Authentic knowledge that leads to effective application - Wing Chun based on real experience
Our school is all about learning Wing Chun. We teach authentic Siu Lam Wing Chun which is practiced in real combat situations, compative situations and competitions. Unlike many other schools, which often only teach theory and set scenarios, we focus on realistic applications of the Siu Lam Wing Chun techniques. These are based on years of experience and authentic knowledge. Our curriculum includes 108 techniques, 18 bridge hands, 6 points and 2 basic principles. These elements enable our students to act effectively in any real-life confrontation, to act effectively.
There are many claims of authenticity in the martial arts world, but true authenticity is seen in practical application. Authentic knowledge always leads to a working application, and a working application is not a product of mere “theories” or “technical moves” – it can only come from real experience and years of practice. At our school, Wing Chun is not just passed on as a “tradition”, but as a living, practical art that works in real situations.
More than just the 18 techniques
The 18 bridge hands are a central component in many Wing Chun schools. However, they only represent a small part of our overall curriculum. Our Wing Chun is based on 108 techniques which offer a multitude of possible applications and variations. These 108 techniques promote a deep understanding of the principles of application and the strategic possibilities required in various combat situations.
We use 6 points that control structure and movement throughout the system. These points connect techniques and ensure that each movement follows on logically from the next. Our 2 basic principles provide the philosophical and strategic basis. They are applied both in training and in real conflicts.
Experience is the key - functionality is not created out of nothing
Functioning applications are not created out of nothing. They are created through real experience and practice. In our school you will not only learn how to use Wing Chun. We also offer training that focuses on realistic applications. Only through years of experience and testing the principles and techniques in different contexts will the fighting ability of our students will increase from the very first minute and develop with each training session. We prepare our students for real-life confrontations that improve their skills quickly and effectively.
Our Wing Chun is based on tried and tested knowledge passed on by real masters. These masters have gained practical experience that has been integrated into every technique. They have tested and applied their knowledge over decades in real-life situations. Our teachers draw from this deep well of authentic experience.
Yip Man and the commercial background
Many Wing Chun schools based on Yip Man pursue a clear commercial orientation. Yip Man laid the foundation for the spread of Wing Chun in the West. However, many schools that refer to him do not focus on the practical application of Wing Chun. Instead, they focus on rapid growth and commercial success. They offer Wing Chun as a brand and often work within the framework of a franchise system. These schools are less concerned with authentic transmission and practical functionality.
In contrast, our school focuses on holistic and functional understanding of Wing Chun. We are not focused on commercialization. Our focus is on deeper understanding and the practical application of the techniques in the real world. We are not about “marketing”, but about authentic, tried and tested practice.
The masters of our lineage: tradition and excellence in Siu Lam Wing Chun
While many Wing Chun schools around the world draw on the Yip Man style, we would like to emphasize that our lineage comes from a different, equally venerable tradition that focuses on authentic Siu Lam Wing Chun. Our lineage has been shaped by eminent masters who have been recognized not only for their martial arts skills, but also for their profound traditional wisdom and experience.
Our style is officially listed in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Hong Kong under number 3.64.2 (Ban Chung Weng Chun, Ban Chung = Red Junk, see History). This emphasizes the cultural and historical value of the tradition we carry on.
Chu Chun Man, Lo Chiu Wun, Taam Gong and Tang Yik are names that are held in high esteem in the world of Wing Chun. They all go back to the Wing Chun of Fung Siu Cing, who also strongly influenced Yip Man Wing Chun through his student Yuen Kai San. Tang Syun, another student of Fung Siu Cing, trained security forces and the police in Guangdong. These masters have practiced and passed on Siu Lam Wing Chun for years with incredible dedication and discipline. Their teachings and technical subtleties differ from mainstream methods and offer a deep, authentic practice.
- Chu Chun Man was a legendary master who became known in Hong Kong and beyond as a pioneer for the spread of Siu Lam Wing Chun. Through his outstanding skills and dedication, he laid the foundation for the modern development of this lineage. He took the art to a new level of technique and application. This branch includes hand techniques with 108 movements, the wooden dummy and the 6.5 long pole. He was also well versed in other martial arts, such as Fa Kyun (a lineage from Choi Lei Fat Kung Fu) and Taiji.
- Lo Chiu Wun, from the Lo family, practiced the Saam Baai Fat hand form, which is an essential foundation in our system. His approaches to body mechanics and power transmission were progressive and have strongly influenced our training methods.
- Taam Gong practiced both the wooden dummy and the long pole, making a decisive contribution to the refinement of these techniques. He was known for his precise and efficient application of the traditional forms.
- Tang Yik, who learned from his father Tang Syun, was revered in Hong Kong as the “King of the Long Pole“. The Wing Chun Kyun hand form, the wooden dummy and the complete 6.5 longpole form, which alone is approx. 10 times longer than the versions of the 6.5 longpole form in the Yip Man line that can be learned today, are among the outstanding features of his training system. The long pole forms the basis of Siu Lam Wing Chun and is trained in our school just as authentically and completely as the entire curriculum. These long pole techniques are of central importance for the understanding of our lineage.
These outstanding personalities have shaped our lineage and some of their longest standing students, today’s masters of Siu Lam Wing Chun, have given us the confidence to continue their authentic teachings. Their mastery and finesse of technique have created a strong foundation for our own training. In our school, students experience the same depth and precision of techniques cultivated by these masters.
Children and youth training:
Foundation for Siu Lam Wing Chun
A central component of our school is the children and youth training. Here the young students learn the essential body structure and power transmission of Shaolin Kung Fu which forms the basis for the whole of Wing Chun. We not only teach techniques, but also promote physical and mental discipline. This discipline is crucial for success in the martial arts.
In training, the children develop a solid foundation that is not only important for Siu Lam Wing Chun, but is also useful in practical life. This training ensures that they can later approach the more complex aspects of Wing Chun with a deep understanding and a stable physical foundation.
SLWCP Fight Academy: Authentic Siu Lam Wing Chun in real action
In our SLWCP Fight Academy we utilize the knowledge and principles of Siu Lam Wing Chun to meet the demands of competitive sport. We focus on real challenges. Our techniques are tested directly against real attacks and experienced fighters. Unlike many other schools that set up scenarios to practise techniques, we work in real conditions.
The training in our Fight Academy is designed so that our students not only improve their technical skills, but also to put them into real fights. When it comes down to it, knowledge is put to the test. Our students are prepared, against real fighters and fend off real attacks – the true test of authenticity and functionality of our Wing Chun system.
Conclusion: Real experience leads to real application
Our school is not just about “tradition” or “authentic” concepts – we live these principles. Our students not only learn techniques, but experience how real applications of the 108 techniques, the 18 bridge hands, the 6 points and the 2 basic principles when they are applied in real conditions. We make sure that our Wing Chun is taught in a way that works in the real world – in the self-defense as well as in competition.
