The syllabus of the Yu Yi Wing Chun Martial House compared to other martial arts styles might seem rather compact. It was originally designed in this way to produce martial artists who are able to fight after a short period of training. Compared to the 10+ years training needed in some other arts, Wing Chun needs only from 4 to 5 years to develop an effective fighter, if the student trains diligently and hard.
The structure of Wing Chun taught in the Martial House is set out in a way that teaches the students the necessary techniques of fighting from the very beginning. Although Wing Chun’s main focus is on stand up fighting i.e. punching, kicking, kneeing, and elbowing. It also covers throwing, joint locking/manipulation as well as anti locking and anti throwing techniques. The weapons that are taught compared to other martial arts styles are few in number. Wing Chun generally only uses 3 weapons, a double ended staff, a single ended long staff and a pair of big knives. In the past Wing Chun also used to have a weapon called Fei Byu (flying dart) this was taught down through the ages but is now unfortunately a lost skill.
The Yu Yi Wing Chun Martial House teaches the following syllabus to its regular students.
Basics
To excel in a martial art you need a solid foundation. The foundation in Wing Chun comes in two stages, the first stage being made up of:
Yee Jee Kim Yeung Mah - the main stance of wing chun Ji Ng CHoi - the centre line punch Juen Mah - turning from the stance
These three things are the core to the style, passing to the student the rooting, powering, turning and punching method used by Wing Chun
The second stage of the basics is the Sahp Yih Sik.
Sap Yih Sik
Sap Yih Sik The Sap Yih Sik are 12 individual forms of Wing Chun’s Fighting methodology that make up the base of the art. They Include striking techniques, defensive techniques, walking techniques, sensitivity techniques and felling techniques. They are the gateway to Wing Chun’s free fighting techniques and the base of practical street self defence. This is such an important factor with Wing Chun that within Guangzhou Wing Chun circles there is the saying “Mou Sahp Yih Sik, Mou Wing Chun!” This translates as “if you do not learn the 12 forms of Wing Chun you cannot master the style!” It is also said that for fighting you only need to know the sahp yih sik. From this we can see that the sahp yih sik is a quick and effective way to learn to defend yourself.
In more detail, the Sap Yih Sik can be described as the foundation for creating good body positioning, body structure, and technique. It contains the important Lap ngoi lim, which is a vital technique of Guangzhou based Wing Chun. Through the partnered training exercises contained within these forms and their extensions you learn how to use Wing Chun’s Ju Lik, control and keep the center line, how to position your stances, how to avoid incoming attacks with out retreating, how to control and take the distance, how to lock your opponent, and how to throw them to the ground.
Although the 12 forms are the base of Wing Chun, the further you progress in the Wing Chun system the more you can see how everything extends and is intertwined with these basic techniques, as well as how they can be used to combat most situations. Each technique found in the sahp yih sik has numerous techniques that can follow it up, including throws and locks which are not found so much in other versions of Wing Chun. The Twelve forms are:-
- Pian San Choi
- Duk Long Choi
- Jin Choi
- Ngoi Darp Sau
- Leui Darp Sau
- Ngoi Lim Sau
- Leui Lim Sau
- Lap Yum Yeung Leui Lim Jeung:- Ngoi and Leui Tan Sau
- Sam Ban Jeung
- Pok Yik Jeung
- Bak Hok Kum Wu
There is another saying describing the Sap Yih Sik which is “Saam kyun, leung jeung, saam ngoi leui”.this translates as “Three fists, two palms, three outside and inside” This saying is referring to the techniques held within the Sap Yih Sik.
Siu Lien Tao
Siu Lien Tao Siu Lim Tao is the first proper form that is learnt once the student has gained a thorough understanding of the Sap Yih Sik. It trains the Yee Jee Kim Yeung Mah while focusing on teaching the correct positioning for individual techniques that are found in the Wing Chun System. These techniques consist of various basic attacking and defending movements, it teaches the students to use their arms independently and corrects the habit of favouring one arm or one leg over the other. It also works on the correct “S” body shape as well as linking techniques together.
