Wing Chun Kung Fu

 

Stay healed! When somebody attacks you on the street ;)

Stay Whole! When somebody attacks you on the street ;)
I started Wing Chun in 2011. I still train weekly with a private teacher (Silvano) and in groups. I also have my own school now. I'm still in love with this great fighting method. Wing Chun also contains elements of acceptance, giving instead of bracing. Don’t fight against the force. For me this is also a metaphor for dealing with Crohn or other chronic disease.

Wing Chun Federation.
There are various sub-movements within Wing Chun. The two largest in the Netherlands are the Wang Kiu method and the Wong Sung Leng method.
I first trained for 6 years at the Wing Chun federation and ran a school for a number of years. The Wang kiu method is used here. I learned to fight here. Because I did not receive or could not find an answer to a number of questions within the system, I started looking further. The footwork in particular did not work well in practice. Then I came in contact with the Wong Sung Leung way through Silvano Bonafe.

Wong Sung Leung.
n my opinion, this style is more efficient and especially very effective against other styles. The footwork is also much more complete, making it much easier to anticipate opponents. I have taken what is useful from the federation and refined a number of important aspects.
I have recently started giving private lessons at my home. Here you will learn the 3 different Wing Chun forms and different drills. We will also pay a lot of attention to footwork in addition to Chi Sau (sticky hands), different kicking techniques and the wooden dummy. With children I will leave out Chi Sau because they find it terribly boring ;). It also takes quite some time to learn and understand this. It is a tool where you immediately feel where the opponent's power is going, allowing you to anticipate very quickly. You don't want to fight against the force.

Wapens.
As with any Kung Fu style, weapons are also used. In Wing Chun there is a knife form and a stick form. Here are a number of drills to practice. Also knives against a stick if you are more advanced. Initially I'm focusing more on the system without weapons.

Chakra's.
Wing Chun mainly strengthens your lower 3 chakras on a deeper level. These are energy centers in the body. Chakra is Sanskrit for wheel and symbolizes the energy that revolves. There are 7 Chakras in the body.

The 1st chakra is located in your pelvis at the level of your tailbone. It has to do with your foundation. Do you live in a loving or hostile environment? Furthermore, it has to do with setting boundaries, taking action, being healthy and vital and standing in your strength.

The 2nd chakra is located in your stomach. It has to do with allowing, feeling and releasing emotions. Emotions are often stored here that prevent you from creating what you want.

The 3rd chakra is located at your diaphragm. It has to do with your conditioning, beliefs, thoughts, your will and relationships with your parents, among others.

When practicing Wing Chun, these energy centers become stronger. You feel safer, more grounded and more in balance.

Important questions

What is Wing Chun (and what is it not)?

Wing Chun is a combat science in which you eliminate your opponent at close range with efficient footwork and fast techniques.

What makes someone choose Wing Chun instead of another martial arts forms?

Wing Chun should not be seen as a martial art where you score points in competition. Fortunately, because otherwise all the competition rules, this is allowed, that is not allowed, would result in a lot of wisdom being lost. Look, boxers often look for an opening. In Wing Chun you create an opening. You take away the arms. In other martial arts you first block the attack before you strike. In Wing Chun you deflect the attack with techniques that are used both defensively and offensively and you step in. This immediately catches your opponent off guard because you approach. Bruce Lee said it beautifully: 'The way of the intercepting fist'. You are also always active with both arms. In Wing Chun you usually don't block. Except for a round punch or kick. You immediately get in and attack. This is very important because if you only defend, the other person can continue to attack. You want to eliminate the attack. In Wing Chun all wisdom is still contained in the style. From principles and concepts to strategies. For example, a strategy we practice when someone comes storming in is that you first move diagonally out of the line of force but stop the attack. You attack on the second punch. One concept is that you never cross your arms. Because then both arms can easily be removed in one movement and your protection is gone. The most important first 2 principles are Loi lau heui sung, Lat sau Tjing Chung. Stop what comes, accompany what goes.

What do you practice In your school?

I always start with the first 2 formes. The first form mainly concerns the basic movements from the basic position. (Abstract stand). This way you can focus better on the arm techniques. The 2nd form is called Chum Kiu. That means "Find the bridge". This means you are looking for the bridge to your opponent, so make contact, but also the bridge from your upper body to your lower body. The hip is the link and the line of force. In the 2nd form you get into your fighting position and you also learn to kick. (Both the forward kick and the side kick.) It is important that you stand low in your stance and use rotational force by pivoting or shifting. With this rotation power you put your opponent aside without force. I choose to repeat these 2 forms every lesson because they are the foundation of Wing Chun. We also do various drills and you learn Chi Sau. That means sticky hand. Briefly and simply explained, one places a double attack high and low from your basic position and the other catches it with 2 techniques at the same time. Because you make a rotating movement, you train the same techniques, both offensively and defensively, and you check with yourself and each other whether your structure is still correct. You also learn to sense very well where your opponent's power is going. For example, if your opponent's strength extends a little too far, you can let it go and attack immediately.
What I also pay a lot of attention to is boxing sparring. I will be the boxer or street fighter and I attack you. You will then learn to eliminate my attack using Wing Chun techniques and good footwork. We will build this up slowly.
We also have a third form and a Dummy form. The dummy form can only be practiced at my home in a private lesson. The third form teaches you how to get out of a bad situation. These techniques do not have to sink in like the first 2 forms. But you must know them. You will also learn what to do if someone grabs you. For example, I will practice this with you for 4-week with various drills.

Important to know.

Safety comes first. We don't want any injuries. And it sounds crazy, but apart from the occasional bruise, injuries rarely occur.
Moreover, if you train in my school, you can train for free on Friday evenings with my colleague and trainer (Sifu) Silvano in Waddinxveen. The level is a bit higher here, but the atmosphere is just as friendly. So do you want to feel safe on the street or has your interest in this Kung Fu style been aroused? Contact me for a free tryout lesson on Monday evening. Where?

Gouda

Monday 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Antwerpseweg 9 - 2nd floor. Budo Top

Lessons: Children from approximately 12 years old on Monday evenings from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
30,- p/m.

Adults from approximately 16 years on Monday evening from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
40,- p/m.

* No limit period
* No exams
* No heavy fitness training
* No macho culture
* No injuries
* A friendly atmosphere. ;)

A private lesson at my home lasts one hour and costs €40,-
You will progress 4 times faster because you get personal feedback, the drills sink in faster and I can fully focus on all the details. We can also train on the wooden dummy.

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