Hawaiian Martial Artist, Robert Yeung
2007-06-25 21:33:00
Robert Yeung was born in Kowloon in 1938. His first martial arts experience began when he was 16 years old. As a teenager, Yeung joined a Japanese Judo school in Kowloon. Yeung found grappling to his liking and stayed with the school for four years, rising to the rank of senior brown belt. Yeung recalled that there were not many Kung Fu schools around. The Chinese Kung Fu schools that he visited lacked the discipline and the regimental training found in traditional Japanese Judo training. "I recommend Judo training for teenagers before they learn kung fu."Robert Yeung joined the police auxiliary at the age of 21. He also attended drafting school while working part-time. Yeung's childhood friend, Shak Chun Wah, stopped by one day to pass on the word about a fighting system named Wing Chun (Ving Tsun). The Wing Chun system was practical and useful in street situations typically found in Hong Kong. As both young men shared their knowledge, Robert Yeung got his first experience
Read more: Hawaiian
, Martial
, Artist
, Robert
Now Forming a Qigong Class
2007-06-25 01:26:00
Qigong (aka Chi Kung, Chi Gong) involves the coordination of specific postures and motions with various breathing patterns. A part of "internal martial arts," it focuses on developing and balancing the energy of the acupuncture system.While Tai Chi is the most well known of these “internal martial arts", Wing Chun also incorporates these Chinese internal exercises. Over time, these exercises restore skeletal posture much like braces straighten out crooked teeth. Bit by bit, your muscles and other soft tissues of your body assume their ideal length/tension relationships, just as your organs assume their ideal pressure/temperature relationships. Your nervous system relaxes and your body begins to accrue reserves of energy, all leading to a more relaxed and healthier mind and body. While weight training and cardio and other western approaches to health and fitness can maximize your health and fitness based on how much Chi (energy) you presently have, they cannot restore, balance, or bui
Fluidity in Training
2007-06-23 11:28:00
By Adam WillissThe scientific fighting system of Wing Chun utilizes natural physiological function as its basis. Through integrating scientific principles of physics and geometry with natural body mechanics, Wing Chun becomes a fluid science based in practical application.Our techniques aren't trained the same ways as traditional martial arts. There are no individual moves and counters. We don't imitate animal movements or break boards. We also don't place too much emphasis on form training. Although we do incorporate drills in our training, these drills must flow from one to the next in no set pattern. Drills that have no fluidity become rigid, repetitious patterns that lack the flexibility to deal with an ever-changing combat situation. Relying too much on form training or repetitious dead drills is like trying to follow a script through life. Things just don't go the way you'd like them to go. There's no time in a violent encounter to think about what to do next or what's nex
Read more: Training
North Florida's Martial Artist, Bill Graves
2007-06-17 02:18:00
Bill Graves
was born in Indiana in 1960. After going to college and getting married, he moved to Sanford, Florida
in 1981. Graves began his training under Karl Godwin in 1982. He continued to train faithfully with his instructor for 7 years until he moved to Jacksonville, FL in 1989 and began teaching. Graves operated two main schools in the Jacksonville Beaches area. His school was named THE SYSTEM WING CHUN GUNG FU.Bill Graves is a very humble man. He prefers to let his skill speak for his ability. His knowledge base is incredible to say the least. He has the ability to speak for hours on the subject, and in a way that he readily gets his point across. He is one of the best teachers by far in martial arts today but it goes much further than that. He has high level skill that is the foundation of his teachings. His philosophy is that fighting should be effortless and that's how it is for Graves.In 1997, Bill Graves formally closed his school and ceased public teaching. He maintained
Read more: Martial
, Artist
, North
Wing Chun, Proprioception & Optimum Body Awareness
2007-06-29 10:35:00
