| History: Wing chun kuen is one of the many | | | | (feminine side) focuses on diverting the flow of |
| styles of martial arts, whose origins are to be | | | | energy; yang (masculine side) seeks to resist any |
| found in Southern China and, compared with other | | | | opposing energy flow. Yang is primarily seen in the |
| martial arts, it is relatively a newcomer. The term | | | | explosive quality of the striking moves. "Sticky |
| Wing chun is attributed to a woman called Yim | | | | hands": One of the most important techniques in |
| Wing chun, who was the protégé of a | | | | Wing chun is "sticky hands". Since Wing chun is a |
| Buddhist nun called Ng Mui. Wing chun is known a | | | | close-quarter system, it is potentially dangerous |
| soft style, but is in fact a blend of hard and soft | | | | for the practitioners themselves, who are at risk |
| techniques. With reference to the hard concept, in | | | | of being hit, grabbed or kicked. This realisation has |
| simple terms this means meeting force with | | | | led to a particular method called "double sticky |
| force, whereas the sort term refers to more | | | | hands". To the uninitiated, this technique is best |
| evasive manoeuvres and techniques. Loosely | | | | described as a hurt boxer trying to "spoil" his |
| translated, Wing chun means "beautiful spring | | | | opponent's moves by clinging to his arms. The aim |
| time" and kuen means "fist" or "fist fighting style". | | | | is to prevent an opponent striking freely, giving |
| However, many people refer to the style as | | | | the Wing chun practitioner the opportunity to |
| being "Wing chun". This blending of hard and soft | | | | control, trap and break free to strike. The real skill |
| is due to the fact that it was developed by a | | | | lies in both parties wanting to achieve the same |
| woman and refined mainly men. It is also said that | | | | goal and this has led to exceptional techniques, in |
| Ng Mui once observed a battle between a snake | | | | which either one or both parties can train |
| and a crane. From her observations sprang ideas | | | | blindfolded. A skillful practitioner can eventually |
| on how to create this art. Mimicking animal | | | | predict and nullify the danger. The main areas that |
| movements is particularly common in Chinese | | | | "sticky hands" seeks to develop fall into the |
| martial arts. Principle: Wing chun is centered on the | | | | categories of sensitivity, power and general |
| Taoist principle of "take the middle road". In | | | | fitness. Sensitivity covers such aspects as the |
| essence, this says that we should not go to the | | | | centre-line concept, reaction to direction change, |
| extremes and that success is based on balance. If | | | | striking when the hand is freed, going with the |
| we are on the middle road we can see both the | | | | power and not resisting force, continuous |
| left and the right paths, but if we venture too far | | | | techniques (fluidity), and balance in the vertical and |
| out to one side we may lose sight of the other. | | | | horizontal planes. Power involves guiding power, |
| This can also be interpreted as the concept of | | | | aggressive and explosive power, and power |
| the hard and sort principles - or yin and yang. Yin | | | | control and balancing power techniques. |