Chum Kiu
Chum Kiu is the second of the Saam Tou Kyun ( 3 forms of Wing Chun ) which is passed on to the students after they can perform and understand Siu Lim Tao at a level satisfactory to the instructors. This form starts you training foot work and pivoting skills which are vital for fighting. It also covers three directions of fighting, as well as kicking plus more attack and defence patterns for the arms. It introduces new hand techniques to the student as well as improving body co-ordination. In this form the students starts to learn and practice kicking techniques such as the anti nailing kick, the heart piercing kick, and the tiger tail kick. It covers both high and low defence as well as some locks and throwing methods. The Name itself means to find the bridge. The techniques and theory of this form is to be able to recognise and take a bridge when you see one. Bridging is the Chinese way of meaning the point of contact between two would-be fighters normally it’s the forearms.
Biu Jee
Biu Jee is the third form taught in Wing Chun, often thought of incorrectly as a secret form or a form that does not abide by the principles of Wing Chun. Both of these analogies are wrong. Biu jee sticks to the principles of Wing Chun as is not the most advanced form of the system it is merely the next step in the progression for the Wing Chun fighter. It focuses on teaching you to keep your centre when in adverse positions, it introduces the idea of multiple attacks and the finger thrust. It develops skills to destroy bridges (bridge is the common term for the forearm in martial arts, although in technically means any point of contact between the two opponents) elbows are introduced as are techniques for cultivating your body and arms.
San Sik
San Sik Taught after proficiency and understanding of Byu Ji is obtained, the San Sik are individual techniques and strings of techniques that are strictly Wing Chun and are geared towards full on fighting. There are well over 30 different techniques in this section covering using fists, feet, elbows, knees, throwing, locking, counter throwing and locking. Practical fighting application taken from previously learnt stuff is focused on here. It is common for students of the Yu Yi Wing Chun Martial House to Pad up and start free fighting at this point in their training after going through a carefully thought out training techniques and drills that bridge the gap between individual practice and fighting. This progressive training starts from the very beginning when the student is learning the Sahp Yih Sik and in this section is broken down into two parts, The basic Lei Kyu Chi Da which is to fight with out a bridge. - This is common for most fights that happen in the streets, and Chi Kyu Chi Da which is to fight with a bridge. This is common when fighting against skilled opponents. In reality these two ways of fighting are intertwined and in a real fight you can flow between the two. It is however thought of as Lei Kyu is a lesser skill than Chi Kyu and in a fight if you have had sufficient practice you should be able to go from a Lei Kyu situation into a Chi Kyu Situation, control the opponent and win the fight.
Dan Chi Sau
Dan Chi Sau is where Wing Chun really starts to separate itself from other styles of martial arts. Dan Chi is an exercise to develop skin sensitivity in the arms. By this we mean the ability upon touch to be able to feel/sense what the opponent is going to do and to be able to counter it. Once some skill in these training techniques has been obtained the student is able to react through touch without having to rely on his or her eyes. In Dan Chi Sau one arm is worked on at a time through a series of 6 different exercises compared to just the 1 in some other versions of Wing Chun. The advanced version of this exercise is Seung Chi Sau.
Hong Jong
Learnt after proficiency in Dan Chi Sau has been demonstrated, the Hong Jong form from Guangzhou Wing Chun is roughly the same as the Mok Yahn Jong (wooden dummy) there are a couple of differences only due to the dummy being rooted. The biggest difference between the two forms is the Hong Jong is performed without the dummy. The Hong Jong form is taught first because the wooden dummy form is made up of all the San Sik (fighting techniques of Wing Chun) linked together in a flowing rhythmical fashion. Like any technique in Guangzhou Wing Chun you have to be able to power it correctly with out any press applied to the arms. This is a basic requirement for all Wing Chun techniques within the Yu Yi Wing Chun Martial House. If you cannot perform the technique with the proper power and body coordination without a press, when you come to learn Seung Chi Sau or to use the Jong (dummy) you are unable to power or apply the techniques when there is a press present. This is one of the reasons why Dan and Seung Chi Sau are not taught at the beginning of a students training in the Martial House
Mok Yahn Jong
The Mok Yahn Jong is perhaps the most famous training apparatus of all the Wing Chun syllabus. It is normally constructed using a body post which can be sunk into the ground or supported on a frame with 2 high level arms, a single mid level arm, and a low leg. This set of techniques are learnt once the student can demonstrate proficiency and understanding of the Hong Jong form. The only real differences this time are that you are learning correct body positioning to help develop agile footwork so you can move in, out and around your opponent at ease as well as developing the understanding of how to attack and defend when there is a press on your limbs from the opponent. The Guangzhou Wooden Dummy is radically different from the Hong Kong dummy. It is still in it’s original format with the addition of Jeung Bou’s wooden dummy form at the beginning. It contains elbowing, and kneeing techniques as well as the standard techniques from in the first three forms, and the san sik - (fighting techniques) of Guangzhou based Wing Chun.
