As many of you know from my articles, I believe that one of the most important areas of martial arts, is understanding the principles of what we term "the body structure". When it comes to making your martial arts work, this is one of the most overlooked areas.

From what I have seen over the years, it seems that only a few of Yip Man's students learned structure principles as part of their training. True, some teachers seem to have acquired structural skills from time spent training, but not as a teaching method.

The Chu Sau Lei Wing Chun system that I teach focuses on a systematic method of teaching the body structure as its most important principle.  This is based on what my teacher Robert Chu learned from his training with Hawkins Cheung Sifu, which he learnt in turn from Yip Man.

Some people have commented that my teacher's Wing Chun is a modern approach to Wing Chun, as he has reviewed the forms to fully integrate our understanding of body structure. But this misses the point. The idea and principles of body structure are not new, they are fundamental to all Chinese martial arts. So, it was very interesting when I met Mark Hobbs, who has trained with Lun Gai Sifu, Yip Man’s first student from Foshan, in China. Mark had already trained in Wing Chun, and when he started training with Sifu he was happily surprised to find that many of the ideas about structure that he had seen in other Chinese Martial arts were part of the teaching of Wing Chun as well. Even though we both have different forms, and some different approaches to application, we both believe understanding of the principles of structure is the key.

With this in mind, I spoke to Mark about his martial arts background and his experiences of Yip Man Wing Chun as it was before it reached Hong Kong.

Alan: Maybe first you could talk about your background in martial arts. What would you say were the important goals for you to learn from your martial arts training?

Mark: I started Martial Arts when I was five, doing Judo. I enjoyed Judo and went on to represent the Kent Judo team. Also, at a fairly young age, my father started teaching me some Kung Fu.
This is where I first became interested in Kung Fu. I have studied a number of different systems since then. But the main influences in my Kung Fu are from Wing Chun, Tai Chi, Hsing-Yi and some Southern Shaolin.

Alan: You have a thirst for knowledge about Wing Chun and for a greater understanding of the Martial Arts?

Mark: I do. I've talked to many Sifu from around the world, from many lineages of Wing Chun, to gain insight into how they approach their Wing Chun methods.
For example, I have trained in Vu Gai Tai Cuc Pai, a very rare, old system from Vietnam; the first General of the first King of Vietnam, who was King Li, was from the Vu family. I am the only Westerner to have been accepted as a member of this family. It is an interesting system as Vu Ba Qui, the last Grandmaster, was the first student of Yuen Choi, the brother of Yuen Kay San, and student of Fung Siu Ching.  Yuen Choi was the founder of Wing Chun in Vietnam. Only recently I was in Vietnam researching more about “Vietnamese” Wing Chun.

Alan: How did you develop your Wing Chun understanding?

Mark: With Wing Chun, I like its objective of maximising efficiency. This motivates me to study and learn with different families of the system, to gain more experience and understanding of this fascinating art.
This led me to my Wing Chun Master Lun Gai. Now, at my Kung Fu Academy classes, I only teach Wing Chun Kuen of Master Lun Gai's Foshan family. This is the Yip Man system in its original Foshan form. Master Lun Gai taught me this method and passed on the original teachings from Grandmaster Yip Man to me. He also certified me to represent him in the U.K. and Australia.

Alan: Wing Chun Master Lun Gai was a pupil of Grandmaster Yip Man?

Mark: Master Lun Gai was the first of only six selected students to learn under Grandmaster Yip Man in Foshan, China. That's before Grandmaster Yip Man moved to Hong Kong, where he taught Wing Chun to many other students.

Alan: And you have continued to travel in search of a greater understanding of different systems.

Mark: I lived in Australia for many years, but since moving back to the UK, I have found other Sifu from which to gain new experience.
Although the majority of my time now is spent studying and practicing Wing Chun, I have also been practicing Tai Chi, Hsing-Yi with Sifu Fei Bing, and, when in China, with my Chinese uncle Sifu Wong from the "Yang Ban Hao" Tai Chi family. I also travelled to America to look more into the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun method.

Alan: What is your opinion about the relative merits of different systems?

Mark: One thing I have discovered over the years, researching and learning Chinese Martial Arts, is that no single system is better than another. It comes down to an individual's experience. This is why I have delved into the arts so deeply, in order to gain further experience. That knowledge and experience helps me understand and explain WHY!!! Certain things are done in certain ways, because everything should relate to a concept, principle or a theory. This can only be achieved through experience of many great traditional martial systems and masters, all of which have different areas of expertise. This is the reason why I have been given so many treasures over the years, from so many families. However the main focus with this article is Master Lun Gai’s method of Yip Man Foshan Wing Chun.

