A Legend

In a sleepy little town , hidden in a valley between three mountains , where everyone know everyone else and there are no secretes among people lives very special man . On the first glance he is no different than anyone else , he goes to work , sometimes plays guitar , he likes to go out for a drink with friends , enjoys good movie , domestic food and Sunday sleep . But he has a secret , every day to a small group of carefully selected students he teaches kung fu.

This looks like a plot from Hong Kong kung fu movie bit it is a true story . In small town in western Serbia , Kosjeric , lives and works one of the best Wing Tsun masters in Europe. Although he learned his art from one of the first kung fu practitioners and later masters of WT in Europe, Slavko Truntic he never used his name to hide behind it. His art is his own and he always put his own name and his own “face’” behind his Wing Tsun . He is one of the few people I’ve met who truly understood the art and made it his own . He doesn’t like term “master” but he is one , a true master of the art . He does not follow the system blindly, he is no slave to the form, he is not afraid to experiment ,to test , to try different ways and approaches and eventually to adapt the art to him self . He is practicing Wing Tsun for almost three decades . For all these time he had a handful of carefully selected students. At one point he had a public school and that school was the most successful Wing Chun school in Serbia with 120 studens. Other Wing Chun “masters” couldn’t stand this and gave their best to sabotage his school. Finally , using political connections with ministry of sports they manage to close his school. He retreat from public scene and continued his work quietly with couple of relatives and close friends . He chooses his students carefully and for a good reason. His students are treated like his own family , literary. To them. He is not only a teacher , he is a father, an older brother , protector , advisor , anything that is required at particular moment . His students found not only a Wing Tsun teacher but someone who is there for them in moments of deepest crisis , when everyone else gave up on them. When students are unhappy ,depressed , have love problems , family issues , couldn’t find a job , needed advice about something , they all turned to their teacher .He does not teach only wing tsun , he teaches his students how to become good, honest , hardworking people , how to be respected members of the community and how to set an example for others . Moral and ethics comes before everything. And before that comes deepest respect to humanity and care about nature and all living things .

He also teaches survival and military tactical training . His training sessions are extremely hard ,sometimes ruthless , but there is no other way to teach real thing . And all this time , almost 30 years , he stayed quiet , keeping low profile . Modest , humble, quiet , but fierce fighter , a true warrior ,wise , caring person , it might look like a fictional character ,but he is true , one few true masters of the art , my friend and kung fu brother, Ivan Stefanovic 

WCK - WC (Wing Chun- White Crane) connection

There are many versions of wing chun history and each of these versions place origin of the art on different place and in different time . Furthermore most of these versions of “history” tend to give definitive answers about origin and development of wing chun , usually without any research of any kind. There are very little real research on this subject and almost all were done by nonprofessionals without any method in collecting , sorting , interpreting and verifying the data .

On the other hand , historical research in some small parts doesn’t have to be purely concentrated on collecting historical and archeological information and it doesn’t require a degree in history or archeology , but it does require some knowledge in technical aspects of wing chun and some other arts.

It is widely believed that Fujian White Crane is predecessor of Wing Chun . It is also common believe that White Crane is mixed with some other art and that mixture became wing chun. Most version take as other art , which was mixed with white crane , some form of snake style kung fu, at least that is what popular legends are telling us.

There are also group of White Crane masters from Taiwan who believe that Wing Chun is sub style of White Crane . I will return to this claim little later.

Before I start , I want to say that I also did some historical research regarding the origin and development of Wing Chun and I gave my best to uphold the standards of scientific method . My findings shaped my view on the matter of wing chun history but it is also important to say that I do not claim to have any definitive answer or definitive version of history of the art. Furthermore I am not a historian nor archeologist , I have master’s in Economics and organization sciences , and although I did gave my best to do research according to scientific standards , not being a professional in required fields my research should be taken with a reserve ( as much as all others) . I am open and really looking forward for new , better researches and new information which can give some better view on the history of the art we all love so much and also can help my research and make it more complete and more accurate. My version of history can be seen here

http://penglaimartialarts.blogspot.tw/2015/02/wing-chun-history-another-angle.html

Now , what I want to share is technical comparison of two old southern fighting styles ,  Wing Chun and Zong He quan ( style of White Crane). Both styles are old and both styles are preserved in their original form, from the time of foundation. Both style were founded around the same time although Snake Crane Wing Chun is little older.

