Many people want to know the secret of Wing Chun Kung Fu and spend their hard earned money trying to find it. I remember when I started training in Wing Chun, a little over 30 years ago, I would buy every book and video tape (Beta tapes by the way), anyway to supplement what I was learning in class. When I would learn something new in class, I would go home that night and practice the technique in the air a few times before sleeping. Me and my … [Read more...]
The Ego and Progress
I find it funny that many of the lessons that I learned in martial arts came from my years of competing at Olympic weightlifting. Although I was far from the best, many people who surrounded me where Masters in their own right. Olympic Champions, World Champions and National Champions ,what a great impression it all made on me. To clean the weight means to approach the bar, squat down with two arms gripping the bar, keeping your back tight , … [Read more...]
Wing Chun Combatives Hawaii Q & A
Before coming to train in Wing Chun, it is common for people to have questions about what is unique to the art. I feel that there are many instructors who have done a fine job of writing in detail about acquiring this incredible skill. Like my instructor, I find that there is more value in demonstration than in explanation. What follows is a few answers to some common questions. What kind of Stance does Wing Chun Kung Fu have ? According … [Read more...]
For the Love of Training
As a young weightlifter many years ago, I remember injuring my knee. I announced to everyone that I will not be seeing them in the gym until my knee had recovered. Although a long time has passed I can still hear their voices telling me, that just because I was injured, it didn't mean that I couldn't train.Getting injured meant working out light and training on my form and technique. The object was to keep training, there was always a way to work … [Read more...]
Wing Chun or Wing Chunish
Years ago after every class my Sifu and all the instructors would go to Chinatown and have a late dinner which lasted from about 10p.m until closing at 12 midnight. Every Monday and Wednesday evening for 9 years for me, but longer for my older Kung Fu brothers we would eat and talk about martial arts and every other subject. Often we would talk for 30 minutes or more after closing. Some of us would work early the next morning or go to college, … [Read more...]
Wing Chun and Minimalism
I remember when I first started training in martial arts, someone told me that he had to learn 50 hand locks for his next test. How impressed I was that his system was so extensive to have so many locks to cover so many situations. The same went for knowing a vast array of armbars and kicks, it seemed that knowing more was better. As I progressed in martial arts and started training in Wing Chun Kung Fu, I found that more became confusing. … [Read more...]