Continue reading »]]> An interview with Sifu Guerman Atanassov published in “Bulgaria” – newspaper for Bulgarian community in Chicago Metro Area, Issue 25, June 2012. The interview was taken by Veselin Andreev a Martial Arts enthusiast and Sifu Guerman friend.

The art of Wing Tsun

“The efficiency of Wang Tsun is not only based on force and speed but also on flexibility, pliability, the skills to adapt combined with powerful movements. “

Interview with Sifu Guerman Atanassov – Wing Tsun Instructor

Sifu Atanassov, how many years have you been practicing Wing Tsun, when did you hear about this martial art and when it became your passion?

I knew about Wing Tsun since the beginning of the 90’s when I was practicing Tai Chi in the school of my first sifu Stanislav Bagalev in the City of Plovdiv. The first real touch with this amazing art was in 1997 when invited by University of Plovdiv in the city arrived Grand Master Keith Kernspecht with entire pleads of EWTO (European Wing Tsun Organization) instructors. After their amazing lecture and demonstration I knew that this is what I’ve been looking for so long, something that has common principles with the another martial art I am practicing and teaching– Tai Chi Chuan. So Sifu Bagalev began to add  Wang Tsun in our practice and in 1998 he established The Wing Tsun Club in the University of Plovdiv where I was practicing until my departure to United States.

What attracted you to this martial art and makes you practice and teach it for so long?

It is very hard to describe it with one or more single thought but I will try to outline some basic characteristics.

On one hand it is the amazing usefulness and relevance of what I am teaching and practicing and its use for self -defense, without the unnecessary training to learn and follow tournament rules and practices. Wing Tsun is a complete system for self-defense which is not based on tricks and show but on concepts and principles.

The efficiency of Wang Tsun is not only based on force and speed but also on flexibility, pliability, the skills to adapt combined with powerful movements. Something that is very close to the characteristics of one of the best fighters in the nature – the cat.

Wing Tsun trains not only the body by keeping it flexible and young, Wing Tsun trains the consciousness and improves our physical and mental body. The practitioner develops skills to control not only his/her body, but also his/her mind by not being easily influenced by the impulses of emotions.

The specificity of the exercises and techniques practiced in Wing Tsun develops a very important quality in today’s world – the ability to adapt to any situation without prior adjustment or the ability to change in motion, otherwise said: “go with the flow”.

The teaching method in our global Wing Tsun organization is also unique by its systematization, methodical dependency and following the principles of the modern methods of education. The aim is to build knowledge and skills for each student who attends training regularly.

Finally: Wing Tsun is not only skills for self-defense, but also a philosophy, a way of life.

What is the meaning of your title “ Sifu”?

Traditionally in the Chinese Martial Arts “ Sifu” means Teacher, Instructor, “Father” of the school. This is the person who introduces you in the martial arts and shows you the “Way” you should follow. In the Chinese Martial Arts (Wu-Shu) he is also your mentor who teaches you not only martial art techniques, but also philosophy and a way of life.

At IWTA (The International Wing Tsun Association), whose founder is Grandmaster Leung Ting, the basic meaning of the title “Sifu” is preserved but it is also a title granted for special achievements accompanied with official diploma. Since it is a large organization with schools in more than 60 countries around the world, it is possible for someone to start training with his/her first Sifu, and after a while to move to a different city or country, and continue training with other instructor who practically becomes his/her next Sifu. That is one reason the term “Sifu” is used in our global organization as a title.

Sifu Guerman and Sifu Mike Adams

For example , I started my practice with Sifu Stanislav Bagalev who is my original Sifu, but when I moved  to Chicago I continued training  with  Sifu Mike Adams who is my current Sifu. Sifu Mike teaches in Bloomington, IL and he is head instructor for Illinois and Indinana.

What is the essential quality for Wang Tsun fighter or trainee?

I would not single out a quality that is necessary for the Wing Tsun fighter or trainee. The efficiency of Wing Tsun is a combination of various skills and abilities.

Personally I believe that one of the imperative qualities is the drive, the mindset of the trainee to comprehend in depth the meaning of the techniques, drills and training programs, and not just to collect a set of techniques. I would say that the flexibility and skills of the trainee to adapt are qualities without Wing Tsun would not be understood and utilized in depth. We should be able to change any already practiced technique if required to adapt it to any opponent’s attack. To be effective Wing Tsun fighter should be concentrated, collected, flexible and powerful as they move forward. Simply said, Should a fight occurs – fight with no mercy, or if you are not ready simply withdraw to avoid dangerous situation.

Does the perception: “The winner is not the strongest, the biggest or the fastest but the one with most endurance” holds the idea of Wing Tsun?

I wouldn’t say that this fully applies to the philosophy and the strategy of Wing Tsun.

