Book Description
The Wing Chun Compendium explains the theory of wing chun from a technical, lifestyle, and philosophical perspective. Written by Wayne Belonoha—a certified Ving Tsun Instructor and National Certified Coach, 7th Level, Master Degree—the compendium offers hundreds of tips and techniques specifically designed to help readers advance to the next stage. The Wing Chun Compendium is divided into eight sections, including Theory, Techniques, Drills, Chi Sau (Sticky Hands), Forms, Pressure Points, Health and Fitness, and Terminology.

Students of all levels will find tips for improving technique and gaining benefits from the book's instruction in over 20 of the top skill-building drills and exercises, such as the Maai Sang Jong and Bong Guek (Sticky Legs) drills. Covering all three hand forms (Siu Nim Tau, Cham Kiu, and Biu Ji), it also provides a detailed examination of each movement and application and features an extensive terminology section that includes the Chinese characters and both Cantonese and Mandarin pronunciations for over 200 of the most common wing chun terms. The compendium concludes with Grandmaster Sunny Tang's special article, "Reflections of Siu Nim Tau After 30 Years." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Nice Photos
Being a student for 13 yrs, it was good to find a book that covered so many topics of wing chun and his approach to it all.While I may not agree with a lot the author had to write, too much outdated info, he stayed faithful to the minimal of the art...namely a good description of the forms.The photos and explanations may help someone who forgot how to do the forms.Otherwise not much else if you never practiced wing chun.

Huge Resource
Not the best organization.Very detailed and covers lots of information.Doesnt cover dummy form...Odd

I am new to wing chun
"Everything should be done as simple as possible, but not simpler"
The book starts with this Albert Einstein phrase, and Mr Belonohadoes it very well when writing his book.

I am new to wing chun, I've beentraining sincelast september, and bought this book to get to know the background and philosophy of this art. It has been very helpful for learning the names of techniques, understandingthe basis af a certain move or technique, where and how to employ it,
and to get a general view of this great martial art.GREAT BOOK

One of the best.
It is simply one of the best books on the market on Wing Chun style Kung Fu.
You cannot go wrong purchasing this book.

very good reference
This is a very good reference book that breaks down the form very well. As learning martial arts from any book is hard, this is a great companion if you are taking lessons from a certified instructor. The author's insight and perspective are top notch. ... Read more

Book Description
The first form of wing chun, sil lum tao, is demonstrated with over 100 photographs. James Lee studied sil lum and wing chun before training with Bruce Lee in jeet kune do. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

GREAT WING CHUN SI LIM TAO
GREAT BOOCK ON THE FIRST FORM SI LIM TAO. THIS IS THE AUTHENTIC YIP MAN FORM. WITH SOME GOOD APLICATIONS TO. GREAT BOOK. IF YOU WANT THE REAL THING THIS IS IT. LOOK UP YIP MAN MPEG VIDIO CLIP THIS IS THE SAME FORM TOUGHT IN THIS BOOK! GET IT LERN IT APPLY IT!

I liked the book, but it's only a good intro!
The book is mostly of applications, but some of them seem to be against principle.This might be because of the fact that the author was not actually trained in Wing Chun.Even though Bruce was a had a part in the book, it still seemed like a departure from real Wing Chun.I liked the many applications, but most of them can be found in good Jeet Kune Do books.There isn't much on the system and of it's principles.If you love Bruce and his followers or just looking to see applications then this is an OK book.I just like to collect Wing Chun Books.

Great book!
This book is pretty thorough. It shows all the basics via 100s of pictures.

publication misprint
whatever your view of this book,it is important to make sure you have the book in its entirety. i purchase this book on Amazon. The version i got was missing 32 pages. the pages go from 1-32 then it repeats pages 1-32 then it jumps to page 65. it is missin pages 33-64. make sure yo ask the sellers to verify that their editions don't have this problem.

Original Classic Intorduction to Wing Chun
This book sadly, is the only book written by James Yimm Lee which is still widely available to the public.Considered a classic, this was, unfortunately, James Yimm Lee's last book.James Lee was an avid student of physical culture as well as one of T.Y. Wong's Sil Lum students during the 1950's and early 1960's.He also befriended, influenced and was influenced by a young man by the name of Jun Fan "Bruce" Lee.In return for teaching Bruce how to break bricks, Bruce taught James a popular for of Chinese boxing called "Wing Chun".James Lee also helped Bruce publish his first book, "Chinese Gung Fu: The Philosophical Art of Self Defence" in the early 1960's.

Still considered one of the finest introductions to Wing Chun, James Lee teaches Hong Kong's no-nonsense brand of boxing learned from his friend, Bruce Lee.As with all traditional Chinese Gung Fu schools, not every practitioner demonstrates the form precisely like every other practitioner, so no matter your school of Wing Chun (or Ving Tsun, Wing Tsun, etc), you will probably see SOME variation in form.

