Difference between Wing Chun and Wing Tsun?

Greetings,

Please forgive me if this has been asked and answered many times - I can't find it in the FAQ, so here goes...

I am interested in beiginning training in Wing Chun and I understand that when Grandmaster Yip Man died in 1972 several schools split off from his training, the two main being Wing Chun under Master Cheung and Wing Tsun under Master Leuong (please forgive me if I have names or appelations incorrect).

What I haven't been able to ascertain is what the physical differences between the Chun and Tsun schools are. I have a Wing Tsun school closer to me than a Wing Chun school, so am leaning toward that, but would like to know what I'm choosing between.

Thanks in advance,

Ilya Pearlman

Hi Ilya,

In general, we say that it's that WT tends to be 'softer' than wing chun, as it's the expression of what GM Leung Ting learned from GM Yip Man in GM Yip Man's later years. Your mileage may vary, though, on level of softness. We also tend to be strict about what is considered WT: what fits with the concepts, and works for the student regardless of size, strength, or athletic ability. Again, YMMV.

The WT teaching program is systematic, and there are a number of novel training drills/platforms, notably lat sau, that are unique to WT.

regards,

Mike AustinWT/BostonWT

ps. Where are you located and who is the instructor at the WT school?

Mike -

Thanks for your infor, it's very helpful!

I am in Los Angeles, and the Sifu at the AWTO school near me is apparently Emin Boztepe. There is also another instructor named Michael (can't find his last name on the website).

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Glad to be of service.

Sifu Emin Boztepe is the chief instructor of the United States, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. He is one of the top Wing Tsun people in the world, and travels around the world (incl. the States teaching Wing Tsun seminars. You can read a bit more about him at www.wingtsun.net. He is the most outstanding student of GM Keith Kernspecht in Germany (GM Kernspecht's bio is also on the site; he is an important person to be aware of in WT circles). You can also read a bit more about Sifu Emin in the April '00 issue of Black Belt, the March '00 issue of Inside Kung Fu, and the Feb '00 of Martial Arts Legends (Kicking issue). You'll get a good feel for Wing Tsun when you get the chance to work with him

Michael is Michael Casey, Sifu Emin's chief assistant at the LA headquarters. I met him in February, and he seems to be a good guy.

hope that helps,

Mike

It does, thanks! I am excited about starting to train!

Of course Yip Man only taught Leung Ting TRUE Wing Chun and taught everyone else 'Bullshit Wing Chun'(tm) just like every other Wing Chun 'GM' claims.

Before you buy.

No. Yip Man taught everyone Wing Chun, but some students were also taught Marketing 101.

GM Leung Ting, GM Leung Sheung, GM Leung Sheung's student Kenneth Chung here in the States (as a reference) are generally considered to have a 'soft' expression of wing chun. Chris Chan in California is considered to have a 'hard' style of wing chun. Others fall somewhere in between, some close to one end - the Sam Kwok guys and Yuen Kay Shan/ Ng Chun So guys tend to be soft - some closer to the other - Duncan Leung's guys seem a bit harder in expression. If you have spent any time training wing chun, and meeting others from the various branches, you'd know that each style has particular characteristics or flavors to its expression. Some have more locking, grappling, and throwing, some have many forms and weapons, some have no forms and only a small set of loose drills. No claim of 'true' or not 'true', just delineation of the differences that arise as a result of time, differing application, and transmission through different people.

Incidentally, not *all* wing chun comes through GM Yip Man. There are 10 or more distinct systems, GM Yip Man's being one of them.

regards,

Mike

No, he didn't. Your commment indicates a superficial knowledge of wing chun. GM Yip Man's branch is one of many.

If you have a serious inclination, in the United States check out: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0804831416/o/ qid=966522953/sr=8- 1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/104-0889351-6893559

It should fill in any gaps in knowledge of the various systems of wing chun.

regards,

Mike

Visit the classes, meet the teachers. Talk to students. There is no 'right or wrong' only what fits you.