One of the fundamental principles of Wang Tsun  related to the single combat is to win the fight as quick as possible without engaging into the typical sparring  or “game” – you hit, I hit. If you can resolve the situation with only one strike or use of one technique, that is the best. In a real time situation either on the street, in a bar or club we do not have the luxury to extend the fight especially if we have multiple attackers or the attacker is stronger then us. No matter how strong are you, believe me, you will always find someone who is stronger; tougher than you or you could be caught by surprise because you are not mentally prepared.

According to Wing Tsun philosophy the winner will be the one who well assess the situation preserving calmness, reacting faster, coordinates well his/her strength and movements and has the ability to adapt if the situation escalates and changes.

Those skills are developed with training and practice in class, at seminars, in private lessons ect.  Here I would like to point out the unique for Wing Tsun system, the Chi Sao (“Sticky Hands”) training– the exercise for developing of tactical reflexes which are being determined by the sense of opponent’s pressure and direction of force. The Chi Sao defensive reflexes are being acquired immediately as a result of the opponents’ attack which are not based on visual perception and allow the Wing Tsun trainee to defend instantly. Chi Sao is the “glue” that holds together the basic moves into combinations that are not prearranged but are constructed to fit a specific situation. Chi Sao is the soul of Wing Tsun.

What are the personal qualities that the trainee develops? How would the training help him grow on a personal level?

Passion, confidence, concentration, control and team work – these are qualities without which one cannot train adequately because you would either hurt yourself or your opponent. Uniquely these qualities can be developed for just about a year of training because I think there is no other practice than Martial Arts where you could really experience these changes in such a short time. Those personal traits remain with us and help us not only improve our quality of life but also support us at work.

Anyone who is involved in Wing Tsun classes trains their mind and body. The body does not yield easily upon a change, therefore, the everyday activity develops its condition, and the lessons with the teacher give you the directions to practice. The mind is an important factor to discover the inner strength, to control the aggressive spirit and to motivate the person – extremely difficult but not impossible. By reading and understanding the Chinese Philosophy we expand our perception of the world which makes us more flexible and dynamic.

What distinguished Wing Tsun from the other Martial Arts?

The most important deference derives less from the external specific characteristics than from its new revolutionary concept Wing Tsun system is based on.

The Classic styles depend upon series and complexes of previously regulated progressive movements and techniques, in other words, depend on well-honed combinations.

In real conflict situation (unlike the ones in class) the opponent never attacks in a fashion to which we are trained. In other words the aggressor never “asks the question “to which the classic styles “has an answer”. Therefore, quite often, the answer (the defense) does not fit the question (the attack). Only by utilizing a lot of physical body straight a “classic” fighter can make those previously rehearsed techniques (answers) workable. In addition these situations depend to a great extend to a luck and speed which in term places a physically wicker person in disadvantage.

Personally, I’ve experienced such problems at the time when I studied and practiced Judo and Karate. At competitions I would win against less technically prepared competitors with similar weight and size, but I felt quite different in real life situation I had encountered at the time I studied for my engineering degree in Riga, Latvia (ex-USSR). It was almost impossible for me to apply the techniques in a manner I trained for in class especially when the attacker was physically stronger and bigger. And everyone would attack in his own way! It was combat situations with no rules. It was one of the reasons that made me search for something more effective which is not based only on raw power, speed and endurance. That’s how I first discovered Tai Chi, and later on Wing Tsun.

In Wind Tsun we construct our reactions (answers) based on the opponent’s actions. The Wing Tsun technique is a reaction that is tuned exactly to the initiating action of the opponent whose power and speed even feeds us further

In WingTsun we don’t see the two fighters as “opponents”, but rather see them in the Taoist sense of Yin-Yang as two forces that mutually complete each other and make up one whole. Simply said, instead of thinking of our opponent as an aggressor who blocks our way and our “clean techniques” (a concept used in the traditional styles), we regard him as our source of energy and as a supporter who provides our safety and ultimately, his own defeat. As I already mentioned, the Wing Tsun training system uses two methods that train us in that aspect – Lat Sao and Chi Sao.

I have not heard of any Wing Tsun competitions. Are there any?

Wing Tsun is practiced and taught as a system for self-development and self-defense. The principles and techniques of Wing Tsun are designed and are intended for real-life situations rather than being used at competitions where we have rules, judge, beginning and end of the fight. Also in the organized competitions there are safety rules which usually don’t exist on the street. Wing Tsun principles and strategy would be in contradiction with those kind of tournament regulations and that is way in Wing Tsun we have no competitions in the type known to the general public.

One kind of competitions we organized in Wing Tsun / Wing Chun community are the Chi Sao tournaments where for safety reasons of the trainees the use of certain techniques is not allowed. Also some famous Wing Tsun fighters, among which is Stefan Crnko, participate in MMA fights, but they go through additional training in advance to adjust their Wing Tsun skills to the system of rules and restrictions of that competition.

Is it hard or inconvenient to use Wing Tsun against certain Martial arts ?

