Fatsaan Wing Chun Association: Preserving Traditional Wing Chun

Posted by: Zhang Tianyu In: Articles 26 Aug 2019 Comments: 0 Tags: Chi Sau, Chi Sau Competition, Fatsaan Wing Chun, Interview

WE SAT DOWN TO TALK WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FATSAAN WING CHUN ASSOCIATION, MASTER GWOK WAI JAAM, TO DISCUSS ITS BACKGROUND, MISSION AND FUTURE INITIATIVES.

Please tell us something about the background of the formation of the Fatsaan Wing Chun Association?
In the past, there was great unrest here in Fatsaan among the Wing Chun community. There was a lot of conflict between the different schools and lineages, and challenge fights were a rather common occurrence in those times. So, because of this situation, the various Sifus was very restrictive with their teachings, and wouldn’t share and discuss their knowledge and experience with peers—a practice which was detrimental to the development and retard the growth of Wing Chun.

Thommy Luke Boehlig: Taking Wing Chun to the Next Level

Posted by: Kleber Battaglia In: Articles 17 Jan 2018 Comments: 0 Tags: Chi Sau, Interview, Thommy Luke Boehlig, Wing Tsun

STUDYING UNDER MANY FAMOUS MASTERS OF THE WING TSUN (WT) WORLD IN THE LEUNG TING LINEAGE, SIFU BOEHLIG HAS BECOME AN UP-AND-COMING STAR IN THE WING CHUN WORLD, WITH SCHOOLS IN 15 COUNTRIES AND CREATED HIS OWN METHOD, CALLED BDS (BOEHLIG DEFENCE SYSTEM).

In your opinion, what are the most important attributes to be developed through Wing Chun training?
It comes down to how you structure your training. Generally, I would say:

• The ability to defend yourself with a street-proven system.

• Developing tactile skills, thanks to Chi Sau training, which can help us get to know our bodies much better than we ever would otherwise.

• The ability to deal with our own aggression and the skill to control it.

Chi Sau: Why it isn’t a Contest!

Posted by: David Peterson In: Articles 27 Aug 2016 Comments: 0 Tags: Chi Sau, David Peterson, WSLVT

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON FEATURES OF THE WING CHUN SYSTEM, ONE SHARED ACROSS VIRTUALLY ALL LINEAGES, IS THE DRILL OF CHI SAU, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS “STICKING HANDS” BY MOST PRACTITIONERS.

There are significant differences in the manner in which it is taught and practised, and how Chi Sau is interpreted as part of the overall curriculum of the system from teacher to teacher. Differences can even exist within specific lineages, with senior students under the same teacher often having a different slant on how it should be done and the purpose of its practice.

There are some who say the drill should be done with extreme pressure and force, while others insist it should be light and gentle. Some treat Chi Sau as a form of dynamic combat, akin to free sparring (or as a substitute for it), while others view it as a form of active meditation. Some schools insist that Chi Sau is “the be-all and end-all” for Wing Chun fighting theory, whereas within other schools, the drill is rarely trained and even considered redundant. The extremes are vast and seemingly endless, and each interpretation of Chi Sau is vigorously defended by those who practise it.

Give Me Face: Should You Hit to the Face in Chi Sau?

Posted by: Mark Phillips In: Articles 30 Apr 2016 Comments: 0 Tags: Chi Sau, Mark Phillips

THE TERM “FACE” COULD MEAN VERY DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. “GIVE ME FACE” IS A COMMON TERM. THIS COULD LITERALLY BE A DEMAND FOR RESPECT. OF COURSE, THIS IS A COMPLEX STATEMENT, BUT IT DOES HAVE AN INTERESTING INTERPRETATION FOR TRAINING WING CHUN.

To some, the term, “face”, can refer to the concept of facing, as indicated in the first form. Alternatively, it could mean giving face as a form of respect and not humiliating your opponent or training partner. Furthermore, the term could, quite literally, mean not hitting the face when practising or comparing Wing Chun. It could even be a combination, that is, pay respect by not hitting the face.

Interestingly, there are different perspectives on whether you should focus primarily on hitting to the face in Chi Sau. One school of thought suggests you should not hit the face in training, as this is not only disrespectful but detracts from the true purpose of Chi Sau. Yet, this is in stark contrast to those that believe it is an important part of the training process.