While it may not be possible for the novice to learn precise movements from a book alone, the skilled martial artist may at least gain a better understanding of Wing Chun's patterns of movement.This book covers the basics of the art, including no-nonsense explanations for the theory of facing, and economy of movement.As usual, numerous crisp sequence photos from this publisher do not disappoint.Front and side views of the complete first form of Wing Chun, Sil Lum Tao (little idea form).This is the form Bruce Lee taught before he began to consider discontinue the use of static forms in training.A classic worth considering. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Wing Chun in its true essence!
Superb book! Unlike the majority of Wing Chun books which focus on specific techniques, lineage, and "trapping tricks" or "secrets" this book concisely and in my opinion accurately cuts to the heart of Wing Chun-- what makes it alive, devastating and flexible as a martial art. Rawcliffe writes clearly and eloquently, not trying to build himself up or impress. 5 stars for the information, plus another 1 star for the brevity, and yet another 1 star for the enjoyable style in which it's written. Not often you find a well deserving 7 star book!

The best book of its kind I have read
With over 40 years experience as student and teacher, I have not seen a better presentation of technique and philosophy.I am not a Wing Chun practitioner but Mr. Rawcliffe's diagrams and explanations have given me an excellent insight to this style.

You will NOT learn Wing Chun from this book; you need a teacher for that.But if you are a Wing Chun student, I cannot think of a better reference volume to supplement your training.Other martial arts stylists can also gain valuable insights into there own brand of self-defense by a good reading of this book.Highly recommended and Mr. Rawcliffe is to be commended for setting a high standard for martial arts books.

Impressive
I am deeply impressed by the format and content of this book. It manages to cover all the key aspects of Ving Tsun Kuen in great depth and detail without promoting one 'family' style or approach.
As a Dit Dar doctor (bone healer), I am also very impressed by the depth of knowledge and understanding shown by the author and by thearticles he included by 3 of his students. It is rare to find a westerner who can appreciate and understand the complexity of Qi energy, let alone it's use within Gung Fu.

The publication of this book gives great reassurance that the teachings of Man Gung are at last being fully appreciated and passed on correctly abroad.
Rawcliffe Sifu is a credit to his teacher, himself and to his Wing Chun brothers. His obvious years of studies, research and dedication plus his openness and willingness to share his acquired knowledge, without the need for self promotion is indeed a rare commodity.
I am honoured to be able to review this book.

Cheung
Tai Po, NT, Hong Kong (SAR)

Wing Chunwithout the politics at last!
At last a book on Wing Chun rather than a book about the person behind the book. Sifu Shaun Rawcliffe has managed to do what so many others have failed to do, write a clear and concise book about the system of Wing Chun. So many other books seem to be promotional literature about the authors who happen to do Wing Chun. I found this book went in to great depth about the basics of the Wing Chun system and therefore will remain a great source of reference for students at all levels. It thankfully avoids the usual " this is how I do it" approach and refreshingly addresses the "this is what is behind whoever does it" approach.
Excellent, I shall be recommending this to all my students.

Ving Tsun Kuen
I have been studying Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) in Hong Kong for over 30 years and this is the first book in English that has managed to explain the essence of Ving Tsun. My Si-Fu, even my Si-Kung, Ip Man, would have been proud that Ving Tsun is being taught and explained so well around the world. This book embodies the teachings of my Si-Fu and his Ving Tsun To Dai (Kung Fu brothers), probably due to Rawcliffe Sifu's studies in Hong Kong and incompasses the simple complexity that is Ving Tsun Kuen. Understanding the structure to Ving Tsun is key to understanding how Ving Tsun works so effectively and efficiently and a book like this was long over due. Including the Ving Tsun Kuen Kuit elevates the book even further by embracing the philosophy of all that is Ving Tsun.
Leo T K Wong. Hong Kong 2003. ... Read more

Book Description
This martial arts manual is a comprehensive guide to the basic forms and principles of Wing Chun kung-fu. In over 300 black-and-white photographs, Wing Chun Kung-Fu: A Complete Guide leads the reader step-by-step through the beginning forms of Wing Chun kung-fu, including Chi gerk, Chi sao and Wing Chun sticky-hand and sticky-leg techniques, as well as detailed commentary on the theory behind each move. Other sections include specialized fighting and grappling techniques and instructions on using weapons. An additional section is devoted to weight and power-training exercises that will be of particular benefit for serious students of Wing Chun. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Can one learn Sil Lim Tao from this book?No, but...
...one might correct a few mistakes by following this book.Good enough for a book, in my book.:-)The two photos on page 86 are in reverse order.Michael Tse brings a welcome combination of fluent English and unquestionable Wing Chun lineage.

Pretty decent
At first, I thought this book was kind of "basic". Having studied wing chun for a while under a competent sifu, I went back and the book has some really good stuff in it. First of all, it details the first form well. It also contains clear photos, and explanations from people who obviously have spent YEARS with this art (I can tell, because many of their insights can only be won after long study). I also liked the final section, which shows you the real "street fight" applications of the art, and of the techniques shown in the first form. I liked the discussion of Bruce Lee and his relationship with wing chun (to put it in a nutshell: Bruce never gave up on wing chun, and his Jeet Kune Do had wing chun as its core !). I liked the historical information on Yip Man in Hong Kong. This book really packs a lot into a short book. I really recommend it.

