"If you have to stop and think

It’s too late!"

Ving Tsun (alternatively known as Wing Chun, and other variations and combinations of that spelling) is the most popular Chinese combat system in the world today, with millions of adherents.

The style stresses economy of movement, simultaneous attack and defence, angles of attack and uses the opponent’s force to defeat them. Ving Tsun is at its very best at close quarters where most fights occur. Instinctive reaction, through feeling and sensitivity is a cornerstone of the style. Precision and technique are used to deflect your opponent’s energy, instead of direct opposition with brute force. This means that the style is suitable for both men and women, regardless of physique, strength, flexibility or fitness. You do not have to be fit to start learning, as suitable exercises will be taught to encourage sufficient fitness.

Most systems of Ving Tsun follow their lineage through to Grandmaster Yip Man, the last Grandmaster of our style. From Yip Man, our lineage is as follows:

Si Gung : Master Wong Shun Leung.

Legendary fighter and former Chief Instructor under the late great Grandmaster Yip Man, Master Wong was also the man most responsible for the training and development of the late Bruce Lee.

Until his untimely death in early 1997, Master Wong Shun Leung was a Life Director, and was often Chairman of the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association (This organisation was founded by Yip Man as the body that loosely oversees our style.). He was the man most often selected by Grandmaster Yip Man to represent Ving Tsun in challenge matches against the best of every style. He was never beaten in these challenges.

Sifu : Barry Lee.

During the early seventies, Sifu Lee lived and trained full time in Hong Kong with Master Wong Shun Leung. These arduous and intensive years were spent training up to fifteen hours a day, seven days a week.

During that time, Sifu Lee had many challenge matches and life-threatening situations. As a result, he has the necessary practical experience to teach the best technical responses in combat.

He has continuously trained with similar dedication since then, for up to seven hours a day every day even with a full time career.

Sifu Lee has been an instructor to Police, Security, and Military personnel, and other specialist groups. He also has considerable experience teaching both in Australia, and overseas in both seminar and class situations, and thus is both a teacher and a fighter - an all too rare phenomenon in the martial arts world.

SIFU BARRY LEE REPRESENTS MASTER WONG SHUN LEUNG’S VING TSUN IN THE WESTERN WORLD.

LIFE MEMBER :Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun Martial Arts Association.

RECOGNISED BY : Hong Kong Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) Athletic Association.

MEMBER : Federation of Australasian Kung Fu Organisations.

GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED : Australian Sports Commission.

Ving Tsun was once one of China’s most highly secretive Martial Arts. Legend has it that it originated from Shaolin Temple at the very beginning of the Ching Dynsasty. The famous Buddhist nun Ng Mui, fled to Fatshan after Shaolin Temple was burned to the ground during the Manchurian consolidation following their conquest of China. After developing the style further, she passed it on to a young woman, Yim Wing Chun, for whom the style is named. It remained a secret family style for hundreds of years.

Following the Cultural Revolution, Grandmaster Yip Man fled to Hong Kong and began teaching the style publicly for the first time in the fifties. He didn’t name a successor, so there was no Grandmaster after his death. Others, however, have made pretensions to that title, some not even having trained with Yip Man.

HEADQUARTERS: Australian Head Instructor - Fu Yang

                                        Training:

                                        Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - 7pm to 9pm

                                        Private lessons available by arrangement

SOUTH WEST: Head Instructor - Gino Torreblanca

NEWCASTLE: Head Instructor - Bill Dowding

                                        Ph. (02) 4967 1233

                                        Mobile 0413 102 648

All branches will be open about ten minutes before training starts.

Postal Address: Head Office PO Box 65, Strathfield, NSW 2135

This is the expanded explanatory version of those on the wall of the training hall.

1. Be punctual. Be already changed and ready before warm-up starts.
2. Try hard to be the best you can - do not give up. You cannot succeed if you don’t even try.
3. Always wear your uniform and be clean and tidy.
4. Be respectful to all those you train with.
5. If you believe your teacher is a real teacher, then learn. Learning is not just techniques and forms. Question everything, first to yourself, then your seniors, then teachers.
6. Follow instructions - ask if in doubt, explain to those who don’t understand if you know.
7. Train hard and understand your style. There is a lot to understand.
8. Think carefully about your training. Remember that it relates to combat.
9. Train safely and take care of your fellow students, training hall and equipment.
10. And above all, relax and enjoy your training.

