Wednesday 24 January 2018
Friday 4 August 2017
Wing Chun Blog Sifu Garry - Wing Chun a Great Teacher of Life
Wing Chun the Great Teacher of Life
Wing
Chun is a very practical system for the modern martial artist based on
science and logic, teaching us to adapt and change with the situation.
Practicing this unique system will enhance ones general health,
intelligence, motor skill, balance, focus and will raise ones martial
skill to one of the highest levels it can possibly reach. All we have to
do is be diligent and determined in our training.
Wing Chun is a thinking man's art that puts that puts muscles in our brains, not muscles in your brain.
Wing
Chun is not just one of the most dynamic martial arts system in the
world, its principles and concepts are a great teacher of how people can
live their lives from day to day.
Wing
Chun teaches us to take the shortest path, so in life this principle
should stay the same, even though most will choose the longest and most
difficult path in life.
Wing Chun teaches us to be spontaneous; spontaneity is the essence of life.
Wing
Chun teaches us not to fight force on force - teaches us to go with the
flow, be relaxed and natural; even though most will go against the flow
and 'bang their heads against brick walls'.
Wing
Chun teaches us not to over commit, so don't give yourself impossible
tasks or goals and end up beating yourself up when you cannot achieve
the impossible goals you have created for yourself; be it health,
fitness, finances, love, friendship, ethics or morals; keep the goals
simple. Take one step at a time.
Wing
Chun teaches us to stay balanced and focused - we should try and keep
our lifestyle and psychology simple and balanced without getting overly
excited or mentally run down, try and stay on a more level path.
Wing Chun teaches us to live in the moment
so
don't dwell on the past or the future
stay focused on the moment
the now, today
for today is a gift
that is why it is called the present.
Wing Chun Kung Fu Greensborough Martial Arts Links
sifu garry linkedInFriday 23 September 2016
Wing Chun Blog - Sifu Linda - Wooden Dummy
Wing Chun Blog - Sifu
Linda
Wing Chun Wooden Dummy
Entry Technique
Entry technique is
the very 1st movement in the Muk Yan Jong 108 movements. It teaches
us to bridge the gap, from A non contact, to B contact (wrist on wrist) in a
safe manner. Many students rush through this section, never really
understanding the science and the importance of mastering this first movement.
The first thing that
must be recognized and mastered is an individual’s range from their opponent,
in both non contact and contact. If one starts too far away on a static
opponent, the individual must take a small step in before entering into contact
range. This step forward telegraphs to
the opponent that you are moving in on him, whereby he will be ready to attack
as you bridge the gap. The step in takes away the element of surprise.
Likewise, if you
start too close, you may enter too deep, taking you into the opponents punching
and kicking range. Landing too close will take away your advantage of being just
out of punching and kicking range.
A correct entry
technique needs to blitz the opponent, it relies on us to move in very quickly
and surprise the opposition. On a stationary opponent, one would feign by
taking a quick half step to the side, making our opponent think we are going in
that direction. The opponent will then slightly move in that direction allowing
us to leap in on a diagonal to the other side. Entering on a diagonal takes us
across the path of attacks rather than going straight into the line of punches
and kicks.
My first range on
landing needs to be wrist on wrist; this is contact stage, where either person
cannot make contact with punches and kicks from the lead arm and leg. They can
lean and reach with the rear arm, the rear leg can also reach, but by using the
rear weapons they telegraph a lot of movement for me to read.
The most important
aspect of entering with a Biu sao entry is I need to protect myself whilst moving
from A to B. The use of the Central Line is imperative for protection of the
upper, middle, and lower gates on the body. As one enters or bridges the gap
with Biu Sao, the lead arm will come back across the body and thrust back out
across the chest and head, as you enter, finishing on the upper outer edge of the central
gate.
Thrusting the lead
arm toward your opponent as you leap toward them is a very intimidating action.
If the opponent decides to move in and punch as you are leaping, the thrusting
arm will cover the path of any attacks coming in, allowing you to bridge,
intercept and take control of the punching arm.