Wing Tsun is not just another style of martial art with its own set of forms, techniques, drills and movements. It is a System a scientifically developed set of integrated concepts, principles and technical components that interact together as one unit. All possible distance, legs, hands, elbows, knees, body to body and ground fighting situations are being taught and practiced.  The whole set of techniques, training methods and exercises are designed not so much to be memorized but to develop certain skills that could be used in real life situations. Very often the techniques we practiced in class don’t have the same appearance when applied outside in real life. They are being modified, changed adapting to the certain situation. The forms of the hand, the body or the movement itself depend and are shaped by the opponent’s attack. The important thing is always to follow the principals of Wing Tsun .

At the highest level of Wing Tsun philosophy there are four Energy Principles and four Fighting Principles:

1. Give up your own Force

2. Redirect your opponent’s Force

3. Use Your Attacker’s Force against him

4.  Add Your Own Force

1. Go forward

2. Stick to the opponent

3. Yield to a greater force

4.  Follow through

These eight principles form a system of self-defense that allows one to adapt immediately to the size, strength and fighting style of an attacker. They determine the way Wing Tsun trainee would react to any possible attack regardless of its nature. Flexibility is the essence of Wing Tsun. And WingTsun will continue to evolve and spread throughout the world, adjusting to changes in the society.

In conclusion I would like to point out that when two persons get in confrontation, it is not like two deferent MA styles are in a single combat but two different personalities with their individual qualities and momentary state of mind and body.

How do you practice Wing Tsun without real opponent?

If you are on your own and don’t have partner to practice with, you can use sand bags attached to a wall or in a more advanced stage you can practice with a Wooden Dummy.

But I think these are just helpful methods, and the only way to gain real Wing Tsun skills is to train with a real person and with as many deferent partners as possible. In this way we could acquire the essential skills such as listening, following and adaptability to different situations and people. Everyone is unique and even some will have similar training they will use different power, pressure, and direction of force and most importantly always act in a different way – something to which we should be able to adapt, follow and react.

How many students do you have at the moment? Are they Bulgarians or Americans?

The School in Wheeling is relatively new. The beginning was in January when we started an entirely new class. The school is developing gradually and we currently have a core of 10 people and a small group that gets together every Saturday in Glenview. In class we have Americans, Polish, Russians, Chinese (second generation Americans) and Bulgarians. It is like a true international school.

Is this martial art attractive for women? How do they accept it?

The girls really enjoy practicing Wing Tsun because this martial art develops the sense and skills how to use the power of the opponent, to be adaptive and flexible which all comes natural to them and they enjoy great success in our classes and organization. It is proven by the women with high Wing Tsun ranks who train with us.

According to the story about 250 – 300 years ago, there was a Buddhist nun named Ng Mui. Reportedly she was a Shaolin disciple and also an expert of the “White Crane” kungfu style of the Weng Chun district in Fujian Province. Due to political problems, Ng Mui, together with a few other Shaolin members, were hunted down by the rulers of the Qing Dynasty. They ran from Fujian and dispersed to different parts of Southern China. Ng Mui was a kung fu enthusiast of great talents. She was constantly looking to improve on what she had mastered although she was already one of the topmost experts. It happened that in the area where she took refuge she came upon by some local martial arts techniques which were quite different, innovative and useful. She reformed what she had learned incorporating some of those new ideas and created a new style. Ng later taught all her skills to a young maid Yim Wing Chun, an outstanding and beloved student of hers.

What can people expect if they enroll in your training?

Our personal time is the time we can be ourselves; it is the time that we evolve, relax and recharge. Therefore workout is an important part of our everyday life.

In our school we train in a friendly atmosphere, and by following the Chinese tradition, the school is like a big family, where the trainees are like brothers and sisters who help each other and practice together, and the instructor is the “father” – Sifu, who takes care of his students by teaching and guiding them in their development. Please feel welcome to visit us in our school in Wheeling.

Why would someone join Wing Tsun when we know that here, in the United States, the physical conflicts are not recommended?

Wing Tsun like all martial arts is not just a self-defense system; it is a teaching and practice for self-development. Our training is not only physical but also mental and spiritual. Practicing Wing Tsun makes us more balanced and self-confident in our abilities. This can be helpful in critical situations by finding a quick solution that would not lead to aggressive and violent acts. And Wing Tsun is a fun way to discover abilities you didn’t know you could possess.

Is this martial art used as training by the army or police? If so, in what countries?

WingTsun was demonstrated to the police, the special units and the army in many countries including USA and Bulgaria. In Germany, Austria and Italy WingTsun is taught in the police and the special military units. I know that in Bulgaria due to the complicated structure of the law enforcement agencies it is still very difficult for this martial art to be integrated in the training, but it is in a project.

Sifu Guerman with GGM Leung Ting

What country is considered to be the Mecca of Wing Tsun?

