Martial Arts 101...

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This is a thread for all schools of martial arts from around the world, including the techniques, weaponry, it's philosophies and the history behind the individual arts themselves. It's also a means for quick reference for all those interested in learning more about self-defense, discipline and well-being in a violent world. I will be emphasizing more on kung fu myself, but will try and research all other arts to the best of my ability. I encourage everyone that's involved/interested in martial arts to add to this thread so that we all may learn from each other.

 

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I did around 6 years Budo-Ryu karate when I was growing up in SA. But aside from that, I'm really keen on weapons training. I have around 20 years in Filipino stick fighting. I'll be covering that as well, because it's a real passion of mine. My rattan sticks are within hands reach whenever I sleep.

 

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The History of Wing Chun

The history of Wing Chun is one that can be considered an intermixing of both fact and legend.

It is widely accepted that this quick and efficient martial art originated during the 17th century from the far more rigorous and complex art forms taught in the Shaolin Temple of Southern China. It was around this period when the Manchus came to power in China and began their strict rule in order to keep control. Due to their support for the Ming, the Shaolin monks faced great pressure and ultimate destruction to their temples. Due to these circumstances, the origin of Wing Chun lacks consistent records as martial arts practitioners were forced into hiding. The most popularized story of Wing Chun’s origin is that of the Buddhist Nun, Ng Mui. It is said that she was one of Five Elders of the Shaolin Temple that managed to escape prior to its destruction. With her high level of Shaolin martial arts, she created a form of self-defense which could transcend size, weight and gender. She drew her inspiration for Wing Chun from the movement of animals, primarily the crane. When applied to the human form, these delicate but natural movements required little force to block and strike effectively and efficiently.

Ng Mui’s first student of the yet unnamed form was a beautiful young girl named Yim Wing Chun who was being pressured by a bandit warlord into marriage. After mastering the art so as to defend herself and eventually drive off the bandit, Yim Wing Chun would have the form named after her as the first student of Ng Mui. This is how the lineage of Wing Chun began according to popular legend. Though the art was taught throughout history but rarely officially documented, this legend was the one accepted and told by Grandmaster Ip Man who is highly regarded as the greatest and most insightful teacher of Wing Chun. Ip Man would move to Hong Kong in 1948 where he became the first master to teach Wing Chun to the public and make the art form what it is today. Grandmaster Ip Chun is the eldest son of Ip Man as well as one of the most respected teachers still teaching in Hong Kong to this day. While he finds beauty in the legend of Ng Mui and Yim Wing Chun, Ip Chun sought more historic facts to base his beliefs. Upon recent research, a man named Cheung Ng has been confirmed as having existed and can be more accurately credited with the spread of Wing Chun. As a student of the Shaolin Temple in Fujian, Cheung Ng became proficient in martial arts prior to the destruction of the temple. It was during this time that Cheung Ng learned the form of Wing Chun which was being taught as an effective form of martial arts against the Manchus.

After the destruction of the Shaolin Temple, Cheung Ng was forced to seek refuge with different families while teaching Wing Chun to secret rebellious groups. He was even nicknamed Tan Sau Ng after the term Tan Sau which is one of the essential blocks taught in Wing Chun. Even the story of Cheung Ng becomes shrouded with some mystery as he and his students were forced to train in secret. It is likely that legends similar to the story of Ng Mui and Yim Wing Chun were intentionally created to protect the teachers and practitioners from being discovered by authorities.

 

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The 2 main weapons in Wing Chun kung fu are the Bo/ Staff and butterfly swords. Now the staff was essentially just a "walking stick". When weapons were banned for use by the commoner and reserved for royalty and their soldiers, the commoner (peasants) developed a "limp", primarily as an excuse to carry a weapon on the streets. The same ploy was adopted by the Irish with regard to the good ol' shillelagh. I'll put up some great Bo techniques soon, as well as the shillelagh. In the meantime, check out some of these great butterfly swords. The traditional swords were very flexible, so as to glide lighty through the air and meant for slicing and dicing, but today they have been modified to stab as well.

Butterfly Swords:
My own...

 

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Some very basic Wing Chun one arm blocking techniques by Keanu in The Matrix (sped up but the same principles apply...

 

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I was hoping to submit martial art techniques here from my MA forum. Techniques like 'Defense against an overhand stab knife attack' or 'guard pass to choke/arm-bar combo' with step-by-step frames, but unfortunately I've been warned against doing so with permanent banning. I'll try searching more lax sites to keep this thread interesting, as I know streaming videos chews up your data quick-smart!

 

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Wing Chun!

 

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I was just notified that this thread was moved. It was a bit of a coincidence because only yesterday I was brushing up on my shillelagh and cane fighting techniques. Having a weapon can give one a distinct advantage when thuggery comes one’s way. Plus it’s basically a weapon that one can carry anywhere, even through airport security.
My personal shillelagh is made of high impact polypropylene…




This is classic:

 

[MachineMan]

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in the 70's
My career in Martial Arts lasted well over 20 years, (I am now 65+ years old)
Never in my life have I laughed so hard as I did watching this act.
These guys are Hilarious!

 

[MachineMan]

Their follow up act,...........
(no audience, cause of Covid)