What is Wing Tsun?
WingTsun is Personal Development
WingTsun training is done in a group, but on an individual basis. The capabilities of the individual are encouraged and developed.
WT is non-violent:
WingTsun instructors are against any form of violence. WingTsun is pure self-defence.
WT is fun:
WT instructors pass on their knowledge in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
WT is intensive and versatile:
Self-defence skills are learned by concentrated and regular training.
WT centres on unique, multi-faceted techniques which can only be learned by concentrated practice and conscious willingness. Flowing movements and sudden speed combine into systematic, coordinated sequences and blend to form a new, powerful whole. Systematic WingTsun training improves your physical and mental flexibility and heightens your perception. On the way there your body is "refuelled" by specific relaxation and concentration techniques, as well as breathing exercises.
WingTsun builds on the existing potential of each student. It is not muscular strength and stamina that are required for WingTsun, but the willingness to let your body respond, to get to know your strengths and to put them to use. Training centres on learning a coordinated and healthy way of moving and heightened perception.
Learning WingTsun gives you a new awareness of your body and a new level of self-assurance. Intensive training gives students more confidence and they become aware of their capabilities and potential.
This newly developed self-assurance and physical wellbeing leads to a new quality of life. Personal constraints become less important in day-to-day living. Life becomes more varied and dynamic. WingTsun students are no longer the "victim-type" and for this reason alone rarely get into dangerous situations.
But if the need arises they possess an effective system of unarmed defence. WingTsun is uncompromising self-defence. WingTsun absorbs the strength of the attacker, converts it into its own strength, reinforces it and directs it back at the attacker.
This process is similar to a game of chess. The chess-player is at one with his pieces and instinctively knows his next move, as he has considered the actions of his opponent beforehand. The WingTsun fighter is the same: when in action the reflexes are used immediately.
The Three-Part Structure of the WingTsun System
It is only at first glance that the WingTsun system merely consists of movements, techniques and principles for effective self-defence. In fact there is much more to this complex martial art, namely a way which can lead the individual to manifest his/her higher, inner self.
1st level: PHYSICAL SELF-DEFENCE
2nd level: STRATEGY AND TACTICS
3rd level: SELF-FULFILMENT
The 1st and lowest level in WingTsun
WingTsun consists of three levels, the physical level being the lowest.
The object here is to protect one's body from the attacks of others and overcome physical confrontations successfully. Nonetheless even physical WingTsun is no mere collection of techniques. Certain axioms or formulae are combined with specific movement patterns (forms, Chi-Sao etc.) to spontaneously create the necessary defensive "movements", which are directly suited to the attack.
The 2nd or medium level in WingTsun
The same formulae we use in the lower, physical level to generate our fighting movements are used at the second level to develop tactics or stratagems which can be used to advantage in the various manifestations of everyday life, e.g. in professional life, at school and in politics.
In this case the object is not physical protection, but rather to safeguard our position, social status or business success. In short, the medium level teaches us how to use intelligence, skill and guile to survive in the outside world and prevail against others.
But in the end this level must be overcome by the individual, for everything gained in this way is transitory and therefore without value in the end. Eventually tactics and management skills (unless one is merely selflessly performing one's duty) only strengthen the ego, the root of all evil and suffering. Nonetheless level two also develops "personality", which must be separated from the "false personality" and will constitute the food or material for the stunted "essence".
The highest and most valuable 3rd level
Ideally according to GGM Leung Ting this is the level of the Master. The highest level has nothing to do with the power of our punch (physical level) or with our success in business or with the opposite sex, i.e. in the outside world. "For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and thereby loses his soul?"
At the 3rd level the object is our essence, our real or inner life. Here the point is not to vanquish others, but ourselves (envy, hate, frustration, self-pity, fear, offended sense of justice, self-importance, bad habits etc.).
By taking the path of individual psychological evolution and e.g. free ourselves from incorrect thoughts and mechanistic physical and mental attitudes, we try to transform ourselves into new, better and peaceable people. When we have worked on ourselves accordingly the world will be a better one for our neighbours. Originally the WT follower would strive for personal development on all three of these levels at the same time, however when the art was taught to less sophisticated people who could only understand the physical aspect it was divided into three different learning levels. Most schools, also in Asia, are only aware of the physical level and have never been exposed to the other two – in fact some even deny their existence. In fact in an ingenious way the same axioms and behavioural principles are a common thread in all three levels, bringing their greatest and most lasting benefits particularly at the highest level.
