That’s not Wing Chun

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Sifu Wahnish

Wing Chun Online was created with several intentions in mind. One of them, unite Wing Chun as a whole.

Thanks to the internet there is much exposure and you see numerous variations of the same system.

All too often, beginner students learn Wing Chun one way, and are quick, when observing other systems, to say “that is not wing chun.”

There are numerous variations of Wing Chun, although generally speaking there two main variations of the system that are widely discussed, a traditional and modified version. Even within each variation you will see differences.

Not to get to deep into the history (and this is just one lineage line), at one point the system was modified for a student by master Leung Jan. This student name was Chan Wah-shun and he was Ip Man’s first Wing Chun instructor. Then Ip Man meet Leung Bik, who is Leung Jan’s son and the rest is Wing Chun history. Thus two variations and like my Sifu, Ip Man at one point studied both.

I teach my students to respect all practitioners and arts and encourage all instructors to do the same. I don’t want anyone wasting time over my Sifu is better than your Sifu or modified is better than traditional. Everyone loves their Sifu and thinks their style is the best and that’s great. With over two decades served as a dedicated practitioner of the art of Wing Chun, I assure you, “if it comes from my fists then it’s Wing Chun.” My Kung fu and instruction speaks for itself I would never want a student to waste time defending me.

If you see two people yelling at either from across the street, you don’t know who is right or wrong, they both just look like idiots. That’s not the Wing Chun way.

Spend the time focusing on common ground and learn, grow and evolve. By having an open mind I have learn from traditional and modified masters, as well as other stylists. I was asked to talk and highlight some aspects of the art at a martial arts event at the University of Florida. After the event I approached a escrima grandmaster who also spoke. I was so impressed, and he felt the same about what I shared. We ended up training together numerous times after the event and each of us in our own way got something from training together to enhance our own art.

I feel we all as practitioners of this art should respect each other which shines a brighter light on the art as a whole.

So dont’ be so quick to say that’s not Wing Chun if it looks different than the style you do. Instead maybe ask why do you do it like that I do it or have seen it done differently? You might learn something.

Do You Want to Learn Wing Chun?

Posted on November 17, 2012 by admin

Hello,

Thank you so much for your interest about our new Wing Chun Online membership program. We know many cannot find schools in their area or find something that fits their schedule.

Additionally, Sifu Wahnish’s Wing Chun instruction is world class and highly sought after although not easily accessible if you are outside of the New york area.

Wing Chun Online is crafting the perfect solution for you. We have an amazing program in the works!

We have created a one of a kind Wing Chun Kung Fu training experience online!

There is nothing out there like it! The real art explained like never before online:

Detailed private instruction with a Master in your home
Online instructors and community for support
and so much more (but we can’t tell you everything just yet!)

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Get Info on Next Opening Here…

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Happy Kung Fu Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2012 by admin

Happy Halloween from Wing Chun Online!

Check out my Wooden Dummy

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Sifu Wahnish

Hello fellow martial artists and Wing Chun practitioners.

After posting how to make a wooden dummy on our Facebook page, many practitioners mentioned they made their own wooden dummy.

I know making a wooden dummy is challenging and everyone is proud of their work. Every handmade dummy is not just a Wing Chun or martial arts training tool but a piece of Kung Fu art. Fitting considering the litteral translation of Kung fu is not fighting or martial arts, the litteral translation reflects “Skill achieved through hard work.”

So I thought it would be cool to have a page where everyone can share photos and stories of their dummy and experience making their Mook Jong.

I know some people have made some let’s say less than traditional dummies. I don’t care it will be fun to see everyones Wing Chun Mook Jong or JKD Dummy whether it was perfect or a project, let’s see what you got.

All these were made in the early 90’s

Attempt one let’s call it the protype. This one was very functional but not much of a looker. The goal on this one was to try to get the arms and the leg measurements right, test getting through the log and making sure the angles were accurate. As we have few wooden dummies in our school, I don’t have a mounted picture. Currently it works as our schools Mook jong, that a student can borrow when in need.

This one below was the second attempt, and the one I still use, and many of my students use daily! Check out the leg. The knee looks like a real knee cap…. I saw this in the woods next to the Kung Fu school in Florida. I knew it would not be easy to get although I had to have it as the limb was a perfect mook jong leg. Since the leg takes a lot of stops over the years I inserted a steel pipe in the leg, few inches above and below where you see the leg sticking out of the front of the dummy. I love this Mook Jong it is more than a piece of training equipment it is part of our schools family.