By Adam WillissProprioception (PRO-pree-o-SEP-shun) is the awareness of one's own body movement derived from muscular, tendon, and articular sources. Unlike the five "classical" external senses (sight, taste, smell, touch, hearing) by which we perceive the outside world, proprioception is an internal sense that provides feedback solely on the status of the body. It is the sense that indicates whether the body is moving with required effort, as well as where the various parts of the body are located in relation to each other. "It's the precursor to good balance, which is at the core of human functioning," explains Dr. Scott Cuthbert, in a recent article featured in OC Metro. Cuthbert is chairman of the board of research for the International College of Applied Kinesiology. "Without it, we have no sense of our bodies."Proprioception is what allows someone to learn to walk in complete darkness without losing balance. Without the appropriate integration of proprioceptive input, a artist
Read more: Optimum
, Awareness
, Wing Chun
Bruce Lee & Wing Chun
2007-06-28 20:45:00
Bruce Lee 李小龍 The heart of the JKD system is NOT a combat modified Chinese-American Wing Chun
Gung Fu. This is a big misconception to all except his Wing Chun friends and those of his first students. Bruce's and Wing Chun's definition of modification are different then that perceived by most of his students and the Western mind.Wing Chun set's itself up for "modification". It is meant to grow and develop with the student and become an "expression" of the student. Wing Chun allows change for the sake of adaptability and survival. Because of his many personal experiences and lack of knowledge in certain areas of Wing Chun (he only knew the first two "instructional" forms, and a limited number of the wooden dummy forms), he came up with his "personal" solutions by using his own ideas and guidance mixed with those he had already learned, further developing his own "personal" wing chun tools. This personal wing chun he called Jun Fan to his early students. Jun Fan was Bruce's Chin
Read more: Bruce
, Bruce Lee
The Revival of Bare-Knuckle Boxing: An Unexpected Component of Wing Chun
2007-07-01 17:23:00
By Armando SainzMost people today think of fighting systems as Asian. Some also even think of Brazil or Israel, but most don’t think of martial arts as being European or American.Some have heard of Bare-Knuckle
Boxing but don’t equate it with other martial arts. They really don’t know how effective and brutal a street-minded European boxer could be. In fact, Bare-Knuckle Boxing was once considered one of the most effective empty hand systems in the Western world.When we think of Bare-Knuckle Boxing we envision the sport scene more than the self-defense aspect of the system. We think of the Queensberry rules and black and white visions of fighters who stood in a strange looking, more upright, primary fighting stance. People today consider the system a rather antiquated form of boxing which has grown to become a high level sport. That is exactly what it has become; A SPORT.There is a large gap between sport and self-defense, however. As a self-defense, today’s boxing has lost muc
Read more: Unexpected
, Component
, Wing Chun
Tai chi: Stress reduction, balance, agility and more
2007-07-07 22:15:00
Tai chi (ti-CHE) is sometimes described as "meditation in motion." Originally developed in China as a form of self-defense, this graceful form of exercise has existed for about 2,000 years. It's becoming increasingly popular around the world, both as a basic exercise program and as a complement to other health care methods. Health benefits include stress reduction
, greater balance and increased flexibility — especially for older adults.What is tai chi?CLICK TO ENLARGETai chi movements Tai chi movementsTai chi is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise. To do tai chi, you perform a defined series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each movement or posture flows into the next without pausing.Who is tai chi for?If you're trying to improve your general health, you may find tai chi helpful as part of your program. Tai chi is generally safe for people of all ages and levels of fitness. Studies have shown that for older adults tai chi can improve
Just call me Adam
2007-06-17 13:24:00
