Gibborrim Academy of Martial Arts

Applied Wing Chun practice. Refinement. Structure. Collaboration. Kung Fu Family.

“Am I too old to begin martial arts?” is one of the most common questions adults ask. The real issue is not whether you can begin at 45 or 55. It is whether the school knows how to train adults at different ages and ability levels.

Congrats to Jim on earning his Green sash.
At 79 years young, Jim lets nothing slow him down.
Jim has trained Applied Wing Chun with us 4 days a week for the past two years. Still working. He goes swing dancing on the weekends. And gets to be part of his kids and grandkids many adventures!
We celebrate his achievements and dedication to continued growth in his Wing Chun Journey, and the positive example he is for his Kung Fu Family, and family. To many more joyous years ahead.

Congrats to Gary on earning his Green sash.
Your excitement is shared by all. We look forward to your continued growth in your Wing Chun Journey.

Congrats to Minda on her promotion to Green Sash. We are excited to see the growth in your Wing Chun Journey.

Congrats to Daniel on his promotion to Yellow sash.
We look forward to your continued growth in your Wing Chun Journey.

The Wooden Dummy Man (Mook Yan Jong) is an iconic training device found in many Kung Fu schools.

Some people think only of the Jong as something to hit, or hit fast, and move fast on. And perhaps there is a place for some expression of self in the individualized practice, but like all things in Wing Chun the form itself has ideas contained within in that go deeper than the surface level technique the untrained eye might observe.

A few years ago my Sifu (Don Presto of SoCal Applied Wing Chun Academy) and I spoke at length about how when teaching the MYJ form to students they often forgot it, because they only memorized the pattern, and not what is happening within the pattern. A student with an exploratory mind may discover these ideas on their own over time, or they may not.

We set out to create a workshop to introduce each section of the MYJ form to our students, and share key ideas and their direct applications to help the students move beyond memorization of the pattern, and better understand what is beneath.

Our workshop series covers the 11 sections of our Applied Wing Chun MYJ form, and we split them between 5 workshops to give the students time explore the sections, the ideas, and the applications. As well as focus on the practice of the sections and the ideas.

The intent is to gradually scaffold their knowledge, build skill development, and their confidence in working with the Jong. But more so to enhance their learning and expression of Applied Wing Chun Kung Fu.

In my dissertation research, I've explored the idea that it's not so much that one teacher shares the exact words and order of another to be successful at teaching, but that they can impart the art and science to their students in a way to that preserves it, but also helps that student truly engage with understand the material. This workshop series is not about mastery, rather a fundamental introduction to the MYJ and the ideas that make the applications work.

This weekend was workshop 1 of 5 in this fundamental series, and it's the third time I've taught this series at my school for my students. Each time reinforces the effectiveness of how we structured it, and how the students are better able to learn and understand the meanings behind the form and the applications. Which then improves all other areas of their Wing Chun.

I'm grateful for my Sifu's 40+ years of knowledge and experience in Applied Wing Chun Kung Fu, that enables us to collaborate in the design of workshops such as this that accelerates our students learning, and help them truly engage with the material at a deeper level.

The other benefit is that we are able to preserve knowledge across generations that might otherwise be forgotten. Workshops give students a way to concentrate into specific areas of their learning that might otherwise take years to grasp in regular class instruction. This is truly the purpose of any workshop. Or at least should be. Not to develop a high level proficiency in a few hours or workshops, but to accelerate learning, understanding, and fuel the passion for the Wing Chun journey. So...workshops such as these become catalyst for student engagement and learning.

Welcome Sonny to our Kung Fu Family. We are excited to walk with you on your Wing Chun Journey.

What Doesn't Challenge You,

Doesn't Change You.

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Too often in martial arts students are taught a collection of techniques, where each has a beginning and an end from a sequence.

When this occurs in isolated instruction, there's a disconnect in the learning. What is being shown is route memorization, and not concept-based application.

Here's what I mean:
When we focus too long on sequences, and never move to application of the idea in defense or attack, we train the student to hold the technique in isolation, or to not hold the idea or principle at all. They are stuck on the pattern in that one isolated scenario.

Applied Wing Chun Kung Fu is a concept-based self-defense system, where students learn the ideas and principles of the art and how to immediately apply them in defense of self, and eventually how to defend and attack at the same time.

Every movement and position represent an idea that has a direct application to fighting. And every idea leads directly to something else, because none of it is a delayed reaction, rather a system of proactive defense to stay ahead of the opponent. Very much like playing chess with someone new.

In our school we emphasize these ideas into application in every class, in every drill, and in every sparring session - thus ensuring students learn to embody the natural expression of Applied Wing Chun to flow with their defense, and to do so with a humble confidence that is not determined by their size of muscle mass or age, but by their structure and skill development of the art and science.

Drop a comment below if you're interested in learning why I consider this the Rosetta Stone of martial arts.