| The origins of Wing Chun can be traced back to | | | | elbow will always indicate the movement of a |
| the Ching Dynasty in China over 250 years ago. | | | | punch and act as forewarning of the attacker's |
| During this time 90% of the Chinese race, the | | | | intention. |
| Hons, were unjustly ruled by the remaining 10%, | | | | 6. Relying on the concept of contact reflexes to |
| the Manchus. The Manchus placed unjust laws | | | | assist the Wing Chun practitioner in interrupting |
| over the Hons and banned them from the use of | | | | the attacker's movement and launching a counter |
| weapons and Kung Fu training. The Hons began | | | | attack. |
| training a revolutionary army in the art of Kung Fu | | | | In its most basic form Wing Chun is widely known |
| in the Shaolin temple. Because the traditional | | | | for its vertical punches. As opposed to other |
| Shaolin system took 15 to 20 years to learn, five | | | | martial art styles, Wing Chun punches are thrown |
| Shaolin grandmasters met to discuss the merist | | | | with the elbow down in front of the body and the |
| of each of their styles. They chose the most | | | | fist held vertical. Aside from being a direct strike, |
| efficient techniques from each style and designed | | | | having the elbow behind the fist during the strike |
| a system that would take a shorter period of | | | | means the punch is supported by the strength of |
| time, 5 years, to learn. This system was named | | | | the entire arm providing the greatest impact at a |
| Wing Chun which meant "Hope for the Future". | | | | close range. |
| Before the system could be put into practice the | | | | Wing Chun Chi is also known for a training |
| Shaolin temple was raided and burnt. Of the five | | | | method, called Chi Sao, a drill which involves two |
| masters, only one survived, a Shaolin nun called | | | | practitioners working together designed to |
| Ng Mui. Ng Mui passed her knowledge of the | | | | improve contact reflexes. During combat, after |
| system onto a young orphan girl whom she | | | | the execution of a block or attack, a temporary |
| named Wing Chun. In turn Wing Chun passed it | | | | contact is established. By having good contact |
| onto her husband and through the years the | | | | reflexes the opponent's next move can be |
| martial art became known as Wing Chun. | | | | detected allowing the Wing Chun practitioner to |
| Wing Chun operates on a number of key | | | | launch a counter attack. |
| principles. These include: | | | | A not so commonly known technique of Wing |
| 1. Avoiding fighting force with force. It focuses on | | | | Chun is the Entry Technique. Used to bridge the |
| deflecting any attack rather than trying to stop a | | | | gap, the Wing Chun practitioner enters into the |
| blow dead in its tracks. Because deflection is used | | | | range of the opponent raising the knee to protect |
| as its main method of defense, foot work is very | | | | the mid section while thrusting out the lead hand. |
| important. | | | | This technique is quite effective for getting past |
| 2. Using two arms at the same time. That is one | | | | an opponent's kicks and punches and provides the |
| arm is defending against an attack while counter | | | | opportunity to launch a series of close range Wing |
| attacking at the same time. | | | | Chun attacks. |
| 3. Adopting a central guard position which forces | | | | More advanced Wing Chun techniques include |
| the opponent to attack or strike in arch. This | | | | finger jabs, elbows strikes and knees. However |
| gives the practitioner the advantage of striking | | | | these techniques are beyond the scope of this |
| the opponent's center. | | | | article and have been mentioned purely for |
| 4. Using linear movements when striking providing | | | | completeness sakes. While Wing Chun is |
| efficient economy of movement. | | | | considered by many as quite a simple art, it is |
| 5. Focusing on the lead elbow and knee for | | | | extremely effective at close range and |
| defending against an attack. For example, the | | | | complements longer range fighting arts. |