A good read, and illustration of Sil Lum Tao.
A good read and good illustration of Sil Lum Tao. It was most helpful with Wing Chun: The Science of In-Fighting DVD. With out the DVD I would not have been able to learn Sil Lum Tao. A fun read. I am glad I own it.

ok, for modified wing chun
This book is good to have if you want to compare modified Wing Chun to traditional. Has good chapters on history, philosophy, and lineage. Decent demonstration of the modified form, though you may have to use your imagination, like all forms in books, to flow from movement to movement, which I don't recommend for proper learning. Take classes or get a video and use this book for reference. Application chapter is brief and basic, but gives you some ideas for real life situations. Book covers some topics too briefly to bother including them, and the authors may have made better use of space, adding further detail to important topics discussed in the book. Good book for someone with an idea of the proper movements of sil lum tao, the first Wing Chun form.
Yip Chun kind of lives off the fact that his father, Yip Man, was the last Grandmaster of Wing Chun. Yip Chun always has to include a chapter about Bruce Lee in his books, usually ripping on him and being generally disrespectful.

Good historically, not practically
Yip Chun and Michael Tse's book is good historically but not practically; this is the first book I bought when I began Wing Chun, but I could not put it much into practice as the form is performed and then suddenly Yip Chun is in one position then another.In addition to that, his structure throught out is not a very good one, it is better though than James Yimm Lee's "Wing Chun Kung Fu", a seasoned veteran of Wing Chun can tell you that his book shows how lost he was. All in all this book is good narratively in describing Yip Man's encounters. ... Read more

Book Description
Cheung is one of the world's leading authorities on wing chun (along with classmate Bruce Lee, a principal of Yip Man's legacy). This book covers stances and footwork, the chum kil forms, chi sao drills and applications. Fully illustrated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Excellent Reference book!
If your already a wing chun enthusiast, you will appreciate this book provided that your not a small, closed minded, slandering, negative self-promoting a*s like Leung Ting and his students who take every possible opportunity like this book review, that has nothing to do with "Boztepe" or "Leung Thing", and use it to show just how infantile and petty they truly are in their relentless use of twisted half truth (EDITED!) smear campaign against Cheung. Surely this book will not show you how to fight or more importantly the intricate details of the art itself. This Book or any other is not a subtitute for an actual instructor, nor does it claim to be, but it is an excellent REFERENCE manual for those that are already in the system (Beginner, Intermediate, or advance) learning from a qualified instructor!

As for Ving Tsung people, grow up! Your sending a bad message to would be wing chungers and Ving Tsungers alike. It hurts us all in the end. Peace be with you!

Ignorant bliss
I agree. I have trained under Dana and Chueng and I was appalled when I read that person's degrading comments.

There is always a rotten apple, it is unfortunate...

Excellent book in TWC
If you are a student of TWC (Cheung's Wing Chun) This book is highly recommended.It reinforced what you have learned in Class and provides a handy reference.

Excellent Reference and Learning Resource!!!
As an instructor of William Cheung's art of Traditional Wing Chun, I find this book to be a useful resource tool for all my students.In fact, it is required reading material.Although it is difficult to learn any martial art solely from books and tapes, such tools are indispensable in both documenting the unique qualities of a particular style and providing specific techniques and sequences for training purposes.Advanced Wing Chun presents for the first time in print the Cham Kil, or Chum Kiu, intermediate form as passed down from 5th Generation Grandmaster Leung Jun to William Cheung via Leung Bik and Yip Man.Other useful sections include various single-handed and double-handed Chi Sau techniques and drills as well as sections on this lineage's unique footwork and combat techniques.This book is a MUST for all Wing Chun enthusiasts of any family line!

Some might find it useful
The "truth" about William Cheung is probably somewhere in the middle, between Boztepe's rabid rant and others' overstated praise. I read this book after just a few months of studying Wing Chun, and personally found his photos and descriptions impossible to follow. For one thing, your Sifu will probably teach at least a slight variation from Cheung's chum kil; Cheung's claim that his version is exactly as taught by Yip Man is probably false. Any Sifu worth his salt will provide his own unique interpretation of each form. Second, unless you already know Wing Chun maneuvers inside and out, it is impossible to learn a three-dimensional form from a two-dimensional sequence of pictures. As the title suggests, this book is probably best for advanced students who wish to compare their own techniques with another's.

One thing Boztepe has right is that Cheung's claims of being the sole successor to Yip Man are a crock. Many masters claim that, and none of them are correct. Can't they all just get along? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not worth the time
The author, William Cheung, is often criticized for his own personal deviations from the traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu system. This book is no exception.

I have a feeling that this book came before Cheung's sudden involvement in chi & meridian therapy, as it fails to shamelessly promote in the same way as his more recent writings.

Though I was looking for a book on Wing Chun's third form, Bil Jee, I was greatly disappointed. His explanations constantly repeat and contradict each other and even go against the core Wing Chun principles (see the Bil Jee form photos for examples).

This book is either evidence that Cheung has become too sidetracked in his own patchy modifications or that Cheung never knew traditional Wing Chun in the first place.

One star for making a cheap bookend.

Wing Chun's Third Form
Wing Chun Bil Jee is an excellent book by Australian based master William Cheung.

