation of Chi Sau, as taught to him by his late Sifu, Master Hawkins Cheung.

CHRISA EXINTAVELONI
The Beauty of Wing Chun
By Donna Yap
At age nine, Sifu Chrisa Exintaveloni was the only girl in the martial arts class at her brother’s, Master Dimitris Exintavelonis, school in Greece. She met her Sifu, Grandmaster William Cheung, in 1990 and opened her own Traditional Wing Chun school in 2004.

WARRIOR, FIGHTER, BOXER, DREAMER?
Delete As Necessary. Train the Remainder.
By Glenn Landers
Humans like to pretend. From song lyrics to storytelling, acting to animation, we all like to escape the mundanity of everyday life. But when it comes to practising a pugilistic skill, reality is the last word on fighting. You can never pretend to win or survive.

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE
By Alan Gibson
As a global pandemic ravaged and with no direct contact training permitted, we had to evolve and embrace solo training and practise outside.

Departments

STRUCTURE AND APPLICATION
Wing Chun Hubris
By Dr Robert Chu
In inside circles, there are various “Kings” of Ip Man’s Wing Chun from the last generation. Some are rightfully so, others because Ip Man praised their presentations, but some are self-ordained. Much of it is hubris.

THE KUNG FU GENIUS
Secret Dummy for Dummies
By Alex Richter
Sifu Richter discusses a fraudulent Wooden Dummy book published in the mid-2000s and what it says about the people who buy such books.

MY MARTIAL ARTS JOURNEY
What’s Food Got to Do With It
By David Lampert
We only get the one body, and when pushing its boundaries week-in-and-week-out with high-intensity training sessions, it’s “vital” that we fuel it correctly.

Reviews

IN PRINT
Lafayette Harris reviews the following books: How I Became Successful Through the Teachings of Kung Fu and How You Can Achieve the Same by Michael Rainer and Wing Chun Words: Philosophy and Hidden Lessons of Wing Chun Kung Fu by Lionel Roulier.

SCREEN FIGHTING
David Peterson reviews the following movies: The Paper Tigers, Shaolin Wooden Men, and Encounter of the Spooky Kind.

SCREEN EDUCATIONAL
Alex Danos reviews the following educational DVDs: Emin Boztepe: Counter Grappling and James DeMille: Bruce Lee’s Spring Energy.