By Adam WillissI've gone by the title of Sifu ever since it was given to me by my Sifu. Two of my formal instructors went by the same title. What does this all mean? I don't know. I guess it just means that its tradition. Does it make it wrong or right? I think neither. However, too many people are bound by martial arts titles, ranks and/or other traditions. Many of these traditions complicate things so much that they hurt more than they help. Whether its a rainbow of belts or a get on your knees and bow to your sensei kind of attutude, the kind of students who are impressed or motivated by these types of titles are not the kind of students I want.Many people say that a title is about honor and respect. If you put in your time then you get the honorable title bestowed upon you. I don't think its wrong but at the same time is it right? Or the better question to ask... "does it help your people develop their skill faster?" Not necessarily. The term sifu can also be translated by some
Wing Chun Terms and Definitions
2007-07-15 13:52:00
Wing Chun Kuen - “Beautiful Springtime Boxing”Hoi Ma - Opening the horseKim Yeung Ma - Square horseDo Ma - Knife HorseQwan Ma - Pole HorseDoi Kok Ma - Side horseJuen Ma - Turning HorseBil Ma - Running HorseSil Lim Tao (Siu Nim Tao) - “Little Idea” (1st set)Chum Kiu - “Seeking the Bridge” (2nd set)Bil Jee (Biu Jee) - “Thrusting Fingers” (3rd set)Joan Sien - CenterlineSifu - TeacherSigung - Teacher’s TeacherSihing - Elder studentSidai - Junior studentKung Fu (Gung Fu) - “Hard work,” “time and patience,” or “practice and excellence”Mook Yan Jong - Wooden DummyGot Jong - Footwork DummyHong Jong - Air dummySao - Hand or ArmGurk (Gerk) - Foot or LegChi Sao - “Sticky Hands,” energy drill Dan Chi Sao - Single sticky handsSeong Chi Sao - Double sticky handsChi Gurk - Sticky LegsChi Qwan - Sticky PoleChi Do - Sticky KnivesPoon Sao - Rolling ArmsChung Choi - Chain Punches (Lin Wah Kuen)Chung Kuen - Vertical Punch (Yut Jee Kuen – “Sun Character Punch”)Tan
Read more: Terms
, Definitions
, Wing Chun
Body Structure = Internal Power
2007-07-12 17:24:00
Learning how to connect the parts of your body and use them as one is main aspect of the ability to issue power. Too many people are still trying to find power after many many years practice. They just weren't ever told key principles of good structure. If they were, they don't practice them. Look at Bruce Lee above as compared to Yip Man. What's different? I'll leave this for you to examine.For more information on internationally certified martial arts instructor, Adam Williss, please visit adamwilliss.com.
Read more: Structure
, Internal
REFLECTIONS ON POPULAR NOTIONS OF WING CHUN KUEN
2007-07-22 11:46:00
By Jack Tak Fok Ling Legitimacy: Legend and the Structure of Wing ChunThe legendary figures of Abbess Ng Muy and Yim Wing Chun are generally accepted, with some reasonable skepticism, as the originators of Yip Man Wing Chun Kuen. For at a man of small frame and physique like Yip Man would learn not to rely on physical strength (Kong Gh'in) for fighting. In this case, a unique, coherent fighting system based on adroitness, economic deployment of body strength, sensitivity, subtle deflection skills and finesse can develop irrespective of (B), and the apparent relationship between (A) and (B) may be quite coincidental. Also, considering that the entire Wing Chun weapons system (Bak Dzam Do and Lok Dim Boon Gwun) grew out of the existing Sil Lum arsenal, one may attribute Yip Man Wing Chun's emphasis on "roots or rootedness" to the influence of a prevailing preference in Southern Chinese martial arts systems. Following this hypothesis of creative incorporation, one may also explain how a
Wing Chun Notes
2007-07-06 23:39:00
Don't be greedy to hit (Tom Da). People are already hit without realizing it.You don't always have to strike high. This exposes you to low hits.Sink your stance, bring your knees in and melt into the ground. You can practice for a lifetime but if your stance is poor you will have wasted all of your effort. Don't act before you know what is going on. You must feel what is happening first.Random flurries won't work.You can't just rely on speed.Keep the head back or it will get hit and it also brings the whole posture down to stiffen up the hands.Keep the head up and rely on your touch. Don't struggle. This is known as Dow Lik. Use positioning to overcome you opponent. Connect the hands with the feet.Learn to neutralize the opponent's force by wither absorbing it or by turning the stance.When the opponent retreats, don't just stand there. You must come forward. If you stand there you will get kicked. Don't be tense when striking. Train to develop a very heavy but relaxed hitting
Read more: Notes
, Wing Chun
Wing Chun is Not a Style. Its a Concept-Based Fighting Art.
