Weng Chun

Weng chun kung fu (Chinese 永春 meaning "eternal spring" also known as Chi Sim Weng Chun) is an ancient martial art, which was originally practised in the Southern Shaolin Temple in China. Weng chun in its present form has been preserved and developed by Grand Master Andreas Hoffmann.

Description

Chi Sim Weng Chun is considered a "soft" style of martial art in that it utilises the energy of the opponent to break their structure rather than trying to match their energy. The main focus is on combining physical fitness with the health of both the body and mind. This is achieved through a combination of hard physical training and a deep underlying philosophy of understanding the body's movements and how and why they are employed.

The ultimate goal in Weng Chun is complete mastery of both the body and the mind.

History

There are many interpretations of the history of Weng Chun kung fu. The chronological history according to Grandmaster Andreas Hoffmann is detailed on the main Weng Chun website.^[1] Other accounts have been documented by others including an extensive history of Weng Chun by Benny Meng and Jeremy Roadruck from the vtmuseum.^[2]^[3]

Philosophy

Weng Chun recognises five main levels of wisdom stretching for the basic understanding of the moves such as how to phyisically throw a punch to complete mastery of the body and mind. The basic level is known as Faat, or reality, which recognise Heaven, Earth and Man methods. Then coems Lai, or the principles used in Weng Chun. Yi considers the shapes and forms employed and finally Sup deals with the expression of Weng Chun.

Understanding distances and vectors

Three main distances are recognised in Weng chun: Heaven (far), Earth (near, or close) and Man (contact). Each distance involves employing different strategies. Heaven and earth distances require the practitioner to bridge the gap between opponents whereby circling is employed as a basis for movements such as forwards/backwards (tan/to), or tiu (to sink) for example. There are 18 bridges in Kiu Sao (bridging arm) to achieve this and six vectors including forwards/backwards, left/right and up/down, all used in combination.

The 6½ principles of Weng Chun

The principles of Weng Chun were developed from the use of weapons as seen in the Luk Dim Boon Kwun form. These also apply to empty hand (unarmed) forms such as Luk Dim Boon Kuen. These principles are: 1. Tai (to raise), 2. Lan (to obstruct, or control), 3. Dim (point shock), 4. Kit (to deflect), 5. Got (slice downwards in a half circle), 6. Wun (to circle) and 7. Lao (to receive).

Weng Chun Forms

All Weng Chun forms consist of standardised movements, with which the basic principles of Weng Chun are internalised. Regular training internalises the movements into the mind and body, so that they can be called up spontaneously in self defence. The forms offer the advantage that they can be trained at any time and any place, either alone or in groups.

Weng chun forms include:

Weng Chun Kuen (Perpetual Spring Fist) The Weng Chun (Sap Yat) Kuen is the core set of weng chun, a basic practice form consisting of 11 sections, which is applied in Chi Sao. In fact, it could also be termed more of a “theory” than a “form” – a set of methods for optimizing the free use of the body to win over a strong attacker introducing the 18 Kiu Sao of weng chun.

Fa Kuen (Flower Fist) The flower is the symbol of the Sim (Chan/Zen) philosophy and the body work of Weng Chun Kuen and Fa Kuen was made famous by Grandmaster Chu Chung Man. This set teaches how to use the entire body for both long and short distance fighting. In the Weng Chun family there are different versions of Fa Kuen: short versions, long versions and even different sets with the name Fa Kuen.

Luk Dim Boon Kuen (Six and a Half Point principle form) This form teaches the feeling and understanding of the 6½ principles and concepts as originally taught in the Six and a Half Point Pole form (Luk Dim Boon Kwun) as detailed below. Like many of the concepts used in Weng Chun, this develops principles originally used with weapons and applies them to the unarmed practitioner.

Saam Pai Fat (Three Bows to Buddha) According to the Lo family, Saam Pai Fat is the advanced Weng Chun set of Sun Gam (Dai Fa Min Gam) of the Red Boat Opera. Like its matching set, Weng Chun Kuen, Saam Pai Fat consists of eleven sections. Its focus is to expand the ability of the Weng Chun Kuen practitioner to cover all of space and time through the concept of bowing to Heaven, Earth, and Human.

Jong Kuen (Structure Fist) Jong Kuen (also known as Siong Kung Jong Kuen because in the final Weng Chun teaching it melds internal and external power), combines fast, agile steps in all directions with whole body movement. The set includes all concepts and principles from the long pole, wooden dummy, etc. In appearance, this last, traditional Weng Chun set looks similar to a combination of Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, and Baguazhang.

Ng Jong Hei Gung (Five Posture Qi Gong) Ng Jong Hei Gong teaches five postures for the cultivation of Hei (Qi), and the development of strong, Weng Chun Kuen body structure. It opens the small and the Large Heaven Qi circles and balances the Qi of the inner organs.

Muk Yan Jong (Wooden Dummy) The Muk Yan Jong contains three sets: Tien Pun (Heaven), Dei Pun (Earth), and Yan Pun (Human). In them are contained the fighting methods of the Muk Yan Hong, the Wooden Dummy Hall of the Southern Shaolin Temple. The Wooden Dummy is not used just to strengthen forearms or shins, but with the sensitivity found in Chi Sao.

Luk Dim Boon Kwun (Six and a Half Point Pole) The pole is the heart of Weng Chun Kuen. With it comes the feeling and understanding of the 6½ principles and concepts used in all types of fighting. The set begins with Hei Gung that teaches to control space through “spring” footwork, and continues on to challenge practitioners to make use of their whole bodies.

Kwun Jong (Pole Dummy) The long range wooden dummy was, in times past, the secret of Weng Chun Kuen, the fourth and final dummy from the Muk Yan Hong (Wooden Dummy Hall) of the Southern Shaolin Temple. It teaches to close the gap over and over again.

Fu Mo Siong Dao (Father & Mother Double Knives) The Father & Mother Double Knives gives a practical fighting system with sharp weapons and introduces the concept of Yum Yeung (Yin and Yang). The transfer of pole principles to sharp, double-handed weapons also increases fighting spirit.