Below is a great portable dummy my Kung fu brother and I made way back when, since they have been duplicated by many and rightfully so they are great for small spaces. I always will credit my Kung Fu brother Marc for this design as he really was the first to put it together like this.

Send in your photos and story to mydummy@wingchunonline.com (please don’t send images larger than 800 pixels wide)

Stay tuned for more… CHECK OUT MY WOODEN DUMMY!

Why are Wooden Dummies so Expensive?

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Sifu Wahnish

They’re just made out of wood right? Why are these thing so expensive?

If you are not already aware, a well built Mook Jong (AKA Wooden Dummy or Wooden Man) with high quality wood can run from $900.00 up to $2000.00. So yes, it is a very costly piece of equipment. A Wooden dummy is a training tool used by Wing Chun Kung Fu practitioners. You have probably already seen it martial arts movies with Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen or Bruce Lee’s Dragon story. You can learn more about wooden dummies here, in this great article by Grandmaster Holder.

I have made them in the past and had a little company with one of my Kung Fu brothers in the early 90’s, so I have some knowledge in the area. We made them old school and then one of our other Kung Fu brothers had a furniture factory and made them more professionally like a piece of furniture. The difference was ours were a solid log and his were three piece laminant. They were both incredible dummies.

So why are dummies so expensive…

Cost

High quality wood nowadays is not cheap and the body of the dummy is a big piece of wood. This wood is a main factor in the price. Clearly, a Teak one is going to cost more than one made out of Southern Pine.

Volume

When is the last time you heard someone outside of your kung fu class say, “hey I am going to buy a wooden dummy today.” On Black Friday you do not see people running out of the stores with these things. So they are not a high volume item.

Time

If you have ever made a wooden man then you know there is a lot of time that goes into making one of these. You have to find the right piece of wood, let it dry out to cure, it is a process. Then getting the right measurements, angles, etc. on the body is a bit of science. Then… there are the arms and the leg each unique in their own way. Expert craftsmen spend numerous hours in making a quality product.

Overhead

If it is a small company making them then they have all the costs of any small business. The cost of a giant lathe to spin a piece of wood that size can’t be cheap. If you are doing it old school you still need a little lathe if you want the arms right. If not, everything is very square and has a box like feeling.

So, with a low volume sales item, cost of quality wood, machinery and time the end result is an expensive piece of training equipment. I am not writing this to push any company, although I am thankful there are companies that make them.

If you want to try making your own Wing Chun Dummy then check out these FREE dummy plans.

Wing Chun Fighters don’t kick???

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Sifu Wahnish

I have been training Wing Chun and teaching for numerous years and I often hear this… “I heard Wing Chun guys don’t kick”. I always get a smile when I hear that. I have also heard after sparring other martial artist from different styles, “I thought Wing Chun guys don’t kick, you kicked the crap out of me”. Basically practitioners got the reputation of not being kickers simple because we do not use fancy kicks. We use effective kicks. Now don’t get me wrong any good kick upside the head can do major damage.

Here is what it comes down to footwork. In every fighting style footwork is the most important aspect. My students have heard me say time and time again and you will too, without good footwork you can not get away from your attack or to your attacker. Footwork is the key to everything else working. So the higher your leg comes off the ground the more balance and mobility you will lose. I have a much better chance of landing a quick kick to my attackers knee that a spinning round kick to their head.

Another concept of a wing chun fighter is targeting. One of these targeting aspects is mobility. If they can’t walk they can’t fight or chase after you. So targeting low can be extremely effective and gets your foot back on the ground where you need it. The only reason I said can be effective is you can always miss.

When we do full contact sparring there is a rule in my school no kicking below the waste. Huh? I thought you said…?

It comes down to safety. Everyone has to go to work or school or do something the next day that involves walking. To name a few reasons we train full contact sparring is to judge range, distancing, speed, and to feel what it is like to hit and get hit not to get permanently injured. It also gives you a place to practice throwing higher level kicks in a safe environment to experiment with what you are capable of doing. If you can throw a solid front kick to the chest then delivering one to the leg will not be an issue.

I have students practicing attacking the legs enough in a safe training environment to avoid unnecessary injury. It is just way to easy to blow out someones knee because you miss judged or they stepped in and that is why Wing Chun loves low kicks because if they are performed right they are dangerous.

Let me leave you with one last note. The best kick is the kick they did not see coming. It is all about timing.