Yellow and Orange Belt Theory

Toronto School

Copyright 2017: Wu Xing Wing Chun Kung Fu Association

History

What is a "Martial Art"?

A martial art is a system of structured self-defence techniques and its practice focuses on the

development of the human being in terms of health, fitness, self-defense, mental faculties and moral

and spiritual qualities.

Difference between martial arts and combat sports

There is a fundamental difference between a martial art and combat sport. A martial art aims implicitly

the personal development of the practitioner through applied philosophy. The difference is as much in

the goals as in the method of training.

Kung fu

Definition of "Kung-fu"

1. Chinese martial art.

2. Skill acquired through constant practice and perseverance.

Origin of Kung Fu

The earliest sources referring to Chinese martial arts can be dated around the 6th century before AD.

Martial arts are then a method of training soldiers and also a mean of self-defense and personal

education for individuals.

Shaolin

Shaolin is considered to be the first institutionalized martial art. During the 5th century, a monk named

Boddhidharma came from India to China to teach Buddhism. When he arrived to the Shaolin monastery

of the Henan province, he found the monks in poor physical condition.

According to the legend, he retired in a cave for 9 years to meditate.

When he came out, he taught his martial methods to the Shaolin

monks. Later on, martial arts teachings became an integral part of the

training of the Buddhist monks.

Wing Chun

Chinese ideogram “Wing Chun”: Eternal spring time.

By the mid 18th century, the Shaolin Monastery was attacked by the troops of the Emperor Qing. Among the "five

invincible" who succeeded in escaping, Ng Mui (five plum blossoms) managed to reach the Fujian Province in

southern China, where she met a young woman, Yim Wing Chun. The latter asked her to teach her martial art in

order to win a dual with a man she refused to marry. Yim Wing Chun learned quickly and was able to defeat her

opponent thanks to the innovative techniques of Ng Mui. She later met Leung Bok Chau, a former Shaolin disciple,

who became her husband.

Foreground: Win Chun

Background: Ng Mui

The Five Invincibles: Ji Sin Sim Si – Ng Mui – Bak Mei (Pei Mei) - Fung Dou Dak - Miu Hin (layman)

Wu Xing

In the 20th century, many Wing Chun Masters went into exile in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam,

fleeing the Cultural Revolution in China. Among them, the Grand Master Nguyen Te Cong came to settle

in Vietnam in 1939 to teach his martial art. He trained many disciples, including the Master Ho Hai Long.

Vietnamese Wing Chun then undergoes a notable influence of Vietnamese martial arts, forming a new

branch. In 1989, Master Nam Anh, a student of this branch, moved to Montreal to

teach Wing Chun, Pei Mei and Wu -Tang. In 2013, five former alumni founded the

Association Wu Xing Wing Chun Kung Fu. The term Wu Xing means "five

elements" of oriental science. These five elements correspond to the five

animals of Shaolin Wing Chun. To date, the association is composed of five

schools: Montreal -East (Yannick Gravel), NDG ( Richard Noël ), Laval (David

Bessette ), Toronto ( Vasan Selliah ) and West-Island (Patrick Bourassa).

Techniques

Safety

In order to ensure optimal long-term progress, both for themselves and for their partners in practice, security remains a key principle during training. To be safe:

Follow the proper instructions Be aware of your body Gradually increase the training load Be aware of your surroundings Be aware of your partners in paired exercises Harmonize the strength and intensity of the exercises with your partners Always show respect for the instructors, partners, and self.

The objectives of Kung Fu

Health & Fitness

Health and fitness are often confused, and though one often accompanies the other, this is not

necessarily always the case. Someone can be strong, but in poor health, and vice versa. The practice of

kung fu therefore aims to develop both aspects simultaneously.

