Friday, 9 November 2012
Monday, 29 October 2012
YOUTUBE: ALAN GIBSON
This is who I consider to to be the main man in the UK. He has some great books and a very keen insight into the art from a Wong Shun Leung viewpoint who always wanted to improve the art and used to speak to his Sifu (teacher/master), that would be Ip Man, regarding this.
Leung loved the art so much that if he was so much as struck in a fight he would complain to Ip Man and they would philosophise over it and alter the style to cater for that attack.
This man, Alan Gibson, knows this only too well and a keen believer in the WSL philosophy. This fortunate enough and numbering only 200, err or 250 lol, were able to get a signed copy of his book. I was fortunate enough to be amongst that number!
So here are a few videos...
Leung loved the art so much that if he was so much as struck in a fight he would complain to Ip Man and they would philosophise over it and alter the style to cater for that attack.
This man, Alan Gibson, knows this only too well and a keen believer in the WSL philosophy. This fortunate enough and numbering only 200, err or 250 lol, were able to get a signed copy of his book. I was fortunate enough to be amongst that number!
So here are a few videos...
A good description by 'The Man'
Some Chi Sao excerpts.
Check out his site of the Wing Chun Federation and if you are fortunate enough to live close enough to Southampton, which I am not (sniff)...
YOUTUBE: WONG SHUNG LEUNG
Some YouTube videos on the great and late Wong Shun Leung.
Taught Bruce Lee later on, the first of Ip Man's students in Hong Kong and has his followers in the form of David Peterson and here in the UK Alan Gibson.
Taught Bruce Lee later on, the first of Ip Man's students in Hong Kong and has his followers in the form of David Peterson and here in the UK Alan Gibson.
With the Six and a half Point Pole..
Chum Kui's first pivot..
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
ME NUNCHAKU HAND-ROLLING
OK now a little hand co-ordination with the Nunchaku doing some hand-rolling.
Once again apologies for the dishevelled look and lack of fashion sense as it was a house cleaning day and a friend turned up so seized the opportunity!
Nucnchaku Hand-Rolling
Once again apologies for the dishevelled look and lack of fashion sense as it was a house cleaning day and a friend turned up so seized the opportunity!
Nucnchaku Hand-Rolling
OK ME AND A BO STAFF
OK now me, again in the early stages...
.. with a Bo Staff and I chose this at 6ft long because a 8 or 9 feet long Wing Chun Pole, or correctly called Six and a Half Point Pole, would be a bit of a squeeze in my narrow garden, lol!
Once again apologies for the dishevelled look and lack of fashion sense as it was a house cleaning day and a friend turned up so seized the opportunity!
Bo Staff...
.. with a Bo Staff and I chose this at 6ft long because a 8 or 9 feet long Wing Chun Pole, or correctly called Six and a Half Point Pole, would be a bit of a squeeze in my narrow garden, lol!
Once again apologies for the dishevelled look and lack of fashion sense as it was a house cleaning day and a friend turned up so seized the opportunity!
Bo Staff...
OK TWO PAIRS NUNCHAKU
OK now me with two pairs of Nunchaku in the early days...
Once again apologies for the dishevelled look and lack of fashion sense as it was a house cleaning day and a friend turned up so seized the opportunity!
Once again apologies for the dishevelled look and lack of fashion sense as it was a house cleaning day and a friend turned up so seized the opportunity!
OK NUNCHAKU
Right here is me in the early days practising with a pair of Nunchaku...
Apologies for the dishevelled look and lack of fashion sense, was a house cleaning day and a friend turned up and seized the opportunity... lol ...
SINGLE PAIR
Apologies for the dishevelled look and lack of fashion sense, was a house cleaning day and a friend turned up and seized the opportunity... lol ...
SINGLE PAIR
Sunday, 26 August 2012
MINE IS THE BEST! NO MINE IS THE BEST!!!!
A common one I have heard over the years this was.
It took me time to figure out why this was and I finally figured it out after several years and have even had conversations with other people about how often this is uttered by different people.
Now it appears to me that most people see a movie and then want to be able to emulate themselves what they see on the screen. then they see a class for a specific martial art that is not far from them and the decide at some point to attend classes. Then what follows is this brainwashing where everyone is then taught that there art is the most effective and as they are businesses at the end of the day it is no different from a electrical store claiming their goods and service is better than the next and so on and so forth.
I did not get into Wing Chun this way at all. I wanted to know what was effectively the best or one of the best arts and as a fan of Bruce Lee I researched his training and discovered Wing Chun Kung Fu and then found the then United Kingdom Wing Chun Kung Fu Association with Mark Phillips and James Sinclair. Or UKWCKFA a it stated on our licences and I thought Shield from the Marvel Comics had a long name? These days the London branch is known as London Wing Chun School or something to that effect.
