What is Wing Chun?

The Wing Chun fighting system, or Wing Chun Kuen (Kuen meaning ‘fist’), is best described as a very direct, short-range system specialising in close combat. It is often referred to as a ‘soft’ style of Kung Fu in that it has been devised with human structures in mind where the shape of the technique is more important than the strength. This approach means that minimal effort or physical force is required to overcome larger, stronger opponents.

Grandmaster Ip Man and Ip Chun circa 1950
Grandmaster Ip Chun demonstrating Butterfly Swords (Baat Jaam Dao)
Sifu Rawcliffe and Ip Chun training Chi Sao

Wing Chun principals include simultaneous attack and defence, economy of motion and energy in all techniques, and the protection and attack of the centre-line. Importantly it is an art of self-defence: Wing Chun students are not taught to be the instigators of a confrontational situation, which is not to say we do not strike first but it would be as a reaction to another creating threat.

The history of Wing Chun

Wing Chun (also spelt Ving Tsun or Wing Tsun) is approximately 200-250 years old and its exact origin is still argued over today. However the accepted history is that this martial art was created by the Buddhist nun Ng Mui during the reign of Emperor Jiaqing (1796-1820) and gets its name from her first student: Yim Wing Chun. Mg Nui was a master of Shaolin Kung Fu but created this form of Kung Fu to exploit weaknesses she observed in other combat styles so as to give advantage to smaller fighters.

19th century picture of wooden dummy training at the Red Junk Opera company
Grandmaster Ip Man circa 1950
A young Bruce Lee training on the wooden dummy

The practice and tradition of Wing Chun slowly spread throughout China facilitated by a traveling opera company. The current popularity can be traced to recent history and the teachings of the late Grandmaster Ip Man in Hong Kong throughout the middle of the 20th century. His legacy has been carried on by his sons Ip Ching and Ip Chun and various other famous students, one of which was the famous Bruce Lee. Sifu Rawcliffe learnt Wing Chun under the tutelage of Grandmaster Ip Chun.

About Birmingham Wing Chun Kuen

The driving principle of the Birmingham Wing Chun Kuen association is to preserve the true nature of Grandmaster Ip Man's Wing Chun by teaching and promoting Wing Chun in accordance with Grandmaster Ip Chun's own teachings.

Sifu Rawcliffe and Grandmaster Ip Chun at the UK seminar in 2008
Tan Sao training drill at Hall Green
Sifu Rawcliffe teaching Chi Sao at the 2013 seminar

We practice and promote an open, safe, relaxed and enjoyable environment without politics, religion, secrecy or financial motivation. The key to our teaching is to keep it simple, honest, share openly and train with, not train on, our partners.

We only teach Wing Chun; no other styles, no blends and no omissions or additions.