The chi sao event to be held at Seni in London in April now has a web pages, application forms and a information blog up at:
http://www.alanorr.com/htdocs/images/chisaurules.html

Regards

Alan

Via Ringe on KFO:

Legend of Yip Man Cast Announced - Wu-Jing.org

《叶问传》 Legend of Yip Man, produced by Mandarin Films, will begin production in late February 2008. Wilson Yip is directing, with the main production behind SPL being involved as well. Apart from Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung will also be joining the cast. And for maximum impact, they’ll be performing their own stunts in this action oriented feature. Ngai Sing and a few martial artists are also being considered. Raymond Wong says that they are gathering information on the life of Yip Man, and have even been to Hall of Yip Man in Foshan as part of the research. The movie has full support from Yip Man’s son, who’s agreed to be the consultant. Raymond Wong says that the film will take on a similar look and feel as SPL.

Via Phil Redmond on KFO:

Since we are in the mood for sharing, here are some Wing Chun clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9TzQ36BGDM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxlCmihP01s

UPDATED with more videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbcNzmJASYk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=162NkojmIvI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e34jbDX3HY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGz7PGnT7a8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPCWSNzaU3o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUIr_sxLmAM

From SiuFu:

Our website at www.syracusemartialarts.com has been undergoing major changes over the last few weeks.

Check out all the new info, pictures and videos.

Hope this message finds you all well

It’s not uncommon in Chinese martial arts to see titles like “master” and “grandmaster” used and sometimes abused. Indeed, the internet now sometimes makes it seem like there are more masters and grandmasters today than there were students in the last generation.

But what does it really mean?

If we westernize the Si-To (teacher/student) relationship into the master/apprentice paradigm in trade and craft, and we accept the usage of the parent to grand parent progression, then sifu being master, sigung (sifu’s sifu) would be grand-master (and sijo would be ancestral master).

If we westernize to the master/slave paradigm, in language (and worse, behavior), then we need startling intervention, asap.

So, using westernized terms like master or grandmaster, while counter to the familial convention of Chinese martial arts, and more than a wee bit pretentious in common usage (like a judge calling himself “My Honor”), could be useful in an archaic or commercial marketing sense.

For most, I think sifu, sigung, etc., properly and familial-ly expressed, is probably better karma.

Want to really master the pole?

All you have to do is master the 8 cardinal directions, horizontal/diagonal/vertical figure 8’s and thrusting.

Using the pole with the proper mechanics takes a lot of practice, but once you have that down, it’s just a matter of  drilling these three practices.

Firstly, imagine a big asterisk in front of you  and do all the pole motions with both hands while in a Ding Ji Ma.

Secondly, develop fluidity doing horizontal/diagonal/vertical figure 8’s - this will teach you to relax more.

Finally, set up multiple hanging targets or candles and thrust the pole at it.

Enjoy your training! 

xkcd - Duty Calls by Randall Munroe

(via Daring Fireball)

Integrated Eskrima is the type of Filipino martial arts developed by Guro Mark Wiley on the basis of Kalis Ilustrisimo and years of study with other great masters of the arnis and escrima systems here and in the Phillipines .  Many WCK’ers actively crosstrain  in the Filipino Martial Arts, and I was introduced to Pekiti Tirsia back in my college days by Leo Gaje and Greg Alland.  Throughout the years, I have met some practitioners, but not with the level of skill and passion and willingness to teach like Mark Wiley.   Since meeting Mark in person over the publication of “Complete Wing Chun” of which he was editor, it was this art that he introduced to me.  Integrated Eskrima is also the system that Alan Orr and Dave McKinnon and my other students and grandstudents have actively trained in and I wholeheartedly recommend this training.

The core of Integrated Eskrima is footwork and the various methods of offense and defense.  The art is based on Antonio Ilustrismo’s Kalis (Sword) art and is different than most contemporary forms of Arnis or Escrima, in that the main focus is the sword.  We use the stick like a sword and not vice versa.  Uniquely, the art contains major strokes that are used for both defense and offense.  Methods like the lutang footwork keep one in range to strike at all times, and the methods in many ways are taught like Gu Lao WCK - that is point by point, until mastered.  Although there is a numbering system used, the core are the 27 major motions of attack and defense, and some have no equivalent to other arnis systems.  Freestyle sparring is encouraged in this art.

It is not to say that WCK weapons are not practical - they are, and can be readily applied in all situations if trained realistically.  But one of the best ways to to develop skill in weapons is to study various weapons systems.  The Wing Chun pole and knives I have practiced for decades is a great art, but I see the similarities and universalness of timing and positioning to make the the arts practical when you train in the various ranges with weapons. 

What methods do you employ for strength and conditioning and nutrition? Most people use the forms, drills, Jong, weapons for overall health and they’re fine for overall fitness. But what other drills do you do for yourself to improve your performance, shape and health? Also, dim sum is a great treat, and having late night dinners might be the norm after a work out - but may not the best of health for you… perhaps you are gaining unwanted pounds and need to move into a functional, wiry, athletic state. Perhaps your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol are up…maybe you’re battling diabetes, or have cancer in your family, or even have injuries…

As a licensed practitioner, I do specialize in giving patients health advice, and I would like to see WCK people benefit to be optimal athletes.

For example, I suggest patients take a minimum 10,000 steps a day, do 10 pushups, squats and crunches for every hour they’re awake, and may put them on a detox diet with suppplements to overall help their health. Also avoid sugars and junk food snacks, and the pounds start shedding.

For my athletes, we do KB lifts, boot camp training, and all sorts of exercises to supplement WCK - but of course, WCK needs no supplement - the pole and knives can be good weight training in themselves, and Chi Sao can be good dynamic weight training…

We are more apt to run into health issues than ever use WCK for fighting - but if we use WCK as a vehicle to help people stay healthy and fight disease, we all win. I’d like to hear from you! We can have this as a great discussion for all WCK people, no lineage issues here.

Wing Chun Kuen uses 3 points in drawing the “X” (the crossed hands, which some may see a “”V” inverted or otherwise). We primarily use Dan Tian (Ren 6) located 1.5 cun below the center of the umbilicus (commonly referred to as the bellybutton) and Ren 17 (Tan Zhong) on the anatomical midline, level with the 4th intercostal space and Yin Tang (The point between the eyebrows). These 3 points of alignment are in Daoist alchemy or Dao Yin and ecognized as the 3 dantian in Chinese cosmological or metaphysical arts.

These points demark the 3 heights, referred to as Seung, Jung, Ha (Shang, Zhong, Xia) or San Cai (aka Sam Choy), commonly referred to as Tian, Yan, Dei (Heaven, Man and Earth), in Chinese metaphysics. Tian would be the height above Ren 17, Yan would be below Ren 17 and above Ren 6, and Dei would be below Ren 6. We cross our hands in WCK at Ren 6 and Ren 17.