Traditional Wing Chun

[upcut77]

I live in Chicago and have been looking for some quality Wing Chun instruction for about 5 years now.
With the sincerest honesty and without mentioning any names, I think I've checked out every single wing chun sifu in town.
And either I felt the teacher wasn't very cool or perhaps their wing chun just didn't quite fit into the way I've always thought it should move, feel, look etc.

Recently I met a guy by the name of Milan who is certified to instruct under William Chueng's Traditional Wing Chun and I have to say that the differences between this stuff and all the other wing chun I've checked out is pretty huge.
Right off the bat is the footwork. Other teachers have said 30/70 weight distribution which never felt right to me. With Milan, it's 50/50 distribution with very fluid triagular footwork.
I'd say it's somewhere between Arnis and western boxing in it's fluidness.

Anyway, if you love the wing chun you're learning then that's all that really matters and keep going. But for my time and money, this dudes wing chun is the best I've found.
I can't say for sure if it's William Cheung's teachings that make the difference or if it's just Milan's own interpretation, but I believe this is how wing chun should be. Just my 2 cents.
Anyway, we're training in Des Plaines Saturday afternoons 1-3pm starting Oct. 3rd at The Barefoot Hawaiian Dance Studio if anyone wants to check it out.
Or you can email me at paradisecity1000@yahoo.com

[Da Pope]

FYI

http://www.defend.net/deluxeforums/chinese-martial-arts/30170-master-david-cheungs-new-wing-chun-federation-2.html#post331559

Make of that what you will.

Re wieght distribution in WC : the 30/70 distribution is only applicable to certain situations eg turning (from 50/50) or fast advance into an opponents range (usually from a 50/50 stance). The advantage in such situations is the speed with which the 30 foot can react (kick, trap, avoid.....). Much of WC is done from 50/50 as in the triangular stepping you mentioned (sarn bok ma).

Hope that helps :-)

[Da Pope]

Oh yeah I didnt learn that from William Cheung!

[upcut77]

Wow. I'm relatively new to the WC world, and heard one of the worst things about WC is all the ridiculous politics.
It would be cool to see WC fall under one umbrella organization, sort of like Judo.
Anyway, even with all the verbiage going back and forth about W. Cheung, all I know is that this guy's (Sifu Milan's) WC is the best and seemingly most practical, efficient and no nonsense stuff I've been exposed to in my search around my area.
For me, things like being pigeon toed during application are kinda dangerous.
I'm a novice but I think fighting while being pigeon toed will get you whaled on, and this is what just about every teacher I checked out was preaching. IMHO the only time one should be pigeon toed is while doing forms.
But then again I've just begun to stick my toes (non pigeon of course LOL) in the waters of Wing Chun so what the heck do I know.
Your reply was eye-opening and interesting Pope. Thank you.

[Da Pope]

Wow. I'm relatively new to the WC world, and heard one of the worst things about WC is all the ridiculous politics.
It would be cool to see WC fall under one umbrella organization, sort of like Judo.
Anyway, even with all the verbiage going back and forth about W. Cheung, all I know is that this guy's (Sifu Milan's) WC is the best and seemingly most practical, efficient and no nonsense stuff I've been exposed to in my search around my area.
For me, things like being pigeon toed during application are kinda dangerous.
I'm a novice but I think fighting while being pigeon toed will get you whaled on, and this is what just about every teacher I checked out was preaching. IMHO the only time one should be pigeon toed is while doing forms.
But then again I've just begun to stick my toes (non pigeon of course LOL) in the waters of Wing Chun so what the heck do I know.
Your reply was eye-opening and interesting Pope. Thank you.

Yeah Wing Chun's first form is taight with that stance (the turned in toes thing) but that is primarily to retrain the ligemant/tendons/muscles in your legs, so that your fighting stance becomes, over time, stronger and better aligned from a structural standpoint. Your not supposed to fight from that stance LOL.