Wing Chun long pole origin is a matter of debate as well
as everything else regarding art’s history and development. There are as many
theories of the pole origin as there are styles but widely accepted theory,
with of course many variation, is that long pole originated in Shaolin
Monastery. Depends of the source either
Southern or Northern Shaolin is considered as a source of the weapon’s technique. Again depending of the source long pole was
either incorporated into the system directly by the founders or it was added
later through exchange. The most popular story is that Chi Sim taught Leung Yee
Tai the pole technique and he later exchanged it for Wing Chun empty hand
skills with Wong Wah Bo.
To make things more interesting, not only Wing Chun but
many other styles from Guangdong trace the origin of their long pole techniques
to same source, Shaolin monastery and Chi Sim.
Shaolin pole
Today it is proven that Northern Shaolin never existed as
well as Chi Sim who is purely fictional character. Is it possible that despite
there is no clear line of succession from Shaolin to Red Boats, Wing Chun long
pole really originated from the famous monastery? Northern Shaolin was indeed
famous for its long pole techniques.
It is highly unlikely that Wing Chun long pole has any Shaolin
influence. Shaolin long pole and Wing Chun long pole are two totally different
weapons with completely different purpose, strategy, techniques and origin.
Shaolin long pole is a weapon originated from army spear, it is 180-200 cm long
and although original techniques were lost over time and today only remained
highly stylized, competitive, visually pleasing techniques it is easy to notice
that many of these techniques are actually derived from spear fighting and many
movements are meant to be used not by a single fighter but in a organized
infantry group.
Wing Chun long pole is much longer, 240-260 cm, and much
heavier weapon. Originally it was not a weapon but a sailing tool used to pilot
the boats in shallow waters of Pearl River delta. That tool became a weapon out
of necessity of the situation but was never developed in detail and never had
elaborated technique like Shaolin pole. It was and remained mainly a sailing
tool and was used as weapon sporadically. Being extremely long and pretty heavy
limited number of ways in which this weapon could be used.
Wing Chun Long Pole
The fact that this kind of weapon can be found
exclusively in Guangdong area suggest that its origin is connected to the boats
which were not only the main but for the most part the only mean of transport
in the area in the past. People used boats, either as a passengers or as the
sailors and were exposed to the long pole usage one way or another. Being
forced to use the boats frequently knowing the basic long pole fighting
techniques was necessary and that is the most probable cause why this weapon
found its way in most of Kung Fu styles form Guangdong area and was used
extensively there but cannot be found in other parts of China.
Origin
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