You Are the Weapon

Knife as weapon.

“Everyone talks about it, that the weapons of WingChun would improve the system, but why did no one do it?”
Sifu Klaus Brand

In popular conception, “wing chun” invokes several mental images. Besides the so-called wooden dummy, it is the iconic weapons. Nearly all lineages of wing chun impart them as the most advanced forms in their teachings.

Form Chinese Transliteration Translation
Fourth 木人樁 Mok Yan Jang Wooden Person Post
Fifth 六點半棍 Lok Dim Buen Gwun Six Point Half Pole
Sixth 八斬刀 Bat Zam Dou Eight Chopping Knives

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True Mastery

“I have never yet seen the student who improved by doing nothing.”

— Sifu Alexander Lemuth

I first met Sifu (Master) Alexander Lemuth over a decade ago when he came to visit California with our mutual Sifu. At the time, he was a Sihing (Teacher) and Second Technician Grade. Since then I have been impressed by his undeviating commitment to WingChun. In fact, I look to him as a consummate Artist, exceptional Teacher and adept Leader (of five Academies in and surrounding Stuttgart, Germany).

To date, Sifu Alexander is the only active student in the whole International Academy of WingChun (IAW) and the entire teaching career of Sifu Klaus Brand (IAW Grandmaster) to culminate this unparalleled system from its initial to final movement. Even, and admirably, so he has not diminished his own training. Among the first-generation students of Grandmaster, he is thus an exemplary standard bearer for all WingChun practitioners. In the following article, Sifu Alexander keenly articulates the incessant fortitude and ongoing action you need to succeed.
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Spotlight on Sihing Ayron Johnson

Sihing Ayron Johnson and Sihing Pau Wang.

A moment of Sixth Student Level transmission.

Over the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of travelling to Atlanta half a dozen times to mentor Sihing Ayron. It’s almost a second home for me now! After each visit, he has grown in his depth of understanding as a practitioner and capability to communicate as an instructor.

Starting anew with IAW WingChun after years in another style is a test of character and a challenge of will. As one of our main representatives on the East Coast, I envision Sihing Ayron continuing to mature in our unique art while inspiring his expanding student body. I appreciate the quiet diligence and admire the quick intelligence he demonstrates. These attributes will serve him well towards attaining the highest aspirations on the WingChun path. Continue reading

2011 Fall Event Series

Get ready for lots of WingChun action.

It’s getting to that time, when we kick off our Fall Event Series, October 14-23! I’m excited to bring you my teacher, Sifu Klaus Brand. As IAW Founder and WingChun Grandmaster, he offers an incomparable quality of Self-Defense education. Come experience for yourself why so many students and teachers in various countries are compelled to master the system he transmits. Continue reading

The 8 Most Dangerous Mistakes of “Wing Chun” Systems

Biohazard Sign

Warning. WingChun hazards ahead.

As I promised, here is the translation. I’m proud to feature a guest post by Sifu Klaus Brand. In it, he identifies common traits of many “wing chun” styles and explains why they are liabilities. Due to novel research on Self-Defense efficacy, the IAW WingChun system has adopted an adapted approach. This makes us different in many ways to more traditional practices.

If you’ve read my commentary on our YouTube videos, you’ve noticed the often emotional, and occasionally antagonistic, response to our presentation. For instance, our technical expression of power and violation of occupation on the centerline is scrutinized. Such cognitive incongruence is more than understandable. Stepping outside of the orthodox box of “wing chun” exposes us to critique. The following points make our unique — perhaps heretical or even revolutionary — application of WingChun somewhat clearer. Continue reading