Seung Chi Sau
Chi Sau is the auto pilot for Wing Chun. By saying this we do not mean it is the be all and end all of how to fight using Wing Chun as it is portrayed to be in some Wing Chun Schools. Chi Sau is one part of Wing Chun’s fighting methods. The Other part of Wing Chun’s fighting methods are called San Sik. The San Sik is for use before a bridge (contact with the opponents limb) is made while Chi Sau can come in to play once the bridge has been made. It can be called an Auto Pilot for Wing Chun because once you have a bridge (contact with the opponents limb) through the sensitivity exercises the student undergoes through Dan and Seung Chi Sau training and the practice of Chi Sau itself, you learn to tell just by feel what the opponents next move will be. Through this training you automatically know where the holes are in the opponents defence so it is easy for you to counter attack and control. Because of Guangzhou Wing Chun’s Chi Sau, which is part of the Chi Kyu Chi Da (fighting with a bridge) and Guangzhou Wing Chun’s Lei Kyu Chi Da (fighting with out a bridge) we are left with a traditional kung fu style that can fight using the techniques and theories that are taught within the system without having to resort to using sanda/kickboxing style fighting ideals.
Kum La
Kum La is the ability to lock and manipulate your opponents extremities once you have come into contact with them. Kum la can be found buried deep with in every martial arts style. In the Guangzhou Wing Chun Pugilistic Association Kum la and Fan kum La (the reversing of locks) are taught throughout the students duration of study.
Sot Gao
Sot Gao refers to the throwing methods found with in all martial arts. Although primarily a striking art, Wing Chun like most Chinese martial arts contains throwing and counter throwing techniques that are taught throughout the students training period
sot gau training
Short Weapons
1)Dan Dou - Single Knife
2)Wu Dip Seung Dou - Double Knives
The Wu Dip Seung Dou (double knives) train the Wing Chun practitioner in the use of twin short weapons. In Wing Chun the hands work like the knives, and the knives work like the hands. When applied, the Wing Chun knives can intercept, bar and cut the first available target, and then move in quickly to finish off the opponent. The Wu Dip Seung Dou are distinguished by their simplicity. With fundamental training of the knives, a practitioner learns to skilfully wield, control and change the two knives economically and efficiently while stationary and while moving. Other movements include slicing, stabbing dispersing, barring, wing, cross, stealing, leaking and protecting as well as other elegant, simple, frighteningly effective and deadly techniques.
Long Weapons
1)Hang Zai Gwan
2)Lohk Dim Byun Gwan
The Luhk Dim Byun Gwan, originating from spear techniques of city gate guards teaches the concepts of using a long handled single ended weapon. This single headed pole used in Wing Chun is around 7 foot 2 inches in the Chinese measuring system. It is thinner at the striking end and held with hands no more than shoulder width apart. The Gwan is never spun or twirled. It uses motions that require the Wing Chun practitioner to send power from their body structure travelling through the wood and out of the striking point into the target. Rather than using the standard postures found in Wing Chun, training with the pole incorporates stances such as the sei ping ma, (often found in styles such as hung kyun). The techniques of the pole contain six and a half simple but deadly points such as dispelling, spearing, whipping, two motion, water dripping, circling and pointing, and barring. There are of course several extrapolations such as blind man walks down the ally side to side motion. Fanning etc.. that cover all the basic angles for both offence and defence.
