ABOUT WING CHUN

LINEAGE

At Wing Chun Street Defence we provide a blended approach to Wing Chun. Our lineage runs through a variety of sources, tapping into elements from Ip Man, Wong Shun Leung and Leung Ting. Wong Shun Leung reputedly won around 100 underground fights (Beimo) which earned him the reputation of ‘King of Talking Hands’. Wong Shun Leung studied Wing Chun directly under Ip
Man who also taught Bruce Lee. Grandmaster William Cheung’s styles are also brought to bear as are some of the techniques of Phillip Bayer. Our primary method of approach is delivered by Barry Holland who trained firstly under the expert guidance of Sifu Nikolaos Gourgounidis which in turn, stems from Sifu Tassos in Greece, and more recently under Sifu Wang Meng in Shanding Province, China. Sifu Nik is much more than a great martial artist; he is an extremely competent fighter having won many ‘underground fights’ and has been very successful working in close protection in the UK. Sifu Wang Meng taught me the soft side of Wing Chun with some very fierce training.

WING CHUN’S FIRST EMPTY HAND FORM SIU NIM TAO (SIL LIM TAO)

The first form students will learn in our martial arts school is Siu Nim Tao (Sil Lim Tao), which means ‘Way of the Little Idea”. The form teaches some of the core principles of Wing Chun and many of the basic techniques and shapes that will be deployed frequently during the first year or so of study. The form teaches principles of centre line, balance, breath control, moving forward and clearing the way, giving way to a greater force and many other fundamental approaches.

WING CHUN’S SECOND EMPTY HAND FORM CHUM KIU (CHAM KIU)

The second empty hand form of Wing Chun is Chum Kiu or ‘Seeking The Bridge’, which consists of a number of techniques designed to bridge the gap or fighting range to the opponent. The form builds upon the shapes mastered in Sil Lim Tao and adds leg movements to the repertoire. If Sil Lim Tao teaches us the ‘first fighting words’ of Wing Chun, Chum Kiu teaches us the ‘fighting sentences’ making for a more coherent and ‘joined up’ combat experience. Chum Kiu ‘bridges the gap’ between Sil Lim Tao and Wing Chun’s devastating third form – Biu Tze, and vice versa. Chum Kiu effectively takes the practitioner into ‘trapping range’ and facilitates the extended use of elbows and knees in combat. Chum Kiu teaches students to regain centre line after balance and structure have been compromised, focusing on rotation and power.

WING CHUN’S THIRD EMPTY HAND FORM BIU TZE (BIL JE / BIU JEE)

The third form in Wing Chun is designed as the antidote to Wing Chun. It is said that if you need to resort to Biu Tze it is because your Wing Chun has failed. This is a reflection on the student and not on Wing Chun and Biu Tze should be avoided wherever possible. During the first forms students learn to master the closure of all possible defensive gaps, Biu Tze shows us that there is always room for a finger thrust or strike to an opponent’s soft tissue areas and pressure points by changing the angle of attack. This third form can be potentially lethal and is used only as an emergency when the threat of serious injury or loss of life is anticipated. Owing to its potentially lethal nature, Biu Tze is only taught to students after several years of committed training and a those with a strong attitude and a healthy respect for life.