With the internet at everyone’s finger tips is just too easy to do a google search for Wing Chun Kuen and come up with an extensive list of many systems of our arts, kuit and masters doing their thing! The veils of secrecy are long gone thanks to the net. But, even with all the open sharing going on one of the most common things we hear today is Mainland (older) & Hong Kong (modern) with regards to these systems. This article will directly relate to this topic and discuss why there isn’t any Old or New Wing Chun but just Wing Chun!

The Red Boat Factor

Of the known lineages, that can be verified, we can show without doubt that each of these systems surviving today can be traced back to the Red Boat Junks. Example; Leung Jan’s systems, Yuen family systems, Cho family systems all share the common root in the Red Boat. If we just consider this we can see already that it doesn’t matter if you are from the Cho family or Yip Man’s school, both is Red Boat rooted Wing Chun. If so, then which one is older? Obviously they are both the same age. The only difference is individual modification by the lineage holders for passing on the art as best they can and localization evolution by its practitioners.

When we think about the evolution or modifications there is truly not much to consider. Some may have preferred to teach it core where as some others may have preferred to retain a bit more twisting or continuity in their sets. Most noticeable difference is the linking of movements in the sets but essentially it’s the linking and not the skills that differ. If one was to watch a side by side clip of 1st section Cho SLT, Yuen Kay San SLT and Yip Man SLT it would be real easy to see its all Wing Chun but minor details/moves and continuity being the major difference outside of power generation.

Back To the Basics

Wing Chun boxing needs to reverse the Old & New negative label and get back to the fundamentals with the simple truths that can be found across all systems. Leung Jan Sifu, when he organized his training for his Gu Lo pupils, kept what he felt were the core developmental actions of the entire SLT and organized them into two simple sets he called: Siu Lin Tau & Dai Lin Tau. Found within these sets are Bong, Tan, Fook & Sau. These are the cardinal four directions “+” that can be done singular or with two hands. When you include the Sup Ji hand shape you have all the Wing Chun so-called shapes that make our art. There is nothing found in all the Wing Chun sets that are not from the Bong, Tan, Fook, Sau & Sup. These are the true Alphabet of Wing Chun and not the linked sets.

A simple example can help illustrate the point. If you right hand is in Bong shape, and you turn so your right side goes into it, then it’s basically a Bong Sao action. Take the exact same hand shape and now turn so your right side goes backwards and its Kau Sao action. Those promoting the Old typically believe they have more and will say the New arts don’t have Kau Sao but if they have the simple alphabet, which everyone has, then they most certainly do have all the same stuff but may not focus on it.

When we consider the above, and just how simple Wing Chun truly is, we can understand that Chum Kiu and Biu Jee (or the 2nd and 3rd stages of the Fung/Cho art) are not any different from Siu Lin Tau but rather different Ging’s & Conditioning (medium & short). Siu Lin Tau = 1st Door, Chum Kiu = 2nd Door & Biu Jee = 3rd Door. It’s the same five hands being mixed and matched with the body in different ways but still just those five. The only thing left is the few punches of our art being combined with the basic skills. Simplicity at its finest!

Old & New = Division

If Yip Man, Yuen Kay San, Cho Hung Choi and Fung Chun all practice Bong, Tan, Fook and the other simple tools how does one judge which one is older? Is it older because the art is not as public as some other art? Is it older because the move has a bit more circular twist to it? Is it the couple of odd drills we all have? Certainly the further away from the main sources of info in our arts you may lose some flavor & quality but essentially it’s still rooted in Red Boat which makes them all the same age.

Take the opposite scenario now! What if the so-called Old Wing Chun has lost its understanding? Would it be better to train a more extensive (longer) system, even if it’s consider more secret (or old), and the cultivation is not intact? Of course not! This is the exact opposite direction of growth and the most common problem in martial art. The collectors have a core doctrine of more is better where as history has proved one thing for sure and that is the truly greats were all masters of the simple less. With this in mind, we can see that the net can be positive from its connecting of lineage, and sharing of skills, but if we use it to go down the wrong path it can be our worst nightmare by accumulating sets and techniques.

The true downfall of Traditional Martial Art is not the boxing but the secrecy and division. There is a famous quote from Leung Jan that says; Wing Chun is all from the same family and differs very little. Being one of histories top sifu’s, fighters and healers, the famed Dr. Leung Jan clearly shows Mo Duk in his reply to his pupils by not teaching Division. A great example for all of us to follow!