Wing Chun Kung Fu is deeply rooted in Chinese cultural heritage and tradition, with a strong emphasis on preserving the art's legacy and lineage. This is wholeheartedly true of the Lee Shing lineage passed down by Sifu Joseph Lee to Sifu Paul Finn.
Cross-training in different schools, especially in the closed-door or secretive traditions, is generally not acceptable due to the belief that it dilutes the purity and authenticity of the art's techniques and principles. Again, although perhaps an unpopular interpretation in the west and particularly the U.K. this is the truth and why would it be encouraged when the Lee Shing system is believed by practitioners and purists to be the original and undiluted method of wing chun which is hardly even considered or conceived by the vast majority of modern wing chun practitioners.
The origins of Wing Chun can be traced back centuries, with the art being developed and refined by successive generations of masters. Each master meticulously passed down the knowledge and skills to their chosen disciples, ensuring the preservation of the art's core values and techniques.
This unbroken lineage is considered sacred, and any deviation from the established teachings is seen as a violation of the art's integrity. Certainly this is true of our own pure blood line from Sifu Paul via Sifu Joseph Lee and Lee Shing to Yip Man and Leung Bik to the king of Wing Chun Leung Jaan.
Preserving the Authentic Teachings
In China, and today still in the west many Wing Chun schools operate as closed-door or secretive traditions, closely guarding their unique interpretations and applications of the art.
These schools such as Lee Shing believe that cross-training with other styles or lineages can lead to the dilution or contamination of the authentic teachings, compromising the effectiveness and purity of the art.
The fear is that by incorporating techniques or principles from other styles, the essence of Wing Chun may be lost or altered, straying from the original intent and wisdom passed down through generations.Preserving the art's authenticity is seen as a matter of cultural pride and respect for the masters who dedicated their lives to perfecting and transmitting the art.
Lineage and Cultural Significance
Wing Chun's cultural significance in China extends beyond its physical techniques. It embodies the deep-rooted values and philosophy of the Chinese people, serving as a guardian of martial arts heritage and preserving ancient wisdom.The art's lineage and the master-disciple relationship foster a sense of continuity, respect, and cultural identity.
Cross-training in different schools is often perceived as a threat to this lineage and cultural significance.
Each school or lineage has its unique interpretations, nuances, and traditions, which are carefully guarded and passed down within the confines of that particular school.
None more so than Sifu Joseph Lee’s Lee Shing system that can be said to be the original Foshan and Gulau systems.
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Accordingly, Mixing these traditions is seen as a dilution of the art's cultural and historical significance, potentially leading to the loss of valuable knowledge and traditions.
Conclusion
While the preservation of Wing Chun's authenticity and cultural heritage is of utmost importance in China, the art must adapt to remain relevant and effective in modern times, while still respecting its roots and lineage.
Here at 108 Wing Chun we stalwartly support and propagate the original wing chun of Lee Shing and swim against a tide of modern diluted western wing chun.
Even to this day the secrecy of wing chun is astounding and continues to defy the masses despite its popularity in film and social media which provides a distortion and dilution of the actual art.
Many would find these comments to be opinionated and against the mass media opinion of what Wing Chun is, however I had personally trained in these diluted formats for many years even travelling to Hong Kong to train with so-called masters before learning the truth from Sifu Joseph Lee.
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