2007-07-24 20:07:00
By Adam WillissWing Chun
is a very simple system to understand. Its principles are extremely logical and rely on scientific concepts. Its techniques aren't what's important. The ability to adhere to its concepts and principles during fighting are the key to Wing Chun. First, you must understand how to connect your body structure and use whole body movements. The proper linking of the arms and legs to the torso, the geometric triangulation of the body and integrated postural alignment are a must. Its developed through You should develop it with a partner who tries to interrupt your body unity by pulling, pushing and other types of physical interruptions. Techniques can be learned from anyone. However, without understanding the principles of body connection and structural alignment, the techniques have no substance. When you are in a real fight, you will find out what techniques are good for you. Just because the technique may work for one person doesn't guarantee it'll work for you
Read more: Style
, Concept
, Fighting
The Martial Art of Simplicity
2007-08-07 12:01:00
The Chinese martial art of Wing Chun was founded on the principle of simplicity. It doesn't have fancy, showy moves like other Asian martial arts. It finds its power in direct, efficient movements. Here are some quotes that apply when learning our art... the martial art of simplicity.The highly logical principles of Wing Chun are of more importance than their simplicity might suggest. - Adam WillissThe ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. -Hans HofmannThe simplicity of Wing Chun principles is no hindrance to the subtlety of its intellect. - Adam WillissAny intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction. -E. F. SchumackerA simple and unassuming manner of approaching situations or confrontations is best in all things. This applies to both the mind and body. - Adam WillissOur life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simpl
Read more: Martial
, Simplicity
Quotes from Dan Millman's "Way of the Peaceful Warrior"
2007-08-18 18:21:00
Practicing the art of Wing Chun changes lives. A book, and now movie, based on a true storythat changes lives is "Way of the Peaceful
Warrior
." Here are a few quotes from it...If you don't get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you don't want, you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can't hold on to it forever. Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change. Free of pain, free of the obligations of life and death. But change is a law, and no amount of pretending will alter that reality.You haven't yet opened your heart fully, to life, to each moment. The peaceful warrior's way is not about invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability--to the world, to life, and to the Presence you felt. All along I've shown you by example that a warrior's life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior's sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death.Pain is a relatively objective, physical p
Read more: Quotes
Differences between Fist-Fighting and Boxing
2007-08-21 08:50:00
The below is an excerpted from Jack Dempsey's Championship Fighting
from 1950.Anger provides the No. 1 difference between a fist-fight and a boxing bout. Anger is an unwelcome guest in any department of boxing. From the first time a chap draws on gloves as a beginner, he is taught to "keep his temper" -never to "lose his head." When a boxer gives way to anger, he becomes a "natural" fighter who tosses science into the bucket. When that occurs in the amateur or professional ring, the lost-head fighter leaves himself open and becomes an easy target for a sharpshooting opponent. Because an angry fighter usually is a helpless fighter in the ring, many prominent professionals-like Abe Attell and the late Kid McCoy - tried to taunt fiery opponents into losing their heads and "opening up." Anger rarely flares in a boxing match. Different, indeed, is the mental condition governing a fist-fight. In that brand of combat, anger invariably is the fuel propelling one or both contestants. And when
Bruce Lee Video Clip - Be Like Water
2007-08-30 09:40:00
Sifu Adam Williss is a southern California-based martial artist specializing in the Chinese fighting art of Wing Chun. He is the founder and publisher of Wing Chun Magazine as well as president of the California Wing Chun Coalition. He teaches the art in San Clemente, CA (Orange County) - redrebelmartialarts.com.More information on Adam Williss or the art of Wing Chun can be found at adamwilliss.com.For more information on internationally certified martial arts instructor, Adam Williss, please visit adamwilliss.com.