I am practicing Wing Chun for a very long time and  I also practice Zonghe quan in a close group of practitioners led by Master Hong Guo Rong in Tainan, Taiwan for two years or  more. I am not Zong He expert but I do have ,if nothing else, a basic knowledge of the style .

Being practitioner of both styles I am in a situation to make an accurate comparison of these two fighting arts.  Both styles are almost identical when we talk about basic principles and theories , I can say more than 95 % of basic principles , strategies , theories are identical , it name of the style is not specified it wouldn't be possible to determine whether they are talking about SCWC or Zong He . Of course 5% are different and these 5% are what give both styles different appearance and different expression of techniques and training . It is just like DNA  comparison of human kind and apes , there are only 2% difference in DAN sequence while 98% are identical ,but these 2% are what makes all the difference . 

While  different on first glance , closer look reveals many identical things on purely technical level . It is important to notice that I am talking about identical , not similar things . Two most important things that are identical are body structure of the basic stance and power generation . Position of the spine , neck , area know on Chinese as"kwa" ( hips \ pelvic area ) , knees , distance between feet , all these things are identical . Power generation , concept and technology of generating , focusing and releasing power are also identical. These two things are the most important parts of any Chinese martial style , the basic foundation on which any given style is built . Furthermore , many hand positions and way of their application are identical . Of course , there are a lot of differences , but thous differences are on combat application level . For example , both arts have different footwork , but the way of transferring weight , center of gravity and keeping balance during the movement are identical. All hands positions from WC can be found in Zong He ,although Zong He has some hand techniques which cannot be found in WC . Chi sao is also in some segments completely the same , for example "big huen sao" platform in both styles is the same , Both styles have several other chi sao platforms but the way of applying them and purpose of practice is the same ,as well as power management , whether is releasing of power or managing incoming power . Movements are different but basic principles and bio mechanics behind those movements are the same.

I could write a lot more details but this is enough and all this identical things leads to one possible conclusion , both arts came from the same source . There was no mixing Withe Crane with some other art it is just  a different path of development influenced by different historical , geographical , political , cultural and environmental factors as well as other factors connected to the personal lives and personal characteristic of people who developed the style over time like education, character , believes ect.  At the end I can say , if I would be forced to use Zong He in confined space such is a boat or some narrow passage , it would look like WC ,

“External” vs “Internal”

There is an everlasting battle between so called “internal” and “external” fighting styles. On one side we have styles defined as “internal” which put their emphasis on neigong training , spending much if not all of their training developing a kind of internal energy which gives a practitioner superior fighting abilities . On the other side ,”external” style spend much of their training in developing physical attributes for fighting like strength ,speed , reflexes, ability to take a punch … Both groups consider them self as superior and both have their reasons for that , whether they are true or not .

Internal styles consider them self as more sophisticated, more advanced, more developed, sometimes even more intellectual. Often they back up their claims with history records where some famous ancestor had tremendous fighting abilities ( although this is true for all Chinese martial styles) . As a rule, these styles have very detailed and precise theoretical basis (sometimes maybe overdeveloped and too complicated) on which they build their techniques, training, and fighting approach.

Again, as a rule internal styles as a major part of their practice have cultivation of internal energy for health reasons and prolonging life. Sometimes complete practice is dedicated to this goal without martial elements.  

External styles consider them self as a superior fighting systems and they base their claims in fact that only external styles participate in full contact competitions and only external styles are proved as combat efficient in real , full contact conditions. And, in most cases, they are right about that .