Health components (inner strength)

1 . Force of breath

2 . Life force (chi)

3 . Mental strength

Components of fitness (external force)

1 . Bone solidity

2 . Tendon elasticity (flexibility)

3 . Muscle strength

a. Maximum force

b. Power

c. Speed and agility

d. Endurance

Self-defense and fighting

The combat is the unit of measurement of the progress of Kung Fu. It allows assessing the effectiveness

of the techniques depending on the level of practice. The self-defense capability is a result of rigorous

training. Some elements may also contribute to the prevention and resolution of self-defense situations:

1 . Vigilance

2 . Attitude (confident, strong, defensive)

3 . Knowledge of distances (arms, feet, hands, wrestling, ground)

4 . Control of techniques

5 . Control of emotions

Personal and spiritual development

Kung Fu aims to develop all aspects of the human being. Thus, the practitioner seeks to acquire new

knowledge to cultivate his intellect developing many qualities, and learn good values.

Basic exercises

Some exercises should be practiced constantly in courses to train the body to practice, here are

some examples:

Horse Stance

Common stance in most martial arts (with some variations), the horse stance position is used to

strengthen the legs, increase ground stability, develop the hips muscles and develop

perseverance and humility.

Crane

Position used to increase the stability of the practitioner in order to execute powerful and

effective kicks and keep the balance in the process.

Plank (Iron Bridge)

Push-up position on fists or palms used to strengthen the joints for a punch (or palm strike), to

strengthen the entire body and to develop perseverance.

Stretching

Stretching is an integral part of the practice of martial arts. A good practitioner is both strong

and flexible. This is why it is important to stretch:

1 . Promote recovery (relaxation)

2 . Prevent injuries

3 . Increase range of motion (range) and accuracy

4 . Increase movement speed (lower resistance)

5 . Increase striking power

Physiology of Training: The Basics

The goal is to apply a "load" or perform an exercise that induces a specific fatigue. Following a

recovery period, the body adapts and enhances its capabilities.

Nutrition: The Basics

To train effectively and to achieve your objectives in terms of fitness and health, diet plays a

key role. Here are some guidelines in terms of nutrition for martial arts:

Before training: meal or snack consisting mainly of carbohydrates (pasta, bread,

cereals); adequate amount versus time before training.

After training: high protein meal with carbs.

In general:

1 . To lose fat and increase muscle mass: less carbs, more protein

2 . Eating often up to 3 or 4 hours throughout the day

3 . Eat protein with every meal and snack

4 . Avoid concentrated sugar

5 . Eating enough fruits and vegetables, ideally fresh

Injuries and training

Practicing most physical activities, including martial arts, has some chances of injury to the

practitioner. Despite compliance with safety rules and principles of progression in training,

injuries are part of the practice in martial arts. But knowing how to prepare can minimize their

impact on practice and in much faster recovery for the practitioner.

In short, when a body part is injured, it is imperative to let it rest, to give it time to heal. To do

this, patience, listening to his body, self-control and discipline are essential. In more severe

cases, a consultation with a health professional is required.

However, there is no reason for abandoning the practice completely, injuries are a good

opportunity to improve other aspects of his practice (example: legs vs arms, left hand vs. right

hand).

4 stages of learning

In learning and assimilating new information and capacity, including in the martial arts, the

practitioner goes through four key steps:

1. Unconscious Incompetence

2. Conscious Incompetence

3. Conscious Competence

4. Unconscious Competence (mastery)

Forms

Forms or "kata" are tools for the transmission of techniques and principles in martial arts.

Practicing forms have many uses:

1. Integration of techniques

2. Developing coordination and agility

3. Increasing strength and speed

4. Activating the energy flow in the body

5. Harmonizing the three external and internal components

External components

1. Body (position)

2. Steps

3. Techniques

Internal components

1. Vital force (strength & energy)

2. The breath (breathing)

3. Mental strength (concentration and control)

The little idea

The idea is the first form learned in Wing Chun style. It includes basic techniques of attack and

defense to cope with most situations in combat. It is a synthesis of techniques of the five

animals, performed in the hourglass position, and to develop maximum strength in the shortest

distance.

Five animals

Five animal forms from the Shaolin system is the basis of fighting techniques of Wu Xing Wing

Chun Kung Fu. Each form includes specific techniques as well a mind-set to adapt in the fight,

according to the opponent and the situation. A quality is associated with each animal. The

order below is the order of learning the animal forms, from the simple and stronger, to the

most complex to learn and flexible.

