Our Training
The Class
Cyclone Wing Chun takes a modern approach to its training and certainly is very influenced by modern Mixed Martial Art training. Someone walking in halfway could be forgiven for thinking they had come to an MMA club not a traditional martial arts club. However we believe Wing Chun to be a vibrant martial art with the ability to adapt and to move with the times. However we are still very much a Wing Chun club utilising all the methods associated with the style such as the open hand forms, wooden man training, sensitivity drills etc. We also use pad work, clinch drills, tool sparring drills and free sparring.
The
Not all Wing Chun is the same just as not all Karate or Boxing is the same. The Chu Sau Lei system is underpined by a strong adherance to correct body structure that is first learned in the form and then built upon by use of various drills. Every technique and application must have its foundation in this. In an interview with my Sifu Alan Orr Sigung Robert Chu explains this…..
“When I first wrote an article about body structure, I wasn't talking about the way a form looked per se, but rather, its' function. I have two sayings, "let application be your guide" and "let function rule over form" because most of the time when people are doing form, they're doing it dead and have no idea of the actual function.
For example, a lot of Wing Chun practitioners just stand in a stance when they're learning the first form. They just stand in a locked stance and not moving with their hand motions. I think that people should not only develop their strong stances by sitting there, but they need to know how to move it with each motion to make it practical.
This is what is meant by proper structure.”
Robert Chu, L.Ac., QME, PhD
To read full interview click here
The Atmosphere
Chu Sau Lei Wing Chun's Newcastle based club 'Cyclone' has a friendly relaxed atmosphere, everyone is on first name terms and there is no hierarchy as such. Questions are there to be asked and there are no 'secret techniques' or 'Only when you are a black belt' style answers.
Grading
Grading is once a year and conducted by head UK instructor Sifu Alan Orr.
