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Complete Wing Chun: The Definitive Guide to Wing Chun's History and Traditions (Complete Martial Arts) (Paperback)

by Robert Chu (Author), Rene Ritchie (Author), Y. Wu (Author) "Yip Man Wing Chun, the first system of Wing Chun kuen to be taught publicly has become one of the most popular Chinese martial arts..." (more)
Key Phrases: wing chun kuen, muk yan jong, nim tao, Yip Man, Yuen Kay-San, Siu Lam (more...)

3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)

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Product Description
Providing an insight into Wing Chun, a controversial martial art of the 1990s, this text includes all 14 styles of Wing Chun and is illustrated with over 300 historical photographs.

Language Notes
Text: English, Chinese

Product Details

Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1st edition (June 15, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0804831416
ISBN-13: 978-0804831413
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #529,537 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Yip Man Wing Chun, the first system of Wing Chun kuen to be taught publicly has become one of the most popular Chinese martial arts in the world today. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
wing chun kuen, muk yan jong, nim tao, lim sao, biu jee, bin jee, sao jik chung, luk sao, chum kiu, gaun sao, tiger tail kick, ying jow, bong sao, double knives, fook sao, chum kin, huen sao, ying kuen, lien tao, tan sao, gum sao, chi sao, san sao, lop sao, pak sao

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Yip Man, Yuen Kay-San, Siu Lam, Pan Nam, Leung Jan, Sum Nung, Hong Kong, Wong Wah-Bo, Pao Fa Lien, Yim Wing-Chun, Leung Yee-Tai, Always Spring, Chan Wah-Shun, Dai Fa Min Kam, Fung Siu-Ching, Cheung Bo, Cheung Ng, Lai Hip-Chi, Leung Bok-Chao, Way Yan, Cao Dean, Chu Chong, Eddie Chong, Fok Bo-Chuen, Garrett Gee

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 2 books:

Bruce Lee (Real-Life Reader Biography) by Wayne Wilson in Front Matter
Bruce Lee (Pocket Essential series) by Simon B. Kenny in Front Matter

1 book cites this book:

Change Your Life with Martial Arts by Linda Davis Kyle in Back Matter

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Comprehensive Theory and Applications of Wing Chun Jin Kuen - Training Manual Volume One by Jason, G Kokkorakis

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	47% buy the item featured on this page: Complete Wing Chun: The Definitive Guide to Wing Chun's History and Traditions (Complete Martial Arts) 3.5 out of 5 stars (31) $12.71
	27% buy The Wing Chun Compendium 4.8 out of 5 stars (31) $29.01
	9% buy Wing Chun Martial Arts: Principles & Techniques 3.6 out of 5 stars (18) $12.71
	9% buy Wing Chun Kung Fu: Traditional Chinese King Fu for Self-Defense and Health 3.6 out of 5 stars (14) $11.53

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Customer Reviews

31 Reviews

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
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Average Customer Review

3.5 out of 5 stars (31 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars We need more books like this, August 8, 2004

By	MR LIAM B KEELEY "Liam Keeley" (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Inadequate research & biased favor for Yip Man & Yuen KaySan, June 29, 1999

By A Customer

Without adequate research and candid comparisons, the authors are too hasty to claim that all Wing Chun schools are the same (p116 -- the three main boxing forms are fairly consistent in organization throughout the various styles; p117 -- All have, and none have.) Their statement appears to be made out of respect for the various schools. However, by ignorng the obvious differences in curricula and by generalizing the similarities of the three main forms, they are now ready to extol their practiced styles toward the end of their text -- the Yip Man and Yuen Kay-Shan styles (p118-120.) These two styles have been subtly positioned to be the standard of reference for comparative studies. Hence the differences found in other Wing Chun styles are ascribed to influences from non Wing Chun kung fu.

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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good work on a hard subject to investigate., October 26, 1999

By A Customer

I really liked this book and I enjoyed reading it. Obviously this book is not a "How to" book since the title says it's about history and tradition. It's hard to go back in time and see the past in focus without good documentation on the Chinese part due to secrecy. Nonetheless this book was very well written and it gives a more clear view of Wing Chun's roots. Perhaps this book will help to silence some of the traditional hog wash I've heard and read from so called masters. One thing I'd like to know more about is the European influence on the art. Surely when the Westerners came over to China in the 19th century and before, some fights must have taken place. From my studies I know they faired well and I think this probably influenced Wing Chun through the great Leung Jan. Have you noticed that Wing Chun doesn't look like most other Kung Fu styles?

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars 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. Read more

Published on February 28, 2007 by Yuen K. Wong

5.0 out of 5 stars 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

Published on December 15, 2005 by L. Bourgeois

1.0 out of 5 stars 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... Read more

Published on December 7, 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice
This book differs from other Martial Arts books along the lines of "Technique, Application" etc. Read more

Published on March 9, 2003 by Scott

4.0 out of 5 stars History - not training or how to...
I give this book a 4, only because I think that most people who will be looking for Wing Chun books will be looking for something more along the 'how to' line. Read more

Published on April 8, 2002 by jrdhmmr

1.0 out of 5 stars Lacks hard evidence and Footnotes
A feeble attempt by their own admission into the History of the Art Of Wing Chun,let alone any credible first hand documents or proof. Read more

Published on October 27, 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars A Praise Worthy Attempt
An excellent reference work on a large number of Wing Chun branches. However, I do not agree that it is 'complete'. Read more

Published on April 29, 2000 by James Chan

5.0 out of 5 stars A generous contribution to the art!
This book will inform, educate and open the mind of any practitioner who seeks more enlightenment in the art. Read more

Published on September 16, 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars a waste of space on your shelf
If you have lots of spare change and a lot of space to waste on your shelf then you might buy this book. Read more

Published on July 17, 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is confusing at best and misleading at worst.
This book's purpose is confusing. It is not a complete guide to Wing Chun, but focuses on obscure and marginal branches and instructors. Read more

Published on July 1, 1999

› See all 31 customer reviews...

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