Read more: Bruce
, Bruce Lee
Mo Dak - The Morality of Gung Fu
2007-08-28 23:28:00
The Chinese have something referred to as Mo Dak. It is loosely translated as "the morality of gung fu." Its all about respect for the martial arts, its heritage, proper martial etiquette, humbleness of your own abilities and appreciation of gung fu as a whole.Mo Dak shows your character as a person. It is an expression of your appreciation and humanity. Its the opposite of being egotistic and narrow-minded. Its not about being self-righteous or protecting some code of honor. Its about being a good person for yourself and genuinely helping others.Mo Dak also means the ability to appreciate the art and the effort of the teacher. Instead of looking at the art as something money can buy and viewing the teacher as a person giving you a service, appreciation is given the art as a whole and those that have come before you. Mo Dak comes into play when a Sifu takes on new students. The teacher looks for those that are genuinely interested in learning the art. Only those potential students th
Read more: Morality
The Ground is the Last Place You Want to Be
2007-08-27 23:17:00
Its extremely important to recognize the difference between sport and actual combat. I know I talk about this a lot, but I can't help it! Most people have no idea about the difference. They watch the UFC or the IFL and think "this is the real deal." They think that because its the closest "sport" to real fighting that it represents the best way to train for a real fight. I can't begin to tell you how wrong this assumption is. What's even worse is people actually think that if they training like a UFC fighter that they'll be able to handle themselves in a street encounter the same way UFC Champion Randy Couture takes out the competition.There are lots of significant differences. But the most obvious is the idea of taking someone to the ground. Make no mistake, the ground is the last place where you would want to end up in a real fight situation. There are so many reasons why, but instead of detailing them here, just use common sense. Think of what could happen if you go to the groun
Read more: Place
Yip Man - Hong Kong's Legendary Martial Artist, The Grandmaster of Wing Chun & Bruce Lee's teacher
2007-08-27 20:43:00
Yip Man is largely responsible for spreading the art to where it is today. Without his influence, Wing Chun
may very well be practiced in seclusion by only a few people in China. Thanks to Yip Man's teachings the Western world was introduced to the art through his many students including Bruce
Lee. Here is rare footage of Yip Man demonstrating Siu Nim Tao, Chum Kiu and the Mook Yan Jong. Below is a chronicle of the life of Yip Man.Yip Man was Born on October 14th, 18931899 – 1905 - Yip Man 6 to 12 years old (Foshan)Studied Wing Chun kungfu with Chan Wah Shun (Money Changer Wah) at Yip's family hall, Main Street of Foshan (Song Yuen Dai Gai)At that time studying together with Yip Man were Lui Yui Chai, Ng Chung So, Chan Yui Min, Ng Siu Lo and others.1905 - Yip Man 12 years old (Foshan) Chan Wah Shun died, but before he died he asked Ng Chung So to help Yip Man to complete the system. Chan Wah Shun's body was taken by his kung fu disciples to Chan village in Shunde for burial.190
Read more: Bruce Lee
, Legendary
, Martial
, Artist
, Grandmaster
, Hong Kong
Wing Chun Magazine - New issue now available
2007-09-27 19:47:00
The 2007 IV issue
of Wing Chun
Magazine
is now available
online at wingchunmagazine.com. Check it out.Sifu Adam Williss is a southern California-based martial artist specializing in the Chinese fighting art of Wing Chun. He is the founder and publisher of Wing Chun Magazine as well as president of the California Wing Chun Coalition. He teaches the art in San Clemente, CA (Orange County) - redrebelmartialarts.com.More information on Adam Williss or the art of Wing Chun can be found at adamwilliss.com.For more information on internationally certified martial arts instructor, Adam Williss, please visit adamwilliss.com.
