Search - Wing Chun - Self Defense on DVD

Wing Chun?

Ronin | Iowa | 01/07/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This only resembles Wing Chun at the rudimentary blocking level. Sifu Wong does not explain nor show the Wing Chun philosophy in simultaneous blocking and punching. Also he uses an uncharacteristic style of many kicks.

Wing Chun was originally founded by a woman, thus the hard blocks demonstrated are not the Wing Chun I've been taught. However, there is some value in the video for basic self defense. Is it a good DVD on Wing Chun... No, not even close. Does it show why Wing Chun is typically faster and has gained popularity... again the answer is No."

One of the BEST wing chun dvds on the market

Liz | California, USA | 05/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don't listen to the previous reviewer, who obviously has no clue as to what real wing chun looks like. My guess is that the person who posted the previous review trains in a Mcdojo that teaches an americanized (i.e. watered down and useless) version of wing chun. What you get on this dvd with Master Wong is the real deal. This is how the masters of old (Yip Man, et all) used wing chun in actual combat. Not just teaching forms with no understanding, as taught in most american wing chun schools.

Master Wong's technique is perfect and he is clearly able to able to apply the POWER (yes, wing chun needs power not just technique) and the correct structure to his techniques.

The only word of caution one must take is that in order to do these moves effectively in real combat (not just playing patty cake on the dojo floor), you MUST practice with a partner. You can learn the moves alone but only with a partner (or at least a Mook Jong...."wooden dummy") can you learn the correct sensitivity and power needs of the movements.

But overall, you will not find a better wing chun dvd on the market than the series by Master Wong!"

Particular Wong

J. Huttunen | Finland | 01/19/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD might work for someone who has never trained any martial arts.
I had high expectations on this DVD and was dissapointed on Master Wongs performance (or Particular Wong as we came to know him, since every 3rd work is "particular"... which is not a point however).
He does manage to explain the basics of Wing Chun but fails to execute them in action. The main problem is that all his moves are so carefully planned that its like a dance. A Bad dance. Since Master Wong antisipates the incoming attacks he pays 100% attencion on his techniques making him self open to ANY other attack. Which is kind of scary look at. Even though he explains the same things over and over again this DVD is hard to follow. And this is not due the language barrier (I speak 7 languages).
I try not to only complain about the DVD. I pay respect to any one who has devoted them selfs to martialarts. It does have few nice techniques and ideas. But I would not recommend this to advanced practiseners.
I have trained activly for few decades. Several years in China and in Japan."

Be a thinker.

Dante | RI | 01/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have over a hundred and twenty books on martial arts. I have around forty to fifty dvds and tapes on the subjects of Wing Chun, Tai Chi, BJJ, Baguazhang, Xing-I, and much more. Amongst the Wing Chun dvds that I have are the series hosted by Benny Meng. Which I consider to be an excellent work. Yet there were some blanks that needed to be filled in.
In Mr. Michael Wong's dvd, some of these blanks were filled in. I purchased the fighting arts and self defense dvds, since the price was so good. Once I viewed them, I went and purchased the whole Wing Chun series.
One thing that is important in Martial Arts is that it be "ALIVE". You learn the form, system, kata, movements or whatever you would like to call it and then you practice on someone. In Mr. Wong's dvds, he emphasizes this. He states that you must train with an opponent that is not just doing what you wish him to do. That is why in time past they invented push hands and sticky hands. They had no way to safely test their skills with one another. So they had to devise a way to work with an opponent in a safe fashion but still get the feel of an uncooperative adversary. This is why Judo, Aikido and BJJ does what they do. Almost all their moves are made so that they can be performed on a partner without killing the other person. Hence they get the feel of an opponent that is fighting them.
When it comes to striking though, we have not been able to test our skills safely up until the past fifty or so years. With the advent of plastics and other essential materials, the striking arts can now practice with almost the same amount of intensity as a grappling art.
(Sorry to go off on a tangent, but on with what I thought of about Mr. Wong's Dvds. )

I believe that he sticks mainly within the parameters of Wing Chun. I don't believe that he chases hands (at least not too much), as one of the other writers said, yet I would say that one should investigate the art through several sources. In Benny Meng's DVDs (Who is the curator of the Wing Chun museum, by the way) he lists a side kick as part of the Wing Chun arsenal, so I do not see why anyone would think that a side kick is inappropriate for Wing Chun. Another issue that was brought up is simultaneous blocks and punches. This is not par for the course in any Wing Chun system that I have seen. With the exception of Bui Ji. True simultaneous striking and hitting must be preformed with one arm. If you are saying that Mr. Wong doesn't use Tan Sau while punching, or if you are saying that he doesn't perform Bui Ji in the right way. I must say that you are mistaken. If you wish an art with simultaneous blocking and striking, you would be much better off with Xing-I or Hsing Yi if you prefer.

We have the internet, dvds, cds and other learning devises. The old masters of the past martial arts did not have these options. They had a teacher and maybe a book or two. The teacher said this and they did it. What option did they have???
So I would purchase Mr. Wong's dvds if you are interested in Wing Chun. But I would also purchase from other recognized teachers ( such as the above mentioned, plus William Cheung, Garrett Gee and Randy Williams, etc.) on the art then compare and find the truth of the matter. Then see what works for you.
On last thought (sorry for blathering on). A greyhound cannot be a good sled dog and a Siberian Husky will never be the fastest dog a the track. So go out and find what martial art is right for you and pursue it.
"