Blog

So, what is Wing Tsun? Is it self-defence? Is it for women? Is it a sport? Is it an art form? Does it mean joining a club or a community?

I had never heard of Wing Tsun when the leaflet arrived in December 2024. Two years’ compulsory Aikido at a Belgian primary school had left me with no appetite for martial arts. A hospital lung disease specialist for 30 years, I have strived to stay active. When younger, I played year-round tennis and enjoyed horse-riding. Medical school in London didn’t support either and asthma stopped me playing squash. Later, nights and weekends in the Emergency Department allowed little downtime. I continued horse riding and competitive dressage when visiting family in the countryside and maintained a gym membership for some years, but evening classes were usually out of the question.

More recently approaching retirement, and with my confidence dented after a fall from a young horse in November 2024, I consulted my physio, still black and blue with bruises. He recommended a martial arts class to learn about falling safely.

Depending on your perspective, it was thus divine providence or happy coincidence that the Wing Tsun leaflet dropped through my letterbox that December evening. The Victoria branch is 5 minutes’ walk from home, with classes on the one weekday evening I am usually free. The timing allows me to grab a bite to eat after work, and change. The invitation was irresistible, a welcome change from reading emails against a backdrop of Channel 4 News.

After expressing interest, I was impressed at the warm, friendly welcome I received during my introductory session. Bewildered by the Siu Nim Tau form and Cantonese descriptions, I was however relieved that I could manage the warm-up, and impressed by the rigorous emphasis on correct technique, footwork, rhythm, posture, balance and relaxation. Initial frustration with slow progress has gradually given way to improved understanding of techniques and Cantonese terms.

So, back to my original questions. What is Wing Tsun? Is it self-defence? Is it for women? Is it a sport? Is it an art form? Does it mean joining a club or a community?

Yes, Wing Tsun can be about self-defence. That wasn’t my motivation for joining the class and I hope I never have to use it, but it provides valuable techniques for any difficult situation. It’s certainly not just for women, but it’s designed to enable weaker opponents to defend themselves successfully against stronger ones, and men and women train together.

Yes, in some sense Wing Tsun is a sport. It shares the same emphasis on correct technique, footwork, rhythm, posture and balance essential to all sports. Particularly fascinating for me are the similarities between the advice I receive from my dressage instructor: ‘keep your elbows in’, ‘relax your shoulders’, ‘relax…!’ and the advice I receive in Wing Tsun classes (you guessed it): ‘keep your elbows in’, ‘relax your shoulders’, ‘relax…’!

And yes, Wing Tsun is an art form. Online videos reveal how truly beautiful it is when demonstrated by advanced practitioners.

Does Wing Tsun involve joining a club or community? Yes, to some extent. The engaging, supportive and respectful online Wing Tsun community has a wealth of resources to improve knowledge and understanding. Most important however, is the warm, friendly and inclusive atmosphere of the classes. Everyone is happy to help and to teach; beginners are welcomed and never dismissed or patronised; young and old participate without discrimination; and there is a genuine feeling of community, support and respect. I really miss classes when I can’t make them and I’m always glad when I’ve made it through, whether during a heatwave or on a bitterly cold, dark or wet evening. I invariably learn something new, and I always enjoy seeing familiar faces as well as newcomers.

So why not come and give it a go?!