When a person thinks about martial arts in the movies, the name "Bruce Lee"
pops up almost immediately. Bruce was the actor who made martial arts movies
such a big hit during the seventies. Even to this day, nearly twenty years
after his death, Bruce is idolized by many martial artists all over the
world.
Although Bruce founded and practiced his own
techniques called "Jeet Kune Do" ("The Tao of the Intercepting Fist"), his
martial arts background was based on the Wing Chun system.
Up until the death of his teacher, Yip Man, in 1972, Wing Chun was taught in
secret to only selected students and was not open to the general public.
Bruce's abilities made the public aware of the existence and devastating
power of the Wing Chun system. After Yip Man's death, his students opened
the school's doors to the public. As a result, Wing Chun has become one of
the most popular and sought after Kung Fu systems in the world today.
The History
of the System
The roots of the Wing Chun system can be
traced back to the famous Shaolin Temple on Mt. Song in the Honan province
of China. About three hundred years ago, one of the survivors of the
infamous "Fire Destruction of Shaolin," Ng Mui, fled to the White Crane
Temple on Mt. Tai Leung at the Yunan-Szechuan border. During one of her
daily walks into the surrounding wilderness, she observed a fight between a
fox and a crane. (some said snake and crane). She was totally captivated by
the simplicity, effectiveness, and directness of the techniques of both the
fox/snake and the crane. A Kung Fu master herself, she proceeded to research
and develop a new fighting system based on the movements of the fox/snake
and crane. The resulting system formed the foundation for modern day Wing
Chun.
Yim Wing Chun, a peasant girl who sold bean
curd for a living at a nearby village, was the first inheritor of this new
system. Ng Mui taught her the system to enable her to protect herself and
her family from a powerful bully who lived in the village. In the actual
confrontation, she destroyed her opponent (who was much stronger and bigger
in size than she, and also much more experienced in martial arts) with much
ease. Her husband, Leung Bok Chau, named the system "Wing Chun" after her.
From there, Wing Chun was passed down in
secret to a select few, and eventually settled down in the city of Futshan
in the Canton province in southern China. There, it gained prominence
through a doctor of traditional Chinese Medicine by the name of Leung Jan.
Then, in the earlier part of this century, it was brought out of China and
into Hong Kong and hence the world by the late Yip Man who was the seventh
successive inheritor of the system. Today, the tradition of Wing Chun being
taught as a secretive art and only to a selected few, is still being
practiced in many places all over the world.
An
Introduction to the System
Wing Chun is basically a "soft style" system
that utilizes the opponent's power against himself/herself. The following
sayings best describe the characteristics of the system:
"Soft, yet hard." "Relaxed, yet explosive."
"Peaceful, yet intimidating." "Uses four ounces to move one thousand kilos."
Wing Chun training focuses on developing the
proper body structure and posture so that the most powerful techniques may
be delivered using the smallest amount of effort. The student learns to
develop "soft power" which maximizes the delivery of power with the muscles
relaxed. The Qi (internal strength/energy) is sunk to the lower body which
acts as the generator of power during delivery. The upper body, meanwhile,
remains relaxed at all times. All fighting is done in extremely close range
using very soft but effective and strong techniques. Economy of techniques
is stressed, so that there are no fancy, circular moves like those that
exist in other systems. Because of its nature of using relaxed power rather
than brute strength, Wing Chun is considered to be an ideal system for women
and small-sized people.
In the school itself, every student is
treated as part of one whole family, with the teacher as the parental
figure. There are no belts nor ranking system, and each individual
progresses at his/her own pace. Every person respects one another as
brothers and sisters, with seniority determined only by the date one was
accepted into the school.
The system itself is very small, comprising
of only three empty hand forms, one wooden dummy set, and two weapons sets.
Despite this, it takes a lifetime of learning to master the system. There is
a Wing Chun saying that goes, "Many know the system; few master it."
Aside from the fighting nature of the system,
there is also a philosophical side to it. As part of their training, Wing
Chun practitioners learn more about who they are, what they can achieve, and
who they can become. They learn to accept themselves and other people as
they are; they learn to be humble; they gain confidence and find inner peace
and harmony.
Wing Chun is an extremely efficient art. It not only strengthens the
practitioner physically, but also mentally and spiritually. Its emphasis is on sensitivity, technique and body structure instead of speed, power and
agility. The training atmosphere is relaxed, allowing one to focus on learning and practice, yet tough enough to work up a sweat and test
one's limits. More importantly, the art equips the practitioner to continue practising beyond old age, without sacrificing any of its
effectiveness.
Lim Chee Han
I started practising Wing Chun at a pretty mature stage of my martial
arts career because I was dissatisfied with the other fighting systems I had previously learnt, especially as I grew older. Wing Chun is a
system characterized by finesse, rigor and logic. It may not be aesthetically appealing (at least, not visually) but it is efficient and
surprisingly practical in close-quarters alley and disco/pub self-defense situations and I would recommend it to anyone, especially ladies and
current martial artists, if they are looking for something that makes sense and allows the practitioner to continuously improve him/herself.
Celeste Pang
I started learning Wing Chun primarily because I wanted to fit some
exercise into my life. What I didn't expect was to be continually fascinated with the intricacies of this Southern Chinese martial art. I
have been fortunate enough to learn from Master Chua Kah Joo for the past 4 years. Not only is he experienced and knowledgable, he also
takes a personal interest in his students' growth as martial artists. Master Chua explains Wing Chun fighting techniques in a simple and
straightforward manner, making it easy for the student to grasp the essentials quickly. It has certainly benefitted me in the early months of
my training when I was new to Chinese martial arts.