So I wanted to know what was the best and best suited to me and do that.
My sister became interested, maybe it was because the story goes that it was invented by to women Ng Mui and Wing Chun of course and there are some variations on this. There is even one with no women in the story at all!
The man who taught us was Mark Philips and his assistant for demonstrations known as Killer John due to his hard hitting punch. That would change in time when I was used in his absence, due to the speed was adapting to the style, which ended up with me having a busted lip and suddenly everyone becoming worried I would accidentally hit them. This was because during a spar with a rather large gentleman who looked, and I think was, a bouncer I hit him on the chin with a left fist, and not very hard, which sent him reeling across the floor and off the mat we were on. No gloves were used on that occasion. Thinking he was about to mangle me and tie my legs into knots and toss me into a corner I asked if he was OK. "Christ you hit really hard?!" was his reply and I said "Really? Good job I hit you with my left hand then?" "Why is that?" he asked and I replied "Well I am right handed!"
Oddly this chap, known as Shaun, was adorned in the Uniform for the school and had been training a couple of years and he thought I had been at it five years and had come from the Wing Chun School when i said "err no I haven't I only started a month ago. I WENT and looked at the Wing Chun School and the one in Tottenham but decided on this one" He was shocked while i was grinning like a Chesire Cat that I had confirmation that I was rapidly doing well. Though I had problems remembering the first form, Siu Nim Tao, or little idea.
Mark Phillips used me as his um assistant for a demo in Killer John's absence one day. I had focus mitts on when he was rapid punching them with everyone watching. I felt something but thought no more of it. He stopped and turned to explain the technique when i noticed people were beginning to stare at me. As more and more students started to notice Mark Philips turned to see what they were staring at and as he laid eyes on me he said "oh?! Did I do that?" and I replied "What? Then noticed the taste of blood on my lips which was also all over my chin. "Oh! Yes I guess you did!" I stated as I laughed and on realising I had failed to notice this everyone else laughed too. He asked had i not noticed and I said well I did feel something but I had not realised what had happened until i tasted the blood. Too busy trying to look good and not like a fool I guess?!
At the end of one session after 3 months we were now what they termed intermediates and had spent 90 minutes punching fast and continuously we were invited to stay on for another 90 minutes with the Chum Kui crowd. My sisters nails were broken, no laughing, and knuckles bloodshot. She said she would sit it out but was OK if I wanted to stay, which of course I did. A guy I had not spoken to me before and at around 6 foot 4 was 4 inches taller than me came over. He said he had been watching me the whole time and had done for weeks and would like to spar. His name was Gary. however his hands and arms were wasted and he requested that he could wear the focus mitts and I punch so he could have a rest and I said 'sure'. His hands went up and i went into my Chain Punching mode while Gary's eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open and stayed fixated like that and I just continued. After several minutes of this I stopped and he threw of the gloves and grabbed my hands staring at my knuckles. Jesus, I cannot believe how fast and hard your hands moved, it was just a blur and you have been punching like that for over 90 minutes, I should know i have been watching you from across the room!"
I was adorned with another big grin as I did not think anything of it really but realised then that yes I was fast and hard and obviously, and yet again, impressive to the other students. Was never my intention nor goal but was a damned good feeling to achieve this with students and teachers.
A shame i did not keep it up at the time but my love it Wing Chun never faltered over time and I was to revisit art again in the most unexpected place that would lead me to continue what i had started to many years ago.
It took me time to figure out why this was and I finally figured it out after several years and have even had conversations with other people about how often this is uttered by different people.
Now it appears to me that most people see a movie and then want to be able to emulate themselves what they see on the screen. then they see a class for a specific martial art that is not far from them and the decide at some point to attend classes. Then what follows is this brainwashing where everyone is then taught that there art is the most effective and as they are businesses at the end of the day it is no different from a electrical store claiming their goods and service is better than the next and so on and so forth.
I did not get into Wing Chun this way at all. I wanted to know what was effectively the best or one of the best arts and as a fan of Bruce Lee I researched his training and discovered Wing Chun Kung Fu and then found the then United Kingdom Wing Chun Kung Fu Association with Mark Phillips and James Sinclair. Or UKWCKFA a it stated on our licences and I thought Shield from the Marvel Comics had a long name? These days the London branch is known as London Wing Chun School or something to that effect.
So I wanted to know what was the best and best suited to me and do that.
