Philosophy

Wing Chun as an Art

From an observer's point of view, Wing Chun might look like just something for fitness or fighting. But for a true Wing Chun practitioner, it goes well beyond that. Wing Chun is a very  comprehensive art which contains both physical and mental training. To the Wing Chun practitioner, it is understood that Wing Chun is a very deep subject that needs constant refinement to reach ultimate precision in all aspects. Accordingly, Wing Chun is not just something for a great workout or a fight. Few people would think of playing piano for a good workout. Instead, they endeavor to play the piano beautifully as an art. Likewise, Wing Chun should be looked at as an art, just like playing the piano. To learn an art well means constant striving for perfection in every way. Therefore, the learning process of Wing Chun requires time, patience and determination.

The Tea Cup

One day, a professor came to visit a Zen master to inquire about Zen. It was obvious to the Zen master from the start of the conversation that the professor was more interested in expressing his own opinions than to learn anything about Zen. After listening quietly, the master offered the professor some tea. The Master poured until the cup overflowed. The shocked professor said, "Stop, my cup can hold no more!" The master then went on to explain, "Like this cup, your mind is full, leaving you no room to accept anything new. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

 How Long ?

 One day a student came to learn martial arts from a famous master. The student was anxious to learn the art that the master taught. After practicing very hard for many months, the student said, "Master, how long will it take me to get good? The master replied, "Ten years." The student then said, "What if I practice even harder than that? The master replied, "30 years." The master went on to explain, "If you have one eye on your destination, then you have only one eye with which to find the way."

 The moral is: You can learn no faster than to totally concentrate on what is being taught to you at the moment. Don't worry about what comes next. When you learn what was taught, then the next thing will come.

The Elephant

 Once upon a time in India six blind men came across an elephant. Each of the six examined a different part to determine what an elephant was like. The first man examined an ear and thought an elephant was very much like a leaf. The second man examined the side of the elephant and thought an elephant was very much like a mountain. The third man examined the elephant's tail and thought an elephant was very much like a rope. The fourth man examined the elephant's leg and thought an elephant was very much like a tree. The fifth man examined the elephant's trunk and thought an elephant was very much like a snake. The sixth man examined the elephant's tusk and  thought an elephant was very much like a spear. Then they all went away to tell their story of what an elephant was like.

 The moral is: Don't be narrow minded and make hasty judgments. Don't just try and view a problem from one angle. Try to see and understand your art completely, as well as the art of others.

The Donkey

 One day a young boy and an old man were walking along the road with their donkey when they were stopped by a stranger. The stranger told the old man that he was foolish not to let the young boy ride the donkey. The old man followed the stranger's advice. A while later, a second man told the old man it would be smarter if both would ride the donkey. Again the old man followed the stranger's advice. Still later a third stranger stopped the old man and told him how cruel they were to the donkey. He suggested they carry the donkey instead. The old man and the young boy thus proceeded to carry the donkey. While the three were crossing a bridge, the donkey suddenly got startled, causing them to drop the donkey over the bridge. The old man and young boy were very sad that they had lost the donkey:

 The point to this story: If you try to please everyone, you might end up pleasing no one, especially yourself. So use your own logic to analyze the situation.

The Duck in the Bottle

A Zen master asked his disciple: "How do you get a duck out of a bottle? The disciple thought and thought and finally came up with his answer. "You break the bottle." The master frowned. Another monk said, "You shrink the duck." The answers were many, but all were incorrect. After three years of thinking one monk went up to the Master and said, "There, it's out!" This was the correct answer.

The point to this story: Many of our problems are caused by incorrect views. A change of perspective is often all that is required.

Wing Chun as an Art

 The horizontal stroke of a brush represents the Chinese character for the number one. It represents the beginning. In traditional schools of calligraphy, the student may practice just this one stroke for several months before advancing to the vertical stroke. Poor technique in performing the most basic of strokes results in poor technique for the more advanced strokes.

 In the art of Wing Chun, the first part of the first set forms the foundation of the whole art. This section was sometimes practiced for many months before advancing to something new. The benefits in the end were a good solid stance, a strong center, supple actions, the ability to relax and tense quickly' and the patience to learn the rest of the art well.

Wing Chun and Mathematics

 You know that I write slowly. This is chiefly because I am never satisfied until I have said as much as possible in a few words, and writing briefly takes far more time than writing at length."
Quoted in G Simmons Calculus Gems (New York 1992). by Carl Friedrich Gauss.