Review of William Cheung's Wing Chun Kung Fu DVD 4

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Review of: Wing Chun Kung Fu by William Cheung – Volume 4
Reviewer: George P Hernandez

DVD Bought on: Everything Wing Chun : http://www.everythingwingchun.com/william-cheung-wing-chun-dvds-books-s/220.htm

Technical Specifications:

• Participants: William Cheung, Eric Oram
• Director: Dan Ivan
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English, no subtitles.
• Region: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.31.1
• Disk: 1
• Length: 59 min

Rating: four on a scale of five or 4:5.

What it's about:

This DVD is the forth in the five volume set of William Cheung's Wing Chun Kung Fu. It covers the basic weapon forms of this system. These weapons are identified specifically with Wing Chun Kung Fu and are known as the Butterfly Swords or Knifes and the Dragon Pole. The basic applications in the use of these two weapons are also covered and are demonstrated by Master William Cheung and Sifu Eric Oram.

Comments:

The Butterfly Swords or knifes are performed by William Cheung. Sifu Eric Oram again provides the narration for this DVD and describes the history behind the origin of this unique weapon. According to legend they are called Butterfly Swords, because they rotate inside and outside of the body as they are used in their application. One gets the impression from Sifu Orem's description that the swords have to be custom made and must be a certain length which meet the needs of the user's specific physical dimensions. It is said the blades of each sword cannot be too long or two short. If they are two long they may cause personal injury as they rotate inward, if they were too short the weapon's effectiveness could be greatly sacrificed.

The specific origin of this weapon is reported to be from the Shaolin Temple in China and was used by the Monks to protect themselves from bandits. This weapon was said to be cleverly hidden within their boots. Because of the religious and spiritual practices of the Monks, the swords were used only to maim rather than to kill their opponent. Only the secondary targets were used whereby injury was primarily inflicted at the joints of their attackers.

As in William Cheung's previous DVD's he demonstrates the form at normal speed which is actually done quite swiftly. He then performs it slowly so that the forms individual movements can be discerned more distinctly. Historically, the Butterfly sword form was developed from the Wing Chun fighting system and employs the strategy of using blocks and counter attacks at the same time. It can be easily seen from the movement of the arms and hands within this form that they are executed in unison and with footwork based on Wing Chun's Centerline Theory of defense and attack. It's emphasized by Sifu Oram that it's extremely important to perform the swords movements so that they become an extension of the body. The weapon's instructional sets are demonstrated by Cheung and Oram, and are done within manageable chunks or sets so the student can easily follow through with each group of movements. Movement within these sets may seem to be highly structured and complex at first, but can be learned by doing one side of the form first. Some students in the beginning might find the figure eight pattern sword set most difficult to do when they are trying to move both arms and hands at the same time. This is where one side of the figure eight pattern should be done separately. It might seem hard at first, but with practice this task can be easily accomplished.

Fortunately, these instructional sets are repeated several times by William Cheung as he describes the Butterfly sword sequences using the Wing Chun system nomenclature. This approach should reduce the learning curve associated with acquiring the complete form. It also contributes to the student's further understanding of the form's technical expression and how it relates to the Wing Chun fighting system.
Before the numerous sword form applications are demonstrated one is shown by Master Cheung, how to hold the swords while standing in a cross sword fighting posture. The posture and its associated techniques for defense must be learned and done correctly After this initial segment of training is understood and completed; one on one sword applications are taught against an opponent using the Butterfly Swords in partner practice. And when the need arises one learns how to make use of the Butterfly Swords against a person using a different kind of weapon such as the Dragon Pole.

