1.Forms without weapons

  • Sup Yee Lo - form, exercises with partner, exercises taken from other forms, basic self-defence
  • Siu Lien Tao - basic form, learning how to establish a contact with opponent
  • Chum Kiu - form including steps and kicks, the principle of "long power"
  • Biu Jee - form containing the principle of "short power"
  • Hong Jong - "wooden dummy" form without dummy

2.Forms with tools

  • Tang Huen Sao - form with rattan circle on forearms for getting strength into techniques and for explosive power
  • Fai Jee Gong - form with bunch of eating sticks for strengthening wrists and forearms
  • Mook Yan Jong - wooden dummy form
  • Juk Jong - bamboo dummy for training blows (no forms)
  • Saam Sing Jong (Gerk Jong) - three wooden posts for training kicks

3.Forms with weapons

  • Hang Dee Pang - "monk's pole", form with middle long pole using both ends
  • Lok Dim Boon Kwan - "six and half techniques", form with long pole using just one end
  • Yee Jee Kim Yeung Dit Ming Dao - form with two short swords (looking similar to choppers)

4.Two men exercises

  • San Sik - separated exercises, basic self-defence
  • Daan Chi Sao - one hand exercises
  • Sheung Chi Sao - two hands exercises, both pre-set exercises and free sparring with steps
  • Chi Kwan - training of fighting with pole

5.Exercises for training "internal power"

  • Zhan Zhuang Gong
  • Sun Hei Gwai Yuen Gong

This scheme is written for general information and is omitting many exercises and drills within each point.

  • Details of Full Curriculum:
  • Sup Yee Lo

This form in translation means "12 techniques" and consist of 12 applications taken from other forms mostly from "wooden dummy" form. Its purpose is to teach beginners basic self-defence before they learn Wing Chun as such. Some of these exercises - "San Sik" were learned by master Sum Nung in his youth from master Cheung Bo (Fung Siu Ching -> Ngau Si -> Wai Yuk Sang -> Cheung Bo) before he started his training under grandmaster Yuen Kay Shan, other exercises comes from grandmaster Wong Wu Fong and his son master Wong Nim Yi. Individual techniques are easy to perform and consist of strikes, joint lock, kicks etc. Their list follows:

  • Jee Ng Choi - Pien San Choi - Kwai Bo Pien San Choi
  • Jin Choi
  • Dok Lung Choi
  • Ngoi Lim
  • Oi Lim
  • San Ben Cheung
  • Dap Sau Tau Tan
  • Pok Yik jeung
  • Chum Wu
  • Tan Bong Ha Jeet Gerk
  • Sheung Lai Hei Sat
  • Fu Mei Gerk
  • Siu Lien Tao

Siu Lien Tao is first "real" form of Wing Chun Kung Fu. It contains basic principles of using force, establishing contact with opponent (Jip Sao) and it teaches student how to use "ideas" or "imagination". Without "ideas" the form is just moving hands and as such has no value for student. Very important is to know how to direct power, roots or origins of power and how to support power etc. Siu Nim Tau is usually practiced in three ways: for stretching and releasing, dynamically with explosive power and as "internal" training with emphasis on breathing and "imagination". It is a little different from more widely known Hong Kong version (Yip Man's lineage) in regards to number and nature of movements. Easily grasped difference is for example performance of "Huen Sao", which is performed inversely (although the oldest Yip Man's students in Fatshan like Lun Kai Sifu perform it in the same way), or by fluency of the flow of power and energy in individual movements. Generally is this version more extensive.

  • Chum Kiu

The second form is concerned with rotation of body and power that comes from it, with several steps, side steps, kicks and joint-locks. Movements are several times repeated but have always new and different idea and application, and therefore a form that looks boring and little effective is in fact full of "techniques" and "ideas".

  • Biu Jee

Third form of Wing Chun kung fu is often thought as "destructive", "deadly", "secret", "highest" etc. In fact it is just a continuation of preceding ideas and principles. It is used for training and application of short explosive power, knocking down, shifts, elbow strikes and like Siu Nim Tau is practiced almost without steps.

  • Hong Jong

Before student starts using real wooden dummy, he will first learn performing the form in the air. He can perform all movements with full speed and power. Individual movements are the same as on wooden dummy. Emphasis should be on continuation of movements and changing without interruption.

  • Tang Huen Sao

Rattan circle is as training tool used by many kung fu styles. Mai Gei Wong Wing Chun uses circle with diameter of approximately 25 cm (+/- according to each user) for strengthening certain defensive and attacking movements. Form consists of 15 "techniques", which are practiced separately and with great many repetitions. Reward for students is raising strength and explosive energy. Training with circle also helps to better realize the position of hands before body and to strengthen "Kiu Sao" - overthrowing position of hands of opponent. Techniques can be repeated as much as is possible and needed.

  • Fai Jee Gong

Fai Jee Gong is other traditional tool for getting strength in kung fu and is used in many styles. Exercises consist of holding a bunch of eating sticks in both hands before body and turning them in different directions.

