Weng Chun

Grandmaster Chu Chung Man is identified the most senior Weng Chun practitioner in the art's modern documented history.

There are many interpretations of the history of Weng Chun Kung Fu. The chronological history according to Grandmaster Andreas Hoffmann is detailed on the main Weng Chun website.[6] Other accounts have been documented by others including an extensive history of Weng Chun by Benny Meng and Jeremy Roadruck from the museum.[7][8]

According to the oral tradition, the origins of Weng Chun Kung Fu lie in the Shaolin temples in southern China.[9] The most well-documented and historically important modern grandmaster of Weng Chun is identified as Chu Chung Man.[10][11][12] He was born in Foshan at the beginning of the 20th century and studied with teachers of various Kung Fu styles for many years, including Weng Chun Kung Fu.[13] Chu Chung Man was also a good friend of Yip Man.[14] Chu Chung Man worked as a practicing doctor in Macau during the Second World War, and from 1953 as a doctor in a hospital in Hong Kong. He is considered a fifth generation student of Weng Chun Kung Fu after the alleged founder Chi Sim.[15]

When Chu Chung Man moved to Hong Kong in 1953, he met other Weng Chun Kung Fu grandmasters who taught a comparatively large number of students, including Grand Masters Tang Yik and Wai Yan. Wai Yan was the managing director of a poultry wholesaler in Kowloon and temporarily converted the department store into a training hall in which the Weng Chun grandmasters met for a long time to exchange ideas.[16][17] The name of the wholesaler Dai Tak Lan was also the name for the training hall, which was to acquire a certain significance for Weng Chun Kung Fu in the post-war period.[18]

The grandmasters themselves and their descendants had and still have various students who did not come from China.[19] They made Weng Chun Kung Fu known outside of China and founded various martial arts schools and associations. As with Wing Chun Kung Fu, aspects of trademark law led to different names for the schools. In addition, the grandmasters of the Dai Tak Lan Center always taught slightly different variants of Weng Chun Kung Fu as part of their family tradition.

Nevertheless, all of the schools mentioned refer to the Dai Tak Lan Center and the families of the grandmasters, especially Wai Yan, Tang Yik and Chu Chung Man.

The philosophy of Weng Chun Kung Fu, like many martial arts relates to a way of life that goes much deeper than just fighting. Indeed, the traditional philosophy of kung fu relates to how to live one's life, rather than discovering truth in reality.[21]

Weng Chun Kung Fu reflects this path in five levels of wisdom stretching for the basic understanding of physical moves such as how to throw a punch all the way to complete mastery of the body and mind, where the philosophy of kung fu extends to all aspects of the practitioner's life.[22]

The basic level is known as Ying, which teaches basic forms and shapes. Ying can be considered the study of "what" techniques there are in combat, such as how to punch, or kick. The student achieves a deeper understanding of how to make these moves at the next level, known as Yi, where the principles used in Weng Chun are learned. Yi teaches the bridges and techniques employed in combat, focusing on the 18 Kiu Sao concepts. The third level, Lei then considers the shapes and forms employed in Ying and Yi and internalises these into an instinctive system, helped by mastering the forms through repetition. The student's skills developed in fighting can then be extended into other aspects of their lives, where discipline, self-control and other qualities can be employed into a philosophy of living the kung fu life. The next level is known as Faat (in Buddhism Dharma) which explores the methods, or ways of understanding reality. In Shaolin Weng Chun reality is expressed in space/time (heaven), energy (human) and gravity/identity (earth).

Finally Seut, meaning skill and showmanship relates to the expression of Weng Chun in our everyday lives where discipline, respect and the correct interaction with others is realized. The practitioner has at this point achieved mastery and all their actions are reflected in the kung fu life.[23]

Three main distances are recognised in Weng Chun: Heaven (far), Earth (near, or close) and Man (contact). Each distance involves employing different strategies. Heaven and earth distances require the practitioner to bridge the gap between opponents whereby circling is employed as a basis for movements such as forwards/backwards (tan/to), or tiu (to sink) for example. There are 18 bridges in Kiu Sao (bridging arm) to achieve this and six vectors including forwards/backwards, left/right and up/down, all used in combination.

There are two sets of principles employed in Weng Chun: The seven principles developed from the pole form (often referred to as the 6 1/2 principles) and the more advanced 18 principles employed in Kiu Sao (bridging hands).