The opponent will
more than likely move away a little bit as you blitz into them, this is the
science of action reaction. For every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction. Once you have landed the opponent will then start to attack. As we
have entered we have thrust Bui Sao across the central line, protecting the center line in the process. Assuming no attacks/punches have come in yet, upon
landing the lead arm will quickly come back across the central line covering
the chest and center line. It will then thrust back out covering the chest and
head, in the hope of intercepting a punch being thrown through the central
line. I don’t have to look for a punch, my Bui Sao cover will find it for me.
It is common for
practitioners to Biu Sao to the centre line, but this error in application
will expose the outer gate on the lead side and allow hooks and round punches
to get through.
So when entering on
the Dummy it is important to biu sao across to the outer gate and not straight
into the lead arm of the dummy. Upon entering, land with Biu Sao on the outside
of the lead arm and then come back across the body to find the lead arm,
utilizing your central line.
Landing outside the dummy’s
lead arm with Biu sao will also instill correct range, Landing with Biu sao on
the inside of the lead arm will not instill the correct range; you will find
that you are close enough for the opponent to kick you. The perfect range is to
be just outside kicking range when you land with your wrist at the dummy’s
wrist.
The Biu sao through
the central line protects the upper gate; the middle gate needs to be protected
by my knee and rear guard. Upon entering my lead knee needs to come up into the
middle gate with the knee on the centre line and the leg and foot slightly out on a
diagonal across the body. I can use the leg like a Bong Sao if a round kick
comes in, by slightly lifting the leg on contact. Having my knee in the centre
will protect my centre from any straight kicks coming in.
Remember that
sometimes our opponent may not have his arms up, to allow us to enter wrist on
wrist. We need to be able to enter to the correct range if our opponent’s arms
are down. We master this by entering on the dummy at the correct range over and
over again until our eyes know the correct distance off by heart.
The opponent may
retreat and make some space between us; we can use the entry to take up the
space and bridge the gap. In this scenario we can step forward before entering
as our opponent is moving away. This is the perfect time to enter straight in
on your opponents centre line and attack his balance.
On landing with all
entry techniques we land on the ball of the foot, keeping the heel off the
ground and the knee in to protect the groin. Landing on the ball of the foot
allows for great mobility in or out as you land. Let’s face it, this is when all
the action is going to take place.
These points are all
very important to master in the entry technique on the Muk Yan Jong. There is a
lot to consider so always be mindful when training.
Please check out my
you tube post for a demonstration of the Entry Technique
Sunday 17 July 2016
Wing Chun Blog - Southern Shaolin Temple
Wing Chun Blog -
Sifu Linda
Roots of Wing Chun
Tour
Fuzhou - Southern
China - Putian Shaolin Temple
November, December
2015
The third stop on
our Journey is Fuzhou in Southern China, population 2,124 million.
Our Motel is very
spacious and lush, it has huge windows that overlook a beautiful lake. It has a
very romantic arched walking bridge that leads onto a small lush island with
traditional pagoda type buildings. Very alluring. There are masses of people everywhere,
the streets are raging.
We enjoy a group
meal at a Thai restaurant. Again the meal was fabulous. Then head off to the 3
lanes and 5 alleys, a very ancient part of town that's been around for 6oo
years.
The buildings are
made of dark red wood that are covered in the most intricate carvings and the
lanterns and lighting down the laneways make you feel like your back in time.
We are up at 6am
the next morning for our spiritual journey to the Putian Southern Shaolin
temple, temperature is going to be 23 degrees and high humidity.
Our guide explains
that Fuzhou city has two main rivers; one in the South and one in the North.
The South river is the White Dragon and the North river is the Black Dragon.
These two rivers surround the city and keep it safe.
It takes about two
hours to reach Putian, with its population of around 3 million.
We pass under the
'Shaolin Gate' and drive down Shaolin Road before ascending up the mountain to
the Temple. There is an air of anticipation, we were all very excited to be there.
