Dean Chin Washington DC Jow Ga History

GRANDMASTER DEAN CHIN STEPPING FORM

The form that people often refer to was actually created by Master Deric Mim at the request of Sifu Chin. Sifu Chin incorporated the stepping form into the curriculum.

It was created primarily to help students with transitions, stepping, agility and power generation from stances.

For strength and internal development we would train:
“Incense Training”

燒香紮馬 (Siu Heung Jaat Ma)
燒香 = burn incense
紮馬 = train or root the stance (especially horse stance)
Or simply:

香功 (Heung Gung)

It’s important for students to understand the purpose, intention and application of this stepping form.

進馬 (Jeun Ma)
進 = to advance, enter, move forward

The purpose of 進馬 is to:

- Close distance safely.
- Increase pressure on the opponent.
- Chase and maintain advantage.
- Bridge the gap between long and short range.
- Drive power through the ground into the strike.

馬到拳到
(Ma dou kyun dou)
“When the stance arrives, the fist arrives.”

卸馬 (Seh Ma)
卸 = to unload, release, remove, yield
Yielding Stance, Retreating Step, or Unloading Step. (retreating is not weakness. Experienced fighters know that sometimes yielding a small amount creates a larger advantage)

The purpose of 卸馬 is to:

- Evade incoming force.
- Create a better angle.
- Draw the opponent into a trap.
- Remove the target.
- Set up a counterattack.

Training the stepping form with intention and knowledge of the application make it effective for both forms and combat.

Jeun Ma: 壓迫對手 (Aat Bik Deui Sau) — Pressure the opponent.

Seh Ma: 借力卸力 (Jehk Lik Seh Lik) — Borrow and redirect force.

Why Kwan Dao vs Spear?

This pairing teaches one of the most important lessons in Chinese weapons:

Length vs Power

The spear possesses:

Greater reach
Faster recovery
Quicker attacks
Superior mobility

The Kwan Dao possesses:
Greater cutting power
Stronger sweeping attacks
Ability to dominate space
Ability to destroy or trap an opponent’s weapon

The entire set becomes a study of:
Can power overcome speed?
and
Can speed overcome power?

The spear must:

Stay outside cutting range
Control centerline
Attack first

Traditional saying:

一寸長，一寸強
“One inch longer, one inch stronger.”

The Kwan Dao cannot win a long-range thrusting contest.

Instead it seeks:

Deflections
Sweeps
Weapon trapping
Entering attacks

The two-person weapon set 關刀對槍 (Gwaan Dōu Deui Chēung) — Kwan Dao vs. Spear — is one of the classic battlefield weapon pairings preserved in many traditional Chinese martial arts systems. While versions differ between styles, the underlying ideas come from real military tactics and the traditional belief that the spear is the king of weapons (槍為百兵之王) while the Kwan Dao represents overwhelming power and authority.

Demo during our school 10th anniversary 2008

小伏虎對拆 (Siu F**k Fu Deui Chaak / Small Tiger Two-Person Set)

小伏虎對拆 is the two-person application set is based on 小伏虎拳 (Siu F**k Fu Kuen), one of the oldest and most fundamental forms in Jow Ga Kung Fu. In many Jow Ga lineages, 小伏虎拳 is considered the foundation form that introduces the core stances, hand techniques, bridges, and fighting concepts of the system. The two-person version was created to teach students how the solo movements are actually applied against a resisting opponent.

In traditional Chinese martial arts, forms were never intended to be merely performance routines. After a student learned the solo set, they would often be taught a corresponding 對拆 (deui chaak) or 拆招 (chaak jiu) drill.

One of the concepts emphasized in this two person set is:
進馬迫打 (Jeun Ma Bik Da)

“Advance and pressure while attacking.”

This set develops:

Timing (時間)

Learning when to intercept.

Distance (距離)

Understanding when techniques succeed or fail.

Sensitivity (聽勁)

Feeling pressure through contact.

Structure (架勢)

Maintaining power while under pressure.

Flow (連環)

Linking techniques together naturally.

Last week, we held a successful Jow Ga Kung Fu and Lion Dance workshop in Ohio. Special thanks to my student, Sifu Laura Kendrick, for hosting this event and helping make it another great experience. This marked our 5th seminar/workshop together, and we are grateful for the continued support and enthusiasm from everyone involved. We are already looking forward to returning to Ohio again in the future.

At the same time, my student Josh is currently in the early planning stages of organizing a Jow Ga seminar in Texas for Fall 2026. We are also excited and looking forward to visiting Los Angeles as well. 😊🙏🏾. Shout to Sifu Chyna Dickenson for your support 🙏🏾

上星期，我們在俄亥俄州成功舉辦了周家功夫及舞獅研習會。特別感謝我的學生 Laura Kendrick 師傅主辦這次活動，令整個研習會再次圓滿成功。這已經是我們第 5 次舉辦研習會／講習班，非常感謝大家一直以來的支持與熱情參與。我們亦十分期待未來再次回到俄亥俄州與大家交流。

同時，我的學生 Josh 現正開始籌備 2026 年秋季於德州舉辦的周家功夫講習會。我們亦非常期待將來前往洛杉磯與大家見面交流。😊🙏🏾