Wing Chun Jew

Photos!

2011-08-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

Finally snapped some photos during training.

Me and Sifu

Wing Chun Forward Stance

The Important Things in Life

2011-08-11T19:29:00.000-07:00

Two days ago was Tisha B'Av, the 9th day of the Hebrew month of "Av". On this day, the First and Second Temples were burned and Orthodox Jews around the world fast for about 25 hours.

The fast started Monday night and ended Tuesday night.Tuesday night is also a night that I usually practice Wing Chun at Jing Xin Yuan. I deliberated whether to go or not. After all, its after fasting 24 hours that I will be training.

I decided to go. While driving there, my mind questioned why I am doing this. No one would fault me for taking a break on a fast day.

It occurred to me that Wing Chun is important to me.

When something is very important, one will do whatever it takes to preserve it.

I must give credit to Sifu Lin for making Wing Chun something real and important to me and the other students. Being in Jing Xin Yuan is not like a regular gym , where you come and go and think nothing of it after you leave. The spirit is refreshed and we go on to face the rest of the day or week with new energy. We always look forward to the next class.

Gettin Skooled

2011-04-01T05:29:00.000-07:00

Was an intense class last night.

Sifu instructed Boris to work with me, he of the serious demeanor and powerful punches.

Boris looks at me and says " Go put on the liniment". Ha! Its like taking advil BEFORE you start drinking.

We did overhand punching and boy did that hurt. Boris is a perfectionist and was constantly adjusting my stance, shoulders and positioning. Then we did pax sau and I imrpoved a bit on that.

I did "Lap Sau" with Jesse who helped me to fix my technique.

All in all, a bruising class but well worth it.

After the class, one of my kung fu brothers asked about defending from a knife attack. Sigun and Sifu responded that there is no real defense, you better run away or pick up a bench.

A Place of Peace

2011-03-28T17:21:00.000-07:00

I finished work late on Thursday so decided to skip the class and go on Monday instead.

Bad idea.

I woke up Friday feeling deprived, anxious and irritated. The cause was quite simple: I am becoming addicted to wing chun! I need my weekly fix of WC in order to feel calm and collected.

So I went today instead and hopefully will go Thursday again soon. I practiced "Pax Kao" with an older guy Joe. It didnt come easy but I feel that its coming along.

Its interesting how sometimes one can learn more from a beginner than a master. A beginner will break something down to its very basic components and show it, rather than the master who might show you but you come away feeling like its effortless and it isnt-for you.

We shmoozed with Sifu about life and I gained an appreciation of how much he put into the studio and how it manifests itself.

Whats remarkable is that one gets a sense of serenity and calmness rather than of agression and anger.

As always, I look forward to future lessons.

Step forward, into the mirror

2011-03-17T20:11:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day for the WCJ.

For the first time, Sifu didnt correct my cheng yung ma. I believe that one needs a solid foundation in order to build big and stances and core movements are the most important things to know in a martial art.

Sifu instructed me on how to step forward and backward and I worked on that the entire time in the mirror.

For the first time, I really got into it. First just going back and forward and and then adding punches and tantsus.

I was privileged to receive instruction on the matter also from Sigun Goldberg's son who really helped me to focus. He also encouraged me with his kind words.

I'm in this one for the long haul. And looking forward to it too.

Wobbly Wobbly

2011-03-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

Just had my third class. I will warn you that this and future posts might be a bit on curt side.

I see an improvement in my basic stance which is called cheng yung ma (thanks sifu!). I practiced more punching and strated working on my "pux cow" which is a deflection move. Did that and did 45 degrees turn variations too.

Had some difficulty with the "Lupe" which is a block and then a yank at the wrist of opponent to offset him.

Towards the end of the class, my thighs were seriously jelly. Its a challenge, this WC, as I heard Wing Chun referred to in class today. I see a move demonstrated but its not easy to translate it into action.

I also take this class after 9 hours on my feet in a retail store and a long week so its tiring. Nevertheless, I intend BH to continue to seek my path in Wing Chun.

I like the greeting that we give to each other, which is the left hand cupping the right hand's fist. Sifu says that its to symbolize "Compassion over Strength".

ciao

Wing Chun Jew- First Post

2011-03-06T17:22:00.000-08:00

testing testing testing....

Yeah, we live.

This blog is to serve as a journal chronicling my journey into the world of Wing Chun.

Whats that?

Wiki:

Wing Chun (traditional Chinese: 詠春; pinyin: yǒng chūn; literally "spring chant"), also romanized as Ving Tsun or "Wing Tsun" (and sometimes substituted with the characters 永春 "eternal springtime"^[1]) is a concept-based Chinese martial art and form of self-defense utilizing both striking and grappling while specializing in close-range combat.

Why the blog?

During my second class, Sifu ( a term for teacher or master in Chinese, in the case Sifu Lin) asked us to start a journal. So here we are.

Why Wing Chun?

Well, I was looking for an alternative to biking which I had done for years and have lost the passion. Martial arts is something I've done in the past. About ten years ago, I took Kuk Sul Won for about 18 months. It was fun but it kinda brought out the inner beast. Not a good idea.

Fast forward to today. After checking out a few places, I had mentioned to De Rebbe that I want to do some martial arts. He is involved in Wing Chun at http://jxywingchun.webs.com/ so I decided to check it out.

Sifu Lin was very gracious and welcoming. After taking a class, I felt that this is a good place for me. This is a relaxed environment in which one can learn new and exciting things. I didnt feel that it will be too violent and wouldnt either be too passive. Sifu is a great teacher and I look forward to learning from him.

I took a class last Thursday, my second one. I practiced the basic punch ( will update with proper terms later) and a blocking move. Also worked on my stance.

My hands hurt for a few days but am feeling better now.

What I like about Wing Chun is that it is logical, practical and graceful. The punch, for example, is delivered in the minimum amount of outreach. No looping boxing punch, uppercut etc. Just a straight punch right down the middle.

Everything revolves around the "Core", the area around your solar plexus.

One last thing: I was excited to meet Sigun (Grandfather i.e. Grandmaster) Alan Goldberg at the second class. How many people can say they shmoozed with someone with over 46 years of martial arts experience? He was down to earth and explained things to me.

Just goes to show that this place is the real deal.

Will update as I go along.