Lester L

at #9687

Hey Saba,
I had a similar issue before I ended up practicing with Sifu Ward for a few years now. The answer is yes, but to get a certain level that you might want would involve a bit of creativity on your side. I think you’ll have to answer why you are studying Wing Chun. I can’t answer that for you, but for me, it was mainly for health and self-defense. Sure, I could go running or swimming for my health but if I can learn some self defense in the same time period; win-win I thought, haha. Also, I hope I never get into any bad situation, but sometimes I might be out with my family, and giving the bad guy what he wants and running away might not be an option. So I would like at least 1% chance at survival, if that time ever came. Here’s a bit of my experience to help you make a decision to stick around or not.

So I started Wing Chun at a local meetup in my area (different lineage), then plateaued after my skill hit a ceiling that hadn’t improved for a while. I had a decision to make. Was it me being a bad student, or was it that I could not understand what my instructor at that time was teaching me? I found Sifu Ward’s online course and decided to give it a shot. Ended up finding his material made sense, and then I surpassed my classmates in the local Wing Chun place. So I committed just to learn under Sifu Ward. Learning all the techniques is there, and you will get good if you put in the work. To give you some numbers, I learn a bit slowly, so I put in roughly 15 hours/week practicing martial arts and with the other fitness-related stuff to keep me in shape.

Could I win against a pro fighter? No. Pros spend many hours focusing on their craft, and my profession is non-combat-related. It’s crazy to think one could beat someone doing only 1 hour a week vs. someone who works 40-60 hours/week; skill just compounds over time. Could I give another hobbyist or poorly trained criminal a run for their money? Probably. Also, on the bad habits part, I actually sparred with other martial artists in my area just to sanity check my skill, just to have a rough idea to know if I am really developing skill or just dancing in my living room. It’s not an easy road to solo drill, but with Sifu Ward, you don’t have to do it alone.

Hope this helps!

Lester L

at #9646

Hey Charles,
I’m Lester and also from the US (Chicago, IL). If I only saw this earlier I could have told you that this weekend all the US students were meeting in Lancaster PA for one of Sifu’s seminars. We have been doing it annually, so there’s always a next time.

If you’re ever around my neck of the woods, feel free to swing by a train! I usually meet up with one other person to do Wing Chun on Sundays. Also where are you based? Sometimes work has be traveling to the west coast and wouldn’t mind rolling for a few 🙂

Lester L

at #9169

I believe the lineage associated with this school is Ip Chun. So it would look something like this:
Leung Yee Tai > Dr. Leung Jan (Leung Tak Wing) > Leung Bik > Ip Man 葉問 (Yip Gai-Man) > Ip Chun 葉準 > Colin Ward

Of course, the more senior students / Sifu Ward would know better than me.

Lester L

at #9146

Hey Jeffrey,
Welcome, and there’s actually a pretty big group in Lancaster, PA (https://www.lancasterwingchun.com/).

I’m from Chicago, but I will be stopping by there for the April 25-27 seminar on Chi Sao. I think we also have another member there in Lebanon, but I don’t want to speak for him.

Lester L

at #9096

Good post, Colin!

The same applies to me if anyone is in the US around Chicago, IL. I even know of a JKD place nearby that will let us in to record during their open mat.

Best,
Lester

Lester L

at #9075

Hey Frank, glad you found it. I fell into the same issue too the first time. FWIW, sifu also has the whole form at the ends for each of the forms. Also, we tend to cover the first and second forms often in the class/catch-up.

Lester L

at #9027

Hey Pip,

I think Module 12 is a good place to start.

Lester L

at #8834

Hi Rayhan,

Just to add what everyone else said, for the stance, it is technically a training stance (not really a fighting one). So, the way you shifted to feel weight on the thighs is right, but I know Sifu has a saying that it takes effort to get Wing Chun wrong. In other words, he would probably prefer the one where you feel more relaxed.

On the punching side, I remember you referencing the middle knuckle. For actual striking/energetics, I apply the punching force to the bottom three knuckles along with using my elbow like how we use it during the Sil Lim Tao form.

Lester L

at #8705

I just got the notification for this @Kenneth v. For this month, it would be 2 pm CST (depending on where you are in the States). Starting next month, it will be 1 pm CST.

Lester L

at #8683

Hey Pip,

Sifu or the more senior students will probably chime in but I think it is the case in Wing Chun as well. Once you learn the general structure of the punch, you’ll find that you need to stay relaxed for most of the strike to maintain speed and power. I think the only point of tension should be at the moment of impact, but right after, you should relax. It will prevent the force of your strike bouncing back into you while leaving you quick to react to an opponent’s strike. I think the wall bag video goes into more detail on it (https://wingchun.online/modules/module-1/lessons/1-3/).

Best,
Lester

Lester L

at #8677

Welcome Mike! As a fairly new member here as well, I’m sure you’ll find it enjoyable as well.

Lester L

at #8668

Oh, oops. Good to know for the future, but thanks to you both!

Lester L

at #8664

Much appreciated – thanks Sifu!

Lester L

at #9679

Hey Charles,

Sorry for the delayed reply, I just saw this. Welcome back to the program, and it’s great to hear that you’re planning to attend the Lancaster seminar next year.

Niles is a bit far from Chicago for regular training, but if I’m ever traveling through Ohio or farther east, I’ll reach out. Definitely let me know when the Lancaster seminar gets closer too. It would be good to meet and train together there.

I hope you’re able to find a local training partner in the meantime. Best of luck with your training!

Lester