Alan: You travelled to China to learn from Lun Gai Sifu, what was that like?

Mark: It is a great trip every time I go to China to train with Sifu Lun Gai, a trip I have made regularly for about ten years now.

I am privileged to have access to the closest source available to the early teachings of Grandmaster Yip Man. Sifu Lun Gai is a walking treasure in Wing Chun, yet he remains the nicest man, very kind and humble. He said he taught me “pure” Wing Chun as he included the method not just the technique.

I was lucky, as I was introduced to Sifu by a friend of mine who works in China; his boss knew Sifu. The best way to become a student is through introduction. Sifu is very straight; no politics or rubbish, just great kung fu from a fantastic guy who really knows Wing Chun inside out. I have learnt so much from him.

I am very lucky to be able to do what I do. Being a partner in Pagoda Imports, A martial arts equipment supply company, gives me a lot of opportunity to travel to the East. Some of our wooden dummies are manufactured in Foshan, for example, so I am fortunate enough to go there quite frequently.

Alan: Lun Gai Sifu's Wing Chun is different to the Hong Kong Wing Chun.

Mark: The Wing Chun in Foshan from Sifu Lun Gai has to follow strict rules which create the "Faat" a precise method of approach; Sifu said that Grandmaster Yip Man was very insistent about this methodology and everything he did had to follow it. There was no room for anything outside of this method.

Alan: Looking at what Yip Man taught when in China and what he taught in Hong Kong what are the main differences?

Mark: From a visual perspective the forms aren’t the same as those that Yip Man taught in Hong Kong. Other than that I wouldn’t want to compare differences. I will just explain what Sifu Lun Gai does and leave it to the readers to compare the differences for themselves.

Alan: What are the essentials of Yip Man "Foshan" Wing Chun?

Mark: Yip Man "Foshan" Wing Chun, is broken down into different layers which creates a structured learning method.

This is a massive area to cover, but it is worth just running through some of the related areas that are covered. So there is body structure, body mechanics, body energetics. Then there is bridge structure, bridge mechanics, bridge energetics. Alongside this are principles and concepts, and strategy and tactics.

Alan: What’s your view on whether structure is needed?

Structure helps to achieve "displacement". There is a famous Kung Fu saying (Sei Leung Buat Tin Gun) which means "A few ounces can move a thousand Kilo’s” To understand the relevance of this saying, first you need to understand how to create structure, once you understand this, then you can begin to learn how to influence someone else's structure —. Using a few ounces to move a thousand Kilo’s

Alan: Yes, my teacher Chu Sifu wrote at article on just that subject.

MH: Yes, it’s a key understanding of rooting.

Alan: What is your general idea behind creating structure within your system?

Creating structure is about aligning the (Gwot Kwa) skeletal system to be able to structurally maintain posture when a force is being exerted against you. This allows you to (Tun) absorb the pressure by transferring the energy against you into the ground – (Ma) to root.

Using an aligned skeletal frame allows us the ability to utilize a minimum amount of strength or muscle power(Lik) creating Minimum effort; maximum results.

Alan: How do you do this achieve this in Foshan Wing Chun?

Stand straight aligning the three centres on a vertical line - to align the lower centre you will have to tilt the pelvis (Pun Kua) forward. Hang the weight around the spine to achieve a state of (Song) looseness in the posture; this also creates (Chum Sun) heavy body. Sit the stance (Joor), creating (Jung Sin) central line weight distribution in conjunction with the principle of gravity (Dei Sun Kup Lik). This all brings together the Wing Chun frame (Kua)

The following Kung Fu terms link the bridge method in with the body method, these are described as: (Jeurn Jarn) turn in elbows; (Chum Jarn) sink elbows; (Lok Bok) drop shoulders; (Ho Chuan), hollow chest; and (Fo Bo), curved back. Another way to describe this is to let all the joints, including the centres, as they function as joints, hang as though suspended on string.

Alan: What’s next?

Continue by applying a pairing method combining 1: hands and feet, 2: Knees and elbows, 3: hips and shoulders. And the internal work of 1; sinking the breath, 2: sinking the energy,, 3: projecting the energy (Pung), to create this you need to start with the intention (Yi), andthis leads to the energy (Hei)by clamping, expanding, compressing and twisting of the joints and centres, creating the power (Lik) - but now we are talking in terms of manifesting tendon power as apposed to muscle strength.

