CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

East-West Wing Chun Kung Fu's curriculum emphasizes a step-by-step, methodical progression of basic movements and techniques to establish a solid foundation in Wing Chun. We seek to isolate and train individual aspects of the style and then integrate them into our overall understanding.

Siu Nin Tao
Siu Nin Tao, loosely translated as "Little Idea" contains the most fundamental building blocks of the Wing Chun system. Looking from the outside, it seems to be a very simple form; but its simplicity belies how much it is teaching the student about Wing Chun fighting theory; while of course learning precision in the movement and position of stance, body alignment, and arm structure.

In this stage of training, a student is taught the basic theories of Wing Chun. They learn how to combine the style's basic hand motions into simple techniques and then use those techniques in Chi Sao sticking hands practice.

Chum Kiu
In Chum Kiu-- translated as "seeking bridges"-- we take the hand motions learned in Siu Nin Tao and begin to integrate them with our lower body. Beyond the basic idea of uniting the upper and lower body, we also learn the ideas of opposite forces: pushing and pulling, raising and lifting, etc; and the idea of "changing bridges."

In East-West Wing Chun's Chum Kiu curriculum, a student learns how to turn on his horse, step, and kick.

San Da
San Da literally means "loose hitting." It refers to sparring practice, where techniques do not follow rote responses to attacks.

In our San Da curriculum, we use the theories and body mechanics that we learned in Siu Nin Tao and Chum Kiu and seek to apply them to all ranges of combat. While examining the universal fighting concepts of distance, position and timing, we learn to interpret the ideas behind the Wing Chun system so that it becomes tailored to us, and individuals.

Biu Jee
The third hand form of Wing Chun is Biu Jee, which means "flying fingers." This form, besides stressing ideas like unleashing potential energy, "borrowing bridges" and visualization, also contains emergency techniques to recover correct Wing Chun structure when it is lost.

Wooden Dummy
Perhaps the most famous Wing Chun training apparatus is the Mook Yan Jong or "Wooden Dummy." Set at very specific angles, it helps the student learn correct structure hand and foot position while moving. It also helps one develop springy, relaxed force so that we learn how to create a "link" between our us and our opponent.

Precision Drills
Throughout our Wing Chun training, we use Precision Drills to help teach the meaning of specific movements while learning how to execute these movements with a partner using exacting structure and energy.

Instructor Course
The most enthusiastic and gifted students who show interest in teaching may opt to take our three-level instructor course starting upon completion of the basic San Da curriculum. Completion of a course effectively represents the East-West Wing Chun Kung Assocation's blessing for that person to teach up to a specified level.