Following the instruction of the Butterfly Swords or Knifes, Master Cheung demonstrates the Dragon Pole form. The Dragon Pole is quite different from the Shaolin Stick normally associated with the Shaolin Monks. It can be much heavier and longer in length than the Shaolin Stick. Because of its length and weight as well as depending on the skill of its user a tremendous amount of power can be generated. The Dragon Pole form can also greatly contribute to ones development of balance, strength and agility. The purpose of the Dragon Pole is to strike at the secondary targets first, such as at the joints of the legs, feet and hands …et cetera. Once these points are effectively struck, this opens up the opponent's primary targets such as the groin, solar plexus, the throat and head. It is said the length of the Dragon Pole can vary in length from six to thirteen feet. Master Cheung demonstrates the form in normal speed and in slow motion following with the Dragon Pole's Applications. This forth volume in the five volume series offers an excellent introduction to the weapons uniquely associated with the Wing Chun Kung Fu system. I recommend this DVD for those who desire to learn the basics of the Butterfly Swords and the Dragon Pole along with their basic applications.

Content Overview: William Cheung Wing Chun Kung Fu – Volume Four

1. Introduction
   • Current Grand Master of the "Traditional System" of Wing Chun Kung Fu
   • Butterfly Swords and Dragon Forms
2. Butterfly Swords Form - One
   • William Cheung Demonstrates – Normal Speed
   • History and Origin Butterfly Swords
3. Butterfly Swords Form – One
   • William Cheung Demonstrates – Slow Motion
   • The Butterfly Form and Wing Chun Fight System
4. Butterfly Sword From Sequence
   • Explanation of Set One
     • Gong Sao and Tan Sao Movements
   • Explanation of Set Two
     • Gong Sao and Quen Sao Movements
     • Rotating the Swords – Single and Double Hand
   • Explanation of Set Three
     • Lan Do – Stepping back
     • Lan Do – Forward Step
     • Double loop
   • Explanation of Set Four
     • From Lan Do Position
     • Stepping across in three movements – Side to Side
     • Stepping across while jumping - Side to Side
   • Explanation of Set Five
     • The Do Fa
     • Figure Eight Rotation – Three Loops
   • Explanation of Set Six
     • Quen Sao movement with kicks
     • Tan and Sword Rotation
   • Explanation of Set Seven
     • Do Fa movement repeats
     • Closing
5. Butterfly Swords Application
   • Explanation of Basic Cross Sword Posture – i.e. Right Guard
   • Explanation of Practicing forward and back steps
   • Explanation of Technique one – Gong Do/Tan
   • Explanation of Technique two - Quen Do-Opening-Sword Rotation
   • Explanation of Technique three - Lan Dao, Tan – Double Slash – Sword Rotation
   • Explanation of Technique four – Do Fa – Figure Eight
   • Explanation of Technique Five – Quen Do – Kick – Tan- Strike
6. Butterfly Sword versus Dragon Pole
   • Explanation of Technique one – Defense – Overhead Pole Strike
   • Explanation of Technique two – Defense - Forward Pole Strike
   • Explanation of Technique three – Defense – Rotating Pole Strike
   • Explanation of Technique four – Defense – Lateral Side Pole Strike-One
   • Explanation of Technique Five – Defense – Lateral Side Pole Strike-Two
   • Explanation of Technique Six – Defense – Lateral Side Pole Strike – Three
7. Dragon Pole Form
   • William Cheung Demonstrates the Dragon Pole form -One
   • History of Dragon Pole Origins
   • Explanation of Dragon Pole Target
   • William Cheung Demonstrates the Dragon Pole Form-Two
   • Explanation of Posture and Hand Positions of the Dragon Pole
   • Explanation of the Chow Quen Position
   • Explanation of the Jung Bong Position- Three Step Movement
   • Explanation of the Jet to Sal Quen Position
   • Explanation of Bil to a High Bong Position
   • Explanation of Tan to Jet Position
   • Explanation of Bil to Que Position
   • Dragon Pole Closing
8. Dragon Pole Applications
   1. Explanation of Dragon Pole Defending Posture
   2. Explanation of Point the Pole to the Opponents Center
   3. Explanation of Technique One – Defense - Forward Thrust
   4. Explanation of Technique Two – Defense – Swinging Pole
   5. Explanation of Technique Three – Defense – When the Pole is Shorten
   6. Explanation of Technique Four – Defense – When the Pole attacks the legs