Our curriculum at the Wing Tsun Backyard is based on a 3-month training period in order to advance to the next Student Grade (S.G.). Testing will occur during our four seminars each year.
First Student Grade (“SG-1”):
A. Classical Curriculum:
· Setting up the WT stance
· First three sets of “Siu Nim Tao” (“SNT” or “Little Idea”) form
· Simple defenses to straight line attacks to abdomen, chest and head
· Hand freeing exercises & follow-up attacks
· Stance shifting (“turning”)
· Straight line advancing steps
· “Crab” (sideways) steps
· Stepping with directional changes
· Pursuing steps
· “Arrow” step & retreating steps
· All footwork (turning and stepping) with chain punches
· Simple leg defenses (against kicks to legs)
B. “Lat Sau” (Free-Hand Fighting): (Theme: Long Distance Straight-Line Attacks)
· Defending long-range attacks to legs, body and head
· Application of lower-level kicking defenses and simultaneous counter attacks
· “Covering” opponent’s arms while kicking/countering
· Simple arm trapping and counter-trapping (with and without follow-ups)
· Retreating and pursuing with continuous attacks
· Begin to apply constant “forward pressure”
· Begin to “absorb” and deflect powerful attacks (instead of resisting with unnecessary force/stiffness)
· Proper distancing
· Defense against grappling attacks
C. Theory:
· Forward energy
· Triangular structure
· The “Four Principles” of WT combat
· Class etiquette and Chinese names for family relationships
2nd Student Grade (“SG-2”):
A. Classical Curriculum:
· Sets 4 thru 8 of SNT Form (complete)
· Execute all defensive movements from SNT Form with punches and chain punches
· The “universal solution” (works against almost all types of attacks!)
· Focus mitt drills
· Defending punches with punches
· Light contact free-fighting with chain punches, only (and footwork, of course)
· Simultaneous defense and attack with footwork (all movements from SNT Form)
· Offlining
B. Lat Sau Program 2: (Theme: Middle distance lower-level straight-line attacks)
· Defending lower-level attacks from middle distance
· Changing from left to right and back using leg attacks, only
· Simple “leg sticking” exercises (sweeps and counters)
· Combine movements and concepts from both Lat Sao 1 and 2
· Off-lining against powerful and deep attacks
· Defense against grappling attacks
C. Theory:
· The concept of “sticking”
· Simultaneousness of defense and attack
· “Compass-man” principle
· Attacking to defend
· The “wedge principle”
Third Student Program (“S.G.3”):
A. Classical Curriculum:
· Simple single-arm “sticking hands” exercises (no footwork)
· First quarter of “Chum Kiu” (Seeking the Bridge) Form
· “Falling-Leaf” step and applications
B. Lat Sao Program 3: (Theme: Middle-distance ag. circular attacks from inside)
· Defense against “JKD style” backfist attacks
· Defense against follow-ups from there (continuous attacks with arm-pulling/punching combos)
· Using footwork to dissolve excessive forward pressure
· Continuous-loop attacks and defenses
· Combining Lat Sao programs 1, 2, and 3
· Defense against round and straight kicks to mid-level (abdomen, rib cage)
· Defense against grappling attacks
· Medium-contact free-fighting with headgear
C. Theory:
· Using straight line to defend against round attacks (and vice-versa)
· Know and understand all SNT-related Wing Tsun “mottoes”
Fourth Student Program (“S.G.4”):
A. Classical Curriculum:
· Complete Chum Kiu Form
· Single and pair drills using all techniques from Chum Kiu
· Single-arm “sticking hands” (Chi Sao) with directional and positional changes, mid, high, and low-level attacks, and footwork (stepping and turning)
· Breaking down the Lat Sao drills into components and practicing them in pair drill situations
B. Lat Sao Program 4: (Theme: Middle-distance against circular attacks from outside)
· Defense against circular attacks from outside the body perimeter (i.e., ‘haymakers’ and wide open backfist attacks)
· Defense against high-level kicks from other styles
· Continuous impulse-response drills (“Luk Sao”)
· Simultaneous defense and counter combos using the “sticking” principle
· Combine all four Lat Sao programs
· Defense against grappling attacks
· Full-contact free-fighting with headgear
C. Theory:
· The “four directions” of hand attacks (inside to inside, inside to outside, outside to inside, and outside to outside)
· History of Wing Tsun from Ng Mui to Yip Man
Fifth Student Program (“S.G.5”):
A. Classical Curriculum:
· Beginning double arm Chi Sao (“Poon Sao”) with defenses to simple attacks and directional/positional changes
· “Suppressing hand/attack” (Lap-Da) exercises
· Begin freely applying “sticking”, “flowing”, and “forward-pressure” tactics
· Figure 8 SNT
B. Lat Sao Program 5: (Theme: Close-distance to ground-fighting distance)
· Using and defending against knee and elbow attacks (close range)
· Using and defending against grappling, throwing, and ground fighting attacks
· Finishing techniques
· Combine all five Lat Sao programs
· Full-contact free-fighting with head gear, elbow pads, and body protectors
C. Theory:
· History of Wing Tsun from GGM Yip Man forward