anyone know of any books/vids that explain each movement in the forms and the different applications for each? Im realitivaly new to the art. 2 years experience i know all the empty hand forms but dont yet completely understand just looking for someone different views other than mine or my sifu’s
any help at all would be apprieciated,
Books and Vids by Randy Williams
try david petersons web site for articles , I have a few by wsl on mine…
dont lose sight of the system looking at ‘applications’ . the SLT is simply a correction form to make our elbows go inwards to acquire a certain forearm angle required to allow striking with the hand while using the forearm to deflect force ‘like water off a ducks back’. The last sections deal with how to recover the basic strike idea, and basic concepts of delivering the perpetual attacking hand…
while shifting and angling like any free-fighter trying to gain an advantageous position over another. Using the chum kil ideas of angling to flank attackers…dont stand in the center of a guy attacking you putting arms up like a statue in a town square.
No book has the ‘tactical’ guidelines of the system , primarily due to the fact that many never reached a level of association with weapons and bare hands .
The downfall of the system is to assume the forms are so you can do chi sao. With no goal to develop ‘through’ chi-sao , you will fall into the 'I must stick to you to control you, well of ideas. Or become a ‘hand chaser’ to make contact with your abstract shape…rather than simply hit the guy in the head fast and hard 
that is VT , not sticky anything 
WE simply hit people with straight punches to the head in fast succession or low kicks…all we do is aimed at being able to maintain an attacking mind set as our defensive response to being attacked ourselves…we punch the punch …
where and when is what the training gives you to make it instinctive, not stand like a circus performer with a ‘magic moment’ for every attack using the abstract shapes of the forms , like a ‘kata-esque’ rendition of ma’s thinking in general.
To be Frank with you Bob you should know what your doing from day 1 …a red flag should go up if you are here asking us after 2 years 
but you are and I have replied so hope it helps.
Any questions feel free to ask.
[QUOTE=Katsu Jin Ken;870160]anyone know of any books/vids that explain each movement in the forms and the different applications for each? Im realitivaly new to the art. 2 years experience i know all the empty hand forms but dont yet completely understand just looking for someone different views other than mine or my sifu’s
any help at all would be apprieciated,[/QUOTE]
There are lots of choice out there! Some better than others. I am not in any way associated with Benny Meng or the Moy Yat lineage, but I have his series of DVDs and they are very well done and at a good price. Check them out here:
http://www.everythingwingchun.com/benny-meng-wing-chun-dvd-ving-tsun-moy-yat-videos-s/103.htm
I also have these from the Wong Shun Leung lineage and can recommend them highly as well:
http://www.everythingwingchun.com/david-peterson-wing-chun-book-wong-shun-leung-videos-s/105.htm
If you want to go beyond just the sequence of the forms and their applications and get into learning good biomechanics and how to actually fight with Wing Chun, then these can’t be beat! I consider these the best series of Wing Chun videos that I have in my current collection:
http://www.everythingwingchun.com/alan-orr-wing-chun-dvd-videos-books-hawkins-cheung-s/46.htm
Hope that helps!
Everything KPM said…
I too enjoy the Benny Meng vids. I’m on the fence about a few concepts, but I’d say they’re one of the best vids out there.
Also, I second the David Peterson DVD’s: http://wslwingchun.resolvedesign.com/
And remember what Kevin said, too. The forms are to correct your position and structure. In my opinion, there are three things that make Wing Chun…well…Wing Chun: Centreline, Elbow and Stance. That’s most important in my WC. So don’t look for techniques, per se. You want to apply the key concepts of Wing Chun while chasing the centre and protecting your chin! 
Best,
Kenton
Here’s one on TWC: http://www.blackbeltmag.com/videos/56
Here is the newest one that shows applications to the forms:
http://www.blackbeltmag.com/styles/wing_chun
This is the newest TWC DVD on Chum Kil
http://www.cheungswingchun.com/p/449288/traditional-wing-chun---chum-kil-form.html
It can be purchased from the link above or from Sifu Mazza’s school in NJ
[QUOTE=couch;870202]Also, I second the David Peterson DVD’s: http://wslwingchun.resolvedesign.com/ [/QUOTE] I’ll add my vote to David Peterson’s material. His Siu Nim Tau and Cham Kiu DVD’s offer very detailed information on these forms.
[QUOTE=Katsu Jin Ken;870160]Im realitivaly new to the art. 2 years experience i know all the empty hand forms but dont yet completely understand just looking for someone different views other than mine or my sifu’s[/QUOTE]
Interesting.
I’d ask ‘who is your Sifu’?
In other words, what forms are familiar to you? What family? This may play a vital role in your development, especially if you decide to ‘pick’n’mix’ from everyone here!
I’d have to say leave the DVDs alone and just get on and practise with your Sifu and fellow chunners! If you’re stuck, there’s definately a problem.
i just bought Master Wing Chun by Sam Kwok, the forms are pretty much the same as ours with just a few subtle differences. My classmates all feel the same as i do. We feel stuck, skills arent improving.
[QUOTE=Katsu Jin Ken;871194]i just bought Master Wing Chun by Sam Kwok, the forms are pretty much the same as ours with just a few subtle differences. My classmates all feel the same as i do. We feel stuck, skills arent improving.[/QUOTE] The forms tend to look pretty much the same across the board. The point is more about understanding what you are doing and why. That’s why I feel David Peterson’s DVDs have something to offer. FYI, I am not associated with David Peterson in any way. I am from a different lineage but have respect for what he does.