Wing Chun is one of the most internal hard external Chinese arts. Most of it's crane style based techniques are intended for use with Chi, from the deep rooting first form Sil Lum Tao, to the moving energy root of Chum Kil. The Bil Jee form only makessense when it is interpreted as attacking the chi meridians. Therefore, it truly is an advanced form, that is only fully appreciated when one has a strong knowledge of Chinese chi theory.

This book does not go into any discussion of chi or meridians, it merely presents the techniques, including some combinations that are not in the form. A must own for any Wing Chun practitioner.

Good reference on the Bil Jee form of Wing Chun
I am primarily a Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do practicioner, but am interested in learning more of Wing Chun so I have also been studying original Wing Chun, and William Cheung's books were recommended to me as references for the forms, and they are excellent for that purpose.

If you are studying Wing Chun, Cheungs books are good references. Even better, though, is to videotape someone with good form performing the forms, once from the front and once from the side and practice with those.

Although the reviewer "Jonathus" is correct that most fights are short and won with good basics, the rest of his comments would indicate that he does not have enough of an understanding of Wing Chun to "get" some of the photo sequences in the book. His statement that "one does not attack by pointing his fingers at an opponent and hopping on one leg towards his target" is correct, but if he understood what is depicted in that particular photo sequence or had been taught the movement, he would realize that that is not what is happening. The movement is an entry meant to draw a reaction to gain an attachment from which to trap and attack or open a line of attack.

Good book to have for Wing Chun artists
Although this book demonstrates the advanced form of WIng Chun, it is still useful for the student who hasn't attained the skill to learn the form. Cheung shows proper execution of bil jee, and shows some other wing chun strikes and blocks. Briefly discusses wing chun combat theory, and some other principles. Good showing of the form, though don't expect to be able to execute the form exactly without a qualified instructor. Cheung then goes on to show some entry techniques that I've never seen and I question their effectiveness. Ends with a chapter on bil jee applications. Cheung includes a letter to him from Lee Jun Fan, for some reason, maybe for a sales booster, but the letter is irrelevant to the books purpose. I also don't know why he chose to write about the advanced form of wing chun first, and then go onto to write books covering more of the basics, it seems backwards, but hey I'm not Grandmaster Cheung.

Great book...
Wing Chun Bil Jee shows the form of Bil Jee and the application of the moves. Before you are shown the form (in lots of photos) it shows different techniques of Wing Chun. Nice book for the Wing Chun practioner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Good but not near enough
This reads more like an introduction to the art of Wing Chun ratehr than a book covering the "principles".So much is left out.It would be better presented as Vol I, and then have the authors do a more comprehensive series.Just a suggestion.

Not the best I've seen
This book had a lot about nothing. Knowing that Wing Chun has lots of color and depth this book really doesn't do Wing Chun justice.

A good read, bad tutorial.
I wanted to learn and was expecting to learn Sil Lum Tao.I could not learn it from this book.Intellectually it was a good read and I truly like the translation of the Confucius Art of Mean. But if you want to learn to perform Sil Lum Tao purchase Wing Chun: The Science of In-Fighting DVD (excellent) and "Wing chun kung fu: traditional Chinese kung fu for self defense and health" by Ip chun (very good). These are much better introductory resources. I am still glad I own the book.

Please leave out biased comments out of reviews
I am a Wing Chun student.My master learned Wing Chun from a student of Yip Man.This book shows the way Wing Chun is practiced by Yip Man.It is a very technical book and has to be studied carefully to understand it.No one that has never practiced the art shouldtry to understand the book without first having hands on experience.It is a very complicated art.To the reader from Kennesaw, GA United States:You probably were taught that the style you are practicing is the best.Regardless of what style anyone practice we have to recognize one of the best expositioners of the art: Sifu Bruce Lee.Bruce Lee was a student of Yip Man and it washis first martial art.From it he developed Yun Fan Kung Fu or Jeet Kun Do.Do not say that any style is sloppy.Remember the best fighters are always obscure.This book is great if you know the basics of Wing Chun taught by a master.

Good book to demonstrate what not to do in Wing Chun
Though this book provides a thourough demonstration of the Wing Chun form, it lacks detail and technique.The technique demonstrated by Yip Chun is sloppy at best (like all students of the Yip Man branch of Wing Chun).His stance is lazy, waek, and provides a poor foundation to build apon.His hand work is sloppy and ineffective.I'd hate to see what would happen to him if he fought against a well trained master of Wing Chun.This is an OK book to use as a reference to learn the sequence of the Wing Chun forms and the theories of the style, but the techniques demonstrated in the book are junk.His hands are not in proper positions most of the time, causing him to lose the structure that forms the foundation of Wing Chun.I was very disappointed with how poor the details of his form were in this book.Check out the videos "Wing Chun Today by Jason Lau" part I and II.Sifu Lau is probably the most talented and most well respected Grand Master of Wing Chun.His form is the best in the world and his videos show the proper use of the form. ... Read more

Book Description
This comprehensive and clearly presented book outlines the history, theory and practical applications of the uniquely effective Wing Chun art.

Included in the book are sections on the Wing Chun principles, practical self-defense for men and women, sticky hands and a complete outline of the Sil Lim Tao form.