Next we need a Wing Chun bridge referencing method, for three dimensional placement of our fighting tools, for correct understanding of height and width, to do this we use (Luk Mun) six gate theory, and (Chang Dyun Kil Sau) Long-short bridge hands to understand structured depth. This creates an understanding of how to zone our body using an imaginary grid or matrix, so we know instinctively where the points of structure are for our tools, which in turn give us our understanding of (Ying) shapes.

Shapes are expressions of (Jiu Sic) structure so this is about how to understand our structure before trying to influence our opponent's structure - we are still the realm of the  "Mass."

This “Jong Faat” structure method isabout occupying or maintaining space and by aligning your arms to avoid the collapsing or folding of your bridges. This is considered as solid energy (Gong Lik). This layer is important for the (Bi Jong) set up, (Deui Ying) facing theory which leads us to (Jit Kil) bridge interception.

Alan: Now you can take the pressure?

Mark: Yes. However, when an opponent releases power that is more than we can handle then we need to have the ability to absorb. Therefore the concept of absorb and release (Tun Tao) or the famous Wing Chun saying of (Loi Lau hoi sun - Lat sau Jik Chung) comes into play. This means to remain and receive the energy, to escort the energy and then thrust your attack when your hand is free. This is the fighting method of the spear; a lot of systems are created from the concept of the spear, Xingyiquan being one of them. This is to swallow the impact and thrust at the centre. This means we have attained spring energy, by understanding how to separate and utilise all the joints and centres of the body.

The other part of bridge work is (Sei Lik) redirection or (Chaam Kil) sinking. You attain this by taking new lines to displace the opponent strength by manipulating his elbow position which allows you to eat up the space to the opponent's centre.

Alan: What about dissipation of energy?

The other way is to (Fa Lik) dissipate the energy. This method requires what is known as (Teng Lik) listening or sensitivity. This is considered (Yuen Lik) soft energy, and ties in with the moment when an opponent tries to move a shape off centre. To hold the shape now requires the use of excessive muscle, and so to try to hold this bridge requires effort which means it is no longer structure, it is strength as there’s no spine or centre alignment for pressure. So if your Structure is broken you need to (Fa) Dissipate, fold (Faan Lik), Separate (Fan Lik), Circle (Huen), Elbow pull (Jarn Lik), Snake (Se Lik) plus lots of other energies.

Dissipation (Fa Lik) is not considered a structure but transitional, therefore it is energetic based.

Alan: Often it’s thought that if you use structure then you can’t then be mobile. This is incorrect, how do you see movement with structure?

Mark: Once you attain the above information you can now start to use apply the concepts.

The information above is all part of (Siu Nim Tao) Wing Chun’sfirst form which teaches you about body and bridge method, this is why the form is static in terms of footwork. As it allows you to concentrate on structural hand and body positioning and also provide you with transitional energies between the structures, allowing you to be able to start understanding bridge angulations, providing you with the information on how to maintain your bridges while influencing an opponent’s bridge, using a myriad of different ways.

All the ways we use in a facing position are contained by the space Wing Chun operates in which is a semi- circle in front of you, from shoulder to shoulder. This is then split into a box within the two shoulders, plus two wings from the shoulder line to the side line. When in application with an opponent this information transforms to the three body facings which are front body, angled body left, or angled right side body.

To make sure that when utilising the angled body tactic we stay within the realms of Wing Chun concept of simultaneous attack and defence we have to align certain parts of our body to that of our opponent's.  This information is not exclusive to Wing Chun. All methods of Kung Fu should utilise this understanding as it is a common (Kil Sau, Chi Sau) tactic.  What makes Wing Chun different is that it can only use tools that reflect the concept of efficiency within this space. As Wing Chun employs fewer tools it needs to employ concepts, strategy and tactics to fill up this area instead.

Alan: I notice that there is no footwork yet.

Mark: After taking this information onboard, you can add footwork to the knowledge you have attained so far. Foshan Wing Chun has a generic term for all the footwork - (Baat Gwa Bo) eight directional stepping, as you can imagine from the descriptive name there is a huge possibility of creating and utilising different body angles and lines through slight foot and body movement.    