1. Tigre Courage

2. Leopard Cunning (ruse, intelligence)

3. Crane Self-control

4. Dragon Solidity (firm)

5. Snake Suppleness (diplomacy)

The advantages of the Wing Chun combat stance:

- Feet close together allow mobility in all directions.

-The fact of having only 20% of the weight on the front leg allows it to be used more quickly to strike.

-The fact that 80% of the weight is on the back leg allow a better defence against attempts of sweeps of

the front leg.

-The position of the half-turned body along with the centered position of the forearms protects the

midline.

-In this position, all four limbs can hit directly and without momentum (unpredictability).

Philosophy

Basic philosophies

Martial arts from the Eastern culture were shaped primarily by three basic philosophies:

Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

Buddhism

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the " Buddha "), who lived in the 5th century BC. This

philosophy proposes a method to develop self-control, control of the ego, and improve one’s

karma to ultimately attain nirvana.

Taoism

Most Taoist knowledge was condensed by Lao Tzu (5th century BC.) in his book the Tao Te

Ching (Book of the Way and Virtue). Taoism focuses on the study of the natural laws that

govern the Universe, and proposes methods to live in harmony with these laws to improve

health and longevity. Two natural laws studied in Taoism are the law of Yin / Yang (duality) and

the law of the 5 elements.

Confucianism

Confucius elaborated, also around the 5th century BC, a philosophy dealing with life in society.

It defines certain concepts of hierarchy, different relational, as well as the importance to

cultivate qualities as an individual based on their place in society.

Qualities of martial arts practitioner

Martial arts are a difficult path that requires different qualities from the practitioner to ensure

their progress. Here are the key qualities with short definitions.

1 . Respect: recognition the importance of someone or something due to their achievements,

qualities or skills or value / consideration for the feelings, wishes or rights of a person.

2 . Discipline: ability to follow commands in a group, to listen and act correctly / ability to

prioritize one’s goals at the expense of one’s immediate comfort.

3 . Perseverance: persistence to the task despite obstacles or delays in achieving its objectives.

4 . Courage: the ability and willingness to act in spite of fear, pain, danger, uncertainty or

opposition; courage can be physical or moral.

5 . Politeness: knowledge of his place and that of others, respect for culture-specific social rules

of the place, organization and time.

6 . Intelligence: the ability to learn from mistakes, to observe and evaluate, and use this

knowledge to act better.

7 . Confidence: belief in one's abilities, based on self-knowledge.

8 . Humility: the ability to see realistically and appreciate one’s importance in relation to

others.

9 . Self-control: power to control one’s actions, impulses and emotions.

10 . Benevolence: willingness to do what is good, and to ensure the happiness of all.

Etiquette basics in the martial arts: the salutations

The bows (salutations) are a mark of respect, similar to saying "hello”, or handshake in the

West. They serve to remind us of our place, strengthen the hierarchical system, ensure the

proper functioning and help us grow.

Salutations to masters

This salutation is directed to masters and the ancestors of our way, out of respect to

those who have dedicated their lives to the martial science, and through which we can

learn these skills today.

Salutations to the instructor

This salutation is directed toward the instructors from red belt level, out of respect for

the effort made by them, and in order to remind us that we want to learn from them.

Salutations between practitioners

This salutation is to recall the spirit of brotherhood, respect and cooperation between

practitioners which must prevail to ensure mutual growth.

How to set goals

To set a goal and achieve it, some criteria must be met:

1 . The goal should be realistic (you must believe).

2 . The aim should be strongly desired.

3 . Must often think intensely and constantly about it.

4 . We must act to achieve it, relentlessly.

Student Credo

1 . I understand that mastery comes with practice.

2 . I pledge to practice seriously and diligently.

3 . I make a constant effort to surpass my limits.

Motto of the Wu Xing Wing Chun Kung Fu Association

Respect - Honor – Integrity

Belt System

- Yellow

- Orange

- Green

- Blue

- Purple

- Brown

- Black

- Black I

- Black II

- Black III

- Red