Review – Sam Chan/Ip Ching – Foundations of Wing Chun

Review – Sam Chan/Ip Ching – Foundations of Wing Chun

From a Foshan origin to an international audience, Ip Ching covers the Wing Chun system in a filmed archive seminar. This presentation takes place in his early years of dedicating a full-time schedule to promoting and teaching the fighting art, and he’s accompanied by Sam Chan for demonstration and translation.

The DVD is raw footage, with some equally raw post-mixed audio translation to suit, which will definitely grab the viewer’s attention. The DVD has been transferred from VHS to digital footage with good resolution.

Ip Ching articulately guides practitioners through the details of both the Siu Lim Tau and Chum Kiu forms. The forms are replayed in different angles and are narrated by Sam Chan, who offers a concise look at the what, why, and how to bring essential components to life in the system.

Ip Ching sets the base before the overviews of the Siu Lim Tau and Chum Kiu forms by establishing the Siu Lim Tau Stance concepts and structures as his first point of interest. He guides us through a simple, yet detailed, breakdown regarding the structure, alignment, and weight distribution in developing the potential of the stance through to practicing the footwork later on.

Taking the next step forward is the playing of and dissecting of Wing Chun’s first form. A good amount of time is dedicated to understanding the first section and the significance of the elbow by putting the pieces of structure together with the right angles, all supported with the correct amount of energy. The second section is bridged to get moving toward the third section with the Gaan Sau and Bong Sau actions taking the spotlight to explore these unique actions of the system and how the practitioner, “Can understand better with the Chum Kiu explanation.”

Before moving on to the demonstration breakdown of the second form, Ip Ching and his aide target the development of the punch in a chapter aptly called “Punching Theories”, which is further sectioned into the “Five Stages of Punches”. The goal is to, “achieve a good technique (and) improve the straight punch,” with the essential elements in place to maximize the viewer’s striking power and control. Working the overall mechanics of the body from the feet, through the waist (Yiuma),via the elbow, to the hand supported with Chum Kiu concepts/footwork and to dynamic punching behaviors as they evolve into the next form.

The approach to Ip Ching’s offering of Chum Kiu’s assets is consistent and detailed, just as the previous form was offered with the same demonstration and presentation method with accompanying explanations. Covering the behavioral concepts of Joi Ying (Chasing Centre) and Chung Kiu Faat Lik (Long Bridge Strike), citing the action being the roots of Bruce Lee’s Inch Punch. Although a comparatively small amount of time is committed to the breakdown of the second form in its entirety, all of the key concepts and techniques that are offered relate to developing one’s application and execution from punch to target.

The approach to Ip Ching’s offering of Chum Kiu’s assets is consistent and detailed, just as the previous form was offered with the same demonstration and presentation method with accompanying explanations. Covering the behavioral concepts of Joi Ying (Chasing Centre) and Chung Kiu Faat Lik (Long Bridge Strike), citing the action being the roots of Bruce Lee’s Inch Punch. Although a comparatively small amount of time is committed to the breakdown of the second form in its entirety, all of the key concepts and techniques that are offered relate to developing one’s application and execution from punch to target.

Sam Chan/Ip Ching Foundations of Wing Chun
Buy the DVD Now From Everything Wing Chun
Language: English
Running Time: 47 min.
Format: NTSC
Region: 0
Number of Discs: 1
Availability: DVD
Reviewed By: Dwight Hennings

Sam Chan-Ip Ching Foundations of Wing Chun

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