When people find out that I’m involved
with the martial arts they always seem to know someone who is very good
at something that they cant remember the name of, or, they cant understand
why anyone would want to do a martial art in the first place.
Strange as it seems when Wing Chun is mentioned as being
the style I teach, the reaction is usually a blank expression followed
by “Yes my friend does Karate too”.
What follows next is my attempt to explain the style
of Wing Chun.
Then comes the inevitable question “ Is it better than
xyz”.
To be honest my views on this subject are obviously
biased toward what I teach, but I also feel that all arts have their
strong and weak points, and it’s also down to what best suits the individual.
In my humble opinion, Wing Chun is an ideal style for
almost anyone with the ability to learn.
Why ?
It is a style that the average man
or woman on the street can train without first becoming an athlete.
Yes, a degree of fitness is involved but not to such a high degree as
the competitive styles.
Wing Chun is a pure self-defence form that relies more
on brain/technique than brawn, and because of this it is a style equally
suited to men and women alike.
It’s an incredibly practical close quarter martial art
that can remain effective well into old age.
Wing Chun is based on the human body rather than that
of a tiger or bear etc, because of this, students rarely experience
the skeletal problems and stresses that are common in other styles.
You can apply Wing Chun in limited spaces. They say
you can use it in a telephone box.
There are no high kicks in Wing Chun therefore flexibility
(or lack of) is not an issue.
Wing Chun students learn how to harness chi energy to
generate explosive power. This energy is also beneficial in promoting
internal health.
Wing Chun is said to be quick to learn and long to master.
It is a simple style with great depth.
On the practical side, most students should be able to use Wing Chun
effectively within 6 months.
On a personal note, Wing Chun suits me because it does what it says
on the wrapper and has become one of the many pillars on which I base
my life. The benefits run far deeper than mere self-defence and in this
crazy mixed up world we live in, it’s nice to have a place to go where
you can focus and clear the mind.
