Ving Tsun, an art not so easy to learn as it seems

The problem with Wing Chun is that it seems easy and people think that it is too simple so don't put in the required training to make it work effectively. One example is the phenomena of blind side: basically taking the long way around to hit your opponent, assuming that they are just going to stand and wait to get hit. This idea is the opposite of any efficient interpretation of Wing Chun.

Similar parallels can be drawn with Western Boxing, where people begin training in boxing to keep fit i.e. participating in pad work, bag work or group fitness style training. Always have a reality check once they attempt sparring even at a limited and restricted capacity. Suddenly, it's not just hitting pads and working up a sweat. Your opponent is trying to hit you and you’re having a hard time trying to land a punch. It's through the pressure regular sparring sessions
boxers learn to survive, adapt and start to gain advantage against non-compliant training partners.

The 90% of the Wing Chun we see on social media is re-purposed at an elementary level. In most situations, people have no understanding of what it is to face an opponent bent on breaking your face. When we see representations of Wing Chun that are overly complex, it demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of the base hallmarks, and display anything but Simple, Direct, Efficient movement. Instead, there's a demonstration of illogical techniques that train counterproductive ideas and reactions. When we see these Wing Chun trainers who teach flawed ideas and train their students to fail, it makes you wonder what their motives are in creating a fantasy world in which potential opponents are just going to play along and comply.

This scenario doesn't typically exist in the boxing environment. In boxing, opponents are constantly moving, changing positions, and trying to hit you. Fighting attributes are continuously tested during sparring with a non-compliant opponent. Pressure testing through sparring sessions is generally not 100% full contact, but rather a controlled activity using protective gear such as hand wraps and gloves to protect the hands from damage, mouth guards, groin protection, and headgear. Participants are matched based on experience and ability. If a boxer wants to compete, they will seek sparring partners from outside their gym or actively look for sparring opportunities at other gyms. They immerse themselves in pressure and stress situations to enhance their ability to compete and improve their skills. Although boxing is a sport that only allows punches with gloves, few would argue that even the lowest-skilled fighter in any boxing gym wouldn't put up a good fight if forced to protect themselves.

It is these types of training attributes and methodologies, through his involvement in Western boxing, that Wong Shun Leung adopted. I would argue that these attributes were always considered and applied to his Wing Chun training and teaching. I believe this is what made him a great fighter and teacher/coach.

The typical response to this from contemporary Ving Tsun people regardless of lineage is that what we practice is too dangerous to engage in sparring. Instead prefer to train using scenario-based compliant partners and situations that offer little stress or pressure. Besides half of our students would drop out so it's bad for business.

The purpose of training is to gain a level of physical preparedness to deal with and to adapt to a possible self-protection situation. To be able to repeatedly hit hard and move well as efficiently as possible. To be able to recover your position when mistakes occur and retain composure under pressure. To take advantage and attack when opportunities present. And to be disciplined enough to be able to cut your losses when the odds are stacked against you.

My Wing Chun training began in 1979 when a friend invited me to train with Sifu David Peterson. Prior to that, I had spent my teenage years training in Judo, Karate, and later in Boxing/Kickboxing. Wing Chun was something I had only read about in books. As I attended classes and began sparring, I quickly realized Wing Chun had a lot to offer. David, a Chinese language teacher, would often dine in Melbourne's Chinatown, practicing his Mandarin on unsuspecting Chinese waiters and cooks. At that time, many of the staff in these restaurants had trained in or come into contact with Wing Chun through the Cooks and Waiters’ Union in Hong Kong, where Grandmaster Yip Man first taught. Conversations would often turn to Wing Chun, and Wong Shun Leung’s name was frequently mentioned as a renowned exponent. Over time, David established contact with Wong, leading to his frequent trips to Hong Kong for training, and eventually, David hosted Wong in Melbourne for regular seminars. Thanks to this, I was fortunate and grateful to receive top-tier training in Wing Chun. I continued training at David's school until I was running a regular Wednesday night class, and eventually made my own trips to Hong Kong to train at Sifu Wong Shun Leung's Kwoon.

Having been used to a structured class training format in all the martial arts I had practiced up until then, arriving at Sifu Wong Shun Leung's school, where there seemed to be no apparent structure, came as a shock. Instead, students would come and go during the gym's open hours. Generally, they would arrive, do their own warm-up, practice forms, hit the wall bag, Chi Sao with the nearest unsuspecting foreigner, practice the wooden dummy form, and then leave. The bulk of the training focused on Chi Sao, Lup Sao, and Gor Sao. Everyone took responsibility for their own training, and Sifu Wong would coach and teach as needed.I was accustomed to this training style from the boxing gyms I'd trained at, so I adapted quickly. Chi Sao at Wong Shun Leung's Kwoon was always a bare-knuckle trial. Each training partner would constantly test your technique and reactions, expecting the same in return. With nowhere to run, you had to learn to stand your ground and maintain structure under pressure to avoid frequent smacks to the mouth. After many hours and days of constant pressure, the only way to survive was to return punches, adapt, and keep techniques simple—establishing the most direct line and angle of attack and moving as efficiently as physically possible.

After weeks of constant cross training of Chi Sao drilling, simple basics and practicing forms. Basic striking and footwork would start to become second nature. Forms become a collection of relevant techniques, variations, ideas and concepts. Chi Sao/ GorSao, Lup Sao, Pak Sao become a way of developing, honing and fine-tuning your repertoire and technique.

In the end, effective martial arts training should be a balance between honing specific techniques, understanding concepts, and applying them in dynamic, non-compliant scenarios.