In Monterey Park, California, one of Sifu Wong's most senior successors has been quietly teaching his teacher's Wing Chun system for the past several years. This successor is Sifu Gary Lam (Lam Lun Wun). Sifu Lam has been studying Wing Chun under Sifu Wong Shun Leung for over 15 years and has been the head instructor of his martial arts school for 6 years. In 1978, Sifu Lam defeated all challengers to win the Hong Kong Free Fighting Championship. For this victory he was awarded a gold medal engraved with the word "Wing Chun" and gained the respect and admiration of his fellow disciples and other sects. (Translator's note: To this day, Master Lam still wears this "Wing Chun" gold coin necklace every day.) Master Lam is also an accomplished Thai boxer, and in the early nineties was often the referee for Muay Thai fights in Hong Kong. Master Lam has been teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu and Thai Boxing for over 20 years. He was also honored to be the Director (President) of the Hong Kong Wing Chun Sports Association in 1991.
Sifu Lam recounted the study of the Wong Shun Leung/Lam Wun Wing Chun system which has 5 main parts. These sections categorize the techniques that students learn throughout their Wing Chun training, giving a comprehensive structure to the entire Wing Chun system. In addition the Wong Shun Leung/Lam Lun Wing Chun system also teaches the Wooden Man Stump, the Six and a Half Point Stick and the Eight Chopping Knives.
The 5 main sections are as follows, with detailed descriptions of each:
1. Overhand - Manipulation (hands, fists, palms, elbows, shoulders) Technique Stances
2. Closing - (Standing) Closing Hands, Grasping, Holding, Wrestling
3. Footwork/Steps - Kicking and Kick Breaking
4. Pushing - One Hand and Two Handed Releasing/ejecting
5. Pulling - external, internal and rotating releasing/ejecting
The most famous Wing Chun stances belong to the category of overhand, which are most commonly known as Chi Sau. The overhand technique usually focuses on gaining contact with the opponent's limbs and then using this contact as a bridge to gain access to the target area, which can be provided by the opponent or created by the Wing Chun practitioner. The head and neck are the preferred targets, with secondary targets in the upper and lower torso midline of the opponent. The stances used depend on the situation and are usually executed with a combination of offensive/control and defensive actions.
Sifu Lam describes the various Wing Chun stances as a martial arts buffet, where each student is led by the instructor to experience a variety of martial arts dishes. Instead of rushing through the process of choosing carefully, the martial arts dishes are slowly enjoyed and then thoroughly digested. When the student matures, he/she is also prepared with a Wing Chun technique toolbox, full of the most appropriate actions to face the needs of the moment. Perhaps the most important factor that changes the student's toolbox into an effective fighting system is Chi Sau. Chi Sau is the open secret of Wing Chun that allows Wing Chun fighters to successfully utilize, combine, and constantly change from one stance to another.
Considered to be the soul of Wing Chun, Chi Sau in its advanced form is an exercise in free sensitivity, and is best trained when the student is not only learning how to strike an opponent, but also how to feel and control their attacking movements. Chi Sau gives the student the opportunity to gain experience in using Wing Chun techniques and still be able to go home with the same number of teeth. Chi Sau is not just about learning to master physical movements, it is also about the mental and emotional nurturing that is essential to successful Wing Chun training. This concept must be understood and applied if one is to truly understand the higher level concepts and its will to become one's own, such as "unity of mind and body" (unity of body and spirit, unity of thought and action together).
Sifu Lam said that everyone always has to develop on the same path; one must be skillful in every step of training, without exception. If a student wishes to reach the peak of Wing Chun, he/she must master not only the physical aspects, but he/she also needs to master the mental and emotional ones on his/her own.
The next section of Wong Shun Leung Wing Chun is called the Control Method (Closing). All aspects of Closing are trained to learn how to enter, occupy and control an opponent's position. Closing also includes grabbing and holding techniques, similar to grappling. The Control Method ultimately allows the Wing Chun fighter to outmaneuver the opponent's three gates (wrist, elbow and shoulder), block his movement and take over his position. Control method techniques focus on messing with your opponent's balance, breaking his ability to square up to you, and neutralizing the power generated by his proper structure. Control Method can be done using a single move to grab your opponent, or add other techniques such as breaking a leg, wrestling, or dishing out.
