Maxims of Wing Chun
Wing Chun Kuen Kuit
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originally published on wingchun.org
Traditional Wing Chun Rules of Conduct
Maxims of Wing Chun
Wing Chun Training Proverbs
Seventeen Keys to Wing Chun
Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma
Siu Lim Tau
Chum Kiu
Biu Jee
The Wooden Man
General Sayings
Wing Chun Kuen Kuit are "Words of Wisdom"
which capture in poetic terms the finer attributes of Wing Chun Kung Fu. "Kuen
Kuit" is Cantonese for "martial sayings" or "fighting songs." Chinese martial
arts employ Kuen Kuit as concise, rhythmic verses which present a method or
philosophy of a style. Even among competing Wing Chun traditions, many sayings
are recognized and shared. One significant proverb cites, "Loy Lau Hoi Sung, Lut
Sau Jik Chung." This means: "Retain what's coming in; Send off what's
retreating; Rush in upon loss of hand contact." Regardless of the Wing Chun
tradition, this advice bridges many differences and defines one of the most
important strategies of the art.
The original Wing Chun Kuen Kuit are believed to descended from an ancient,
oral tradition, and reportedly were connected to southern Chinese secret
societies of the nineteenth century. Moy Yat wrote, "It was during the ching
dynasty that many of the proverbs were part of secret codes and rituals
developed by the rebels dedicated to overthrowing the Manchus." Over the passing
years, unrelated or inapplicable sayings were eventually discarded, the
remaining few are described as being "truly intrinsic" to Wing Chun Kung Fu.
"Wing Chun Chuen Jing Tung" is an important proverb usually
displayed in the traditional Wing Chun school. This refers to the genuineness of
the martial art and reads, "Wing Chun authentically passing down." This means
passing on the true system of Wing Chun "unchanged by your own ideas." Other
well known proverbs cite: Kuen Yau Sum Faat (The punch starts from the heart);
Ying Da Juck Da, But Ying Da, But Ho Da ... (Strike when you should, Do not
strike when you should not ...); Chew Ying Joi Ying (Face toward and chase the
opponent); Chum Jong Sau Jone (Sink the elbow, protect the center)4; Guan Mo
Leung Heung (The staff doesn't make two sounds), etc.
Wing Chun's Traditional Rules of Conduct and the popular
sayings above may be easily recognized. Others have been preserved based upon
the discretion of Augustine Fong, and these originally appears in Randy William
6 book set. There are maxims, training proverbs and
sayings for all Wing Chun forms. The majority of these are genuine, artistic
commentaries on Wing Chun boxing. It may be noticed some verses are similar to
training proverbs presented in the Chinese Internal Arts. Thus, "People do not
know the extent of my skills, but I know their abilities," has been attributed
to Yang Lew-Shan: "The theory of Tai-Chi is that nobody knows you, only you know
them." This is a popular saying, as are those which mention invisible
techniques such as the famed Mo Ying Gerk (No Shadow kick).
While masters of self-defense declare that real experience is
the best teacher, Wing Chun proverbs do excel as wonderful reminders and clues
to the mastery of the martial art. These poetic stanzas preserve a secret Kung
Fu tradition, a legacy which can be rendered in beautiful Chinese calligraphy.
Wing Chun Kuen Kuit are treasures waiting to be discovered; they remain an
outstanding contribution to the world of Chinese martial arts.
Traditional Wing Chun Rules of Conduct
- Remain disciplined - Conduct yourself ethically as a martial
artist.
- Practice courtesy and righteousness - Serve the society and
respect your elders.
- Love your fellow students - Be united and avoid conflicts.
- Limit your desires and pursuit of bodily pleasures -
Preserve the proper spirit.
- Train diligently - Maintain your skills.
- Learn to develop spiritual tranquility - Abstain from
arguments and fights.
- Participate in society - Be moderate and gentle in your
manners.
- Help the weak and the very young - Use martial skills for
the good of humanity.
- Pass on the tradition - Preserve this Chinese art and rules
of conduct.
Maxims of Wing Chun
- Retain what comes in, send off what retreats. Rush in on
loss of hand contact.
- Do not be lax when your opponent is not advancing.
- Once your opponent moves, his center of gravity changes.
- Make the first move to have control. Attack according to
timing.
- Timing is achieved through practice.
- A strong attitude and posture gives an advantage over your
opponent.
- Being alert and adapting to the situation allows maximum
results for minimum effort.
- The body follows the movement of the hands. The waist and
the stance move together.
- Complement the hands with posture to make good use of the
centerline.
- The eyes and the mind travel together, paying attention to
leading edge of attack.
- Charge into the opponent. Execute three moves together.
- Strike any presented posture if it is there. Otherwise
strike where you see motion. Beware of sneak attacks, leakage attacks and
invisible centerline attacks.
- Soft and relaxed strength will put your opponent in
jeopardy.
- Coordinate the hands and feet. Movement is together.
- Do not take risks and you will always connect to the target.
- Have confidence and your calmness will dominate the
situation.