"... the author is so highly regarded in Wing Chun circles that this book was chosen as the textbook for the Hong Kong Wing Chun Association..." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Classic Basic Intro to Wing Chun
I bought this book because I have been studying Wing Chun for a while and am always trying to gain more understanding of the system.The book is a nice intro but it is not at all comprehensive.The material about the principles are not as complete of a picture as one would hope from a book that is supposed to Represent the VTAA.It only represents a very very small part of the system.

I would get the book if you would like to have an extra book on Wing Chun, but there are far better books out there.I don't know Sifu Jim Fung and I believe he is probably a great teacher, hopefully he will put out a better book.

This is REAL Wing Chun!
It is a great introduction to Wing Chun for beginners, and an even better training supplement for any Wing Chun practitioner or martial artist (of any experience).

The author, Sifu Jim Fung, is a famous martial arts figure in Asia and Australia, not for making extravagant claims like the majority of current masters, but for expressing genuine skill and unparalleled teaching in the Wing Chun Kung Fu system. This is reflected in this book as it steers clear of any grandiose recollections of previous fighting achievements and instead presents a clear and comprehensive look at the traditional art of Wing Chun from the ground up.

The book also manages to present realistic fighting applications of Wing Chun movements in photographic progressions. What I found valuable was how these applications demonstrate the strengths of Wing Chun as a close quarters martial art, unlike others which may only be effective from several feet away from your opponent.

Other notable features include a comprehensive guide to the first empy hand form of Wing Chun, the Sil Lim Tao form.

This is the only Wing Chun book I have found which has the Hong Kong Wing Chun Association's approval, evidenced by a certificate in the front cover. I strongly recommend this book to anyone practicing, or interested in practicing Wing Chun Kung Fu.

Simplicity
As a whole, this book is a good introduction to logical thinking in the martial arts - in it's principles it shows good methods of determining which action is the best to take at any time.

Even if you've only done a couple of classes of Wing Chun, the pictures will make sense - it contains photos of the Sil Lum Tao Form, the first empty-hand form of Wing Chun.

Overall a good read that gets the point across without sounding overly technical. ... Read more

Book Description
Randy Williams began his study of wing chun over twenty years ago with Sifu George Yau Chu in LA's Chinatown and continued his pursuit of martial excellence by searching out other wing chun masters while living in Singapore and traveling through Asia.He has worked as a bodyguard for a number of celebrities and dignitaries.He calls his particular interpretation of the martial arts "Close Range Combat Wing Chun."He teaches this very scientific approach to the martial arts in his international "CRC Academy" chain of self-defense schools around the world.This first book in a three-volume series covers: history/overview of the system, basic Yin and Yang blocks, eight punches of wing chun, eight palm strikes, elbow attacks, complex blocks/strikes, eight kicks and kicking principles, five basic moving stances, combination stances, Yum/Yeung theory, glossary of terms (Chinese/English), Fon Sau (trapping hands), two man dills, chee sau (sticky hands), rattan ring fundamentals and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

very good book and very difficult to find
Volume 2 Close Range Combat Wing Chun is an excellent book very well explained and presnted, it covers a variety of areas, this book is for all kung fu followers. The only draw back i see with this book is its availability it is very difficult to find. If your having these problems contact the publisher ([...]) as i did and you can purchase all 3 to the set ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

A Very Interesting Book
I liked the book a lot and finished the book in one day.I liked the stories and it was a Short concise read.There were also insights into a few of the systems such as pictures of certain postures and applications of the varied lineages.
Although I liked the book I would not call it "Complete Wing Chun".The chapters were short and not comprehensive enough.Even though they chose a few of the major lineages, they did not go into as much detail as I would have liked.Maybe a little more detail on more of the principles and applications that set the lineages apart. I just wished that they had gone into more detail.Hopefully there will be more books on the individual lineages.

this is a great book
Don't be fooled by the bad reviews, this is a really great book and anyone interested in wing chun should get it

We need more books like this
I remember seeing an article, I think by Jane Hallander, in a martial arts magazine more than a dozen years ago, with an intriguing account of a Wing Chun type style called pao fa lien. I thought it an exceptionally interesting article, and it certainly made me wonder what other forms of Wing Chun were still alive in China and its neighbouring countries. To most Westerners, Yip Man's style has become the standard when it comes to Wing Chun, and so it was fascinating to learn of the existence of other branches.
Not only is this a groundbreaking book, but it could be the start of a new genre in martial arts books. What we have here is a fine compilation of information about no less than eight styles of Wing Chun and briefer mention of half a dozen others. The authors themselves are from diverse backgrounds and styles of wing chun, and I can only applaud their vision and maturity in working together to present such a wide range of information to the martial arts public. Very briefly, they are Robert Chu, resident in California, a practitioner of Yip Man, Gu Lao, and Yuen Kay-San Wing Chun styles; Rene Ritchie, of Eastern Canada, a student of the Yuen Kay-San Wing Chun style; and Y. Wu who resides in Singapore and practices the Nanyang and Yip Man Wing Chun styles.