Wing Chun Magazine's New Issue to Debut this Month
2007-09-21 13:29:00
The latest issue of Wing Chun
Magazine
comes out this month. Article contributions include authors Simone Sebastiani, John Ryckewaert Sr. & Jr., Armando Sainz, Marc Debus, John Broster and Mario Hostios. These articles include highlights of such Wing Chun leaders as Chow Tze Cheun, Donald Mak, Wang Kiu, Karl Godwin, Lo Man Kam, Alan Orr, Shawn Rawcliffe (Yip Chun), Alan Gibson (Wong Shun Leung), Paul Smith (Samuel Kwok) and more. Wing Chun Magazine, formerly Wing Chun Teahouse, is the magazine of Wing Chun. Distributed in Adobe Acrobat format as well as available online at wingchunmagazine.com, Wing Chun Magazine brings community-contributed articles to eleven different countries world-wide. Sifu Adam Williss is a southern California-based martial artist specializing in the Chinese fighting art of Wing Chun. He is the founder and publisher of Wing Chun Magazine as well as president of the California Wing Chun Coalition. He teaches the art in San Clemente, CA (Orange County) - redrebel
Read more: Month
Classic Literature of Chinese Internal Martial Arts
2007-10-05 07:41:00
Although a book called The Essence of Tai Chi Chuan: The Literary Tradition by Lo, Inn, Amacker, and Foe, it reveals some of the inner workings of the art of Wing Chun. The book opens up everyday Wing Chun concepts into the roots of internal martial arts and Chinese
thought.T'AI CHI CH'UAN CHING. Attributed to Chang San-feng (est. 1279 -1386) as researched by Lee N. Scheele.In motion the whole body should be light and agile, with all parts of the body linked as if threaded together.The ch'i [vital life energy] should be excited, The shen [spirit of vitality] should be internally gathered.The postures should be without defect, without hollows or projections from the proper alignment; in motion the Form should not become disconnected.The chin [intrinsic strength] should be rooted in the feet, generated from the legs, controlled by the waist, and manifested through the fingers.If correct timing and position are not achieved, the body will become disordered and will not move as an integ
Read more: Classic
, Literature
, Internal
, Martial
, Martial Arts
Kim Yeung Mah & the Powers of Wing Chun
2007-10-19 00:54:00
By Mario HostiosAs a new student to Wing Chun
in 1993, I assumed based on what I observed that I had chosen a hand art. I was amazed by the lightning fast trapping and sticking movements of the hand techniques and didn’t understand why everyone insisted on this pigeon-toed stance. One month later, as I drove home from class with legs shaking from fatigue so badly I had trouble shifting the clutch in my car, I was illuminated. I know I’m not alone. Many students are surprised to find that Wing Chun is a leg art, or to be more precise, a horse art. Kim Yeung Mah, the pigeon-toed horse of Wing Chun and primary Chi Gong posture, is the source of Wing Chun’s power, and the misery of burning legs for new Wing Chun students. The Chi Gong development in Kim Yeung Mah expresses itself in several ways. Principle among these expressions is the cultivation of an effortless rooted-ness when facing the incoming force of the aggressor. To the aggressor, the Wing Chun man is seemingly able to
Read more: Powers
A Path to Wing Chun
2007-10-19 00:48:00
Kenneth Chung is a master of the soft approach to Wing Chun
.He is what some have in mind for the ideal master.Many martial artists can totally demolish their opponent's but the master can do so with perfect control, with relaxation, without the need to intimidate or hurt the student in any way. Kenneth Chung fits this ideal master image. At the same time Kenneth Chung is a humble individual. He feels he is good, but doesn't claim to be the best. He says, "Just call me Ken."Ken suggests a two hour private lesson in order for him to explain his Wing Chun method fully. The first thing he does is to feel your touch. Often you can boast all you want but you can't hide your lack of skill when you are in contact with an expert. Ken is able to uprooot you easily, yet you can't uproot him. Students who thought they were quite rooted were surprised by their lack of root. Ken is one teacher who allows the student to have hands on experience. Many teachers don't let you touch them but Ken wan
