The Beauty of Wing Chun Kung Fu

I started practising the beauty of wing chun kung fu many years ago with an old school friend of mine. I had already been involved in martial arts for many years, but there was something that called to me in an advert I saw, not just because the instructor was an old friend of mine, but I don’t know, it just kind of called out to me. I had always been fascinated with kung fu, and had a basic idea of the system, but no real good information. I had been dabbling in many martial arts and just kept flitting. In hindsight, thats is probably because they didn’t suit me.

So there I was in my first class and absolutely loving it, I saw the beauty in wing chun kung fu. Back in those days you were in a class with senior people and they had no problem with roughing you up a bit, or quite a lot in my case, but that just made it more interesting. I figured out that within the style if I worked my basics very hard, and got that under my belt, my basic ability would be as good as the senior guys who had spread themselves very thin. So not only did I do my classes, but I went to other beginners, watched the seniors and helped with kids. I was immersing myself in the art, and my teacher was a great teacher. He was stylistically brilliant, he was never a fighter though he could handle himself, rather he was equipped to tactically deal with any situation. I always admired him and still do, he lives by his principles and system and that is honourable.

What I found to be brilliant was the beauty in the simplicity of the system, there really was no set pattern to defence, but rather a way of applying rules, the rules could work out any way you chose so long as you stuck to the style. This simplicity just equated to raw power in those early days. But as you gain more skill in the system, that power gives way to technique and application. Effectively working less and achieving more by applying those principles.  See the link below on the three theories.

I have to say, that in application it simply isn’t a beautiful style, you would not look at a fight and say about the wing chun man, “my God, that is beautiful” you might rather say “that is ugly” but you would stand back in awe at the effectiveness. I have not strayed from the path all the years I have practised, though my mind these days is open to other styles, quoting Bruce Lee ”take what is useful and disgard what is not”. I love the system and all it’s nuances, I love that the lineages are beginning to get closer together, although there is still an element of political infighting. But I can honestly recommend the style to anyone. It is useful from lesson one, so really can be a quick fix for your problems. I really did find the beauty of wing chun kung fu all those years ago.