Of course the Mecca of Wing Tsun is Hong Kong. The Late Grandmaster Yip Man lived there and worked on making it popular around the world. Now in Hong Kong there are many Wing Tsun/ Wing Chun organizations and schools. The Headquarters of our International Wing Tsun Association (IWTA) is also located in Hong Kong and its founder and chairman is Grandmaster Leung Ting 10 Level Wing Tsun. The association is one of the largest organizations of Chinese martial arts in the world with more than one million members and schools in 65 countries worldwide.

My dream is to visit Hong Kong and to train at the place where the spirit of Wing Tsun was born.

When did Wing Tsun become popular in Bulgaria? How many Wing Tsun schools are there and in what cities?

Sifu Guerman with Sifu Bagalev

In Bulgaria Wing Tsun becomes popular in the 90s when the country rejects communism and everyone could practice martial arts not only military and police units. In that time the Bulgarian Wu-shu Federation contacted the International WingTsun Association (IWTA) and Grandmaster Leung Ting visited Sofia for a first time in 1990. Later he sends his instructors to teach, and in 1996 a team from EWTO guided by Grandmaster Kernspecht came to Plovdiv and established long term relations with Bulgaria by founding a new organization there. Currently the country has 12 Wing Tsun centers – Sofia, Plovdiv, Vidin, Montana, Rousse, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Karlovo, Yambol and Haskovo and mian instructor and leader for EWTO-Bulgaria is sifu Stanislav Bagalev 4 Level Technician Wing Tsun which headquarter is located in Plovdiv.

How many schools there are in the Unites States and in what cities?

The Regional Organization for North America is IWTA – North American Section which has schools in Canada and the USA. There are 16 center in: Toronto, Arizona, Texas, California, New York, Iowa, Montana, Tennessee, Washington, Indiana and Illinois. Some of the biggest schools are in San Antonio, TX; Toronto, Canada; Mesa, AZ; Billings, MT and of course our regional center in Illinois with schools in Bloomington, Lisle, Chicago and Wheeling which leader is Sifu Mike Adams 5 Level Practician Wing Tsun. His main school and headquarter is in Bloomington, IL.

What about in Europe?

The largest organization in Europe is EWTO, with headquarters in Langenzenc castle, near Heidelberg, Germany. Its founder and leader is Grandmaster Keith Kernspecht, 10 Level Wing Tsun. Just in Germany alone there are about 1,500 schools plus many schools in Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Slovenia, England, Spain, Denmark, Holland, etc. My first Sifu Stanislav Bagalev is the founder of the Bulgarian Wing Chun organization which is part of EWTO with headquarters in Plovdiv. Another big organization is the Eastern EWTO with headquarters in Hungary led by Sifu Maday Norbert 8 Level Wing Tsun with schools in Hungary, Poland, and Ukraine.

Did you ever use Wing Tsun as a self-defense in public? If so, what was the result?

Yes, I have used it but luckily without bloody scenes. On both occasions I was able to control the movements of the attacker, to suppress his aggression and to stop him from serious attack. Interestingly the more I advance in training, the less I have such experiences. The confidence gained by the skills and the ability to assess a situation knowing the consequences, as well as  the calm and effective reaction seem to recede or extinguish aggression towards you. An old wisdom is that   the victorious battle is the one that was won without violence or just avoided.

What would you wish to all the readers of “Bulgaria” newspaper?

I would wish to all of them good health, good fortune and success in everything that comes their way. Traditionally said Have success on “the Way”.  (Tao in Chinese philosophy).

PDF file of the interview in the newspaper

Translated by Ats Travel & Translation Services

Edited Sifu Guerman Atanassov

August 2012

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GGM Leung Ting

Hi everyone! If you haven’t already, mark your calendars for those special dates. Do not miss this incredible opportunity to learn from the source – GGM Leung Ting, the founder of the International WingTsun Association and the last closed-door disciple of the late Grandmaster Yip Man, Bruce Lee’s instructor.

 
 
 

Sifu Will Parker

Continue reading »]]> Ip Man (2008)

A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun.
Director:
Wilson Yip
Writer:
Edmond Wong (screenplay)
Stars:
Donnie Yen, Simon Yam and Siu-Wong Fan

Yip Man 2 (2010)

Centering on Ip Man’s migration to Hong Kong in 1949 as he attempts to propagate his discipline of Wing Chun martial arts.
Director:
Wilson Yip
Writer:
Edmond Wong (screenplay)
Stars:
Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung and Simon Yam

Ip Man is the master of Bruce Lee. He originated from Foshan and escaped to Hongkong when Maoists took over the Chinese government. Ip Man established the martial arts of Wing Chun.

I first saw the Ip Man movie while am riding a bus on the way home. The fight scenes are superb and I can see that the actors are well-rehearsed in their stunts. I also enjoyed watching the whole movie from the time when Ip Man defeated the Northern master, Jin Shanzhao, to his fight with Japanese general Miura at the end of the movie. I wanted to watch the whole movie, that’s I am glad when my brother brought not only one but all of the Ip Man movies.