Since most readers are probably more familiar with the Yip Man style, I'd like to focus on the lesser known styles in this review. You'll be glad to know that pao fa lien is one of the eight styles featured in this fascinating volume, and it was the first one that I turned to when I inspected the book. We are told that the art is composed of 10 empty-hand sets, four wooden dummy sets, and over a half dozen weapon sets. The three trademark empty-hand sets of wing chun, siu nim tao (little idea), chum kiu (seeking bridge), and bui jee (darting fingers), make up the basic level of forms training. While the weapons sets focus on the familiar (at least to wing chun practitioners) long pole and double knives, there are also other weapons such as the 13 section whip, the scholar's sword, the trident, and the Kwan dao. It seems that there are two varieties of sticky hands practice within the various wing chun systems, one resembling more the pushing hands of tai chi rather than the "rolling" sticky hands that are more familiar to most of us, and the pao fa lien system uses the "tai chi" variety.

Among the other little known styles is Nanyang Wing Chun, which, we are told, includes the three typical sets of wing chun, the wooden dummy training, and the typical weapons: the pole and the double knives. In addition, it has a number of other empty hand sets, one of which seems to indicate some kind of relationship between Wing Chun and white eyebrow boxing (Pak Mei). A fascinating insight was the mention of the so-called "separate techniques." In the Gu Lao style, no use is made of forms.

The founder, Leung Jan, passed his style on in the form of a 40 point system. We are told on page 47, that "One should not simply look at the 40 points as techniques, but as to teach the fighting skills of wing chun. When the basics are mastered, a student can then do combinations and permutations of the techniques while moving left and right, with high or low stances, at high, middle, or low levels, to the front and back, and/or while advancing or adjusting the steps. Advanced practitioners can reach the level of being able to change and vary their movements with empty hands or the double knives."

I find this emphasis on perfecting single techniques absolutely fascinating, and it fits in with what Adam Hsu has to say about the importance of perfecting single techniques in his new book, The Sword Polisher's Record, where he asks: "Is it necessary to learn forms?" We are also told in the section on Yuen Kay-San Wing Chun, that some previously "separate" techniques have been formalized into training sets. It makes me think that this movement of techniques from single, separate techniques into sets is the norm, at least in Chinese boxing styles, and would seem to indicate that most styles start with a group of separate techniques which then gradually coalesce into a set or sets.

While this book is probably of most value to wing chun and jkd practitioners, I hope it will serve as a model of more comparative studies of the often amazing variety within a single system. Two related styles from Fukien, Emperor Fist, aka Grand Ancestor Fist, and Five Ancestors Fist, and on the Okinawan side, Uechi-ryu and Goju-ryu, are prime candidates for this kind of study. We need more books like this.

Conclusion based on guessing
The title of the book should be Incomplete rather than Complete Wing Chun.The writing on the Yip Man chapter is based on the author's biased opinion rather than objective information.The authors gave three or four version of Wing Chun history which only shows their lack of academic research.Proprigating myths and legends without coming up with thesis will only add more confusions to the wing chun world.

Very nice
This book differs from other Martial Arts books along the lines of "Technique, Application" etc. The book details different lineages of Wing Chun, there history, how they differ, etc. It is more of a book not to improve your fighting but rather to learn about how Wing Chun evolved so differently. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Lacks theory and detail; incorrect movements.
This book LACKS a great attention to detail in the most common of areas. Hands are left open on every movement, footwork is almost non-existant, and the center of gravity is every BUT where it belongs. The demo of the Muk-Yan-Chong goes back and forth with pictures of Dr. Smith and one of his students. Every Wing Chun practitioner knows the swords are NEVER turned backwards along the forearm, yet he displays this quite often. The pole form is over 50 movements, yet Dr. Smith displays approximately 10 and claims this is all there really is. There is very little detail in the execution of movements outside of a general description. In short, this book looks to be written for someone who has no knowledge of Wing Chun, Wing Tsun, or Ving Tsun whatsoever. Those that do, I recommend not wasting your money.

about the book
I rate this book a ten.It is a very detalied book and it talks a lot about the ways of wing chun and I appreciat that.I took wing chun when I had a short stay in Korea and it was really nice. I am a black belt in Karate and it was really diffrent.Ther were a lot more meditation and a lot of advanced techinques for the higher and more serious martial artists

about the book
I rate this book a ten.It is a very detalied book and it talks a lot about the ways of wing chun and I appreciat that.I took wing chun when I had a short stay in Korea and it was really nice. I am a black belt in Karate and it was really diffrent.Ther were a lot more meditation and a lot of advanced techinques for the higher and more serious martial artists

about the book
I rate this book a ten.It is a very detalied book and it talks a lot about the ways of wing chun and I appreciat that.I took wing chun when I had a short stay in Korea and it was really nice. I am a black belt in Karate and it was really diffrent.Ther were a lot more meditation and a lot of advanced techinques for the higher and more serious martial artists ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Smith is the author but it's really all about Felix Leong
This series of books were put together by Smith as if he came up with this branch of thinking. He didn't but he puts forward the idea that he did. The pictures don't show Smith at all, they show Grandmaster "Felix Leong" who resides in Adelaide, who I don't think is ever mentioned in any of the books but deserves the credit. Basically what you get is Felix doing his thing and someone attempting to analyse it. Smith does a reasonable job but these books have major flaws in their sequencing of photo's. There are still many valuable tips contained within the pages and worth every cent. No book will ever replace going to a real master anyway especially Felix. If you're in Adelaide drop in to Sifu Felix's centre in Hinley Street. His linage is from three schools: Hong Kong- Grandmaster Yip Chun; Foshan- Grandmaster Pan Nam; Guongzhou: Grandmaster Sum Nung and Lei Chi Wah. He has a major focus on sticky hands (chi-sao) and free sparring and students can come in any time of the day and train. I once was his student until I moved away from Adelaide and have never found anyone adequate to replace him. I understand that this is typical of anyone blabbing about their first master but still, there are many students there who have blackbelts in other arts before doing WC and rave about Felix and WC.[..]

