What is Wing Chun?

According to a widespread legend, this symbiosis stems from the fact that it was created by a woman and later refined by men. According to this legend, Wing Chun was founded by a Buddhist nun named Ng Mui. She allegedly watched a fight between a snake and a crane.

The name "Wing Chun" comes from Cantonese, so there is no clearly correct romanization of the term. For various reasons (sometimes commercial) and in order to distinguish oneself from other schools and associations, numerous spellings are used accordingly, e.g. B. Wing Tsun (WT), Ving Tsun (VT), Wing Tzun, Wing Chung, Wing Shun, Wing Tsung, Ving Chung, Wyng Tjun, Ving Chun, Ving Zun, Wyng Tjun ... but also completely different names, such as e.g. B. Taonamics or Tao Concepts.

In pinyin (transliteration), the official system used to romanize Standard Chinese (Mandarin), the characters are transcribed as Yǒng chūn.

Wing Chun Kung Fu is just one of many martial arts / kung fu styles that have their roots in southern China. Compared to other styles of kung fu or martial arts, it is actually a relatively young style. Wing Chun is mostly known as a "soft" style, but it's actually a mix of hard and soft.

Wing Chun is essentially based on three principles:

1. Simultaneous Attack and Defense (Yin – Yang)

2. Economy of movement (efficiency)

3. Central line

How is Wing Chun taught?

Wing Chun is essentially based on the forms. In the forms you learn and practice basic movement patterns and behavior. These forms are more or less fixed sequences of techniques that the student carries out alone and the Sifu corrects the student until there are no more mistakes. In this way, the unusual movements of Wing Chun, with practice of the forms, become routine.

You start with the Siu-Nim-Tao (xiǎo niàn tou, 小念头, the little idea in your head), so the student gets a little idea of how to move in Wing Chun Kuen Kung Fu. There are five forms in unarmed Wing Chun (plus the tripodal (three-legged) puppet form). Depending on how far along the student is, he trains accordingly on one of the following forms:

Siu-Nim-Tao (xiǎo niàn tou, smile, the little idea (in) the head)Chum Kiu / Cham Kiu (xún qiáo, smile, ,,build a tree“, i.e. ,,seek a tree“)Bju Tse / Biu Tze (biāo zhǐ, finger, "thumb finger", e.g., "Standard Finger") – this form is included in the Non-Failure ConceptMok Jan Chong / Muk Yan Jong )Saam Sing Chong Form (Tripodal (revolving) Doll Form)

There are also two weapon forms in Wing Chun:

Baat Cham Dao (Double Measure – Form)Lok Dim Bon Gwan (Longstock – Form)

In addition to the forms, you learn to hit in a controlled manner and without injuring yourself, then to be able to deal better with different distances. Afterwards you learn Dan-Chi, then Chi-Sao and the related sections.

Why is it called Ashuftah Wing Chun?

It is called Ashuftah Wing Chun because “Ashuftah” is the family name of Sifu Massoud. It should be absolutely clear that Sifu Massoud is not under any umbrella organization, but cooperates with both Sifu Martin Dragos in Germany and Sifu Liang Jiaming in China. Both Sifus are valued friends and teachers.

Sifu Massoud Ashuftah was proclaimed Sifu by Sifu Liang Jiaming in Foshan, China in April 2013. He learned Dragos Wing Tsun for the first time in 2006 with Sifu Martin Dragos and in 2015 received the entire Dragos Wing Tsun system in the form of private lessons.

It should be pointed out that one learns from Sifu Massoud, Foshan Wing Chun and Dragos Wing Tsun, as well as all the individual knowledge that Sifu Massoud had on his way to Sifu and afterwards. This means learning the Ashuftah Wing Chun (AWC) style.

Both styles are taught; Whether the student later implements the traditional Foshan Wing Chun or the Dragos Wing Tsun is up to the student, although of course both Wing Chun styles have a great deal of overlap. The forms and some principles, as well as the Chi-Sao, differ in many points.

There are many principles that Sifu Martin Dragos used to improve traditional Wing Chun, but you cannot judge this via videos, you have to train with him to form a real opinion.

In the AWC you learn to defend yourself against other experienced martial artists, but also against street thugs.