Wing Chun: Art or Fad?
By Sifu Stanley Jue

The art of Wing Chun is unlike any kung fu style. The style was invented by a Buddhist nun named Ng Mui who, during the Qing dynasty, was one of 5 Buddhist elders who fled the attacks of the Manchurians and went into hiding in the Bahesi or "White Crane Temple" in the Daliang Mountains. There on the border of the Sichuan and Yunnan providence, legend states that Ng Mui witnessed a fight between a crane and a snake. Inspired by the encounters, she combined the animals' movements with her own Siu Lam boxing and created the principles of a new, as yet unnamed martial art.

Since the art was intended only for those loyal to the Ming throne, it was taught in secrecy and to just a few carefully selected students. Ng Mui eventually took on a female disciple, Yim Wing-Chun and taught her this unnamed system. Yim was known for her beauty and cunning and was desired by a local ruffian who tried to force her into marriage. Using the art taught to her by Ng Mui, Wing-Chun challenged and defeated her unwelcome suitor, driving him from the area and firmly establishing her reputation as a fighter.

The Gu Lao fighting style of Wing Chun is a refined combination of techniques and movements designed for easy, hand-to-hand combat fighting. This style of Wing Chun uses simple techniques to create a solid, combined structure that uses hand, body and footwork movements. The main concept in this style is reaction, not strength. Speed is of the essence when your life is threatened. Ideally, you are taught to use the most simple techniques and movements to ensure the fastest and the most efficient way to deal with the present situation. This is important to any martial arts practitioner because you might never get another chance.

Recently, and in the past, several emergency room nurses at the Brockton Hospital have been attacked by emergency room patients. The nurses are in a position where they are dealing with people who are frustrated, angry and sometimes in an altered state of consciousness. Like many people, if the nurse in the most recent example was able to react quickly and handle the situation to scare off her opponent, she would have avoided further attack.

At some point in their lives, many people find themselves in this type of situation when they are confronted by another person who is menacing, frustrated, angry or in an altered state. I know that with a rush of adrenaline and confidence a person can defeat a person twice their size. I feel that most women are not sure that kung fu can be used in a real life situation and that they feel that karate or judo and ju jit su is the best option. If you have a good teacher who instills within you the proper techniques and confidence, then whatever the situation is, you would emerge victorious.

The italicized information in the first paragraph is provided by the text, Complete Wing Chun, by Robert Chu, Rene Ritchie and Y. Wu

If you would like further information about Wing Chun classes and training, you can visit www.wckfa.com or contact Sifu Jue at 617-876- 1982