True Ving Tsun
I believe that every man will choose what he will wish to train in. Whether it be Wing Chung, or Jujistu.The thing that will make that man is character and values, Joseph is simply stating the princilpe of Wing Chung.We all know that it goes much deaper than just seeing pictures, and working through two man drills.True Wing Chun is way of life and could never be depicted by a book........

Suprisingly good
As a Martial artist for over a decade now i was suprised to read a book that wasn't just anadvertisment for somebodys school. He putsforward interesting theories and lets you decide to take awaywhat ifanything you wish .

Psbegginers in martial arts should never, never, try to larn from booksits just bad news trust me, unlearning is ten times harder than learningget out there anddo some research and find a good techer.

A scientific perspective on a traditional martial art
Smith does a fine job of explaining and analyzing the main principles ofWing Chun with an open mind, and then describes the 3 main forms of the YipMan school with clear photos.He looks at Wing Chun as martial science,rather than simply "art", and I found it both refreshing andinsightful.I'm always skeptical about what I read on the subject of themartial arts, so I compared his Sil Lum Tao form to the descriptionspresented by several other qualified authors (Ip Chan, William Cheung, andJames Yipp Lee, so far...) and it would seem to have been presented ratheraccurately, with only minor variations.The basic principles are all thereand embodied in the form.Chum Kil and Bil Jee are also presented clearly,though I haven't cross-referenced their accuracy.Despite what others maysay, I believe it is possible to learn the fundamentals, strategies, andkatas or forms from books/videos, and therefore teach oneself the essenceof a martial art style, an idea I credit this book with justifying. However, mastery, or even realistic applications of that knowledge requireexperimentation and human contact with an instructor or at least aknowledgable partner.In short, this is a useful edition to any martialartist's bookshelf, and is capable of taking you as far as the printedmedium will allow (with dedicated practice, of course).

Dr. Smiths books are thought provoking and controvercial.
Dr. smith is a controvercial figure in the wing chun world.Nevertheless, his books bring up some interesting points.I would not rate this book high on the level of instruction however. He touches upon all three levels of wing chun in this book. ... Read more

Book Description
THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE BOOK ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF WING CHUN KUNG FU. 220 pages of thorough text. Loaded with detailed photos. Absolutely educational. A clear layout of this amazing art. Precise instruction and explanations. Great for all levels and all stylists. Soon to set the standard for instructional martial arts books. Learn the foundations and philosophy of this amazing art! Wing Chun is a scientific yet theoretically based martial arts form. The specialty of a Wing Chun practitioner is close-range combat. Wing Chun utilizes well-coordinated angular deflections with simultaneous attacks. A Wing Chun practitioner is agile yet powerful, delivering quick, close-range punches and kicks rather than locks and grabs. Wing Chun is based on the concepts and principles of simplicity, economy of movement, and economy of energy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Way too brief.
If you plan to learn wing chun only from books then this book is a good introduction. However, if you are a wing chun student and you have a sifu then this book will not help you.

The book covers each technique very briefly. It gives you just enough instruction to perform each technique and that is all.

This book was written for wing chun outsiders.

Pretty solid
Due to my geographic location I have to rely on books and other such means if I want to study anything martial arts related that isn't TKD or Karate.

Since book learning isn't the most desirable way to study any martial art I have to be pretty selective in what materials I choose to learn from.

As my first book on this system I can say i'm quite satisfied with it.The material is laid out very well, covering basic foundations first and applications later on.

Large photographs and fairly clear descriptions line the volume as well making it easy to interpret the material being covered.

This book goes through hand positions, Si Lum Tao form, stances, punching and kicking drills, and basic applications.It does not go through Chi Sao practice, wooden dummy practice, or anything else more advanced so those looking for these kinds of things should look elsewhere.

one of the best wing chun books
This is a very clear introduction to wing chun, and one of the best books on wing chun I have seen. I like this book because it explains wing chun to American readers or western readers, and doesn't assume we know chinese or the "mystical" origins of their arts. It just explains things plainly and simply. The photos are well done and clearly help explain the art. The only minor thing is, I think a book cannot show how dynamic and explosive wing chun can be. You have to really see someone exploding a kick into someone's abdomen to really see how wing chun works. But this book is excellent. I would suggest to anyone interested in wing chun to get this book, and also get one of the DVDs, like that from Michael Wong, that shows the "explosiveness" of wing chun.

A superior work
The two most highly rated books on Wing Chun are this one and The Wing Chun Compendium by Belonoha. I have both, and for anyone new to Wing Chun, this is by far a more rewarding book.
No doubt Belonoha's book contains more material...it reminds me of a reference source.

