What is the best book for Wing Chun out there? I have a few but im looking for something that covers all the terminology in one book. I thought I read somewhere that the WC Museum was putting together a major book on all thing Wing Chun but now im not finding anything. I mainly want something that covers the techniques and theories behind the art. I have trouble with some of the terminology and would also like accurate English translations of the techniques. I have often times ran into issues with different translations for a technique. We have gotten into several discussions in class about the names of techniques and my Sifu is not always there.
I am not sure if this is the best book as I have also just started Wing Chun, but this is one of the book I got.
Mastering Wing Chun by Grandmaster Samuel Kwok and Sifu Tony Massengill.
It covers all the forms empty hand forms and terminology. Also got history and so on.
Hasn’t been written yet…coming hopefully soon 
One of my favorite books is “The Complete Wing Chun”. I would be nice though if some WC Sifus would get together and do a book on each other’s lineages. That would be a great seller since many people might not buy a book outside of their lineage but would buy a book that showed their lineage. The extra bonus being that they’d see other lineages as well.
[QUOTE=Phil Redmond;1097901]One of my favorite books is “The Complete Wing Chun”. I would be nice though if some WC Sifus would get together and do a book on each other’s lineages. That would be a great seller since many people might not buy a book outside of their lineage but would buy a book that showed their lineage. The extra bonus being that they’d see other lineages as well.[/QUOTE]
That will be a best seller if all the WC Sifu on different lineages does get together and do a book or even dvd or seminar together. I know this will definitely help WC newbie like me, and others as well.
Also if Wing Chun of different lineage only cover some part of the jigsaw puzzles of the complete art (This is what I read online, as I am only a WC newbie, I do trust what I read online). Then if all Sifus get together, Wing Chun can finally be a complete picture.
Thanks for recommending the “The Complete Wing Chun” book, I just order it. 
This is why no two people on the wing chun forum agrees on anything Wing chun. They all learn from books and they can’t all seem to understand it, then they just say their lineage does this different or whatever so that they don’t look or sound stupid. That’s why only I have the real wing chun.
[QUOTE=Lee Chiang Po;1097907]This is why no two people on the wing chun forum agrees on anything Wing chun. They all learn from books and they can’t all seem to understand it, then they just say their lineage does this different or whatever so that they don’t look or sound stupid. That’s why only I have the real wing chun.[/QUOTE]
You have a good sense of humor eh?
[QUOTE=kowloonboy;1097904]That will be a best seller if all the WC Sifu on different lineages does get together and do a book or even dvd or seminar together. I know this will definitely help WC newbie like me, and others as well.
Also if Wing Chun of different lineage only cover some part of the jigsaw puzzles of the complete art (This is what I read online, as I am only a WC newbie, I do trust what I read online). Then if all Sifus get together, Wing Chun can finally be a complete picture.
Thanks for recommending the “The Complete Wing Chun” book, I just order it. :)[/QUOTE]
A book of DVD series would be the best thing ever for Wing Chun. I say this because NONE of us can say we have the real deal. We all have pieces of the whole pie.
[QUOTE=Phil Redmond;1097909]A book of DVD series would be the best thing ever for Wing Chun. I say this because NONE of us can say we have the real deal. We all have pieces of the whole pie.[/QUOTE]
I agreed, but to be honest, I don’t think these book or DVD series would never happens, but what I read so far online and my personal experience with other Kung Fu style Sifus. All my Kung Fu style Sifus always claimed that their style (Hung Gar, Praying Mantis, Shaolin, Tai Chi and so on) are better and they teaches the ultimate art and the answer to all situations. If you even dare to question them, but this style do this, they will ask beat you up in front of all students to make a point that their style is better than others.
I do hope this book and DVD series, or even a Wing Chun master of all lineage gathering does happen and come up with the complete curriculum, as it will help us a lot. I have studies many systems of Martial Arts before, and I do trust that Wing Chun is better for my personal physical build (But when I discover that there are a lot of missing jigsaw of different lineages of WC, it does put me off. If you go to learn Muay Thai - all school teach the same. If you go to a TKD school, they all teach the same, and so does most Martial Art system around the world. But do we have to go and try to learn from all styles of Wing Chun just to be complete?? Which is impossible)
BTW, I like your teaching and website a lot. Shame that I don’t live in NYC. 
I think these days DVD is better then book.
But, to learn WCK, it is better to go to school. Books and DVDs are just some reference.
[QUOTE=Lee Chiang Po;1097907]That’s why only I have the real wing chun.[/QUOTE]
Hilarious!!! You made my day! 
[QUOTE=Hendrik;1097913]I think these days DVD is better then book.