Ip Man has three movies. The first movie is set during the time when Japanese soldiers invaded mainland China. Ip Man 2 is set after World War and at the time when Ip Man is establishing his dojo in Hongkong. Ip Man Zero is about the young Ip Man and was set prior to Sino-Japanese War.

Each movie has excellent fight scenes at the each end. Ip Man 1 has a fight between Ip Man and a Japanese general who is a karate master. Ip Man 2 has a fight between Ip Man and a famous British boxer. Ip Man won all those fights.

What I noticed about the Ip Man movies is that Ip Man was portrayed as a perfect person. He is the one who saved the country from the evil plans of the Japanese. He is the one who upheld the pride of whole Foshan against a Northern martial arts master. He is the one who defeated a Japanese general and inspired the people to fight the Japanese. He is the one whom all Hongkong masters depended on when standing against foreign pigs (the British colonizers). Having a perfect character is not a problem in a fictional movie. Ip Man movies, however, are supposedly biographical. I can’t believe that the true Ip Man can do all those things. A perfect Ip Man in the movie made me feel that I am watching a propaganda film and not the biography of the man.

My complaints are minor and can be ignored if Ip Man movies are treated as fictional. I enjoyed the watching all of the three Ip Man movies. The fight scenes didn’t disappoint because they are few of the best fight scenes that I saw in a Chinese movie. The movie is very colorful and shows how colorful the Chinese culture is. The Ip Man movies made we want to learn Wing Chun.

Continue reading »]]> The eight principles of Wing Tsun form a system of aggressive self-defense that allows one to adapt immediately to the size, strength and fighting style of an attacker. There are many ways to express the principles, since they are essentially very simple. However, it takes years of performing the forms and practicing chi sao with a knowledgeable instructor to train the body to follow the principles reflexively and to understand their applications in specific situations

Energy Principles

Give up your own Force (捨拙力-捨棄不必要之力量)
One needs to be relaxed in order to move dynamically and to react to the actions of an opponent. When you are tense, your “own force” acts as a parking brake — you must disengage it first before you can move quickly.

Get rid of your  opponent’s  Force (卸來力-卸減他人來攻的力量)
This is similar to the third fighting principle. When an attacker wants to use strength to overpower a fighter, the response is not to try to overcome strength with strength but to nullify this force by moving your attacker’s force away from you or to move yourself away from it.

Use Your Attacker’s Force against him (借他力-來留去送)
Take advantage of the force your opponent gives you. If an opponent pulls you toward him, use that energy as part of your attack. Or if an opponent pushes the left side of your body, you can act as a revolving door and use that force in an attack with your right arm.

Add Your Own Force (施巧勁-甩手直衝)
In addition to borrowing power from your attacker, you can add your own force in an attack when your hand is free.

Fighting Principles

Go forward (問路尋橋手先行)
Advance immediately in order to establish contact with the limbs (allowing for Chi Sao reflexes to take over) or — even better — to strike first. This counterintuitive reaction will often surprise the attacker, and moves the fight into a close distance in which tactile reflexes will dominate over visual reactions, where the Wing Tsun practitioner is likely to have an advantage.

Stick to the opponent (手黐手,無訂(地方)走)
If you are unable to strike and disable your opponent, but instead make contact with some part of his body (other than his face, throat, etc.), stick to it. Often this will be an opponent’s arm; if you maintain constant contact with his arms, how can he launch an attack at you without your knowing? This applies for the time only when the opponent is blocking your shortest way of attack. Once there is opportunity, you give up sticking, and go in with your attack (flow).

Yield to a greater force (用巧勁，避拙力-即借力）
Since one cannot expect to be stronger than every potential attacker, one must train in such a way as to be able to win even against a stronger opponent. Chi Sao teaches the reflexes necessary to react to an opponent’s attacks. When an attack is simply stronger than yours, your trained reflexes will tell your body to move out of the way of the attack and find another angle for attack.

Follow through (迫步追形)
As an extension of the first principle, if an opponent retreats, a WingTsun practitioner’s immediate response is to continue moving forward, not allowing the opponent to regroup and have an opportunity to reconsider his strategy of attack. Many styles that rely on visual cues prefer to step back and wait and time their attacks, as commonly seen in sport and tournament fighting.

Continue reading »]]> On October 29-30, 2011, we had another great Leung Ting WingTsun® Kung Fu seminar with the Great Grandmaster of WingTsun, Dr. Leung Ting, at our Wheeling, Illinois school in the Chicago suburbs.

Prior to the seminar, the Grandmaster stressed privately to Sifu Mike Adams that this time he wanted to really emphasize that the concepts of WingTsun are far more important than what techniques are used physically.  He emphasized that most people continuously chase after the next program, believing that if they only knew a little more, then they would be good.  But actually it is not about how many techniques you know or how advanced those techniques are.  The simplest technique possible is actually the most advanced technique if you truly know how and when to apply it, and why.