- Occupy the inner gate to strike deep into the defense.
- To win in an instant is a superior achievement.
- The Yin Yang principle should be thoroughly understood.
- The theory of Wing Chun has no limit in it applications.
- Be humble to request your teacher for guidance.
- Understand the principles for your training.
- Upon achieving the highest level of proficiency, the
application of techniques will vary according to the opponent.
Wing Chun Training Proverbs
- There are not many sets of training exercises in Wing Chun.
They are easy to learn but to master them requires determination.
- Learning the usual ways will allow later variations.
- Short arm bridges and fast steps requires practicing the
stance first.
- Siu Lim Tau mainly trains internal power.
- Lon Sau in Chum Kiu is a forceful technique.
- Bui Jee contains life saving emergency techniques.
- The Wooden Man develops use of power.
- Fancy techniques should not be used in sticky hand practice.
- Sticky leg practice is inseparable from the single leg
stance.
- The steps follow turning of the body like a cat.
- The posture complements the hands to eject the opponent.
- The Six and a Half Point Staff does not make more than one
sound.
- The Eight Cut Sword techniques have no match.
- The thrusting and fast attacks are well suited for closing
in.
- Eyes beaming with courage can neutralize the situation.
- Unknown techniques are not suitable for training practice.
- Those who completely master the system are among the very
few.
Seventeen Keys to Wing Chun
- Be ferocious when clashing.
- Be fast with your fist.
- Be forceful when applying power.
- Be accurate with timing.
- Be continuous when applying Fan Sau.
- Do not use all your strength.
- Protect your own posture.
- Be alert with your eyes.
- Unite your waist and stance.
- Coordinate your hands and feet.
- Movements must be agile.
- Comprehend the principles of Yin and Yang.
- Remain calm.
- Be steady with your breathing and strength.
- Sink your inner chi.
- Be commanding with your fighting demeanor.
- Be quick to end the fight.
Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma
- Pull in the chest, push out the upper back, and bring in the
tail bone.
- Fill the Tan Tien with chi and distribute the strength to
all parts of the body.
- Point the knees and toes inward.
- Form a pyramid with the center of gravity in the center.
- Fists are placed by the side of the ribs but not touching
the body.
- Sink the elbows, the shoulders, and the waist.
- Hold the head and neck straight and keep the spirit alert.
- Eyes are level, looking straight ahead, and watching all
directions.
- The mind is free of distractions and the mood is bright.
- There is no fear when facing the opponent.
- Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma is the main stance.
- Develop a good foundation for advanced techniques.
Siu Lim Tau
- Siu Lim Tau comes first; Do not force progress in training.
- A weak body must start with strength improvement.
- Do not keep any bad habit.
- Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma - Train the chi by controlling the Tan
Tien.
- To maintain good balance of strength, grip the ground with
the toes.
- To release chi from the Tan Tien, will enable proper
release of power.
- Sink the elbow and drop the shoulders; Guarding the
centerline to protect both flanks.
- There are one hundred and eight moves, all practical and
real; Thousands of variations can be used, aiming for practical use and not
beauty.
- Internally develop the chi; externally train the tendons,
bones and muscles.
- Taun Sau, Bong Sau, Fok Sau, Wu Sau, and Huen Sau; their
wonder grows with practice.
- Each movement must be clear and crisp. Timing must be
observed.
- Practice once a day, more will cause no harm.
Chum Kiu
- Chum Kiu trains the stance and the waist; the arm bridge is
short and the step is narrow.
- Eyes are trained to be alert; the chi flows in a perpetual
motion.
- Strive to remain calm in the midst of motion; loosen up the
muscles and relax the mind.
- Turning the stance with a circular movement, will allow
superior generation of power.
- When the opponent's arm bridge enters my arm bridge, use the
escaping hand to turn around the situation.
- Pass by the opponent's incoming arm bridge from above,
without stopping when the countering move has started.
- Lon Sau and Jip Sau put an opponent in danger.
- Do not collide with a strong opponent; with a weak opponent
use a direct frontal assault.
- A quick fight should be ended quickly; no delay can be
allowed.
- Use the three joints of the arm to prevent entry by the
opponent's bridge; jam the opponent's bridge to restrict his movement.
- Create a bridge if the opponent's bridge is not present;
nullify the bridge according to how it is presented.
- The arm bridge tracks the movement of the opponent's body;
when the hands cannot prevail, use body position to save the situation.
- Using short range power to jam the opponent's bridge, the
three joints are nicely controlled.
- Where is the opponent's bridge to be found? Chum Kiu guides
the way.
Biu Jee
- The Biu Jee hand contains emergency techniques.
- Iron fingers can strike a vital point at once.
- The stepping in elbow strike has sufficient threatening
power.
- The phoenix eye punch has no compassion.
- Fak Sau, Ginger Fist, and Guide Bridge; their movements are
closely coordinated and hard to defend and nullify.
- Springy power and the extended arm are applied to close
range.
- The situation is different when preventing from defeat in an
emergency.
