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| General Information |
Yongchun, or wing chun in Cantonese, is a Chinese martial art, often seen as a boxing system because of the striking techniques with hands and feet. Typically, hands are used more than feet. According to the common classification of Chinese martial arts, internal vs. external, yongchun belongs to the first category (Green 2001: 781).Notable about yongchun is the absence of rituals, unlike in many other Asian martial arts. Movements are lacking in visual spectacle but are compact and efficient, making yongchun a practical defensive art. Contrary to many other martial arts yongchun hasn’t shown signs of sportification (Green 2001: 785). |
| History/Development |
Yongchun originated in southern China, where it is still the most popular today. Due to the mainly oral transmission of yongchun the martial art is accompanied by many legends (Green 2001: 781). Bruce Lee’s teacher Yip Man is responsible for making the art internationally known and accessible to the public since the 1970s. Bruce Lee acknowledging his debt to his master, while being a world famous film star, was an important factor as well (Green 2001: 784-5). |
Transmission
(Policies/institutions) |
These days countless organisations and federations all over the world ensure yongchun gets passed on to the next generations. |
| Relevant Organisations |
- The Global Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu Association (GTWCKFA)
- Ving Tsun Kung Fu Association Europe (VTKFEA)
- Russian Wing Chun Federation
- World Wing Chun Union
- International Wing Chun Organization (IWCO)
- European Wing Chun Federation (EXCA)
- International Martial Arts Confederation (IMAF) |
| Additional Materials |
- Judkins, B. (2016). Creating Wing Chun: Towards a Social History of the Southern Chinese Martial Arts, New York: Suny Press.
- Jennings, G. (2010). “’It can be a religion if you want': Wing Chun Kung Fu as a secular religion”, Ethnography 11 (4) 533-557.
- Jennings, G. (2005). Undergraduate dissertation: “Wing Chun Wins All”: An Ethnographic Study of a Wing Chun Kung Fu School Focusing on the Themes of Subculture, Social Class and Identity. |
| References |
- Green, Thomas A., “Yongchun/Wing Chun” In Green, T. and Svinth, J. (eds.) Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, p. 781-786. |
*see also jeet kune do | |