Great Grandmaster Leung Ting said that this understanding is actually part of training for the higher levels of WingTsun, the Practician levels.  Once you have learned the techniques up through the Technician levels, then you must continue to practice the techniques until you really get the concept and can master the simplicity.  Though the Practician levels are commonly thought of as the Master levels, the real secret to these levels is in the title of Practician.

During the seminar, whether teaching an advanced application drawn from Biu Tze and Wooden Dummy techniques or the most seemingly basic applications, Great Grandmaster Leung Ting tried to emphasize this perspective.  If you were at the seminar, he hopes you were perceptive enough to get the real lesson underlying all of the drills.  If you got it, that’s great!  If you didn’t, we hope you will take the time to ponder the real lesson of the seminar.

A number of people were promoted to higher levels by Great Grandmaster Leung Ting at the seminar.  We would like to congratulate the following people for their promotions:

• Sifu Brian Carter was promoted to 3rd Level Technician
• Sifu Guerman Atanassov was promoted to 3rd Level Technician
• Mike Treleaven was promoted to 2nd Level Technician
• Ben Stevens was promoted to Primary Level Technician

Thanks to everyone for coming to the seminar!  We hope that between the seminar and this post, you have a lot of food for thought, and that it helps you take your WingTsun to the next level.

Sifu Mike Adams

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Leung Ting in action

Are you looking for the real thing?
Are you looking for authentic training in real martial arts in a modern manner?
Not something that looks pretty or acrobatic but doesn’t work, but something that’s true, efficient, and effective for real self-defense?

At Wheeling Wing Tsun School, you will learn authentic WingTsun Kung Fu as taught by Great Grandmaster Leung Ting. You’ll get a great workout and have fun while learning real systems of self-defense. And you’ll be part of a tradition stretching back into the mists of time and forward into the far future. Who knows? Perhaps future generations will tell stories about your skill!

Come I will be more than happy to show you and to teach you this amazing art.
Sifu Guerman Atanassov

Continue reading »]]> Leung Ting WingTsun Primary Technician Thesis

The way that led me to Leung Ting WingTsun KungFu

Guerman Atanassov
Sept 2005

Sifu Guerman Atanassov

I was born in 1965 in the town of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. English is my second language.
The MA (Martial Arts) has always attracted me with their power, dynamic, explosiveness, the glamour of the movements as much as the eastern philosophy and spirituality. For many years in communist Bulgaria, practicing MA was prohibited and controlled almost fully by the government and the special military and police units. No one outside of these forces could study the MA because the communist leaders were afraid of repeat uprising events likes those in Czechoslovakia – 1962 and Hungary – 1957. But my desire to learn the MA was great.
In 1982 I began practicing judo at a famous sports club “Marica” in my hometown of Plovdiv. In that judo club, everything was sport-oriented: discipline, rules, fixed weight ranges and restricted techniques for competition. All of this was an important part of this traditionally taught Japanese MA founded by Jigaro Kano in the last century. Each competition was full of dynamic and thrilling clashes in each tournament ring. It was especially exciting to compete against an unfamiliar dojo and judoka that I’d never met before. We were fortunate that once a week we had a guest instructor, a member of the special police forces, who would teach us karate techniques, punches, kicks and sparing combinations. That was the first time that I touched a real fighting MA. This was the first time that I saw techniques besides throws, grabbing and locking techniques. There were striking movements by hand and legs. At that time I did not recognize the difference between practical training and sport training. I practiced with great enthusiasm.

Often in my school years, I needed to defend myself because I was smaller and physically weaker than my classmates. I had to apply all that I had learned from judo and karate lessons. It was in those real situations that, for the first time, I noticed that my karate skills were not as effective as our instructor had taught us. Somehow they were choppy, tense and not flexible. More often than not, I ended up using my more fluid and core judo techniques. This was when I realized that there must be something else to this “difference” and so, I began to look around at other MA.

In the 1980’s the first Kungfu movies came into Bulgarians theaters. Bruce Lee’s performance fascinated me. Light and quick, he and his art possessed that “something” that I was looking for. Then, of course I saw the “Shaolin Temple” series with the incredible Jet Lee in the starring role. I was amazed by his fluent and flexible movements and spirituality of this thing called “Buddhism?”. Hmmm? I decided that I wanted to learn Shaolin Kungfu. Unfortunately there was not a single Chinese MA School in Plovdiv at that time.

