Black Dragon Wing Chun Club

04/25/2024

My new crafted design is working. Introducing the Raptor 2022. Had to rebuild the frame into a triangular base to fit in the corner. Gotta turn out more of these.

09/30/2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho-Syos6N1k&t=9s

https://www.patreon.com/blackdragontv

09/08/2021

08/30/2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT7541AyR6I&t=205s

Blocking while striking, bridging

07/27/2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0_SoKw8hGA&t=178s

07/18/2021

10/04/2019

NINE DRAGONS UNDER THE MOUNTAIN

The sticking legs of Dragon
or
Chi Gerk

Every opponent is a mountain in metaphor and the major objective of Chi Gerk training is get underneath an opponent, hence NINE DRAGONS UNDER THE MOUNTAIN.

Each step is a different Dragon used to get UNDER THE MOUNTAIN and stay there!!!.

The 9 Dragons teach a student to effectively wedge, jam, trap, and even tangle an opponents legs by controlling the center line. Driving powerful legs and hips underneath an opponents base smothers any chance to kick or to sink back into a stance of power.

Nine Dragons

1- Dragon closes the gap.
2- Dragon drives a powerful front leg. or Cow catcher Step
3- Dragon around the bend. Heung Bo
4- Dragon across the line backwards
5- Dragon rushes through the gate
6- Dragon snakes the line forward
7 -Dragon snakes the line Backwards
8 -Dragon glides on the line
9 -Dragon Blocks the gate

Sifu Les Clements

04/05/2018

The true powers of self defense lie within the mind rather than the body. Should these primary lines be exhausted, then a fully trained body will be there to meet the challenge...... Sifu Les Clements...

10/11/2017

TOP HEAVY.....TRUTH OR MYTH? THE POWER OF CHI GERK.

There are countless styles of Wing Chun in the modern age. Endless thousands of methods and family systems all rooted in the much older Shaolin arts. With so many different styles of Wing Chun out there, there are many different ratios of handwork to footwork knowledge. Despite the secret hording of combat methods out of the need for survival, the jealously guarded system of footwork called CHI GERK or sticking Legs, ultimately made its way into some schools. Others it did not. Even the late Grand Master Yip Man himself did not acquire the art of CHI GERK until much later on in his life because his teacher Chan Wah Sheun did not have it because as earlier said it was so jealously guarded.. It wasn't until years later that Yip Man sought out the secret from an older Grand Master who was well developed and rich in the secret system of footwork.

With that being said, Wing Chun often gets a reputation for being a Top heavy system that appears all hands save the basic stepping from the Chum Kiu form. This depends on the specific school and how much of the influence of Chi Gerk has been handed down. Often, teachers that are adroit in Chi Gerk keep it in reserve only for indoor students while there are other schools that do not have it at all, or if they do it is neglected or rarely worked. It must also be considered that all wing Chun technically has some Chi Gerk automatically, because it is built in to the Chum Kiu form and the Mook Jong as well. However, I am referring to more specific techniques refined through rigorous and heavy repetitive two person conditioning drills, involving wedging, jamming,driving, trapping and kicking at close quarters.

Based on my experience, I have created a classification describing two main different types of Wing Chun styles. Burrowers or sinkers, and Floaters.

Floaters tend to move lightly on their feet with all the classical angles of Wing Chun combined with fast hands, this comes from JKD and more of this is seen on the west coast as a result of Bruce Lee. Floaters have their toes out, QUA stance to allow for mobility. This method has its place and in the right environment, it can thrive, yet just like anything else, it also has its disadvantages.

Burrowers or Sinkers come from a rich emphasis on Chi Gerk. They bend their knees more and sink all their weight into every attack. They place a strong emphasis on toes turned inward. YI CHI KIP YEUNG MA stance. The origin of this is more Cantonese..These practitioners have a heavy powerful driving style that burrows underneath the foundation of the opponent, breaking his stance. Once underneath, the Burrower sinker will not give an inch, dominating all the ground. The opponent finds nowhere to stand as the burrower bulldogs forward from deep below with powerful heavy hands. No stance no fight. Break the stance own the fight.

The floater sacrifices root to gain mobility where the Burrower sinker sacrifices mobility for strength and power. So as far as CHI GERK goes, it depends on the system. If CHI GERK is there and developed, the Wing Chun is not top heavy. If CHI GERK is not there or developed, the Wing Chun is Top Heavy. It all depends. At the same time, anything can work at the right time.

Both methods have their place, however for the record, Black Dragon Wing Chun students are Burrowers and sinkers all the way. A good contrast recently added to the JKD dominated Pacific North West...... Black Dragon Wing Chun Club is as grateful to the community here as I am to the Sifu's that produced me.

Much love and respect to all......Sifu Les Clements.

10/08/2017

The wise man vs the Fool

What is the best style of martial arts? What is the best technique for fighting? These are two of many questions that have been playing over and over again like a broken record for way too long.....If you think about the psychology of these questions, it tells a very clear story about dreamy over competitive minds tempered with deadly ignorance. Martial arts are all dependent on maturity...This is crucial if there is any hope that we as a species will ever become responsible with power and skills that are attained.. The most accurate answers to those questions shine with truth to the properly trained martial artist, yet sadly, they are worlds away from what too many others want to hear.

