Author: Manual Bustos (EWC Customer)

Manual Bustos is an Everything Wing Chun customer, who has taken the time to write some in-depth reviews of some DVDs. He is not a EWC employee and his views do not necessarily represent those of Everything Wing Chun.

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Another Review for Gary Lam’s Foundation Fortress

The DVD “Foundation Fortress” by Sifu Gary Lam of the Wong Shun Leung Wing Chun (WSLWC) lineage is the latest offering by Sifu Lam covering Wing Chun’s empty-hand form “Siu Nim Tau.”  The wording on the DVD “Uncovering the hidden principles of the Siu Nim Tau” succinctly expresses the central theme of the DVD. The DVD stresses the true importance of the Siu Nim Tao form as the very foundation of Wing Chun, and then explores the Siu Nim Tau form illuminating those concepts that can so easily be missed, overlooked or in some cases misunderstood.  So important is Siu Nim Tao that it is rumored that the late Grandmaster Ip Man practiced the form daily up unto his death.  Additionally, within Sifu Lam’s  DVD, “Making Gwoh Sau (Crossing Hands) Work for You”  Sifu Lam is found to state that about 80% of Crossing Hands is derived from the Siu Nim Tau form, further proof of the great importance of the Siu Nim Tau form. The DVD runs approx. 80 minutes and can roughly be broken up into three sections: the form and the hidden concepts, the six actions of the form and once again the hidden concepts gleaned from the Siu Nim Tau form and a seminar from 2009. The added bonus of the DVD is the 2009 seminar that runs roughly 26 minutes and while filmed earlier in 2009 the seminar does shed light on those hidden principles of the Siu Nim Tau form in a visceral manner. The DVD is geared towards intermediate- level students, in the sense that the student should already know the Siu Nim Tau form to fully appreciate the content of the DVD.  “Foundation Fortress” is a worthy addition to any Wing Chun student’s collection, but is probably better understood by an intermediate or higher level Wing Chun student – highly recommended.

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Review – Gary Lam’s Awesome Kicking Techniques DVD

“Awesome Kicking Techniques” is the second of sifu Lam’s Wing Chun kicking DVDs. Essentially, this DVD is a DVD that uses various exercises, equipment and drills, both alone and with partner, to enhance and train Wing Chun kicking. In that respect this DVD is quite different from Sifu Lam’s other Wing Chun kicking DVD, “Wing Chun Kicking 1.” It should be stated that this is an advanced level Wing Chun DVD and not for the beginning Wing Chun student.

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Review – Gary Lam’s Philosophy of Wing Chun Fighting DVD

The DVD “Five Element System” by Sifu Gary Lam is one the two more advanced topic Wing Chun DVDs in Sifu Lam’s growing Wing Chun DVD library (currently numbering fourteen titles). Wing Chun is different than other martial arts in that Wing Chun is concept based instead of technique based. Hence the “Five Element System” DVD covers a lot of theory and is a lengthy DVD at 95 minutes. Although there are some demonstrations of the concepts put forth, this DVD is more of a concept and theory DVD. Certainly the “Five Element System” has enough of the necessary demonstrations to illustrate some concepts, but this DVD is not like a Wing Chun empty-hand form DVD where each technique is followed by a demonstration. Sifu Lam utilizes five elements: water, wood, fire, earth and metal in a series of lists and matrices as well as a diagram to fully explain to the viewer a specific concept, how these concepts interrelate, how one element can aid another element, how one element can be used to overcome another element and how the five elements further conceptualize Wing Chun. As an example someone with fast hands (fire) can be overcome with changing (water) or distance (earth). This is not a DVD that will be easily digested in one sitting. There are so many fine points to understand that multiple viewings will likely be necessary for a Wing Chun practitioner to fully realize the content of this DVD and many of the elements are higher level. This DVD is highly recommended for the Wing Chun practitioner who wishes to advance his/her theoretical knowledge of Wing Chun, but is best suited for an advanced Wing Chun practitioner.