What I've Learned Through Beimo
2007-10-19 00:46:00
by Sifu Wong Shun LeungThe following article is a personal account of what Wing Chun master, sifu Wong Shun Leung feels are the main lessons he has learnt about combat through his experiences of "beimo" or skill comparison, a somewhat subtle way of naming the many full-on fights he had with practitioners of literally dozens of Chinese and other fighting systems during his forty plus years as a Wing Chun devotee. The "beimo" is a long established tradition in the Chinese martial arts and in the Hong Kong of the 1950's and 1960's, one name shone out like a beacon when "beimo" was the topic of discussion. That name was Wong Shun Leung, student of Wing Chun patriarch Yip Man, classmate and trainer of Bruce Lee, and the man who became known in martial art circles as "Gong Sau Wong", the "King of Talking with the Hands". During these celebrated "contests", which took place on rooftops, in back alleys, behind closed doors, in the countryside and anywhere else that was found to be convenient
Read more: Learned
The Origin of Wing Chun
2007-10-19 00:33:00
By Yip ManThe founder of the Wing Chun
Gung Fu System, Miss Yim Wing Chun was a native of Canton China. As a young girl, she was intelligent and athletic, upstanding and manly. She was betrothed to Leung Bok Chau, a salt merchant of Fukien. Soon after that, her mother died. Her father, Yim Yee, was wrongfully accused of a crime, and nearly went to jail. So the family moved far away, and finally settled down at the foot of Tai Leung Mountain at the Yunnan-Szechuan border. There, they earned a living by. All this happened during the reign of Emperor K'anghsi (1662-1722).At the time, kungfu was becoming very strong in Siu Lam Monastery (Shaolin Monastery) of Mt. Sung, Honan. This aroused the fear of the Manchu government, which sent troops to attack the Monastery. They were unsuccessful. A man called Chan Man Wai was the First Placed Graduate of the Civil Service Examination that year. He was seeking favour with the government, and suggested a plan. He plotted with Siu Lam monk Ma Ning Y
Read more: Origin
Wing Chun Kuen and the Secret Societies
2007-10-19 00:22:00
By Rene Ritchie, Robert Chu and Hendrik SantoThe hui (wui, societies) encompassed groups organized for a range of goals, from mutual-aid and protection, to criminal enterprise and predation, to cult expansion and rebellious sedition. They were distinguished by their drawing of members with different surnames, lack of regard for traditional hierarchies, and their practice of initiation involving blood-oath.The Evolution of the SocietiesThe origins of the hui are found in equal parts fact and fiction. Historically, elements of the societies can be traced as far back as the Tang dynasty when local villages formed yishi (associations of adopted social groups formed from above) for the pooling of funds (for the purchase of equipment and livestock, and the paying of funerals and child birth related expenses).The characteristic of jiebai xiongdi (sworn brotherhoods) of differing surnames is deeply embedded in the culture due to popular stories such as Sanguo Yanyi (Romance of the Three Kingdo
Read more: Wing Chun
Why Karate Doesn’t Work
2007-10-19 00:02:00
By Armando SainzThere has been an interesting development in the martial arts in the late 20th Century and into the 21st. Martial arts have evolved and become much more true to life than ever. There was a time when the karate man was looked upon with respect and feared. A time when, if someone said they were a black belt, it caused others to be impressed. You can say that karate has become outdated. But what has really happened is that karate has become exposed. If you are one of those people who like to question things then maybe this thought has gone through your mind. Why are there so many different martial arts systems in the world. We all have two arms and two legs don’t we? So why all the different systems of self defense? I know that systems were usually born out of a need such as one group of people having to fight another group who were better armed. So they developed systems to fight those men who used certain weapons a certain way. But then these same people showed others
Read more: Karate
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