training with the Lok Dim Byun Gwan
Taan Hyun
In Guangzhou we still use traditional training apparatus’ Such as the Taan hyun (Rattan Ring) Which is not commonly found within other versions of Wing Chun. The Rattan Ring is a small ring made out of rattan with the aim of improving your Wing Chun. This piece of apparatus is unique to Wing Chun and it improves your Wing Chun skill by helping you in learning to use your arms in a confined space, by keeping your elbows on the center line (called Gwai jiang in Cantonese) and it also builds up the power that comes up from underneath the elbow. It helps you learn how to attack even when there is a press on your arm as well as improving the relaxation of the shoulders and helping to open up the joints of the shoulders and elbows resulting in better relaxation of the joints, faster speed and more power.
Fai Ji
The Fai Ji Gong (chopstick training), like the Taan Hyun gong is a traditional method of training Wing Chun spanning back through most of its history. Although lost to many branches of Wing Chun which have spread out over the world, here in mainland China it is still part of the standard curriculum. The ideas behind the Fai ji gong are to open up the joints of your shoulder’s elbows and wrists, to improve the relaxation in your shoulders and arm’s which in turn will improve your speed, and power. The Fai Ji Gong also trains the fingers, and the grip as well as some Kum La (joint locking)
Hei Gong
What is commonly known as Hei Gong (Qi gong in mandarin Chinese) in the west in the east is actually divided up into two groups. the first is Hei Gong which is the working of the breath for health benefits, and the second is Leui Gong (nei gong in mandarin Chinese) which strengthens, lengthens and trains the ligaments and muscles in a way fit for martial arts use.
The Yu Yi Wing Chun martial House passes the Hei and Leui Gong forms on that are held within the Wing Chun system on the mainland. The most commonly known of these is the Sun Hei Gwai Yun.
The Sun Hei Gwai Yun Hei Gong (qi gong) form consists of a sequence of Hei Gong (qi gong) movements and can be practiced both before and after training to re-energize and re-vitalize the body. The name can be translated as Kidney invigorating return the breath. From this name you can understand that is it both very good for improving your breathing and for strengthening the Kidneys against disease. This Hei Gong form also strengthens your back adding to the yu lik ( Back power ) used in Wing Chun
Leui Gong
What is commonly known as Hei Gong (Qi gong in mandarin Chinese) in the west in the east is actually divided up into two groups. the first is Hei Gong which is the working of the breath for health benefits, and the second is Leui Gong (nei gong in mandarin Chinese) which strengthens, lengthens and trains the ligaments and muscles in a way fit for martial arts use.
The Yu Yi Wing Chun Martial House passes the Hei and Leui Gong forms on that are held within the Wing Chun system on the mainland. The most commonly known is the Sun Hei Gwai Yun.
The Yu Yi Wing Chun Martial House teaches a few different leui gong forms such as;
Mh Ji Meui Leui Gong (Five Petals Internal Training). This Form is normally only learnt by students who are willing to undergo months of painful, strenuous training every day without fail for more than a year.
The form changes the muscular structure of the body from either a soft flabby one, or a hard solid one to one where the muscles are elastic and the ligaments are strong and powerful. It increases strength stamina and power as well as will power and determination.
Ngo Fu Leui Gong (Sleeping Tiger Internal Training) is a stationary leui gong form that develops all the body focusing on the waist, chest, arms and knuckles. Like Mh Ji Meui is is a very strenuous and hard going exercise and is normally only undertaken by those willing to push themselves to the limits and are not afraid to push the boundaries on what they are capable off. Along side the physical effects of it, it also develops concentration, focus, and determination.
Mh Ji Meui Training
Hong Sa Sau
Hong Sa Sau Hong Sa Sau translates as Red Sand Palm and is a technique that has been popularised through the movies putting it into a fictionary box. It is a real technique that develops strength in your strikes which can cause internal injuries to the person that gets hit. The training for this is extremely hard and is only taught to serious students who have already mastered the Mh Ji Meui Leui Gong form. Training for this technique, like Mh Ji Meui and Ngo Fu Leui Gong need constant daily practice over a period of years for the student to be successful.