.My answer to the first question is, "The best style is to not live in a box. Any style can win or be effective in the right situation and the biggest mistake anyone who calls themselves a martial artist can ever make, is to underestimate any other style. Many humiliating defeats have followed such thoughts countless times in history..".

My answer to the second question is. " The best technique for fighting does not exist.. There are countless thousands of techniques floating around between all the fighting arts and any of them can destroy another, or be easily countered. There is no unstoppable technique. SORRY. Anything can happen in a fight and excitement has no place around such dangerous business where serious bodily injury and even death can result.". .

The idea that there are so many minds that are excited about inflicting harm on another human being with some selected styles or techniques they believe will give them power and status over another is very dangerous and disturbing to say the least. At the highest level, all martial arts are about self preservation and making the world a better place. All the technique, stamina, bravery and victories on the battlefield are nothing without wisdom. Knowledge itself is neutral and all depends on the consciousness of the user. Wisdom however makes the difference. A hammer can be used to build a hospital, but in the hands of a murderer it can crush a skull. To the aspiring martial artist the choice is yours but remember there is a heavy karmic price for acting foolish and maliciously...... The number one enemy that the young tend to ignore so easily is AGE!!! You could beat 500 opponents in your time but when you become old and infested with damage from injuries, its gonna be Showtime if you were never liked due to the wrongful treatment of others. They will remember.....As always, much thanks and respect to all my teachers and much hope for the evolution of human consciousness into the higher realms.
Like all my posts, this is also open for discussion...Thank you
SIFU LES CLEMENTS

10/03/2017

SMALL SHOT BIG BANG THEORY

The art of Wing Chun Kung Fu is a brilliant construct to say the very least. The majority of the controversy around it simply originates from minds that do not really understand it....It is only through a lot of sweat that true development will come, but when it does, the results are unmistakable.This unique southern Chinese style is about smothering an assailants attack at close quarters like a wet blanket, while breaking his stance from underneath with powerful forward driving wedging and jamming techniques with the legs (CHI GERK) or sticking legs, while pounding the center line with heavy striking techniques consisting of palms, chops,elbows and of course, the signature trademark of the style, the vertical punch which originated from the poison fist, a technique created to cause serious internal damage to an enemy..The wing Chun vertical punch is extremely powerful and deadly if developed to perfection, yet it is widely misunderstood in this day and age.
The ultimate goal of the Wing Chun adept is to control all the space between himself or herself and the opponent.....Powerful forward sliding angling, and triangular foot work, combined with deep stances and heavy low kicks that bring heavy hands, make the art thrive in the right environment. This is very important to consider because Wing Chun is only made for close quarters (if we are not counting weapons) and there are certain places where it works best.....Tight close quarter spaces such as hallways and small rooms, allies e.t.c. However, a hand to hand duel on a wide open field against an expert of any longer ranged style is not a good idea with Wing Chun. As a Sifu of thirty years, I would advise against that.
Now, this always opens up the most controversial topic ever and has to be addressed from a logical perspective. Wing Chun vs MMA in the cage........ No!!!!!!! Stop!!!!!! Don't even. Dude u are hurting the world, and insulting any experts of the art.... That is not what the art was made for!!!! Wing Chun was made for on the spot assaults that happened randomly on the streets or in the hills, or the mountains E.T.C. If you take it into the ring, good luck but my money says you are very likely to get destroyed because unlike boxing,wrestling,jiu jitsu, and Muy Thai, Wing Chun is NOTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!! a ring style, it is a street style. These are 2 very different worlds. Let me add further that I personally love to watch a good MMA,Boxing, or Muy Thai fight, and I have nothing but respect for these styles. However, they are not always age friendly (save Jiu jitsu,) You will see very few MMA fighters,boxers, Muy Thai fighters if any, still actively fighting past 50. However, Wing Chun, like Tai Chi, and Jiu Jitsu and some other styles, allow for wonderful development of vitality and strength while aging if done correctly.
Lastly with that out of the way, Wing Chun is an excellent system of health and self defense if done right and if you take care of yourself and understand your limits, you can train very well into a ripe old age. It must be said that one of the biggest mistakes a Wing Chun Practitioner can make is to ignore the vigorous development of good strong footwork. Just like any style, footwork is everything and Wing Chun is filthy rich in footwork. I personally transitioned fully through three Wing Chun Styles to become a Sifu... I would like to thank the major sources of all my training in the wonderful art of Wing Chun Kung Fu over the last three decades. My first and most treasured source of instruction and mentoring comes from the Moy Yat lineage. It was ever fortunate for me to find this family in 1987. My eternal gratitude goes out to the late Grandmaster Moy Yat himself as well as his disciples Moy Wo Tin and Moy Tin Si.. I also thank Mr Roper as well may he rest in peace.
Comments for discussion about the art are welcome below.


SIFU LES CLEMENTS