The Chi of Wing Chun Kung Fu

Looking into the depths of China’s past and back across the broad span of time leading us to the contemporary world, one can see a vast and murky expanse; to which, I’m sure we all struggle to attach ourselves. I think it can be safely said that “a history, of no history” has been given us by China, and this from the purely practical standpoint of a Kung Fu practitioner.

It is my opinion that Wing Chun is unique amongst Chinese martial art, a southern style of Kung Fu based on tung kiu or the short arm bridge; it is a product of a tumultuous cultural upheaval spanning thousands of years and surfacing for our use as intelligent beings. As Wong Shun Leung might have put it: “beyond civilized conversation, how is it that human beings interface?”, here an understanding of the Chi in China is all important. The mere mention of China draws a huge blank on most peoples screens, what if this disguise has been in place purposefully? Guiding theorists and academics into the netherworld of abstraction, or what if martial art has come to you…

In this regard, it is important people understand – what it is, that you get from the practice of Wing Chun Kung Fu; you get: the ability to be present, always. This is implied in the name Wing Chun, which can be literally translated as “Everlasting Springtime” or everlasting life. Wing Chun specifically trains the practitioner in an ability to express ‘lat sau jik chung‘ or constant forward springlike energy.

This central principle within the training method of Wing Chun Kung Fu, is surely the dividing line between outward form and inner virtue. It is all too easy to see how outward form invites conceited and easily corruptible people. Kung Fu as a system of personal honesty, offers a vital opportunity to embrace an awareness of Chi, or life energy.

Many would agree that in the field of dynamic action, reputation like history is worthless; we can all learn to lean on the Chi of Wing Chun “it it is light and lively, Wing Chun demonstrates the creative principle in action”. The benefits of practice are manifold, to the un-initiated it might be inspiring to understand the true path of Kung Fu, which can be neatly captured in the powerful understanding of how the emotions rise to determine the thinking, and if trained correctly these can be expressed in a manner harmonious with your life-path.

Did you know?

The meaning of Kung Fu is: “time spent in practice.”