Always wear your uniform. Minimum uniform is school T-shirt, preferably with black gi-style pants and rubber soled shoes. T-shirts are available at the school. Jackets and pants are available at any martial arts store, but we can usually get it for you cheaper. If you haven’t got a uniform, then wear loose clothing and runners.

Always wash your hands and arms before training. Use the spray available in training to keep your forearms sterile.

Always pay your fees on or before the due date to avoid confusion or embarrassment. Always ensure you are marked on the roll at each session.

When ID cards become available, carry them to each training session. They are your proof of membership, especially at other branches and seminars, and are proof of your entitlements.

Training at the Barry Lee Ving Tsun Martial Arts Academy is conducted along the lines of a traditional Chinese kwoon (studio or training hall). As such, training may seem somewhat casual compared to the more familiar rigid Japanese-style formality. The instructors do not enforce discipline but instead the students enforce it on themselves, and if necessary, others. This increases the speed of learning, and makes learning more enjoyable. Students can ask questions of instructors and seniors (we encourage it).

Everything passes along a kind of chain of command loosely based on seniority.

Only Barry Lee has a title (Sifu). Other senior people in our system are entitled to be called this, but none use the title, since there are too many people undeserving of the title calling themselves "sifu" in other martial arts already. Ving Tsun was a successful family style for hundreds of years, and as such we find that we had little need to change the manner in which the classes are run. In the school you will find comradeship, friendly competitiveness and co-operation at all levels. The instructors are forthcoming with their knowledge. Training is as ‘one-on-one’ as possible, and even when it isn’t, you will always be under direct supervision.

Each student progresses to a more senior level based on the effort they put into their own training, precision and technical skills, their understanding of the applications of techniques, and their ability to perform them. The time needed to complete each stage will vary from student to student, as not everyone can train at the same rate, or has as much time as others to spend on training. This means that progression is assessed over a period of time, and at the student’s own pace.

THERE ARE NO FORMAL GRADINGS.

Traditionally, Chinese systems didn’t have them.

THERE IS NO SPARRING.

We have other methods of training. (eg "chi sau" or "sticking hands").

You do not have to do twenty push-ups for failing to bow etc.

Virtually all the techniques have English names, and all commands and all the lessons are conducted in English.

Typical class structure, over a two-hour class:

The first fifteen to thirty minutes is spent in warm-up. At the end of warm-up class announcements, if any, are made. From the end of warm-up to the end of the first hour, form work.

For the next half-hour, practising Dan Chi, Chi Sau, etc, or learning the next stage.

The last half-hour varies according to the needs of the class. It could be drills, theory, advanced work, practising forms or technique training; anything the instructor thinks is needed.

The last few minutes or so are spent in either punching and/or stepping training.

Take your time about your training and THINK about every possible detail of each technique (That includes stance, arm, elbow, hand, head and waist positions). Make sure it is as close to what it should be as possible. This way your training, especially at advanced levels, will progress more quickly and smoothly. Think now, and later you won’t have don’t have to think in a fight.

If you come from another Ving Tsun (Wing Chun, etc) school, we ask that you start again from the beginning for several reasons. One is that differences that may seem minor may be vital (just as apparent major differences are sometimes unimportant). Another is that not all schools teach in the same order, so we approach it systematically. You could easily miss something we teach earlier in the system than where you originally trained, especially if you were an advanced student. Be patient, and realise that if you really did train hard in the other system, then that will transfer across as a faster learning curve, enabling you to pick up certain things much quicker.

This is the code of behaviour we expect from students who train in our school. Ving Tsun is a skill, and as such is part of your life, rather than ruling it. However, it should also contribute to making you a better person in both mind and body.

1. Act in a manner that would credit Ving Tsun, your Sifu, your school, your instructors or yourself. Remember that you are representing the school at all times.
2. Promote the good name of Ving Tsun, your Sifu, your school and yourself, by the way you behave.
3. Be respectful of other styles, their instructors or students. If you have reservations, keep them private.
4. Be quietly proud of being part of this ancient martial tradition.
5. Always help others and only use your skills when all other means have failed.