The question is , what group of martial arts is better, internal or external? Or , is there really an internal\external dichotomy and where is its root?

I wrote before about historical root of internal vs external divide. “Internal”, “soft”,” Taoist” ,Wudang  and “external”, ”hard”, “Buddhist” Shaolin systems. This classification first time was used (and invented) at Gou Shu academy by Sun Lu Tang , Li Cun Yi and their close friends in the early 1920’s. Being practitioners of Ba Gua, Tai Chi and Xing I (main representatives of “internal” styles) leading people of the Gou Shu academy including Sun Lu Tang and Lu Cu Yi , for purely marketing purposes separated their arts from all others by declaring them “wudang internal stylys” while all the rest fell into category of external or Saholin styles . This classification took deep roots and very soon led to a constant duels between shaolin and wudang styles which became very serious in the beginning of 1930”s.

Today , the real problem , more on the West than it is the case on the East ,comes from misunderstanding of weigong and neigong training. There is actually no external\internal dichotomy . Yes , external training is what most people think it is , developing physical attributes for fighting . On the other hand , internal training is largely misunderstood ,sometimes to the point that people think this kind of practice will give them some superhuman abilities. Simply, purpose of internal training is to increase body efficiency, efficiency of movement , speed, power …but , if there is nothing to increase , internal training without external is for the most part useless. Internal training, and if you want ’internal” skills are natural evolutionary step of external practice , without external , internal has no sense , like having a sniper rifle and bullet but without gun powder , and practicing shooting with that weapon.

In every martial style , after a significant time of training, practice will be slowly transformed and moved to the area of internal .Of course this is the case if we understand internal as a biomechanical efficiency and not some mystical , unexplainable force which creates superhumans .

The truth is , and I have to be blunt here , some people hate physical engagement of any kind . They don’t like to work hard , they are afraid of pain but they want to practice martial arts ad to feel some achievement ,therefore they will believe in ”internal” energies which will some day transform them in tremendous fighters ,or even warriors( seems this term is very popular among martial artists , especially among ones who never experienced war).

On the other hand, there are people who only believe in external training methods and they do not want and often cannot understand internal training.

As we can see , external and internal not only that can coexist but actually naturally follow one another and together push martial skills on the highest level. Separated , they can be limiting factor in training and mislead a practitioner to a completely wrong practice path

New wing chun style on Taiwan

Having luck that late Bruce Lee practiced that particular style , Yip Man's wing chun was for decades , even on the East , considered the only wing chun style and it certainly has the most followers everywhere . The truth about other styles , even the fact that they exist was not known outside Hong Kong and Foshan, and often deliberately hidden by follower of Yip Man and his style . On Taiwan for decades only Yip Man's style was practiced and  there was no other choice . Not that I have anything against Yip Man or his style , it is  good , efficient martial style , I practiced it my self for years , but it is always good to have a choice , the opportunity to try and find an art which is best fit for someone . Now , situation is changed and a lot of information about different wing chun styles surfaced out. Fortunately , Yip Man's style is not the only style available on Taiwan . I am practicing Snake Crane Wing Chun , a style kept among Law family members since the day when the art was created among Red Boat opera members . Historically speaking it is the oldest known style which was preserved over time in its original form. It is a window in the past still in its original form as it was in 1850's  . I fell in love with the style immediately and now I spending all my free time practicing it . I will post couple of video clips to show what am I doing and how , and soon the book about techniques and theory of this specific style , written by my teacher , Sifu Wayne Yung will be available .

Teaser for video story about my kung fu on Taiwanese TV

Emei , between myth and reality

Emei mountain , one of four holy Buddhist mountains and third most significant kung place, right after Shaolin and Wudang . According to some “sources” Emei kung fu is more than 2000 years old , first styles emerged before fist Chinese dynasty and actually , Emei kung fu is the oldest kung fu in whole China.

Other “sources” put creation of Emei styles in different time periods , from prehistory to 17^th century and many of these “histories” include various legendary figures who can be found in better known Shaolin and Wudang  “histories”.

