The Wing Tsun Mottoes

The wing tsun mottoes are a typical product of wing tsun thinking. They are extremely condensed, quintessential fighting and force-application principles of wing tsun kung fu. Don't let their simple, almost minimalist appearance fool you. They are deep, deep wellsprings of all the wisdom that underlies wing tsun. They are absolutely essential for the correct understanding, practice, and application of wing tsun theory to practice. The more you ponder these simple sayings as you learn and practice, the better your wing tsun will be. It's axiomatic.

Wing Tsun means to change on the basis of change of the opponent's tactics. (This is one of the most important mottoes in WT)

1. If the way is free - attack!
   
2. If the way is not free - stick!
   
3. If the opposing force is greater - yield!
   
4. If the opponent draws back - follow!
   (then back to 1st or 2nd Principle, depending on situation)

- Chinese Version:

Stay with what comes,
Follow it as it retreats,
Thrust forward as the way is freed!

1st Stage: Free yourself of your own force. (SNT)
2nd Stage: Free yourself from your opponents force. (CK, BT)
3rd Stage: Use your opponents force and add yours. (WD)

• Force comes from every point of the body
• Force from three joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist)
• Force from seven "joints" (ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, writs - and spine)
• Always 3 forces, 3 angles (trinity)

• Dropping shoulders and sinking elbows

• Head is up & spinal column straight

• Push the head up to the sky, feet firmly on the ground

• Head up, eyes on horizon

(This applies to almost all of Wing Tsun practice and fighting. There are few exceptions, but they exist)

The point theory states that you could divide all movements into countless many "points". The higher the sub-division, the more sensitive one is and able to react to the smallest interruption of movement by the opponent.

“Every point clear” (Dim Dim Ching). This means that when executing a form, every movement is clearly recognizable and that there is a pause or a stop between two movements. The form should be trained with the same rhythm from start to finish. You should be like a robot.
(NOTE: This is true for learning the form, but you should also practice it with total fluidity and “never-ending movement”, just to experiment)

Is defined as the hostile crossing of the imaginary magnetic zone, which surrounds the Wing Tsun fighter. The WT fighter sees himself here as the magnet which is attracted to the approaching opponent and storms forward with attacks to decimate him. (This is about fighting distance. The "magnetic circle" is the distance from which an opponent could attack you without first having to make another step. Once he enters that radius (i.e., while he is still setting himself up to attack you), you must attack him with full force before he can harm you!) This is central to all effective WT fighting!

The center line is shortest line to the opponent. WT theory states that the central point is made by the intersection of the vertical and horizontal middle lines of the torso. The imaginary Centreline extents form this point out to my opponent, on which I move my arms and aim them towards him.

• All lines originate in Centreline
• SNT,CK: Centreline body
• BT: Two centrelines parallel (wrists)
• WD: Centreline body & legs
• LP: Centreline shoulder
• BCD: All centrelines unite

• Hand and foot (long distance). Movements complete at same time

• Hand before foot (middle distance); movements complete at same time

• Foot before hand (close distance). Movements complete at same time

(The middle distance is the most important as one can move from here into all other distances.)

• The arm moves, the body stays still.
• The body moves, the arm stays still.

• SNT & CK: Arm moves
• BT: Arm and body move
• WD: Body moves

• Diagonal

• Parallel

• Same with same (knives)

• Figure 8 (knives)

• Straight / circle / vertical beats horizontal (??)

* Techniques are three dimensional. The 4th dimension is timing.

• SNT & CK: Stick!
• BT: Explosive force!
• WD: Reborn force

• Nose to nose

• While others move along the back of the bow, we move along the bowstring (take the shortest route)

• Receptive rib cage (absorb with the chest)
• When arms are controlled use the body.
• When body and arms are controlled use the legs.

• Circle and straight can be combined

• Keep everything simple

• Body: 3 parts - always attack the one closest

• Give in (yield) to ascertain the best position for the attack

• Not to move is better than moving (??)

• Reborn force is always there

• “In Grund und Boden Stossen” – strike with utter devastation (Literally: “beat them down and stomp them into the ground.” Also: “utterly devastate your attacker!”)

Lat Sao Yik Chung - Once a hand has no contact it should immediately shoot into target.

Fung Hung Bit Yun - Constant forward pressure on all techniques

Kam Tau Gut Mai - When the head is pressed down the tail comes up (Bong)

Kam Mai Gut Tau - When the tail is pressed down the head comes up (Tan)

Mud Yap Yone Moon - Concentrate on the middle door

Yee Ying Bo Sao, Yee Sao Bo Ying - Body compensates arms, arms compensate body

Junk Tung Mah But Tung - The stance does not move if the hand moves

Ma Tung Junk But Tung - When the stance moves the arms don’t move

Fan Zee Lek - Reborn force

Yat Fook Yee - One hand controls two

Chat Yeet Kwut Fat Lek - The power of the 7 joints

Saam Yeet Kwut Fat Lek - The power of the three joints

Pow Yar Lek - Power like an explosion

Yat dim Kung Lek - Attack on one point

Lek Koon Tze - Force goes through the fingers

Yiu Ying but Yiu no - Body chasing theory

Kuen but gor saam - 3 x strike theory

Bay sut kik hui - Theory of avoidance of protected zones

Dat tao mo gerk - Punch to face, no kicks (also: “one step, no kick’)

Bat tam da, bat wai da - No fear of hits