Wing Chun

Wing Chun is a Chinese martial art system which emphasizes unarmed close-range fighting. According to legends, Wing Chun was designed by the Shaolin Monks specifically for the smaller stature of women fighters. Other alternative histories for Wing Chun typically involve connections to the Triads, revolutionary groups, or the Hakka people of southern China.

The central principle in Wing Chun is the development of a skill which practitioners call Chi Sao, which involves developing a sensitivity in the arms and legs, allowing them to "stick" to an opponent's limbs, preventing them from penetrating a defense, and then using quick, direct attacks once the way is cleared.

Although primarily an unarmed form of combat, the Wing Chun system also incorporates the use of a "Dragon Pole," an eight foot wooden pole, and Butterfly Swords, small double broadswords, into some of its techniques.

Over the centuries, Wing Chun has retained it focus as a practical fighting art, avoiding being modified into a competitive point-scored sport or demonstration art. Wing Chun tournaments are very rare. The most effective Wing Chun strikes, those to the eyes, throat, or knee, are much too dangerous, so the use of Wing Chun in competition is unusual.

All Wing Chun techniques have a practical purpose. There are no flowery moves or graceful techniques that mimic animal movements. To the uninitiated, Wing Chun can appear less effective when compared with more dramatic styles. Wing Chun techniques teach that it is always possible to get past an opponent's long range technique and close in to use Wing Chun styles. A popular Wing Chun saying is "stay as he comes, follow as he goes," which sums up its close range approach to fighting.

Wing Chun techniques emphasize speed over power; a weak punch that is too fast to be avoided is better than a powerful slower punch which can be dodged or deflected. Striking opens up a part of the body to attack, therefore a fast strike reduces the time an opponent has to strike back.

Wing Chun is not just a collection of unrelated techniques, rather it is a core set of guiding principles which allows practitioners to decide which techniqes to use during combat. This keeps the martial art a pure and integrated fighting system, while still allowing for growth.