My sister became interested, maybe it was because the story goes that it was invented by to women Ng Mui and Wing Chun of course and there are some variations on this. There is even one with no women in the story at all!
The man who taught us was Mark Philips and his assistant for demonstrations known as Killer John due to his hard hitting punch. That would change in time when I was used in his absence, due to the speed was adapting to the style, which ended up with me having a busted lip and suddenly everyone becoming worried I would accidentally hit them. This was because during a spar with a rather large gentleman who looked, and I think was, a bouncer I hit him on the chin with a left fist, and not very hard, which sent him reeling across the floor and off the mat we were on. No gloves were used on that occasion. Thinking he was about to mangle me and tie my legs into knots and toss me into a corner I asked if he was OK. "Christ you hit really hard?!" was his reply and I said "Really? Good job I hit you with my left hand then?" "Why is that?" he asked and I replied "Well I am right handed!"
Oddly this chap, known as Shaun, was adorned in the Uniform for the school and had been training a couple of years and he thought I had been at it five years and had come from the Wing Chun School when i said "err no I haven't I only started a month ago. I WENT and looked at the Wing Chun School and the one in Tottenham but decided on this one" He was shocked while i was grinning like a Chesire Cat that I had confirmation that I was rapidly doing well. Though I had problems remembering the first form, Siu Nim Tao, or little idea.
Mark Phillips used me as his um assistant for a demo in Killer John's absence one day. I had focus mitts on when he was rapid punching them with everyone watching. I felt something but thought no more of it. He stopped and turned to explain the technique when i noticed people were beginning to stare at me. As more and more students started to notice Mark Philips turned to see what they were staring at and as he laid eyes on me he said "oh?! Did I do that?" and I replied "What? Then noticed the taste of blood on my lips which was also all over my chin. "Oh! Yes I guess you did!" I stated as I laughed and on realising I had failed to notice this everyone else laughed too. He asked had i not noticed and I said well I did feel something but I had not realised what had happened until i tasted the blood. Too busy trying to look good and not like a fool I guess?!
At the end of one session after 3 months we were now what they termed intermediates and had spent 90 minutes punching fast and continuously we were invited to stay on for another 90 minutes with the Chum Kui crowd. My sisters nails were broken, no laughing, and knuckles bloodshot. She said she would sit it out but was OK if I wanted to stay, which of course I did. A guy I had not spoken to me before and at around 6 foot 4 was 4 inches taller than me came over. He said he had been watching me the whole time and had done for weeks and would like to spar. His name was Gary. however his hands and arms were wasted and he requested that he could wear the focus mitts and I punch so he could have a rest and I said 'sure'. His hands went up and i went into my Chain Punching mode while Gary's eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open and stayed fixated like that and I just continued. After several minutes of this I stopped and he threw of the gloves and grabbed my hands staring at my knuckles. Jesus, I cannot believe how fast and hard your hands moved, it was just a blur and you have been punching like that for over 90 minutes, I should know i have been watching you from across the room!"
I was adorned with another big grin as I did not think anything of it really but realised then that yes I was fast and hard and obviously, and yet again, impressive to the other students. Was never my intention nor goal but was a damned good feeling to achieve this with students and teachers.
A shame i did not keep it up at the time but my love it Wing Chun never faltered over time and I was to revisit art again in the most unexpected place that would lead me to continue what i had started to many years ago.
Saturday, 25 August 2012
Introduction into the Mysterious Art Form
Another of my loves but one I have not always been able to keep up, due to the events in my other blog.
This love affair has gone back years now and in the beginning and with the schoo I attended there were things I used to have trouble getting to grips with, well at least i thought so but others present who had been attending far longer than me thought I was a veteran at the art even in the first few weeks?!
Poor saps. lol.
I will track my on and off involvement and how I have discovered about other arts as well as everyones pereception, or misconception, of these arts.
I also eventually went on to overcome difiiculties learning other things outside the periphery of Wing Chun Kun Fu itself and how I managed to train myself as attending a school that was some distance away was not really possible.
Enjoy the read...
This love affair has gone back years now and in the beginning and with the schoo I attended there were things I used to have trouble getting to grips with, well at least i thought so but others present who had been attending far longer than me thought I was a veteran at the art even in the first few weeks?!
Poor saps. lol.
I will track my on and off involvement and how I have discovered about other arts as well as everyones pereception, or misconception, of these arts.
I also eventually went on to overcome difiiculties learning other things outside the periphery of Wing Chun Kun Fu itself and how I managed to train myself as attending a school that was some distance away was not really possible.
Enjoy the read...
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