However to start with we can look at just the first three basic stances which are parallel foot stance (Yi Ji Kim Yeung Ma), front stance (Chin Sun Ma) and side stance (Jut Sun Ma). From each foot position we can still use front or side body angle positions. So this is achieved by understanding waist (Yil) and (Yum Yuen) opposite core energy separation from the lower and middle(Dan Tien)centres.  In any stance and in any of the three possible body angles we still need to be able to maintain our position by taking the power from contact point through the body and down to the feet. The amount of pressure against us when we do this will be decided by range of contact, an example of range contact could be the difference between long bridge and short bridge and what part of the arm is in contact - is it forearm or wrist?

All in all once you understand stance then the posture has to become alive and mobile this brings in to play the footwork. This gives rise to many possible ranges, angles and lines for defence and attack.

Wing Chun uses lots of different strategies and tactics, half are (Gong Lei) understanding related and the other half is (Lauh) flow related as the only constant you can rely upon in combat is change. So we need (Bin Faat) the ability to change and influence through being alive. This again shows the middle path. Master Lun Gai told me that Wing Chun is the middle path and using the above information the middle path is what we are expressing.

So what I have started to explain is Wing Chun the System not Wing Chun the style.

Alan: Yes, Wing Chun should be a system rather that a style. Did Lun Gai Sifu have an opinion on why the structure principles he learned from Yip Man are only seen in some of his Hong Kong students?

Mark:  Sifu's answer to me when I asked him this question was: "time". Many people in Hong Kong were so busy; they simply didn’t have "time". He can only presume that the way Grandmaster Yip Man taught was more commercially flavoured. In other words, mainly due to time constraints, he gave the student just what they needed, as opposed to all the information.

This would make sense as environments change everything, including how Wing Chun is taught. Sifu Lun Gai did say, however, that this is only his opinion, as he doesn’t know for sure. But Sifu Lun Gai also said that, if someone specifically asked a question, it would be in Grandmaster Yip Man's nature to give the answer. So maybe this is why structure principle is only seen in some of the Hong Kong students - they asked the right questions. 

Alan: Looking at the Chinese martial arts you have learned, what are the common links between them.

Mark: There is a famous Kung Fu saying which I was taught by my Pak Mei Sifu. And my Tai Shing Pek Kwar  Sifu. Who was a student of the "Monkey king" Grandmaster Chan sau Chung: (Ng Woo Sey Hoi Gar Hing Dai) “five Lakes and four Oceans we are all brothers”,

This saying has become very much the way I perceive Martial Art, I will explain. The more I study the martial arts the more I realise when you take away the names or labels of styles, and look at the core engines that drive them, you no longer see the techniques or styles, but the system or method. That means, as I stated before you see structure, mechanics, energetics, concepts, principles, strategy and tactics.

Otherwise simply put with out the above information you don’t have a game plan? The question then is: how do you know what you want to achieve and how do you expect to achieve it? The best way to do this is using a plan, and this comes back to method. So behind all martial arts there should be a method. If you know a method, I would say you know a system, if you don’t know a method then I would say you know a style.

Alan: Why would say they have differences in systems then?

Mark: The reason that you see system approaches with different expressions is normally due to tactics and strategy, and this comes down to the environment in which they were created Some systems are perfect for a certain situation; the problem is that those situations no longer exist. Either that system stays the same, but is not as effective as it was in the environment it was created for.  Or, the system gets modified and evolved for a new environment. This creates the meaning for why things are different” fiveLakes and four Oceans “

So, when you get under their skin and see what really drives them, it becomes clear that all systems are related. “We are all brothers" It really is then only environment that leads to a change in strategy and tactics, so “five Lakes and four Oceans we are all brothers”

Alan: Thank you for sharing your insights to the use of structure within your branch of Wing Chun

Mark: Many thanks Alan, nice to talk you on what is really important in Wing Chun.

Sifu Mark Hobbs is Chief Instructor for the “Kung Fu Academy” A certified representative for Grandmaster Lun Gai in the U.K and Australia and only certified representative for Vu Ba Qui Vietnamese Wing Chun outside of Vietnam . A member of Foshan Chin Woo Association and a former close quarter fighting "CQF" adviser to the Australian S.A.S regiment. And also a partner in "Pagoda Imports" the UK ’s largest Wing Chun equipment supplier.

Alan Orr is a disciple of Robert Chu Sifu and the European representative of the Chu Sau Lei Wing Chun system.

Teacher of Tui Na Chinese Massage Therapy

www.alanorr.com
www.thechinesemedicineacademy.co.uk
www.warriorfunctionaltraining.com

For further information Tel: 07958 908 196 or email: info@alanorr.co.uk