The Authentic Wing Chun Weapons-Long Pole and Butterfly Knives

by Master Jim Fung

Other authorsKaren Armstrong
1986

Library's review

This authoritative work is the first complete Wing Chun weapons book, featuring the Wing Chun Butterfly Knives and Pole. Included is a unique section of interviews with the top Wing Chun masters in Hong Kong. This is the first time they have all participated in any publication. This weapons book is
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essential reading for all martial artists, regardless of their style or experience. Included in the book are preparation exercises, forms, applications and realistic uses of both weapons.

Sifu Jim Fung is interantionally recognised as one of the top wing chun masters. He is Life Director of the governing Hong Kong Wing Chun Association, Author of the Wing Chun Kung Fu book, and was trained in the same wing chun school as the late Bruce Lee.

Sifu Fung (known in Australia as Sifu Jim) has devoted a major part of his life to learning, and teaching, the genuine Wing Chun art.

He has been guided and tutored in wing chun for over 20 years by Senior Master, Sifu Tsui Seung Tin, who regards Sifu Fung as one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable wing chun masters.

Through Sifu Fung's efforts, wing chun has emerged from relative obscurity to become one of the most popular and respected martial arts in Australia.

His Academies are regarded as among the most professional in the world.

Sifu Fung is one of the rare exponents of martial art who has combined true understanding, with a high level of practical ability, and genuine wilingness to teach.

Recently, Sifu Fung was appointed Chairman of the Cultural Committee on Sport by the Chinese Association of South Australia.

He is constantly featured in the media, and in prestigious international journals.

Sifu Fung continues to research, and train in wing chun, keeping close contact iwth his Master, and other masters in Hong Kong, so that the genuine wing chun art can be preserved and passed on without any deterioration or adulteration of the proper wing chun.

I see this book as a follow up to the author's previous blue colored book on Wing Chun Kung Fu. It continues on from where the blue book ended, covering the use of weapons as an extension of one's arms or body structure.

It demonstrates a range of techniques that can be performed using household objects (from an umbrella to a meat cleaver), and flawlessly relates the applications back to the core Wing Chun system - a connection that almost every other weapons book I have read fails to make.

I must respectfully disagree with the previous poster's review and question his actual experience in the Wing Chun system. The pole form is in the same form as the one in Yip Man's book. Furthermore, I think the reviewer completely misinterpreted the pole vs knife application as it is a fluid movement and not a 1 step 2 step combination (which would be the incorrect usage of the pole; Wing Chun's pole generates force at the tip and not by waving around and hitting people with the sides of the pole). The squash racket application acts as a replacement for the Wing Chun butterfly KNIVES and not the POLE, which is why it is used as such. Had it been a replacement for the pole then it would have been in another chapter. It is merely an alternative application of a tennis racket / squash racket's use in a real fight, using it as an extension of the forearm as butterfly knives are used.

With that being said, it is clearly a book for those of intermediate experience in Wing Chun (especially as it deals with weapons, which can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing). For those unacquainted with Wing Chun (or those of little skill in the system), the blue book (Wing Chun Kung Fu) by Jim Fung is a must read before you read this weapons book.

I give it five stars for appropriate and adaptable applications of weapons and weapon substitutes, and for expanding on some of the more advanced Wing Chun principles and applications rather than going back over old ground. Recommended!-Ashida Harunobu

This book claims to be 'the first complete Wing Chun weapons book'. hmmm. Well, it's complete in the sense that it's a Wing Chun book and discusses the butterfly knives and pole, but is far from complete.

For a 200 page book there is not a lot of text, and in the text the author constantly makes the point that you cannot learn to use weapons from a book (a fair point, but you only need to say it once, if at all). There are at least 50 double page spreads of just photos, and a lot of the photos are repeated throughout the book.

The knife form is incomplete. The author only seems to want to show only the defensive, blocking techniques, rather than the attacking ones. For example, there is no mention of Cup dao or Lan dao. Only one basic strike is shown

The pole form is different, with some parts missing, and other parts added in which differ from Ip man Wing Chun, which is what the author claims he is trying to preserve.

In both sections the 'realistic applications' seem less believable than the classical applications. One example is along the lines of 'as attacker attempts to stab, block with pole/knife, and hit the head as the attackers knife falls to the ground'. This seems somewhat naive to assume someone will instantly drop a knife when you hit them on the arm. Also, when defending himself using a squash racket, he uses it as a pole, handle first. Contrary to the review above it IS in the pole application section, no the knife section. Also, Yip Man has never written a book, on the pole form or any other. Believe me, I have tried to find books by him before.

The only reason I give it two stars and not one is because there is a nice bit about some of the masters, and would be a good introduction for someone who has no idea about wing chun or its weapons. If you have any experience in wing chun, look elsewhere for a complete guide.

Contents

Preface by Sifu Tsui Seung Tin
Introduction
Section 1 Introducing the masters
1 Yip Man
2 Leung seung
3 Lok Yu
4 Tsui Seung Tin
5 Wong Shun Leung
Section 2 The wing chun butterfly knives
6 Preparation exercises
7 Form
8 Applications
9 Realistic uses
Section 3 The wing chun pole
10 Preparation exercises
11 Form
12 Applications
13 Realistic uses
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ISBN

959498516

Publication

Sifu Jim Fung and Karen Armstrong
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