Feeling like you’re stuck is a fairly common feeling in any form of training. As you progress you tend to reach plateaus that seem to last for extended periods of time. The key is to keep training. You will improve. If you’ve read the book “Mastery” by George Leonard you will see how these plateaus manifest themselves and how you need to learn to enjoy those times.
I would also recommend connecting with other WC people from other lineages as well as your own. You are bound to come across ideas and concepts that challenge what you “know” and force you to go a little deeper into your understanding.
I don’t know where you are in the US, but there are some good WC people out there. If you have an open mind you can discover a fresh point of view, or maybe just make your current understanding look fresh.
Peace,
Bill
dvd’s
I would recommend Sifu Gary Lam’s videos, I have found all of his videos to be very informative. His skill, knowledge, and understanding is the best I’ve come across. http://garylamwingchun.com/products_and_services.html
[QUOTE=cobra;871588]I would recommend Sifu Gary Lam’s videos, I have found all of his videos to be very informative. His skill, knowledge, and understanding is the best I’ve come across. http://garylamwingchun.com/products_and_services.html[/QUOTE]
Yes. I would second that recommendation as well! 
[QUOTE=Katsu Jin Ken;871194]My classmates all feel the same as i do. We feel stuck, skills arent improving.[/QUOTE]
I agree with Matrix. I have also found this perception to be very common in practitioners with the amount of experience you purport. Feeling as if you are on a plateau against the same training partners day in and day out does not necessarily mean your skills are not improving.
[QUOTE=Katsu Jin Ken;870160]anyone know of any books/vids that explain each movement in the forms and the different applications for each? Im realitivaly new to the art. 2 years experience i know all the empty hand forms but dont yet completely understand just looking for someone different views other than mine or my sifu’s
any help at all would be apprieciated,[/QUOTE]
no book i know of does that, and really no video i know of..
you can’t really learn much from books and videos.. you need someone to help you and teach you/guide you. Its that way for all martial arts.
[QUOTE=monji112000;871809]no book i know of does that, and really no video i know of..
you can’t really learn much from books and videos.. you need someone to help you and teach you/guide you. Its that way for all martial arts.[/QUOTE]
I disagree. You can learn a lot from books and videos. Especially if you have some background in the basics to build upon. But you still need someone to help and guide you.
[QUOTE=KPM;871824]I disagree. You can learn a lot from books and videos. Especially if you have some background in the basics to build upon. But you still need someone to help and guide you. :)[/QUOTE]
I find this true as well. Sometimes, if it wasn’t for a book or video I wouldn’t have gained insight in a concept - even ones my Sifu was trying to get across to me.
If you have a good solid background in the art you are pursuing, you can take a video and make it yours. Some people may frown upon hearing, “I learned it from a video,” but it depends on the person and their MA background. I find no shame in learning many things from videos and books (As I’m sure this is what the author intended).
Best,
K
[QUOTE=couch;871845]I find this true as well. Sometimes, if it wasn’t for a book or video I wouldn’t have gained insight in a concept - even ones my Sifu was trying to get across to me.
If you have a good solid background in the art you are pursuing, you can take a video and make it yours. Some people may frown upon hearing, “I learned it from a video,” but it depends on the person and their MA background. I find no shame in learning many things from videos and books (As I’m sure this is what the author intended).
Best,
K[/QUOTE]
I think that, if you have a partner(s) to train with, and/or you have a solid core in a related MA, you can actually do very well in learning a different MA from a video.
Of course I am refering to instructional series and not demo videos.
You certainly can pick up the basics of any system from them.
[QUOTE=sanjuro_ronin;871847]I think that, if you have a partner(s) to train with, and/or you have a solid core in a related MA, you can actually do very well in learning a different MA from a video.
Of course I am refering to instructional series and not demo videos.
You certainly can pick up the basics of any system from them.[/QUOTE]
There’s a few interviews around talking with UFC fighters who started with BJJ vids. They were killing their opponents in sparring with just a few key ideas of BJJ, so that’s how they started down the MMA path…
I certainly pick up some good ideas of takedown defense from instructionals. I personally don’t have the time to train right now in the ground game, so I get as much as I can from instructionals.
[QUOTE=couch;871929]There’s a few interviews around talking with UFC fighters who started with BJJ vids. They were killing their opponents in sparring with just a few key ideas of BJJ, so that’s how they started down the MMA path…
I certainly pick up some good ideas of takedown defense from instructionals. I personally don’t have the time to train right now in the ground game, so I get as much as I can from instructionals.[/QUOTE]
Anyone who has seen any of the current crop of MA instructionals that are available right now and thinks that you CAN’T learn form them, is either smoking weed and not sharing or they have something to sell themselves.
[QUOTE=cobra;871588]I would recommend Sifu Gary Lam’s videos, I have found all of his videos to be very informative. His skill, knowledge, and understanding is the best I’ve come across. http://garylamwingchun.com/products_and_services.html[/QUOTE]
I have over 100 Wing Chun videos , and must say that Gary Lam’s videos are very good , i would not say the best , but very, very good .
Benny Meng videos are also very good