Southern Wing Chun Kung Fu

The club has been based and training in Brighton since 1986 and became independent from its parent organisation in 1992.  The aim of this move was to concentrate on the development of a robust and holistic approach to training, whilst maintaining a more traditional focus and ethos.  The style follows the traditional application of Ip-Man / Ip-Chun Wing Chun Kung Fu originating from the southern provinces of China, with the addition of more contemporary influences to provide a well rounded style that offers a balanced and holistic approach to martial arts training. We encourage dedication towards self development at your own pace.

What to expect?

We have a friendly club that offers something for everyone, from the novice / beginner to the more advanced practitioner.  Whether you are familiar to the style and wish to continue on your journey, taking your first steps on the martial arts path or just looking for an interesting way to stay fit, you will find a relaxed atmosphere that is encouraging, non-competitive, yet dedicated and patient.

The class starts with warm up and stretching routines to ensure that your body and mind is adequately prepared to fully engage with the class.  The warm up is then ended with various Chi Gong (soft internal martial arts) preparation exercises; this is dependent on the season and emotional climate of the class.

Once you are adequately warmed up and focused, we move towards the practice and learning of Wing Chun application and theory.  This can take the form of group based, paired, individual and 1:1 instructor led tuition.  We aim to encourage you to train with all members of the club, so that you may benefit from the diversity of experience and approach that all members of the club can bring to your training.

Towards the end of the session we concentrate martial arts fitness and stamina, with a well balanced exercise and warm down routine.  The end of the session will allow all club members to concentrate on a unified approach to Wing Chun form work, by going through Sil Lim Tao, Chum Kil and Bui Tse forms in respect to their appropriate level.     

NOTE – We emphasise self-led-learning as well as healthy training!  It is not important to keep up with everyone else, but to engage at a pace that suits you and your needs; train smart, train to the best of your ability, and train to maintain a steady journey. 

The Syllabus

First Level - The foundations of upper body techniques and footwork associated with the first half of the first form (Sil Lim Tao).  Basic flexible techniques as well as a move towards Chi Sau (Double sticking hands) as a bridge to combat by starting with Chi Dan Sau (Single sticking hands exercise).  Here you will learn all of the foundations of the approach, theory etiquette and ethos. 

Second Level - Beginning to integrate lower and mid level techniques and footwork with upper body techniques. You will learn the whole of Sil Lim Tao (First Form) as well as basic self-defence; (flexible) sparring may be attributed to more confident students at this point.  Continued movement towards Chi Sau (double sticking hands) at this stage as you begin to learn Bong Lap Sticking Hands (one handed sticking hands, rolling and changing exercises. 

Third Level - Further development and integration of low, mid and upper level techniques from both inside and outside gate positions.  You will begin to learn the first half of Chum Kil (Second Form) as well as focus on more advanced sparring and fitness from both traditional and contemporary positions. You will start to bring your bridge to combat closer by starting to develop Chi Sau (Double sticking hands).

Fourth Level - We encourage complete integration of all lower, mid and upper body techniques, from both traditional and contemporary positions and gates.  Advanced sparring and full recital of first two forms (Sil Lim Tao) and (Chum Kil).  At this level you will begin to bring together total application with elbows, knees, palm and finger strikes, with a higher degree of focus on fitness and stamina, as well as concentrating on further development of competitive Chi Sau (double sticking hands) from both static and flexible stances.

Fifth Level - Full integration of all low, mid and upper body techniques, with concise focus on the integration of Chi Sau and touching hands within short and long range application. At this level we look to fully engage all techniques such as elbow, knees and palm/finger strikes. You will begin to learn the first half of the third form (Bui Tse).

Sixth Level - This is the final graded level of open hand martial training. Here you will be encourage to fully integrate all learnt aspects of Southern Wing Chun Kung Fu into advanced and multi-opponent sparring in both traditional and contemporary stances as well as competent application of all techniques within competitive sticking hands (Chi Sau). This level will demonstrate full competent application of all of Sil Lim Tao, Chum Kil and Bui Tse forms.

Seventh Level 7 - Progression towards weapon forms (Bart Jam Do) and Wooden Dummy (Mook Yu Jin), towards your own journey of understanding of Wing Chun Kung Fu and martial arts training.  The weapon forms are not taught at this club, as we expect advanced practitioners to continue to bring their experience and competence of open hand application back into the club, to continue to train regularly and enrich other students journey’s whilst continuing on their own..

Background

Practical and efficient, Wing Chun Kung Fu is one of the most popular forms of Kung Fu due to its emphasis on technique over strength; a smaller and weaker person can easily overcome a larger stronger opponent.  The focus is on technique rather than force, making Wing Chun ideal for all; men, women, young and old.

Grandmaster Ip Chun is regarded as the world's leading authority on Wing Chun today, as the direct descendant from Ip-Man (of whom our linage and system descends from also). Wing Chun was brought to the attention of the world in the mainstream by (Bruce Lee), he was traditionally trained in Wing Chun by Ip Chun's father, Grandmaster Ip Man before he went on to create Jeet Kon Do.

The direct orgins of Wing Chun predating Grandmaster Ip-Man are open to much speculation.  There is plenty of supporting evidence to confirm the rise and linage of Ip-Man and Ip-Chun’s Wing Chun’s development, although the birthplace and sequence is unclear.  Some believe in the romanticised story of a young girl pushed towards a unwanted marriage, who fled to a monastery and developed her own style of Kung Fu to fight and win her freedom in pit of martial arts against the arranged marriage and won.  The young girl was called Wing Chun.  Others believe that this style is best suited to the water ways of the southern province of China (Fuchen), and that it was developed there as an underground style for the resistance fighters against the dynasty’s imperial soldiers (who practiced only Shaolin Long Fist techniques) as all other martial arts were outlawed in an attempt to curb over throwing the monarchy. Certainly there is much evidence to support the area of its birth in Fuchen, and there is much to support that the compact and practical fighting style would be very effective in both close quarter and uneven environments.

Regardless of its origin all paths have their merits, and Wing Chun Kung Fu in its many guises is practiced by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide today, with little hang up on it origin but ultimate confidence in its approach and effectiveness

Other such benefits of practicing Wing Chun Kung Fu are increased energy and vitality, greater personal confidence, inner strength and more robust holistic wellbeing and mental-health.

Our activities include : Wing Chun, Martial Arts, MMA, Muay Thai and Kung Fu.

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