Standard Wing Chun Curriculum
The Three Forms
Like many traditional martial arts, entire sets of movements with a centralized theme are organized into forms. Forms could mean very different things across different styles, but these are the Wing Chun Empty Hand Forms.
SIU LIM TAO 小念頭 (THE LITTLE IDEA)
This form is a collection of hand movements that are designed to familiarize you with all the different positions you will need to punch from, which muscles to concentrate on and condition, as well as some defensive movements trained in isolation. When a practitioner is proficient with this form, they know most of the hand movements that will ever make an appearance in the system.
CHUM KIU 尋橋 (SEEKING THE BRIDGE)
This form focuses on connecting the upper body that we developed from Siu Lim Tao to the lower body. By teaching practitioners how to synchronize their footwork to their hand movements and to move with structural integrity, they will be able to utilize force that comes from the ground and the inertia of our bodies to help power parries and punches thrown by our hands. This form also introduces kicks.
BIU JEE 鏢指 (DARTING FINGERS)
This form breaks virtually all of the rules set forth by the previous two forms. Experienced practitioners use the freedom of this form to decide when to cut their losses in a combative situation. It’s designed so that you can either retreat to safety, or to regain your opportunity to perform Wing Chun effectively once again.
MOOK YAN JONG 木人樁 (WOODEN DUMMY)
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood elements of training in Wing Chun. The Wooden Dummy, contrary to what might feel intuitive, does not represent a human being in which you can then use to practice defense. The Wooden Dummy combines elements from all 3 empty hand forms. The arms provide a reference point for the practitioner to reference so that they can correct their own body positioning and structure. With enough practice, the body would have adapted the positions, structure, and muscular timing into natural-like behaviors that they can confidently use, even if they are under attack.
The Two Weapons
For most of Chinese History, any martial art was considered incomplete if it did not include the use of weaponry. Whether or not this was the reasoning behind why Wing Chun has weapons is unknown, but Wing Chun has these two weapons. While many might believe that weapon training is obsolete in the modern era, the conditioning, dynamic movements, and spatial awareness vastly improves the empty hand performance of the practitioner as well.
6 AND A HALF POINT POLE 六點半棍
(AKA. DRAGON POLE)
A long, wooden pole that measures 9.5 feet on average. Realistic benefits other than utilization of a weapon are:
Dramatic increase in emphasis on the development of punching power in training.
Explosive power generation, utilizing the whole body from the ground up.
The development of more extreme strategies when it comes to dealing with weapons in a realistic manner.
BLADE OF 8 CUTS 八斬刀
(AKA. BUTTERFLY SWORDS )
Two swords that are both approximately half the size of a traditional sword. Realistic benefits other than utilization of a weapon are:
Dramatic increase in emphasis on footwork for closing massive gaps and creating gaps when retreating.
Rapid utilization of both arms for defending and attacking at the same time.
The development of more extreme strategies when it comes to dealing with weapons in a realistic manner.
Core Drills
While every class period may consist of a large variety of drills done in a large variety of contexts, these are the drills that are universal across classes. They are the exercises we make sure everyone becomes proficient at during their foundational development.
DAN CHI SAU 單黐手
(AKA. SINGLE sticking hand)
Trains the elbow for the punching, punching trajectories, which muscles to activate and when to relax them. Learning to never collapse the arm and to maintain a constant line of attack without retraction of the arm. This is a precursor to Chi Sau.
CHI SAU 黐手
(AKA. STICKING HANDS)
This form of partner training streamlines all of the punching coordination from Dan Chi. Additionally:
It utilizes both arms simultaneously.
It adds resistance to build punching force/structure.
LAP SAU 拉手
(AKA. COLLECTING HAND)
A drill that trains the simultaneous cycling of the hands from punching to a relaxed, neutral state. Practitioners builds the speed and accuracy of the punch coordination that Dan Chi and Chi Sau developed. Lap Sau training also provides much less contact and anticipation than Chi Sau. So it serves as an excellent platform for many drills as they evolve to become more and more realistic.
What about sparring?
GOR SAU 過手
Gor Sau is free form training. Students are encouraged to throw out anything they know and whatever they can at random. Like sparring, there is a, “winning”, element of Gor Sau where you are not necessarily trying to be compliant to your partner. It is unpredictable (not as unpredictable as actual sparring), so it reveals the student’s strengths and weaknesses when put under stress. Unlike sparring, there is still a huge emphasis on maintaining technique. Students are expected to stop and catch themselves when making critical errors rather than try to hit their partner and, “win”, at all costs.
Sparring 切磋
Sparring is necessary for taking Wing Chun to a high level. Sparring with us is done with protective equipment, full-contact, with fellow students calling out clean hits and resetting the rounds.
Sparring happens at the Central NJ and NYC Headquarter locations about 2x a year. You sign up for these sessions. Please reach out to your local branch for more information about sparring days happening near you.