ADULTS CLASS

Adult Wing Chun Syllabus

The adult Wing Chun syllabus is structured around four progressive gradings, each designed to ensure that students develop a comprehensive understanding of both the theory and practical application of all Wing Chun forms. By successfully completing these gradings, students demonstrate proficiency in the core principles, techniques, and strategies that define the art of Wing Chun.

Empty-Hand Forms (拳套)

The syllabus focuses first on the empty-hand forms, which form the foundation of Wing Chun training. These include:

1. Siu Nim Tau (小念頭 – “Little Ideas”)

2. Chum Kiu (尋橋 – “Seeking Bridge”)

3. Bil Tze (鏢指 – “Darting Fingers”)

Each form is carefully designed to teach specific concepts:

• Siu Nim Tau introduces beginners to the fundamental structure, hand positions, and internal energy control essential to Wing Chun.

• Chum Kiu builds upon this foundation by developing mobility, bridging techniques, and the integration of footwork with hand techniques.

• Bil Tze introduces advanced applications, precision striking, and refined defensive techniques, preparing students to function as advanced practitioners.

Training Approach

Students begin with Siu Nim Tau, learning to master the basic framework, angles, and principles of striking and blocking. As they progress to Chum Kiu, they integrate these principles into more dynamic movement and practical combat applications. By the time they reach Bil Tze, students have achieved a high level of technical and conceptual understanding, capable of applying Wing Chun effectively in both controlled practice and live scenarios.

Each stage is designed not only to teach technique but also to cultivate structural awareness, timing, sensitivity, and tactical understanding, ensuring that every practitioner develops a well-rounded, practical skill set.

The adult syllabus is therefore a journey from foundational understanding to advanced application, producing students who are not only technically proficient but also able to think and respond intelligently in combat situations.

Mook Yahn Jhung Faat (木人樁法) – Wooden Dummy Form

The Wooden Dummy Form, or Mook Yahn Jhung Faat, is an essential component of advanced Wing Chun training. Serving as a training partner for practitioners at all levels, the wooden dummy allows students to practice hand shapes, strikes, and combinations in a controlled and repeatable environment.

Purpose and Benefits

Once students have mastered Chum Kiu, they progress to the wooden dummy form, which plays a critical role in refining their technique and overall martial skill. Training on the wooden dummy provides numerous benefits, including:

• Enhanced Footwork: Students learn to integrate precise stepping, balance, and weight transfer, ensuring their movements remain effective and efficient in combat situations.

• Improved Structure and Alignment: The dummy helps students maintain correct body structure, angles, and positioning, which are essential for both offense and defense.

• Development of Power and Conditioning: Repeated practice on the wooden dummy strengthens the arms, wrists, and body, while improving the practitioner’s ability to deliver forceful, accurate strikes.

• Combination Training: Students can seamlessly link strikes, blocks, and deflections, allowing them to develop fluid, continuous techniques that mirror real combat scenarios.

The wooden dummy is therefore far more than a simple training tool—it is a dynamic partner that enables practitioners to internalize Wing Chun principles, refine precision, and elevate their overall martial skill. By training consistently on the wooden dummy, students progress from competent practitioners to advanced, highly skilled martial artists, capable of applying Wing Chun techniques with power, accuracy, and confidence.

Chi Sau (黐手) – Reaction and Sensitivity Training

Chi Sau, or Sticking Hands, is one of the most distinctive and essential training methods in Wing Chun. It is designed to cultivate a practitioner’s ability to sense, interpret, and respond to an opponent’s movements in close‑range combat. Through continuous, fluid contact with a partner, students develop exceptional reflexes, precision, and control—skills that form the foundation of effective Wing Chun application.

Core Chi Sau Drills

During Chi Sau training, students are introduced to several fundamental drills, each focusing on a key aspect of sensitivity, structure, and reaction timing:

• Dan Sau (單手) – Single Arm
  Introduces the basic rolling action while training coordination, structure, and responsiveness through one-arm contact.

• Bong Lap Sau (膀拉手) – Bong–Lap Combination
  Develops the ability to transition between defending and controlling, using the Bong Sau and Lap Sau actions to redirect force and create openings.

• Pak Sau (拍手) – Parry Hand
  Trains quick, efficient deflections while maintaining forward intent, helping students manage incoming attacks with minimal effort.

• Seung Sau (雙手) – Double Arm
  Builds coordination and adaptability by engaging both arms simultaneously, preparing practitioners for more advanced Chi Sau exchanges.

Purpose and Application

The ultimate aim of Chi Sau is to enable practitioners to control an opponent at close range with precision and confidence. By maintaining contact with the opponent’s arms, students learn to:

• Detect subtle shifts in pressure

• Understand the opponent’s intentions instantly

• Exploit weaknesses in structure

• Create opportunities to strike

• Neutralise attacks the moment they arise

Chi Sau is not merely a drill—it is the bridge between form and combat. Through consistent practice, students develop the reflexes, timing, and tactical awareness needed to place their opponent in a vulnerable position while simultaneously attacking, defending, and maintaining control.

This dynamic and interactive training method is what makes Wing Chun uniquely effective at close quarters, transforming technique into practical skill that can be applied in real‑world situations.

Weapon Forms (武器) – Advanced Wing Chun Training

The weapon forms represent the final and most advanced stage of the Wing Chun system. Traditionally taught only to dedicated students in private settings, these forms are designed to refine a practitioner’s understanding of distance, timing, power generation, and tactical strategy. Mastering the weapons offers a deeper insight into both short‑range and long‑range combat, completing the practitioner’s journey through the full Wing Chun curriculum.

Lok Dim Boon Kwun (六點半棍) – Six and a Half Point Pole

The Six and a Half Point Pole is a long‑range weapon form that focuses on structure, stability, and the generation of explosive power. Training with the pole strengthens the body, enhances rooting, and sharpens precision in striking.
Students learn to manage extended distance while applying Wing Chun’s principles of efficiency, directness, and economy of motion through:

• Powerful long-range thrusts

• Full‑body power generation

• Improved stance and structural alignment

• Advanced control of distance and timing

This form builds exceptional physical conditioning and deepens the practitioner’s understanding of long‑range engagement.

Baat Jarm Dou Faat (八斬刀法) – Eight Chopping Knives Form

The Eight Chopping Knives, often known as the Wing Chun Butterfly Swords, represent the pinnacle of short‑range combat training. This form teaches precision, speed, and tactical aggression, integrating the core empty‑hand principles into a weaponised context.
Through the Baat Jarm Dou, practitioners learn:

• Efficient cutting and chopping techniques

• Close‑quarter mobility and angular footwork

• Advanced coordination of both hands

• Tactical strategies for controlling and overwhelming an opponent at short distance

The knives form demands discipline and technical mastery, making it a defining stage for serious practitioners.

Completing the Wing Chun System

Together, the Six and a Half Point Pole and the Eight Chopping Knives form the final segment of the Wing Chun system. Completing these weapon forms not only signifies technical proficiency but represents a profound understanding of how Wing Chun principles apply across all ranges of combat.

Training with the weapons elevates a practitioner’s skill in timing, structure, and power—skills that directly enhance their empty‑hand techniques. For many students, mastering the weapons is considered the ultimate milestone in their Wing Chun journey.