Customer Reviews

Wing Chun: Fighting Art

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

First off, just so those reading this will know I have some knowledge in this area, I studied Northern Shaolin for 5 years while I lived in an area where there was an instructor who was from China. Learning from someone in person is the best way but for those of us not living near an instructor this is the 2nd best way. I purchased this DVD along with Master Wongs self defense DVD about a month ago and have been very pleased. I would also recommend William M. Cheung Wing Chun DVD series which I also purchased. I found there is information covered by one instructor that is not covered by the other. So if you are like me and are unfortunate enough to live in an area where no one teaches wing chun I believe it is best to get your hands on as many different DVDs as you can. Master Wongs DVDs are very much hands on and even if you don't have a partner to practice with there is much to learn from these DVDs. Ideally you practice the moves with a partner wearing full body padding (recommend equipment is covered on the DVD) where you can really hit the person and not hurt them but as I already said either way there is much to learn. For the price get this one from amazon (since it can cost twice as much elsewhere) and if you like it I would get the other one and also look into getting the rest of his series which unfortunately at the moment you'll have to get from other then amazon.com as I had to do which I already mentioned will cost you about twice as much per DVD.

I popped this DVD in, and expected the typical, slow-motion "classical" stuff. But the things shown are powerful, fast, and dynamic. They really show you how wing chun can be used in "combat" (real street fights and self-defense situations). This is obviously a very effective "street art" as well as being a traditional art.

The "Little Idea" was pulled apart, picked over, and repackaged into nothing even close to Wing Chun. The principles are shot to hell here. For example, you don't wail away and overpower your opponent with brute force, you feel your way over the bridge and strike efficiently. His movements are wasteful in the extreme, his stance and center of balance constantly leaving him wide open to a real wingchunner's strike. Whatever this guy is demonstrating, it is far closer to MMA than Wing Chun. Save your money.

THis DVD is fun to watch and it is good "fighting skill", BUT, it does not apply the true theory of Wing Chun such as economy of energy and the Wing Chun Ma in fighting. But, in my opinion, as long as you can protect yourself in a dangerous situation, that's what matter, regardless of whether you are using true Wing Chun and not true Wing Chun.

I have over a hundred and twenty books on martial arts. I have around forty to fifty dvds and tapes on the subjects of Wing Chun, Tai Chi, BJJ, Baguazhang, Xing-I, and much more. Amongst the Wing Chun dvds that I have are the series hosted by Benny Meng. Which I consider to be an excellent work. Yet there were some blanks that needed to be filled in.
In Mr. Michael Wong's dvd, some of these blanks were filled in. I purchased the fighting arts and self defense dvds, since the price was so good. Once I viewed them, I went and purchased the whole Wing Chun series.
One thing that is important in Martial Arts is that it be "ALIVE". You learn the form, system, kata, movements or whatever you would like to call it and then you practice on someone. In Mr. Wong's dvds, he emphasizes this. He states that you must train with an opponent that is not just doing what you wish him to do. That is why in time past they invented push hands and sticky hands. They had no way to safely test their skills with one another. So they had to devise a way to work with an opponent in a safe fashion but still get the feel of an uncooperative adversary. This is why Judo, Aikido and BJJ does what they do. Almost all their moves are made so that they can be performed on a partner without killing the other person. Hence they get the feel of an opponent that is fighting them.
When it comes to striking though, we have not been able to test our skills safely up until the past fifty or so years. With the advent of plastics and other essential materials, the striking arts can now practice with almost the same amount of intensity as a grappling art.
(Sorry to go off on a tangent, but on with what I thought of about Mr. Wong's Dvds. )

I believe that he sticks mainly within the parameters of Wing Chun. I don't believe that he chases hands (at least not too much), as one of the other writers said, yet I would say that one should investigate the art through several sources. In Benny Meng's DVDs (Who is the curator of the Wing Chun museum, by the way) he lists a side kick as part of the Wing Chun arsenal, so I do not see why anyone would think that a side kick is inappropriate for Wing Chun. Another issue that was brought up is simultaneous blocks and punches. This is not par for the course in any Wing Chun system that I have seen. With the exception of Bui Ji. True simultaneous blocking and striking must be preformed with one arm. If you are saying that Mr. Wong doesn't use Tan Sau while punching, or if you are saying that he doesn't perform Bui Ji in the right way. I must say that you are mistaken. If you wish an art with simultaneous blocking and striking, you would be much better off with Xing-I or Hsing Yi if you prefer.

We have the internet, dvds, cds and other learning devises. The old masters of the past martial arts did not have these options. They had a teacher and maybe a book or two. The teacher said this and they did it. What option did they have???
So I would purchase Mr. Wong's dvds if you are interested in Wing Chun. But I would also purchase from other recognized teachers ( such as the above mentioned, plus William Cheung, Garrett Gee and Randy Williams, etc.) on the art then compare and find the truth of the matter. Then see what works for you.
On last thought (sorry for blathering on). A greyhound cannot be a good sled dog and a Siberian Husky will never be the fastest dog a the track. So go out and find what martial art is right for you and pursue it.

I didn't find this video helpful in any way. In fact, the video was more funny than useful. I can't decide what was the most comical, between the stream of conscious dialog, the interview with a "law enforcement" official, or the scenes of the "master" filmed with a camcorder on the front lawn. As I watched this DVD, I could not help feel that I was being punked.

There is a part in this DVD series where the "master" says something to the effect that maybe you want to hit this guy because you dont like the way he's looking at you". This goes against the philosophy for ANY martial arts and certainly for Wing Chun. Some of the techniques are also not Wing Chun.

I am a student of Grandmaster Kenneth Chung, one of the best wing chun teachers out there. I have watched this dvd with my friend, and we both came to the conclusion that Master Wong is an absolute tool. His wing chun is sloppy and overpowered. He focuses way too much on banging on the dummy, instead of developing sensitivity and correct posture. On top of that, his stance is terrible. The best way to learn wing chun is to feel it, even a school that is kind of crappy is better then this dvd. Unfortunately, if you can't find a school, then your best bet would be to pick up the dvd by Wong Shun Leung. Stay away from William Cheung and Leung Ting, they are only trying to sell you a commercialized version of Wing Chun!!

Everything I read in the review prior to buying the DVD was absolutely true...that in itself speaks volumes, after there are many such DVD's to choose from.

Having done a few months of Wing Chun the DVD helped further my training, specially completing my training in Siu Lam Tao.

If there is any doubt in your mind that Wing Chun is the real thing ,it will be squashed in 30 seconds after watching this DvD. Master Wong is very fast and pulls no punches in this one. Letting the art speak for it's self. Takes extreme patience and practice to learn forms from a DvD ,but rewind and examine your technique over and over it is possible to get a vague understanding of the 3 basic forms shown. Which should leave you still breathing after your next encounter.Hands on approach with a certified instructor ofcourse is the only way to become proficient. But this DvD has beautiful examples of the Wing Chun science of fighting. A must have for any modern h-h combat trainee.