Emei kung fu styles are described as efficient as Shaolin styles but also have internal component developed as much as it is in Wudang styles if not more .

Some older sources are talking about only one , single Emei style , while today there are undefined number of different styles

When we give closer look at Emei kung fu history one thing soon becomes pretty  obvious. Creation myths(“histories”) about Wudang and Shaolin are really detailed, there are large number of books that cover this specific subject and at first glance these books leave an impression they are written after serious historical and archeological research . Today we know that classification to Wudang and Shaolin styles was invented in Goshu academy during Republican period in China . Also it is very well known fact  Wudang and Shaolin were not places for research and development of  kung fu . Kung fu was never practiced in Wudang before early 1930’s while in Shaolin martial arts were practiced by individuals who brought them there , there was no Shaolin kung fu .

Myth , actually group of stories about origin of Emei kung fu are comparing to  wudang and shaolin stories very short ,with scant information , often contradict each other although these stories share some common characteristics

This situation is not a surprise , just as it is a case with Wudang and Shaolin creation stories , Emei creation stories are pure fiction , with one significant difference , development time . While stories about Wudang and Shaolin had almost a century to evolve ( first Shaolin storiy can be found  in 1905, wudang stories are from early 1930’s ) and these places were and still are very popular if not the most popular kung fu places , interest about Emei didn’t exist until recently , although there are some mention about styles practiced on Emei in republican period. No one talked about Emei until “kung fu craze” in the late 1970”s and beginning of the 1980’s.

China was closed until recently and travel to Emei was almost impossible and there were no practitioners of Emei kung fu outside China (which is very peculiar). For these reasons there was no interest for this styles therefore there was no need for any “histories”.  Situation changed in last couple of decades, China is open now and great number of people hurried and still hurry to find and learn some exotic and still undiscovered styles hidden in inner China .Now , when interest started to raise there was a need for “histories” because that is very important for many people . On the other hand , there was not enough time to developed “histories” in such detail like it was the case with other two kung fu ‘centers”. Crude stories , with very little information and no details , but with very clear message about what style is superior to all others show that development time was short , most likely these stories were written by single individuals to promote their styles and there was no time (nor will) for information exchange , that is why stories are so different from one another. Lack of details clearly shows that stories cannot be older than one generation.

This , of course doesn’t mean that no kung fu was practiced on Emei  mountain . Styles practiced  there were common styles for northen China like Pi Gua , long Fist, Tai Chi and many others but we cannot talk about some specific group of Emei styles .

The truth is , until decade ago there were not more than 10 kung fu practitioners on Emei mountain . During cultural revolution, communist government killed a great number of kung fu masters and few lucky survived but they couldn’t practice openly nor have students so whatever they knew it was not passed to new generations.

It is also a truth that today new “old” , original , secret styles are discovered almost daily , together with new grandmasters , masters ect. I think the rate of style discovering is proportional to a number of foreign visitors. Closer look on that “old, original, secret” styles clearly show that these styles are nothing more than modern wushu , sometimes mixed with some of the traditional styles . Also it is obvious that all these Emei masters, grandmasters and couches are professional wu shu performance artists.  

In the future it is highly possible that some new “old, original:” center if kung fu will be discovered , when Emei fashion pass and people start to search for something new and more exotic

Kung fu in schools 2

Teaching kids is a big challenge , especially when we talk a out kung fu . Young practitioners are not quite interested in complicated theories neither they are eager to spend hours practicing basic techniques over and over again. If it is not interesting , constantly  changing , fun , if it doesn't keep their attention all the time , kids will not engage kung fu training. The point is to  develop kid's physical attributes , strength , speed , reflexes using a wide range of drills and exercises in a form of games which will keep kids attention occupied constantly . Games must change quickly and not suppose to be longer than 4-5 minutes . Although , drills (games) do not look like traditional kung fu drills they develop same attributes as  drills used in traditional kung fu training .Here are some of the exercises i use in my class