Here’s a short video of Sifu Matt working with a new student on his first night in class.
Got to relax that shoulder to get the punch out there and working!
See you all in class!
Sifu Matt
Students Relaxing After Class at the Ving Tsun Self Defense Academy
New student, 1st Night: Pak and Punch
Atul performing Bong Sau from the Chum Kiu form
The empty hand forms of the Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) system are of great importance. Many martial arts practitioners do not practice forms or worse yet, practice them but do not understand them. Some feel they are like “swimming on dry land”. Others practice them over and over yet have little or no understanding of what they are doing or why they are doing it. The forms of the Ving Tsun contain all the knowledge of the system. They are the glue that holds it together. They teach all the major principles of the art, things such as correct position of the movements, correct energy use, the use of “Yiu Ma” ( Hips and Stance) to develop power, how to have fast explosive movements, and how to recover from bad position, among many other things. The forms, Siu Lim Tao, Chum Kiu, and Biu Gee, must be practiced over and over to master them. A student must understand that the forms will directly inform your Chi Sao (Sticking Hands) practice. Without the understanding and without lots of practice of the forms, your Chi Sao will just be a bunch of random, empty movements. If you are studying under someone that says the forms are of no importance and who does not practice them himself regularly, you should find another Sifu. If you are studying under someone who has you doing the forms over and over but can’t tell you what the moves mean and how to apply them in Chi Sao or in Fighting, find another Sifu. If he says something like “do it because I told you” or “Thats the way we’ve always done it,” these are not answers, again, find another Sifu.
For more information on learning the Ving Tsun system, Contact the VTSDA by phone or email.
Sifu Matt Johnson
Forms. Chi Sao practice. Fighting.
Mondays will be all about forms. We’ll work on basic training, forms, structure and understanding.
Tuesdays will be Chi Sau Intensive. We’ll look at the three empty hand forms and their relation to Chi Sau, as well as work on all aspects of Chi Sao practice, including Don Chi Sao, Seung Chi Sao, Poon Sao, Bong/Lop Sao, and Gwoh Sao.
Wednesdays we put it all together for self defense training. We’ll look at how to use your Ving Tsun against various kinds of attacks you might encounter on the street, and how Chi Sao practice teaches the practitioner to use his Ving Tsun in a real fight.
Saturdays will be open gym time. Students train on anything from the previous week’s classes, and can ask questions relating to the material.
This class structure insures that students receieve a well-rounded training experience that exposes them to all aspects of the Ving Tsun system.
For more information about learning the Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) system, contact Sifu Matt Johnson by phone or email and set up an interview to start you on the path to learning at the VTSDA.
Matt Johnson Ving Tsun/Chicago 