by J. Bronk
Contribution, 1997

s an individual that has been involved with martial arts for 15 years, I wish to convey my experience with a style of Wing Chun taught by Sifu Wong (Yuen Kay San Wing Chun or Shum Nung Wing Chun).

Over the past three years in practicing this style of Wing Chun, the foremost lesson I have learned is how little I know about martial arts and the extent of ineffectiveness of what I do know. I was humbled and compelled to discard a lot of what I learned previously.

Many people ask, how can this style be so different? The answer pertains to technique and how the energy is applied. The short movements and subtle motions makes this style difficult to learn and unremarkable in appearance. However, after many years of hard practice and good instruction, it is these qualities that can make this style so efficient and difficult to counter.

Another popular statement is: "There are only a few dozen ways to strike and block, so there must be similarities to other styles." There are some similarities, but mostly differences. Also, there are thousands of possibilities in striking and blocking. If all the parameters of a block or strike are taken into account (direction, angle, rotation, point-at-which-force-is-applied, etc.) and if we assume there are perhaps 10 ways to do each, then there are at least 10 X 10 X 10 X 10 = 10,000 possibilities if all combinations of the above are accounted for (check the math book).

This is what makes this style of martial arts difficult to learn...it is not simply moving a fist from point A to point B as forcefully as possible. It also renders this art impossible to truly learn from videos or books, because the "feel" is so important (take it from someone who has been knocked off my feet and transferred 5 feet back by my sifu's one-inch punch). Bruce Lee once said that the one-inch punch was for demonstration purposes only. On the contrary, I have learned that it has real combat applications. Moreover, it is more than a push or a simple force...it is an IMPACT.

One point in general that I have discovered to be a myth is that speed and power cannot coexist -- they can. The proper technique creates the power; the ability to relax at all points of execution with the exception of impact creates the speed...this is easier said than done.

People often talk about the number of techniques they "know" (I was one of them). What Sifu Wong has taught me is that this is relatively unimportant. What is of importance is how well these known techniques can be applied (will it really work?). For instance, I have practiced some techniques thousands of times (literally); although I can perform some semblance of them, which appears correct to most observers, the effect is perhaps one-twentieth that of a perfectly-executed technique (i.e. one performed by someone like Sifu Wong). Hence, I don't truly KNOW the technique (no, I am not physically challenged...this applies to the other students as well). In conclusion, a martial artist should not be judged solely by the amount of techniques known. Bruce Lee once said: a martial artist eventually returns to the original position where the mind is empty (of individual techniques).

Sifu Wong studied under Shum Nung for many years. Shum Nung is currently recognized as the Grandmaster of Wing Chun by the Chinese government in Beijing. Shum Nung in turn studied under Yuen Kay San for many, many years who in turn studied under Fong Siu Ching (who was an arresting general in the Ching Dynasty) and Fok Bo Chuen.

About the Author

Justin Bronk had studied over 15 years of various Martial arts which included Tae-kwon-do, Judo, Jujitsu, prior to studying 2 years ofWing Chun under Paul Leong, a student of Sifu Tom Wong. Later Justin studied under Sifu Wong for over five years and met Sigung Sum Neng in 97. He had been teaching in the San Fernando Valley for 3 years.