  • Mook Yan Jong

Famous wooden dummy! This tool is used by many different martial arts throughout the world - it is not a Chinese speciality. Some kung fu styles have several types and kinds of wooden dummy, Mai Gei Wong Wing Chun has as most schools of this style only one form and one type of wooden dummy. Sometimes people speak about "108 movements" or "116" (in Yuen Kay Shan schools about 155 movements) etc. and each of these forms is thought to be the one truly right and original. The truth is that each master through his teaching career can change the form according to his specific ideas and purposes. For example worldly known Yip Man has taught each of his student a different version! Exercises on wooden dummy consist of certain combinations of steps and hands techniques, working with power etc. It serves to several goals at once: fast and continuous changing from one "technique" to other "technique" in very short distance, imagination of strong opponent, hardening of limbs. Dummy doesn't feel any pain and so can serve for training of strikes and kicks, which would be impossible to train with partner in full power and for long time. Training of course does not consist of merely thoughtless striking and kicking; it has its own ideas and principles.

  • Juk Jong

"Bamboo dummy" exists in two versions. The first consists of just two bamboo sticks hammered in the land one behind the other. Practitioner stands behind them and tries by the first strike to push away the first stick and with the other hand to hit the second stick. In other exercises student also push the bamboo stick and reacts to its movements. Second version of "bamboo dummy" is a board fixed on the wall. Board has several holes into which are plug in bamboo sticks (long approximately as arm), which are used by practitioner to perform certain techniques utilizing elasticity of bamboo. Some schools of Wing Chun practice also "Juk Jong" form. This form is speciality of schools that come form lineage of master Yuen Chai Wan "Sheh Ying Wing Chun" - "Snake style Wing Chun" (Ng Mui->Yim Wing Chun->Leung Bok Chau->Law Man Kung->Kok Bo Chuen->Yuen Chai Wan (brother of Yuen Kay Shan) and consists of 12 techniques - 8 hand movements and 4 leg movements.

  • Saam Sing Jong (Gerk Jong)

Saam Sing Jong consists of three poles hammered into land in triangular ground plan. These poles are approximately in level of waist and are used for training all kicks, round kicks, steps variation, triping up. The effect is raising power in kicks, better stability and better orientation in space during the movement.

  • Hang Dee Pang

"Monk's pole" is approximately 2 metres long and in fight is used both ends. Form consists of simple techniques and is very different from the second Wing Chun pole form. Grandmaster Wong Wu Fong had learned it from his master Wong Jing. These techniques are practically oriented without show effects.

  • Lok Dim Boon Kwan

"Six and half techniques" of long pole is classic form of Wing Chun kung fu and according to legends comes form kung fu of master Chi Shim from Shaolin monastery. The pole is between 2,5 m to 3,5 m long and has conic shape and uses in fight only more weighty end. Techniques resemble spear fighting. Long pole is also used as training tool for strengthening. Form lacks any show movements and consists mostly of jabbing, knocking and recoiling an imaginary pole. Beside the form is also practiced a pushing exercise "Chi Kwan".

  • Yee Jee Kim Yeung Dit Ming Dao

"Double deadly swords" are seen as great "secret" of Wing Chun kung fu. These two swords are used in pair, they are approximately 40 cm long with very wide edge and with cutlass like bonnet for wrist. Sometimes they are also called "butterfly swords". Theirs application is not classical volt application but are rather used as extension of arms. Forms consists of several cuts, jabs and steps combination.

  • San Sik

other name for "Sup Yee Lo".

  • Daan Chi Sao, Sheung Chi Sao, Chi Kwan

Wing Chun as many other styles (especially Tai Ji Quan) has its own "pushing" exercises. First for beginners and most basic pushing exercise is "Daan Chi Sao", single sticky hand exercise, next is "Sheung Chi Sao" with both hands. Some exercises are pre-set and their goal is to teach student how to react to direction, intensity of force and strikes, if both hands of opponent are in contact. Fixed techniques are gradually combined and exercises are gradually transformed into "free" sparring, when student acts according to principles of style, techniques lose its shape and are transformed into "reactions". Chi Sao is of course practiced with steps in all directions, with all strikes, kicks, elbows, joint locks, clinches etc. Some schools have even Chi Sao "sections" or "programmes" that student must memorize step by step and movement by movement in order learn to react to different impulses. Traditional schools have no fixed "sections" or "programmes", because memorized and fixed Chi Sao is completely contradictory to original ideas of Chi Sao. Performance of movements should be relaxed but with springing tension in hands or in any other part of body which is in contact with opponent in direction of opponent. Student has to utilize, lead away, interrupt, reroute or to acquiesce to power of opponent or to add to it his own power. Sometimes Chi Sao is overemphasized and some schools practice even "Chi Sao against Chi Sao". Chi Sao is a form of sparring and its purpose is application of principles in practice. Similar exercise is later trained with long pole - so called "Chi Kwan". Two practitioners stand against each other with crossed poles and train techniques from the form by reacting on each other.

  • Zhan Zhuang Gong, Sun Hei Gwai Yuen Gong

These are so-called "inner" exercises in Mai Gei Wong Wing Chun and student must practice them from the beginning. Their purpose is to teach how to use power of the whole body, inner strength, concentration, training of "idea" and last but not least they are good for health. In Mai Gei Wong Winch Chun they are practiced in every training. In some styles they are indispensable and major basis of training - especially in so-called "inner" styles (Tai Ji Quan, Yi Quan, Xing Yi Quan, Bagua ...).

Source:

  • Ivan Rzounek

Copyright: Ivan Rzounek