Origin of Wing Chun Long Pole

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