Elizabeth How
I had never been much for physical activity and for the longest time I
had convinced myself that I would never be able to pick up a martial art. Wing Chun has taught me differently. With it's focus on sensitivity,
structure, even a not so fit person (as I was when I started) can pick it up. And with Master Chua, who has been very encouraging and with the
environment created by him and my fellow students, learning Wing Chun has been a lot less intimidating then what I had expected when
I initially thought of trying out a martial art. Best of all, my fitness has certainly gradually improved and I am learning a skill that
is very practical for self-defence.
Chua started learning Hung Gar Kung Fu at the age of fifteen in Singapore. Five years later, he was assisting Master Soh Ting Hong teaching Hung Gar Kung Fu.
In 1971, he met Joseph
Cheng in London and had his first contact with Wing Chun martial art.
Fascinated by this technique, he has not looked backed since. He went on to
learn from Nino Bernardo. In 1980, he taught Wing Chun Martial Art at the
London University Union with Nino Bernardo and Frankie Awson. In 1982, he
founded Wing Chun Martial Arts Academy in Streatham, London, UK. In 1986, he
formed a branch in Maidenhead, UK. In 1990, he returned to Singapore.
Chua is also well versed in Tae Kwan Do, Shido Tyu Karate, Thai Boxing, Bak
Mei, Praying Mantis, Tai Chi, and Sing Yee but Wing Chun remains his preferred form of martial art training. His school website :
http://www.geocities.com/kahjoo_chua/
Article edited from
Spring Living in the North East magazine, March-April 2002 issue
SINGAPORE
Ballet and martial arts may sound like an unusual combination
but not to Chua Kah Joo of Pasir Ris. Kah Joo or 'Sifu'
(Cantonese for 'Master') to his students teaches classical
ballet during weekends and Wing Chun Martial Arts on weekdays.
A classical ballet dancer for 17 years, Kah Joo worked all
over the world before coming home to Singapore. Working with
Germany's Wuppertal Ballet, the Scottish Ballet and London City
Ballet, Kah Joo has danced with ballet greats like the late Dame
Margot Fonteyn in the 70's and the late Rudolf Nuruyev, between
1979-1981.
He has also rubbed shoulders with the likes of Steven
Spielberg and Yul Brynner, acting with Harrison Ford in the
'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' in the early 80's.
The Chua Kah Joo of today is the owner of a humble martial
arts centre teaching the ancient art of Wing Chun Kuen. His
students range from ages 14 to 40. Chua Kah Joo's finesse in
both Wing Chun Kuen and classical ballet propelled him towards
an international career as a freelance actor and dancer from
1971 and 1991. Upon receiving a classical ballet scholarship to
study in Switzerland, the doors to Europe were opened. "I had
the chance to work with all the ballet greats including
choreographers like Oleg Donovsky. Dancing onstage with Nureyev
was a turning point that really inspired me."
After falling in love with his wife of nine years, Kah Joo
returned quietly to Singapore in 1992. "I'm a very low profile
person. Nobody knows I'm here. Life's path is destined. Wherever
I'm led I follow its path and let nature take its course.
Nature has led him to see the flourishing of the Wing Chun
Kuen art in Singapore. A beautiful, unusual art, it integrates
an understanding of the body's natural force for powerful yet
graceful combat. It also endows the discerning quality of
knowing when to take action and when not to.
Just be warned of Chua Kah Joo's cheeky sense of humour as
well! "The second time I met Spielberg he asked me 'Do you
remember me?' and I said no!"
Wing Chun - Siu Lim Tao, Chum Kiu, and Biu Jee - sparring technique of Chi Sau and
wooden dummy technique.
SIU LIM TAU (The First Form)
Translates as 'little idea form', this is the fundamental
training of Wing Chun martial art and it consists of three parts. The first
part develops the understanding of the basic movements. It also defines the
centre line. The second part focuses on the proper use of power and how
energy is used. While the third part is the practice of the techniques utilising the 'xing' (action) and 'yi' (mind) which cultivate the internal
energy.
CHUM KIU (The Second Form)
Known also as 'seeking arm form' or 'building the bridge',
you learn how to reach out and bridge your opponent. It trains the shifting
stance, footwork, kicks and various blocks.
BIU JEE (The Third Form)
Known as 'flying fingers' or 'thrusting finger form', it
develops the attacking techniques, particularly in the fingertips, hands and
elbows. You also use it to recover from missed or ovr-committed strikes,
thus its otehr name, 'gow gup sau' which means 'first aid hand'.
CHI SAU (Sticky Hand Technique)
In Wing Chun, Chi Sau is the most important aspect of the
training. It is a sparring technique which functions as a bridge between the
3 forms of Wing Chun martial art and free fighting. Chi Sau develops
sensitivity and reflexes using all the techniques, positions, knowledge of
energy use learnt.
WOODEN DUMMY TECHNIQUE
It is a training of the techniques without a sparring
partner. Practising on the wooden dummy enables you to generate full power
which is not possible with a training partner. It develops the 'inch-power'
i.e., the focusing of the energy into the last inch of the strike. It also
allows you to angle the strike to achieve maximum effect.
FORMS USING WEAPONS
Bak Cham Dou (Double sword)
Lok Dim Boon Kuan (Six-and-a-half point pole)
Zhineng Qigong
All classes end with a 10-minute session on Zhineng Qigong
for self-healing and enhancement of intrinsic energy.
Classes can be arrange in Recreation Club, Company
Premises , Schools etc
(Interested organisation please email me
desmond@organise4u.com.sg
for details)