All Weng Chun forms consist of standardized movements, with which the basic principles of Weng Chun are internalized. Regular training internalizes the movements into the mind and body, so that they can be called up spontaneously in self-defense. The forms offer the advantage that one can train at any time and any place, either alone or in groups.

Weng chun forms include:

Weng Chun Kuen (Perpetual Spring Fist) The Weng Chun (Sap Yat) Kuen is the core set of Weng Chun, a basic practice form consisting of 11 sections, which is applied in Chi Sao. In fact, it could also be termed more of a "theory" than a "form"—a set of methods for optimizing the free use of the body to win over a strong attacker introducing the 18 Kiu Sao of Weng Chun.

Fa Kuen (Flower Fist) The flower is the symbol of the Sim (Chan/Zen) philosophy . The body work of Weng Chun Kuen and Fa Kuen were made famous by Grandmaster Chu Chung Man. This set teaches how to use the entire body for both long and short distance fighting. In the Weng Chun family there are different versions of Fa Kuen: short versions, long versions and even different sets with the name Fa Kuen.

Luk Dim Boon Kuen (Six and a Half Point principle form) This form teaches the feeling and understanding of the 6½ principles and concepts as originally taught in the Six and a Half Point Pole form (Luk Dim Boon Kwun), as detailed below. Like many of the concepts used in Weng Chun, this develops principles originally used with weapons and applies them to the unarmed practitioner.

Saam Pai Fat (Three Bows to Buddha) According to the Lo family, Saam Pai Fat is the advanced Weng Chun set of Sun Gam (Dai Fa Min Gam) of the Red Boat Opera. Like its matching set, Weng Chun Kuen, Saam Pai Fat consists of eleven sections. Its focus is to expand the ability of the Weng Chun Kuen practitioner to cover all of space and time through the concept of bowing to Heaven, Earth, and Man. A video clip of GM Andreas Hoffman demonstrating Saam Pai Fat can be seen here.

Jong Kuen (Structure Fist) Jong Kuen (also known as Siong Kung Jong Kuen because in the final Weng Chun teaching it melds internal and external power), combines fast, agile steps in all directions with whole body movement. The set includes all concepts and principles from the long pole, wooden dummy, etc. In appearance, this last, traditional Weng Chun set looks similar to a combination of Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, and Baguazhang.

Ng Jong Hei Gung (Five Posture Qi Gong) Ng Jong Hei Gong teaches five postures for the cultivation of Hei (Qi), and the development of strong, Weng Chun Kuen body structure. It opens the small and the Large Heaven Qi circles and balances the Qi of the inner organs.

Muk Yan Jong (Wooden Dummy) The Muk Yan Jong contains three sets: Tien Pun (Heaven), Dei Pun (Earth), and Yan Pun (Human). In them are contained the fighting methods of the Muk Yan Hong, the Wooden Dummy Hall of the Southern Shaolin Temple. The Wooden Dummy is not used just to strengthen forearms or shins, but with the sensitivity found in Chi Sao.

Luk Dim Boon Kwun (Six and a Half Point Pole) The pole is the heart of Weng Chun Kuen. With it comes the feeling and understanding of the 6½ principles and concepts used in all types of fighting. The set begins with Hei Gung that teaches to control space through "spring" footwork, and continues on to challenge practitioners to make use of their whole bodies.

Kwun Jong (Pole Dummy) The long range wooden dummy was, in times past, the secret of Weng Chun Kuen. It is the fourth and final dummy from the Muk Yan Hong (Wooden Dummy Hall) of the Southern Shaolin Temple. It teaches to close the gap over and over again.

Fu Mo Siong Dao (Father & Mother Double Knives) The Father & Mother Double Knives gives a practical fighting system with sharp weapons and introduces the concept of Yum Yeung (Yin and Yang). The transfer of pole principles to sharp, double-handed weapons also increases fighting spirit.

Weng Chun is often confused with another Southern Kung Fu style known as Wing Chun. Weng Chun and Wing Chun are two different Kung Fu styles, and is assumed so by martial arts scholars, [24][25][26][27] including Ip Man.[28][29] Weng Chun is considered a sister martial art to Wing Chun,[30] as both styles contains notable similarities and differences: