Wing Chun Kung-fu: A Complete Guide
VOLUME ONE
Basic Forms and Principles
WING CHUN
KUNG-FU
Basic Forms & Principles
Dr. Joseph Wayne Smith
CHARLES E. TUTTLE CO., INC.
Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan
Disclaimer
Please note that the publisher of this instructional book is NOT RESPONSIBLE in any manner whatsoever for any injury that may result from practicing the techniques and/or following the instructions given within. Since the physical activities described herein may be too strenuous in nature for some readers to engage in safely, it is essential that a physician be consulted prior to training.
Published by the Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Co., Inc.
of Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan
with editorial offices at
Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032
© 1992 by Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc.
All rights reserved
LCC Card No. 92-80688
ISBN 0-8048-1718-9
ISBN 978-1-4629-1692-4 (ebook)
[email protected] www.tuttlepublishing.com
First edition, 1992
Sixth printing, 1997
PRINTED IN SINGAPORE
Contents
| Introduction | |
| 1. | THE SIL LUM TAO FORM AND CHIKUNG |
| Introduction | |
| The Theory of the Center-line Stances | |
| The Structure of the Sil Lum Tao Form | |
| The Opening of the Sil Lum Tao Form and Punching Theory | |
| The First Section of the Sil Lum Tao and Chi Kung Training | |
| The Second and Third Sections of the Sil Lum Tao | |
| The Sil Lum Tao Form and Chi Kung | |
| 2. | THE CHUM KIL FORM AND FOOTWORK |
| Introduction | |
| The Chum Kil Form and Footwork | |
| Footwork, Bridging the Gap, and Fighting Strategies | |
| The Theory of Kicking at the Chum Kil Level | |
| Important Hand Moves of the Chum Kil Form | |
| The Chum Kil Form | |
| 3. | |
| THE BIL JEE FORM: | |
| Introduction | |
| Principal Attacking Weapons | |
| An Analysis of Selected Bil Jee Techniques | |
| The Bil Jee Form | |
| Combat Applications of the Bil Jee Form | |
| 4. | |
| CONDITIONING, STRETCHING, AND POWER TRAINING | |
| Introduction | |
| Iron-Palm Training | |
| Weight and Power Training | |
| Flexibility Training | |
| Speed and Plyometric Training | |
| Aerobic and Anaerobic Training | |
| Conclusion | |
| Glossary |
Introduction
This book is the first in a series of three volumes that collectively give a theoretical overview as well as practical instructions for the entire system of Wing Chun kung-fu. There are many Wing Chun books on the market today, and the addition of more requires justification. First, Wing Chun today is not a homogeneous phenomenon: there are various types of Wing Chun/Wing Tsun in Hong Kong based on the style of Yip Man, many American and Southeast Asian forms of Wing Chun, and at least three forms of Wing Chun in mainland China. In this book, I cautiously wish to stay away from the internal disputes between these schools. It is sufficient to say that each of these styles has its strengths and weaknesses.
Saying that there is a best style is like saying that there is a best gun—however, it is well-known that handguns, shotguns, semiautomatics, and machine guns all have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, a handgun is for close-range work and is easily concealed, whereas a carbine and shotgun are not easily concealed without sawing off the barrel, which reduces power. However, the carbine and shotgun are typically more powerful than the handgun (see T. Lesce, Shootout II: More Techniques of Modern, Gunfighting [Phoenix, Arizona: Desert Publications, 1981]).
The same thing can be said about martial-arts styles and sub-styles. My approach is a synthetic one: not to mix together an eclectic bag of randomly selected techniques, but to systematically unify and integrate a diverse array of martial-arts knowledge into a concise and functional whole that is both meaningful and practical. The resulting theory of Wing Chun, while obviously in debt to historical systems of Wing Chun, is a rational reconstruction that is an expression of my own understanding and beliefs.
In addition, the approach I have taken toward martial-arts knowledge and teaching gives priority to scientific analysis rather than to history and tradition. While I am a teacher of a classical system, I approach it in a non-classical way. Scientific analysis, when conducted properly, emphasizes rationality, logic, justification, and criticism. It is also honest, meaning that the limits and weaknesses of the approach are clearly stated, not hidden from discussion.
In the first volume, Basic Forms and Principles, I shall discuss and illustrate in full the three empty-hand forms of Wing Chun kung-fu: Sil Lum Tao, Chum Kil, and Bil Jee;in the second volume, Fighting and Grappling, I shall describe sticky-fighting and grappling techniques, as well as the concept of vital points; and in the third volume, Weapons and Advanced Techniques, I shall describe the wooden-dummy set, the use of butterfly knives and other weapons, and advanced techniques of Wing Chun.
In