Looking for Wing Chun Kung Fu in Leeds? Our classes run in Leeds and Bradford and offer authentic Wing Chun tuition to adults only. Classes run on Monday evenings 8-9.30pm and Saturday mornings 10.30-12 at Bramley Baths Broad Lane, Bramley, Leeds, GB LS13 3DF. We also offer a class in Bradford on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm at Warrior Martial Arts Academy, Old Mill, Victoria Road, Eccleshill, Bradford, BD2 2BH.
Classes are focused around forms and chi sau. Wing Chun has three empty hand patterns which we call forms. There’s also a dummy form, knife form and a pole form which is learned later in the system. Chi sau is unique to Wing Chun and helps the student learn how to apply techniques and principles with a live partner. In chi sau you have hand to hand contact throughout practice. This gives you the ability to react instantaneously to the stimulus from your training partner.
Through Chi Sau you will learn how to develop fast coordination according to the different pressures. Chi sau principles are based on centreline theory. Each student is focused on attacking down the centreline while maintaining their own defence. This game of simultaneous attack and defence can become quite addictive. Once you learn chi sau, it’s a fun way to become proficient in a short amount of time.
Kung Fu In Leeds/Bradford – Chi Sau Practice & Forms
Chi sau practice is the way to get good at Wing Chun. The more time you can play this game, the more opportunities there are of learning. Initially though you’ll be learning basic hand drills which will give you the coordination to play chi sau and develop your skills further. Through drills such as dan chi sau and lap sau, you’ll be able to quickly generate automatic responses to your partner’s attacks.
Once you have learned the basics, you can start to experiment a little more in chi sau. The forms contain the fundamental principles and ideas of Wing Chun and initially you’ll be learning Siu Lim Tao “little idea form”. Siu lim Tao appears to be very simple and straightforward but it contains a lot of information, even though you don’t move from your stance. In first form, you are learning the basic movements which you will come to use in Chi Sau practice. You are also learning to connect your stance to your arms and developing your positions to maintain control of centreline in chi sau.
Chum Kiu & Other Forms
The second form, known as Chum Kiu (searching for the bridge), gives you an understanding of connecting your arms in movement. You also learn how to transfer your mass through your arms onto your opponent. Later forms are Biu Gee (thrusting fingers), dummy form, pole and knife forms. They give you more in depth study of the system. You will see different stepping techniques and learn a greater understanding of recovering from mistakes and application of power.
Ultimately it is chi sau which can give you the best understanding of the Wing Chun system. But the understanding you can gain for chi sau is learned through the forms. Although Wing Chun is a very simple looking style, it’s power is in its simplicity. Wing Chun has no high kicks or fancy moves. You never kick higher than waist height as this is considered an over commitment. This makes Wing Chun a system which can be learned at any age as it doesn’t require huge effort or endurance to practice.
To find out more see our classes page or join a class.
