TOPICS OVERVIEW
Wing Chun is an intricate martial arts system where theory and practice are deeply intertwined. As a beginner, I often wished that a Wing Chun instructor would offer a comprehensive, holistic view of the art, rather than presenting scattered bits of knowledge—if we could even call it knowledge in such cases.
Unfortunately, this kind of thorough insight is hard to come by. Even today, it's challenging to find truly useful information on Wing Chun in books, online, or on DVDs and digital platforms. Few people attempt to explain Wing Chun in its entirety, painting a clear, cohesive picture. It remains, to a large extent, a closed, hermetic system.
So, I’ve decided to share the knowledge I've been collecting since 1990 and continue to gather, right here on this website!
Here, you will find a kind of roadmap—a structured breakdown of the topics I cover on this site. I explain our training approach, introduce myself as a trainer along with my team, and describe what you need to get started.
You can also explore sections on Chi Sao and partner forms, learn about forms and Wing Chun weaponry, dive into details on Lat Sao, and deepen your understanding of footwork, Chi Gerk, fitness, Kuen Kuits, and various theoretical concepts.
Below, you’ll find an overview of the categories. Simply click on a topic that interests you, and immerse yourself fully in Wing Chun.
It would mean a lot to me if you could share this site with your Wing Chun friends, training partners, or other enthusiasts, helping to spread knowledge within the community.
Enjoy, and thank you for your interest!
Cord Elsner
02
GENERAL WING CHUN TOPICS
Wing Chun is a single system, yet it raises countless questions and themes that need exploration, discussion, and clarification. What is Wing Chun? What is Kung Fu? How do combat sports differ from martial arts? What is a Sifu? What does hierarchy mean in Wing Chun? Why do different spellings exist? Click here to learn more about Wing Chun and browse the articles.
03
FORMS AND WEAPONS
Training forms primarily involve ingraining Wing Chun’s characteristic hand, arm, and foot movements into the body’s muscle memory. Wing Chun consists of seven forms:
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Siu Nim Tao
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Cham Kiu
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Biu Tze
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Mok Yan Chong Fat (Wooden Dummy)
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Saam Sin Chong Fat (Tripod Dummy)
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Look Dim Poon Kwan (Long Pole)
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Bart Cham Dao (Double Knives)
Here, I explain the value of form training and delve into each of the seven forms.
04
CHI SAO
This section focuses on the Chi Sao training method. Chi Sao, meaning "sticky hands" or "sticky arms," is a fundamental Wing Chun training method for ingraining reflexive movement patterns. I discuss Poon Sao, Dan Chi Sao, as well as the categorization of Chi Sao exercises into sections and partner forms. Click here to explore this category’s articles.
05
LAT SAO AND BREAK FALLING (UKEMI)
In one interpretation, Lat Sao means free sparring, though it is more akin to a choreographed partner exercise that can become freer over time. Lat Sao bridges the movements learned in forms, which are drilled as sequences in Chi Sao, with freer, more spontaneous partner training. Lat Sao builds the pathway to Hong Kong Lat Sao and other applications. Ukemi, or the art of falling, is essential for safely practicing takedowns. Click here to browse these articles.
06
CHI GERK AND FOOTWORK
A central topic in Wing Chun is its unique footwork, specifically designed for close combat. Additionally, Wing Chun employs specialized techniques targeting the lower and middle body, and for this purpose, we train Chi Gerk—a sensitivity and reaction training for the legs. In this section, I explore these practices in depth. Click here to access the articles.
07
HAND TECHNIQUES IN WING CHUN
Tan Sao, Fook Sao, Gam Sao, Gan Sao, Bong Sao, Fak Sao... In Wing Chun, “Sao” means hand or arm, and each term represents a specific arm posture, position, or movement. This category explains various hand techniques in Wing Chun, detailing the forms they originate from and their intended applications.
08
FITNESS AND NUTRITION
“Better train every part of your body” is one of Bruce Lee’s famous quotes that has motivated my daily bodyweight and fitness training for decades. And despite my birth year of 1973, I’m still in top shape (knock on wood).
In my view, Wing Chun without solid fitness is only half the equation—something that surely applies to all martial arts. Our body is our weapon, honed through Wing Chun practice, and it must be toughened and sharpened through fitness training. Here’s where you can find articles on fitness and nutrition.
Let’s get fit!
09
KUEN KUITS
Kuen Kuits—often referred to as Wing Chun mottos—are guiding principles or, simply put, tips on Wing Chun. They provide practitioners with valuable insights on correctly executing movements, attacks, and techniques, helping them gauge whether they’re truly practicing Wing Chun or inadvertently violating core concepts and principles. I open the door to numerous explanations; you walk through it. Find the articles here.