But, to learn WCK, it is better to go to school. Books and DVDs are just some reference.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I agreed.
who cares about terminology? if you are starting out, concentrate on the action. once you are comfortable in applying the action, use your own language to describe the motion. this is how you get good (by putting things in your own words). later on, if you are insistent on being a teacher then sure, learn the traditional labels associated with the actions.
interestingly, the arguments on this forum seem to have more to do with misunderstandings of labels and errors in definition between various lines, rather than the actual barometer of success (which requires no words); effectiveness.
I am reminded of baltasar gracian; “be content to ACT, and leave the talking to others”
Suki
Best overall wing chun book
[QUOTE=kowloonboy;1097911]I agreed, but to be honest, I don’t think these book or DVD series would never happens, but what I read so far online and my personal experience with other Kung Fu style Sifus. All my Kung Fu style Sifus always claimed that their style (Hung Gar, Praying Mantis, Shaolin, Tai Chi and so on) are better and they teaches the ultimate art and the answer to all situations. If you even dare to question them, but this style do this, they will ask beat you up in front of all students to make a point that their style is better than others.
I do hope this book and DVD series, or even a Wing Chun master of all lineage gathering does happen and come up with the complete curriculum, as it will help us a lot. I have studies many systems of Martial Arts before, and I do trust that Wing Chun is better for my personal physical build (But when I discover that there are a lot of missing jigsaw of different lineages of WC, it does put me off. If you go to learn Muay Thai - all school teach the same. If you go to a TKD school, they all teach the same, and so does most Martial Art system around the world. But do we have to go and try to learn from all styles of Wing Chun just to be complete?? Which is impossible)
BTW, I like your teaching and website a lot. Shame that I don’t live in NYC. :([/QUOTE]
Kowloonboy go to everythingwingchun.com , they have wing chun materials of all the wing chun sifus in the world . DVD is better than book , the book does ’ nt tell you how fast you need to be , the sifu will let you figure it out , although it just shows you pictures of how the art is suppose to be performed .
DVD shows you everything , unless the sifu is holding back on something from you .
Although each group studies a different version the techniques are more or less still there and to my knowledge in all the reading I have done over the years I believe all the terminology is about the same although it may be spelled differently. I can’t say my Sifu really remembered to teach us all the terms used for things I still learn from my teachers after 10 years. I have been working on Biu Jee for some time but I am still figuring stuff out that I didn’t know before. I haven’t always been around to get the help I need. I doubt a book covering each group would be a possibility it would cover a lot. However I think the museum should get them to create a series based on each and then sold in sets. I knew I had read about a book being made by the museum but I wasn’t sure if it was out. I need something that covers all the techniques and stuff because honestly I know I don’t know the names or translations of everything. I have many of the William Cheung’s books and I recently got Mastering Kung Fu Featuring Shaolin Wing Chun. My teachers were supposedly in a book William Cheung, Ronda & Jerry Bolding Wing Chun Chi Sao & Applications. I don’t know that it was ever published though.
I would highly recommend Simply Wing Chun by Sifu Shawn Rawcliffe and also recommend the series of books by Sifu Alan Gibson (why wing chun works etc), but you will not find a resolution to the terminology in a book. The terminology in Wing Chun is difficult because the same shape can have different labels depending upon the energy applied / method of application even within the same lineage. When different lineages are brought together it gets even more confusing. When the Ip Man tong was originally thought of the VTAA convened a meeting with various senior sifus from hong kong and the mainland they spent hours arguing about techniques and the content of forms etc and noone could agree. Finally after one debate over whether a technique existed in Wing Chun or not one of the protagonists stood up and demonstrated what he was talking about and immediately everyone agreed that it was in the system but everyone had different names for the movement performed. In my opinion the label is ultimately unimportant and you would be far better spending your time practising the movements and their applications, exploring their strengths and their limitations than worrying about what things are called.
The best book has been written but not published yet.
[QUOTE=Graham H;1097959]The best book has been written but not published yet. ;)[/QUOTE]
Any idea when?
[QUOTE=k gledhill;1097966]Any idea when?[/QUOTE]
I’m not sure. He did say he would wait until all the other people have realeased their books. I have a few paragraphs from it. It’s not a how to book but rather WSL’s thinking and a lot of WSL’s hand written texts are in it. I can’t wait but I would hazzard a guess that he may never do it. Rubbish huh. I think it’s been a long time in the making. If you have read his booklet “Real Ving Tsun” there are some gems to be discovered. Something for the VT Police to jump on I guess!! LOL
G
Wing Chun Compendium
This book (actually two volumes) seems interesting and very thorough.