The Control Method, along with all other non-striking moves, is known in Sifu Lam's Wing Chun as the Auxiliary Moves. Sifu Lam is pointing out that auxiliary movements are not usually used to launch an attack, but are used after the main attack. Because auxiliary movements, such as control techniques, are not the main feature of Wing Chun, which is to attack and incapacitate your opponent, auxiliary movements only add another dimension of further control and variety in addition to our primary attacking ability. Supplementary movements such as control techniques are used only when the opportunity arises, in rapidly changing and close-range Chi Sau or street fights reacting automatically when the opportunity arises.
Steps/footwork are a vital part of understanding complete empty hand fighting. These techniques in Wong Shun Leung Wing Chun include footwork, foot sealing plus dispensing, wrestling, leg damage and of course kicking. Footwork / Footwork Footwork is done by training the legs for strength, coordination, and especially balance. The force of a Wing Chun kick is the same as the force of a hand strike, as it comes from the same structural alignment of the body with the ground. Kicks tend to target the knees and ankles, as well as the abdomen, hips and lower part of the torso. Kicks are used through relentless practice and Chi Kung training. Chi Ki is a foot sensitivity exercise; this exercise develops coordination, timing and accuracy.
Leg attacks can be used as stand-alone techniques to perform independent attack actions or as part of a strategic attack to disrupt the opponent and cause imbalance in the opponent's body. There is a saying in Wing Chun: "When the hands move, the legs move. When the legs move, the hands move", and at the end of the day the hands and the legs are moving together as yin and yang are together. Seeing Wing Chun masters perform these types of leg attack actions is a humbling and frightening experience of the immediacy and brutality of Wing Chun kicking and footwork techniques.
The next two concepts in Wong Shun Leung Wing Chun are pushing and pulling. These two concepts are similar in that they are also used to disrupt and weaken the opponent's balance, structure and foundation. This weakens his ability to generate power and fight effectively. Pushing and pulling also weakens the opponent's ability to counterattack on his own behalf, destroying his chances to follow through and leaving him vulnerable to our attacks. Pushing and pulling are used in combination with other types of techniques, such as hand closures and wrestling, to upset the opponent's balance or to create a favorable position for ourselves. When we are facing a taller and stronger opponent, these pushing and pulling techniques are crucial when fighting, as these techniques allow the opponent's body to move and lose balance, thus taking away the force generated by good structure. Pushing and pulling are also very important when we are facing multiple attacks, utilizing these techniques to create human barriers, shields and weapons. These techniques can also be used in the environment as your weapon, slamming your opponent into something that can be used in your surrounding area. The difference between pushing and pulling is that pushing is viewed as a controlled maneuver (requiring a certain level of skill), while pulling is viewed as an opportunistic maneuver (acting decisively when an opportunity arises).
The Wong Shun Leung/Lam Lun Wing Chun system also teaches the Wooden Man Pile, the development of structural force and how to properly apply this force. The concept of unity of mind and body is promoted here (the unity of mind, body and spirit in action) and each stance is applied with a calm and deliberate purpose. Sifu Lam often refers to the Wooden Stake as your second instructor, naturally helping you to have the right structure and develop a proper sense of timing and use of proper angles. It is best for Wing Chun practitioners to visualize being in a real combat situation when hitting the Wooden Man Pile, which is known as sparring with an imaginary opponent.
In addition, Sifu Lam's Wing Chun training includes the teaching of the six-and-a-half point stick, also known as the Dragon Stick. The six-and-a-half point stick can be trained as a weapon and can be used as a tool for training internal strength. For training purposes, the six and a half point stick is nine feet long and made of the heaviest wood available. After learning the Six and a Half Stick, anything that looks like a stick can be used as a weapon. The use of the six and a half point stick requires good control of the weapon. Its application is very similar to the empty hand techniques of Wing Chun, where the six and a half point stick is based on proper body structure and focuses on controlling the opponent's centerline pole; not chasing their weapon.
Finally, Sifu Lam teaches the eight chopping knives as a training tool and weapon, and this learning is reserved for the final stage of training; this is because the student needs to be able to harness the techniques of the empty hand after he/she properly uses the knives. The movements of the double knife are almost entirely dependent on the Wing Chun empty hand techniques. The training and use of the double knives does not depend on the force generated by the correct body structure, like the six and a half point stick, but rather on how to fully utilize the sharpness of the knives and the application of the stances.
Sifu Lam Lun Wun's teaching philosophy is one of openness and fairness; Sifu Lam is happy to teach any student who is willing to put in the effort and determination to learn. Sifu Lam is committed to preserving Wing Chun for future generations and to raising Wing Chun to a better level of development and a higher standard.