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Review – Gary Lam’s Wing Chun Kicking Instructional DVD

Most non- Wing Chun martial artists associate Wing Chun solely with hand techniques, but in fact from the very first form of Wing Chun, “Sil Lim Tau,” stance and leg work are there, but perhaps not obvious to the casual observer or even student. Kicking per se does not actually come into play until “Cham Kiu,” and is further examined in the “Mook Yan Jong form.” “Wing Chun Kicking 1” DVD by Sifu Gary Lam, a long time student of Wong Shun Leung, explores the world on Wing Chun kicking. Sifu Lam explains that Wing Chun kicking is effective because the Wing Chun kick does not stop and moves forward. A leg can continue to kick multiple times if necessary or if the chance presents itself step forward. There are six sections on the DVD that deal with Wing Chun kicking and demonstrate repeatedly the eight kicks found in the Wong Shun Leung Wing Chun lineage. Each section on the DVD explores Wing Chun kicks slightly differently. The DVD begins with Sifu Lam demonstrating the kicks and progresses to demonstration against student, two students, Mook Yan Jong demonstration, some exercises for kicking, and concludes with examples “real -world fighting” using Wing Chun kicks. This last section is where both Wong Shun Leung’s and Sifu Lam’s fighting experience benefit the viewer. “Wing Chun Kicking Instructional DVD” will make a welcome addition to any Wing Chun practitioner’s arsenal as the DVD explores the seldom explored world of Wing Chun kicking.

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Review – Gary Lam’s Complete Wooden Dummy Instructional DVD

Sifu Gary Lam working on a dummy with arms set to mid-chest level.

“The Complete Wooden Dummy Instructional DVD” is Sifu Gary Lam’s first DVD on the Mook Yan Jong (MYJ) as taught by the late Wong Shun Leung. Since releasing this DVD Sifu Lam had now released a second DVD on the MYJ, which is complimentary to this MYJ DVD. After learning the empty-hand forms from Grandmaster Yip Man and then going to test his skills on the streets of Hong Kong Sifu Wong altered the Mook Yan Jong as taught by Yip Man by adding techniques and changing the sequence of the techniques as well as rethinking some of the theory such as sticking to the arms during the MYJ form. Sifu Lam documents his Sifu’s form by systematically examining the form, demonstrating the form as well introducing the “air-dummy” and most importantly explaining the reasoning behind the techniques. The DVD is dedicated to the breakdown, examination and illustration of Wong’s MYJ form. Sifu Lam does a very good job of explaining that the form is not quite so black and white as it may appear and that the student or practitioner of Wing Chun must use their imagination when performing the sequence. This is a solid entry for Sifu Lam on the Mook Yan Jong and recommended. Time on the DVD is 1:40:58.

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Review – Gary Lam’s Back Yard Chi Sao DVD

This DVD is a relaxed presentation of Chi Sau. The DVD focuses exclusively on Chi Sau, which also means all elements of Wing Chun forms and theory are present. Presented literally in a backyard the DVD is broken into five short segments of varying length. Within these segments Sifu Lam covers important points of Chi Sau that are not often highlighted, expanded upon or discussed in greater detail. Within the DVD one can witness the speed of Wing Chun exchanges as Sifu Lam shows his both his control and speed. Once can also see the hallmark of Wing Chun – simultaneous defense and offense that is so characteristic of Wing Chun. Sifu Lam also demonstrates some kicking techniques, but not as extensively as the hand techniques. There are some areas in which Sifu Lam deals with grappling. Wing Chun does not have “distinct” grappling, but more like methods of control – at least those lineages derived from Grandmaster Yip Man. Given the nature of the subject, this DVD is more for the intermediate and advanced level students than a beginner. The video is a bit grainy, the sound can sometimes be busy, but the DVD is a very thorough of investigation and coverage of Wing Chun Chi Sau and therefore easily recommended.

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Review – Gary Lam’s Biu Jee DVD

Biu Jee is Sifu Gary Lam’s entry for the third and final open-hand form of Wing Chun. This form is also known as the “Emergency Form.” Once again the late Wong Shun Leung’s experience with challenge fights (Beimo) can be seen within the form. As an example Sifu Lam explains that Biu Sau within “Biu Jee” is underhand, but it is not used with a shift of the body, which is misunderstood by some. Biu Sau in Biu jee is a breaking action, NOT an attack. The form itself is demonstrated multiple times and from various angles. Not only does Sifu Lam demonstrate the form, but he also has adds Fung Hao and closing, which can include take downs, the 12 hands of Pak Sau, and covers the Cantonese names with subtitle of the techniques, something not done in the previous DVDs. As to the presentation of the DVD Sifu Lam seems more at ease, the camera angles wider to encompass the techniques, and the sound is crisp. It should be mention that the camera moves around quite a bit in the DVD.

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