- The Biu Jee is not taught to outsiders.
- How many Sifu pass on the proper heritage?
The Wooden Man
- There are 108 movements for the Wooden Man; repeated
practice brings proper use of power.
- Steps vary and always maintain close contact with the Wooden
Man.
- Power starts from the heart and shoots towards the
centerline of the Mok Yan Jong.
- Up, down, back and forth, the movements are continuous.
- Power improvement cannot be predicted.
- The arm bridge sticks to the hands of the Wooden Man while
moving; adhesion power when achieved will be a threatening force.
- Power can be released in the intended manner; use of the
line and position will be proper and hard to defeat.
General Sayings
- There is no difference in who started to study first; the
one who achieves accomplishment is first.
- Students from the same teacher will differ in their skills.
- Touching the opponent's arm bridge makes the situation more
favorable.
- When facing multiple opponents, it is easy to manage the
situation.
- When chasing the opponent's arm bridge, beware of being led.
- When pushing the opponent's elbow, beware of being pulled.
- Learning the techniques without developing the skills will
never bring any accomplishment.
- The ideal in Martial Arts is humanitarianism. Accomplishment
uses diligence as a goal.
- When the opponent passes your arm bridge, avert the danger
by turning the stance and facing with the appropriate posture.
- Strike when you should. Do not strike when you should not.
- Do not be too eager to strike. Do not be afraid to strike.
One who is afraid of getting hit will finally be hit.
- Persistent attacks will surely gain you entry. Staying on
the defensive too long will surely get you into trouble.
- The punch starts from the heart. The staff does not make two
sounds. A kick does not miss.
- Power is generated from the joints. Strength originates from
the heels.
- Store mental energy with the mind. Move chi with mental
energy. Exert strength with chi. Generate power with strength.
- No harm will come if chi is nurtured naturally. Power can
be stored but with enough to spare.
- chi comes out of the Tan Tien, and travels along the waist,
the thighs, and the back.
- Know yourself and your opponent, and you will always win.
- People do not know the extent of my skills, but I know their
abilities.
- Go along with your opponent's failing posture in order to
take advantage of it.
- Glass-like head, cotton-like belly, and iron-like arm
bridge.
- You can strike anywhere when your arm bridge has passed
beyond your opponent's three joints.
- Pass by the opponent's incoming arm bridge from above. Jam
the opponent's bridge to restrict his movement.
- Create a bridge if the opponent's bridge is not present.
Nullify the bridge according to how it is presented.
- Know the difference between Yin and Yang, real and feigned.
Take advantage of any available opportunity.
- Sticking to the opponent while shifting hand position shows
good control of the situation.
- Being stuck to by the opponent while attempting to shift
your own hand position cannot produce the intended result.
- Bong Sau must not remain. Faan Sau should be closely paced.
- Know your own limit in the use of power. Releasing all out
is 90% of the way to defeat.
- The knees lead the stance. The waist links the body. Where
the mind goes, the eyes go, and the hands and feet follow.
- Strive to remain calm in the midst of motion. Loosen up the
muscles and relax the mind.
- The three terrors of Wing Chun are Taun Sau, Bong Sau, and
Fok Sau.
- Feet and hands work together, and the threat comes to an
end.
- Beware of brute strength when facing someone from the same
style. Beware of the situation in a confrontation.
- In uniting the waist with the stance, power can be
generated.
- In a match do not expect any compassion.
- Grasping the throat is a ruthless technique. Once commenced,
it cannot be stopped.
- Storing energy resembles pulling a bow. Releasing power is
like shooting an arrow.
- Circular and straight accompany each other. Bent and
straight complement one another.
- Extreme softness enables one to be hard. Being extremely
natural enables one to be agile.
- Direct the mind to store spirit, not chi, in the body.
Otherwise it leads to sluggishness. No power is obtained when occupied with
chi.
- Use alterations in stepping forward and backward. Hands and
feet should be closely coordinated.
- Invisible posture. Invisible kick.
- As long as you are sticking to your opponent, you are
unlikely to lose. A well trained waist can prevent loss of balance.
- Hand techniques must follow the Yin Yang principle. Strength
must be applied with inner power. There is a counteraction to every attack.
- Rapid moves are hard to guard against. Go in when the
opponent slows down.
- Kicks lose nine times out of ten.
- The feet are like wheels, and the hands like arrows.
- A hand used for attack serves also to parry.
- Do not collide with a strong arm bridge. Get out of the way
and take initiative to attack.
- During sticky hand practice, the hand which has entered
beyond the elbow will win nine times out of ten.
- Do not follow, force, or butt against the opponent's hands.
- Destroying the opponent's center line will control his
bridge.
- In Bong Sau the forearm inclines, the wrist is on the center
line, and the fingers droop. A raised elbow weakens the force.
- The elbow must be strong. Then you can take on any attack.
- If the opponent grasps your arm bridge, do not oppose him
with brute force. Go with the opponent's force and change into rolling hands.
Turn around the situation to control him.
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