Not all martial arts training or even Wing Chun training is the same. At Worcestershire Wing Chun Kuen we commit to training students in traditional, Hong Kong style Wing Chun kung fu, as taught by Master Ip Man to his eldest son Ip Chun. The whole Wing Chun system is taught, and progress tracked through a syllabus which is structured around the forms of the system.

Training in Wing Chun is focused into four areas, designed to support the learning, development and application of Wing Chun techniques in self defence situations. Each of the four areas of Wing Chun training complement each other in helping to develop a student's ability by focusing to differing degrees on energy, reflex, position and technique, which combine together to make Wing Chun kung fu so effective.

Wing Chun Forms

As with all Chinese martial arts training, the core elements of the Wing Chun system are captured in sequences of pre-set movements known as forms. These allow the student to practice and refine structure and position through solo training. Our Wing Chun training syllabus includes three empty hand forms, a wooden dummy form, and two weapons forms (knives and pole).

Wing Chun Drilling

This forms a regular element of training in Wing Chun classes, and provides a crucial opportunity to repeat and refine techniques both solo and with the support of a training partner. Techniques are drilled in isolation and in combinations, performing techniques repeatedly to test structures and to begin to develop muscle memory and confidence. As students progress with their Wing Chun training the intensity of partner drilling can be increased to a level that suits both training partners, building up both the speed and the power.

"There is no substitute for mileage" - Sifu Shaun Rawcliffe, Chief Instructor Midlands Wing Chun Kuen

Wing Chun Application

Application work allows students to practice what they have learnt with a training partner by using their Wing Chun skills to respond to realistic street attacks. This allows techniques to be tested for their self defence effectiveness in realistic but safe manner. As with drilling, the intensity of application increases over time to suit the individuals level of skill and their desire to 'stress test' their Wing Chun ability. At higher levels application work includes dealing with multiple attackers, realistic external environments and high intensity.

Chi Sau (sticking hands)

The practice of chi sao was uniquely developed within the Wing Chun system, and allows students to develop their close range fighting skills and reactions in a safe, challenging and fun manner. Chi sao allows Wing Chun students to respond to totally random and close range actions and helps to develop their reactions and their ability to determine what is happening and about to happen through their sense of touch. Developing this kinesthetic response is vital to effective use of Wing Chun in a self defence situation, as at close range things happen much  too quickly to rely on the brain interpreting information taken in by the eyes to determine an appropriate response. The requirement for students to develop the ability to relax to increase the effectiveness of their techniques and their speed is key to development in chi sao, reinforcing the fact that success in Wing Chun is not linked to strength.