As we climb the
mountain we enter into the low hanging clouds, it's very dense and the visual
is down to about 6 meters in front of the van. We are 500 meters up and
surrounded by dense lush forest, then the road opens up and the Temple Grounds
suddenly appear.
Wow, surrounded in
mist it looks so magical.
There are red
balloons, lanterns and flyers hanging from tall poles, with a bright orange
carpet laid out on the walk way. Through the mist the colours really brighten
the place up and add even more of an air of mystic. Apparently they were
holding 'The Silk Road Buddhist Convention'.
Our guide walks us
through the Temple buildings and orates the history for us.
The Putian Temple
was built during the Tong Dynasty after 13 Shaolin staffed monks saved the
future Emperor Taizong in 621AD after he had been captured by a warlord.
After this episode,
the Emperor arranged for 3 of the 13 monks to gather a force of 500 martial monks
to wipe out the pirates that had been plaguing the Fukien/Fujian Province
coastline.
After the pirates
had been subdued and with the emperor's permission, some of the Monks stayed
and set up Temples in the Fukien/ Fujian Province.
The temple was
totally destroyed around two hundred years ago and after rediscovering the site
in the mid 1980s, reconstruction began in the early 90s.
The types of
martial arts practised at the Temple are the Five Ancestor Crane Sun Fist, Five
Zhue Yang Quan/Fujian White Crane and Hung Kuen.
The Chinese
Government announced that this Temple is the site of the original Temple.
We admire the great statues of 'The Guardians'
of the East and West which are as ferocious as ever with their wide eyes and
warrior stare. Quite a contrast to the calm peaceful faces of the Buddhist
statues; they are huge covered in gold plate with beautifully coloured
decorative clothing.
The sacred rooms
are filled with the smell of incense, and the most ornate rosewood furniture pieces
that have been intricately carved into beautiful patterns and designs.
It is always a
thrill to do some training at the Temples so we find a spot out of the way to
practice some Wing Chun forms and drills.
The Chinese love
their Kung Fu heritage and it did not take long before we had drawn quite a
crowd observing and taking photo's.
Its then that a
monk walked past, observed our practise and invited us to join the Convention.
We are introduced
to the Head Abbot from Sydney, Australia, who of course speaks English.
What a bonus, can't
believe we have an Aussie Monk here. What are the chances.
We get a group
photo with the Sydney Abbot, the paparazzi are going crazy, snapping photo's
left and right. It's like we are movie stars.
We enter the conference room and the media inside go ballistic with
photo's, it's quite embarrassing as the conference is in full swing.
We are invited to
the vegetarian lunch but explain that we must go as we are on a tight schedule.
Yin Yan, the head Abbot of the Shaolin Temple gets a group photo with us
and organises a Shaolin performance by
the young monks for us before we leave.
We are thrilled.
The Sydney Abbot
takes us down to the main Temple, a crowd started to gather around the square awaiting the Shaolin
performance. About 25 monks were preparing to perform for us.
In typical Shaolin
form they are loud, strong, energetic, flexible and dynamic. They do a couple
of group forms and one does a solo form.
The head abbot of
Sydney asked whether one of us would like to do a performance.
Wow I could not
believe my ears, a once in a lifetime chance was being offered. So I
presented myself up to perform a shorter
version of Biu Gee. I felt very honoured and humbled, to perform in front of
the Head Abbot and the Monks of Shaolin.
With my adrenalin
pumping and a huge crowd watching I endeavoured to give one of my best
performances. When I finished I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It would
have to have been the highlight of my trip.
it still blows my
mind when I say that I have performed at the Shaolin Temple.
We bid our
farewells and head back to Fuzhou.
Wow what a day,
something always unexpected happens on our Wing Chun tours.
That surprise was
amazing.
The rest of the
trip is tourism with our next stop being Shanghai, then finishing in Beijing
before returning to Melbourne Australia.
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