Benny Mengs TC Media Wing Chun Video Tapes are Great

[FIRE HAWK]

I m going to buy the rest of his Wing Chun video tapes on Yip Man Moy Yat Wing Chun .I watched one tonight and it was excelent .

[Tom Kagan]

The tapes do seem to be good.

My SiHing always had signature moves quite different than all my other SiHings. Where he got them from and why he has them are questions only he can answer, I guess.

However, in my opinion, most of these differences he chose to include are inconsequential. They serve only as a marker to allow a person to "pick out" his students. Some of the changes, I suppose, could be an entertaining discussion, though.

[FIRE HAWK]

I have noticed that some of the techniques are different than some of the other Yip Man Wing Chun versions I have seen .

[Rolling_Hand]

Quote:
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I have noticed that some of the techniques are different than some of the other Yip Man Wing Chun versions I have seen .
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Can you give us an example?

[Chango]

Hello gents,
I hope I can help answer any questions you might have. I really enjoyed the tapes myself. It seems to lay down the basic logic flow as to why each technique is performed. However If I can help explain I'm here.

Chango (SGS) ;)

[FIRE HAWK]

One thing I seen in the Sunny Tang ( Dun Wha ) Book is that in his book on Biu Gee he uses a technique called the Ginger Fist i have not seen this in other Yip Man versions . Sunny Tang was a student of Moy Yat .

[Chango]

Yes this is in our Moy Yat system Biu Gee as well. Ginger fist is a long bridge technique in this form. As I understand it this is another way to return to center line. I have also heard it be discribed as a preasure point attack. I hope this clears things up for you.:D I have to admit the internet is not my first choice for comunication. So if anyone would like to add to this please do.

Chango (saat geng sau) Noaks

[yuanfen]

Ginger fist is not necessarily a long hand motion.And it is not necessarily a return to the center line or limited to that function.
When folks characterize what is wing chun and what isnt, there is a danger in assuming that one lineage's approach constitutes
all of wing chun.Thats what makes many comparisons of Ip Man wing chun with other systems dependent on false "straw man"
arguments.

[Tom Kagan]

Yes this is in our Moy Yat system Biu Gee as well.

Regarding Ginger fist:

This is an interesting example of what I mentioned before. I believe Moy Yat stopped using a ginger fist in the forms more than twenty five years ago. However, since Dunn Wah intensely studied with Sifu before that point (1960s), it is somewhat understandable for the students of that era to continue using this variation.

Sifu did, on rare occasions, discuss his reasons why he stopped using the Ginger Fist. He also, on occasion, would show that the shape of one's hand is held has little correlation to long bridge or short bridge. And, how it also only has minor correlation to an attack of "pressure points" or recovery of the center.

:D I hope this clears up nothing for you but merely brings up more questions on your road to self discovery. (That reads pretty badly, but I am being sincere and without "tone" - as Rene likes to accuse me of giving :D )

[Chango]

Tom and Yuanfen,

Thankyou for your clearity on the ginger fist. But let me make myself a bit more clear. I was making reference to the concept of Center conference. when I was refering to the fact that it demonstrates yet another way to return to centerline. As the way of long bridge goes I was just expressing the manner in which it was express in the form "as I know it" using the turning energy of the body. I must admit that the ginger fist has not been the topic on any of my discussions with Sigung Moy Yat. To be quite honest Sigung would discuss kung fu life with me. I now know how much more helpful those discussion are. But not to get off of topic. To confirm what Tom mentioned it is known that not all Moy Yat students do the Ginger fist.

[burnsypoo]

interesting, I never knew that it differed along his teaching years. Neato. What kind of other changes were put in along the years? (I'm from a sunny tang lineage, so I'd be interested to see how the teaching had changed since his HK days
)
-BP-

[Tom Kagan]

Chango,

I mean no offense, but if nearly all of what Moy Yat discussed with you consisted of explanations of "Kung Fu Life," then the only conclusion possible is you did not have much opportunity to actually practice living it with him. "Kung Fu life" is just enjoying one another's company and looking out for each other's well being and growth as a person.

I don't know if they still actively train at your school, but I used to get a kick out of watching a handful of your classmates do something very odd: One student would attempt to nonchalantly put themselves about 15-20 feet away from Sifu trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. Another student would slowly inch up behind Sifu, hoping he wouldn't notice. When the second student got close enough, the first student would produce a camera and quickly get a picture of the second student standing with their SiGung. Both students would quickly scurry off after that.

I guess those guys actually thought their SiGung didn't notice. Well, he did. :) And, if he didn't, he knew because I would point it out. :D

I thought the whole thing was amusing. Every once in a while, he'd smile and laugh about these and other antics. But, I suppose after nearly 4 decades of teaching, the novelty of such goofiness wore a bit thin. ;)