After graduating from high school in 1985 and successfully passing national examinations, I went to Riga, Latvia in the former USSR to continue my education in aeronautical engineering in Riga Aviation University.  There I joined the university judo club and continued practicing and participating in many competitions all around Latvia. At the same time, I also began attending classes with a nearby Shotokan karate group. In Latvia, we were considered foreigners, even though technically we were living in a friendly country. Sometimes we had to stand for our rights by using our fists. It was in those street fights that I tried to utilize all that I knew. But again, I felt that the punches, kicks and other karate techniques were not that applicable in real life. Often times the physically stronger guy would simply overpower his opponent and win the battle. Again, I ended up using the seemingly street effective judo techniques to take advantage of my opponent’s weight and balance. It was during this time that my suspicions awoke and I realized the significant difference between what I was reading in books, seeing in movies, training in judo, training in karate and fighting in a real street fight situation where there were no rules. But I did not give up in frustration. Instead, I continued my search for non-sports type MA. I was seeking a real street self-defense.

One year before I went back to Bulgaria, I stumbled upon a newly opened MA school in Riga. It was “Choi Quan” – a Chinese kungfu style. A Russian guy who had studied it in China conducted the classes. From the beginning, I felt that this was what I was seeking. With great enthusiasm I began my training. Although the style contained the acrobatics, high and flying kicks, I licked the flexibility required for those movements and the fluidity for switching postures and directions. It was then that I first learned what Qigung was and I studied breathing techniques and meditation practices. Unfortunately, I did not advance too far, as I graduated from Riga Aeronautical University in 1991 and moved back home.

After I came back to Plovdiv I started my career as a manufacturing engineer with the largest aviation manufacturer in Bulgaria.  I got married and had my first son. Family responsibilities were added to my everyday activities. I was busy with my new job and starting my professional development. I had no time for the MA. I refined my focus to manage what little time that I had. I quit both judo and karate and concentrated on finding any type of Chinese Kungfu School.

It was during the early 1990’s that the communist regime fell and Bulgaria became open to the world and all of the restrictions of our daily lives were removed.  At last, anyone who wanted to practice MA was free to do so! There was hope that I might find that MA that had evaded me! My search ended in 1993 when I discovered a small newspaper advertisement saying that a new Shaolin and Taijiquan school was accepting new students. I did not wait long! The next day, together with a friend, we went to check out who was the instructor and what he taught.

Sifu Guerman and Sifu Bagalev

This is how I met my Sifu, Stanislav Bagalev.  He was originally from Sofia, but he came to Plovdiv to continue his education at Plovdiv University. He was also teaching MA to other students at the sports facility at the university. But, increased interest in Chinese MA in town pushed him to open a public school. Many years later I told him that it was incredible luck that our paths had crossed, he calmly responded: “Believe me. In this world nothing happens without a reason. That is your karma.” This thought still sits in my mind.

In the beginning we were practicing the more famous Shaolin Quan, but shortly after we went through the basics of Taijiquan.  What developed in our school was “our” MA. It had harmony, form, movements, philosophy, and MA applications. The practice of taijiquan gave me many things: strength, calmness, spirit and harmony. It completely switched my view of what was a true MA and the world around it. I began to conceive how the ideas of softness could be applied in reality. How I could be undefeated by not using force against force. How I could actually borrow an assailant’s aggression and redirect it back to him. How I could just control my opponent’s center by following its movement and then ‘be there before him’ thus giving him no chance to attack. There were so many questions and discoveries. I was fascinated by the value of slow-motion training and the spiritual concept of “giving oneself up” in order to become aware of what lies behind the normal sensitivity. I learned the importance of getting knowledge of ourselves before encountering others. And finally, I was able to see with my own eyes a way to defeat any person regardless of physical strength, size or age. At last there was a solution to the problem that I had been encountering since I began practicing judo. Later on, I was pleasantly surprised to discover all these same principles in WingTsun too!

Along with Taijiquan classes, I also attended several tutorials at Plovdiv University where I studied the fundamentals of Buddhism, Taoism and Chinese philosophy. This gave me a more complete picture of the Chinese MA and their connection to Chinese culture.

After several years of hard practice I participated in many competitions in different parts of Bulgaria. I won several first and second places in empty hand forms and swords forms and second place in the first tui shou (push hand) contests in Plovdiv.

Around 1995 I attained my instructor level in taijiquan and started to lead the taiji group. This gave Sifu Bagalev more free time to teach and study another MA – something called WingTsun. He, too, was looking for something more real and practical. We wanted something that was the opposite of the long journey of Taijiquan. In addition, neither of us was satisfied with the traditional way of teaching and learning. We were seeking a more systematic and educated method of practicing MA.  We contacted some WT practitioners who were from the main WT School in Sofia. At that time, they organized several seminars in Plovdiv. The quickness, dynamic movements and effectiveness of this style impressed me. This was something that I had not seen so clearly before. Sifu Bagalev gradually began to add WingTsun Kung Fu to our regular classes. Unfortunately, in 1995 the instructors from main WT School in Sofia broke their connections with GGM Leung Ting’s organization. As a result, their teaching lacked consistency and good methodology. I soon returned my concentration back to Taijiquan.