But Sifu Wahnish's effort is far more useful. For example, Chapter 3 covers stances and footwork. In 12 pages, the stances are clearly defined, and more importantly, he gives simple drills for movement between the stances and how they apply to positioning against your opponent. After reading the material, you 'get it', so to speak. I find in the other work, you don't.

Everything here seems to be geared at one goal...proper formation of the elemental techniques of Wing Chun. Nothing fancy. Like building a house with a rock solid foundation. Simplicity and economy....the essence of Wing Chun.

The Foundations of Wing Chun Kung Fu Vol.1
An honest and thorough exposition of Wing Chun. John covers aspects of Wing Chun seldom revealed to the public by the Chinese people. This is the main reason I enjoy books written by the western teachers - no withholding the techniques that make the sytem works. Looking forward to more of John's works. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Best book series out there.
I reccomend the entire set. Chao gives details not found in any other book or video series. The 1 inch punch training info alone is worth the price of the set.

Learning any Wing Chun.....
...from a book requires excellent photography so that the subtleties of hand and arm positions can be captured.This otherwise fair book suffers from very dark photographic reproduction that renders it largely unusable.

Sil Lum Tao is a good. Makes learning from other books easy.
This is a very good book for anyone wishing to learn Wing Chun Kung Fu from the beginning. K.T. Chao explains each technique and provides examples on its use and application. Lots of drills and exercises, and repetition tomaster the technique. The photography is not necessarily high quality, butclear enough to follow. Furthermore, his explanations are clear and wellwritten. I was able to learn a lot from this book. I recommend it. I intendto complete the series by obtaining Vol. 2 and 3.

Good book to add a regimin to ones existing wing chun study
K.T. Chao claims a to have been a student at the yip man school and a colleage with bruce lee.All of his books have a lot of routine.Perhaps a trademark of the yip man school. Lots of repetition. Simple.Lots of pictures.Not a lot of hype.Good old fashioned modifyed wing chun. ... Read more

Product Description
As demonstrated by Grandmaster Yip Man in pitctures. This book includes the Wooden Dummy Poster. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Authentic Demonstration by the late GM Yip Man
116 Wing Tsun Dummy Techniques demonstrates the authentic movements of Grandmaster Yip Man's wooden dummy form and offers explanations in a clear-cut format.Following the form demonstration, each section of movements is broken down and the method for applying these movements in fighting is shown.Prof. Leung Ting, who co-authored, edited, and published this book, produces some of the finest kungfu books available.This book is recommended for students of all ranks and levels who are interested in seeing the authentic demonstration by the late grandmaster, Yip Man. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

simplistic and poorly illustrated
I agree with the other 1 star reviewer in that this book very poorly illustrates proper technique and is very, very basic. Fortunately, I read it at the book store and therefore did not waste any money.

When I found the book on Amazon while searching for other Wing Chun books, I was very surprised to see such good reviews for it. Of course, it could just be the author or friends of the author ;)

Especially watch out for anybody who tries to tell you you can learn the martial arts from a book - you can not. You can learn about it, but without qualified instruction, you can't learn how to do it.

Please, buy another book
I don't know why I keep on buying this kind of manual and after having read this book I've got a good reason to stop. 70 pages of chatting that 'any master' can do. The picturesdon't show what the written should want to explain. They don'thave a dynamical sequence and it's difficult to realize the words' author. 1 star is enough.

I likedit
A good book inseries. Same open mindedness of the others.
Well written easy to read and understand. I will probably buy more of his works.

The essence of martial science...
Smith follows up volume one in this Wing Chun trilogy with another fineeffort, this time detailing the techniques and tactics of the style.Thematerial in this book can be used creatively as a guide to the applicationsof the forms described in volume one.This edition also contains anintroduction to Chi Sau exercises, a vital component to Wing Chun training. What I like most about Smith is his open-minded perspective; in this book,he sights some of the strengths and weaknesses of the style, and he's notafraid to suggest solutions for oversights such as fighting outsidetrapping range and the lack of power strikes (readers might also consider aWing Chun practitioner's vulnerability to a skilled wrestler's attack, anissue not addressed here).Another excellent analysis of this practicaland highly efficient martial art.

A MUST buy for the begining Wing Chun practioner
If your interested in finding out what all the hype is about, or just wanting some interesting techniques to try out, buy this book. it covers dar mak, chin na, and many combination hand and feet techniques. A verygood compliment to a wing chun student's martial arts library ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good for steudents of WT
This book is very good but it is really a guide for students of WT. The photographs show the form in the correct fashion but if you wish to learn purely frim the book this is impossible you need a teacher to fully understand the move. Very good fro students as a home study guide.

Informative!
If you're a WT practitioner, then this book is certainly a recommandation: very well written, complete with all the chinese names of every movement. Not too much applications, but it's worth to have a look at it! I would say: LT can continue to write a lot of WT-books!

Great Manual for Beginners, Great Review for Instructors!
This book has been long awaited.It breaks down the SNT form step by step (similar to the book WingTsun Kuen, but with the Chinese names for ALL the movements), including the applications of the movements set by set.This book is great for beginning students of WingTsun, as well as a great review or source of topics for instructors to train their students in.Can't wait until the Chum Kiu and Biu Tze books get translated into english! ... Read more