1996 was a major turning point in my journey to WingTsun.  In May, GM Kernspecht and his closest students, Sifu Heinrich Pfaff, Sifu Oliver Koenig, and Sifu Roland Liebscher-Bracht came from Germany to present WT to Plovdiv University. They did a lecture, demonstration and seminar at the University Club. Their clear, compact, fluent and at the same time powerful movements astonished me. After the presentation and lecture it became clear to me that WT was not just another MA style, but a scientifically education system of MA. It was exactly what Sifu Bagalev and I had been looking for all of this time! After that remarkable event, my teacher Sifu Bagalev went several times to Langezell castle (the headquarters of the EWTO) for intensive training. In 1997-1998 formal connections were established with the EWTO through the founding of the university WingTsun club, with instructor Sifu Bagalev. This club was a branch of the organization where I practiced WingTsun with complete enthusiasm, until I moved to the USA.

In 1999 my life turned around 180 degrees, totally changing it’s path. After I was granted a green card, my family and I came to Chicago in search of a better life. For the first year and a half I was not able to practice as I was

Sifu Guerman and Sifu Mike

busy establishing myself in this new world. I did not know English at all, so I had to go to school to learn it. Finally in the beginning of 2001 when my family had settled, I began searching for a WT School. Not long after I began my search, I contacted Sifu Mike Adams, my current and most respected Sifu. He directed me to one of his schools in Wheeling, a northwest suburb of Chicago. I was so happy I could resume practicing WingTsun! I rushed to sign up for the next class session! There I met my direct instructor sifu Chris Mah, and excellent teacher who has taught me with all his heart and dedication.

Today, I’m proud to be an instructor of the Wheeling WingTsun School as part of the IWTA-NAS.   Also I study and assist Sifu Mike Adams in teaching this incredible MA, while still keeping my good relationship with my first teacher, Sifu Bagalev.  However, I know that my destiny is here in Chicago. I’m looking forward to continuing my studies and perfecting my skills and knowledge, regardless of how high in rank I rise to. I would like to manage our Wheeling Wing Tsun School professionally, dedicating all of my time to spread WT in the Chicago area. In my opinion, LeungTing WingTsun Kungfu will continue to evolve and spread throughout the world, adjusting to changes in the society. Flexibility is the essence of WingTsun.

There are numerous differences between WT and other MA, which make it unique. First of all it is a System not a style that is comprised of a collection of movements and techniques. It is a scientifically developed set of integrated concepts, principles and technical components that interact together as one unit. This is opposite to judo and karate where I used to collect and perfect many specific techniques, only to have a difficult time applying them in reality. But who can predict all the possible ways of attacking? WT offers a comprehensive self-offense strategy.

Sifu Guerman and GM Leung Ting

Secondly, Leung Ting WingTsun is much like the educational system in our society, beginning with elementary school and going up through university. Step by step one goes from simple to more complicated things. Through this approach the gained skills are established and become a stable base to be used for the next level. Everything has a clear definition without any old traditional style vague and almost superstitious explanations.

Thirdly, the principles are applied with simplicity and practical usefulness. In contrast to WT, I can now see many extra movements in my Taijiquan. Taijiquan, however, is the closest MA to WT as the basic principles and idea of stickiness to your opponent – tui shou (push hands) and chi sao (sticky hands). However the WT the approach is direct and the applications of the movements are clear from the very beginning. There is no delay in time. A student can use what they have learned almost right away.

Another significant difference is the idea of following the shortest paths of attack/defense or the idea of “center line”.  This concept creates a big advantage in timing and economy of movements. If one can go through and occupy “center” there is no chance to an opponent to fully extend his techniques. I can point to nothing like that in judo or karate where the model of movement is open and travels a long time-consuming path. This is contrary to my experience in real fights, where I struggled to recoup my position after each of my attacks or defenses.

Lastly, WingTsun KungFu is a soft and flexible art with the model idea of not using force against force.  Thus one’s self-defense does not depend as much on size or physical strength unlike judo and karate where strength building is important in order to have success in a combat situation. It was during those judo days that I had suffered numerous unnecessary injuries.  Flexibility in WingTsun means to be nimble to react (not act) accordingly to what happens. It means to move without preset techniques. This is the exact opposite of karate. It is like a natural, fluent and adjustable flow. This is one characteristic in which WT and Taijiquan are similar. There are other comparisons, but the conceptual differences are the most significant to me. This is why I chose WT instead judo, karate and some other MA.

Conclusion
Now that I have found my way to the MA that I had been seeking. My search for WT has ended. I now just have to walk the WT path and enjoy the journey of lifelong learning. I will continue learning this incredible art of fighting and philosophy of living.

Continue reading »]]> We offer you No-Risk one week free trail in which you can experience Wing Tsun training. In this one week program you will see and practice:
- The basic movements in Wing Tsun
- Basic principles and idea how Wing Tsun work as self-defense.
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Send e-mail to sifuguerman@wingtsunil.com to register for No-Risk One Week Free training. Please include your name and phone number and we will contact you within 24 hours