Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I join your Wing Chun club instead of another one?
You shouldn’t! But, you can choose to do so. We strongly encourage you to check out other clubs, do your research on the certification, skill and lineage of the instructor, and check in with how you feel when you are doing this. Due diligence is necessary and so is your intuition and gut feeling.

How is Wing Chun (aka Ving Tsun) different from other types of Kung Fu?
Wing Chun differs from other styles in that it is a simple, sleek and “no-frills” martial art based on sound logical principles. It is a relatively modern style of Kung Fu, only 400-500 years old (17th century), that was modified and evolved from Shaolin Kung Fu. While most other styles of Kung Fu emulate or mimic animal movements and involve a high level of acrobatic skill, Wing Chun was strictly designed as a highly efficient self-defense system based on the bio-mechanics and engineering of the human body.

Do I need to have any special abilities to learn Wing Chun?
No. Wing Chun is a martial art that can be learned by practically anyone who is in reasonably good health. The key ingredients to being able to learn are commitment, practice and discipline. Because of its emphasis on skill and energetic sensitivity it can be learned and used effectively by anyone, of any gender and any build or weight.

I want to learn some self-defence techniques in a short amount of time. Can Wing Chun do this?
Absolutely not. Wing Chun is a martial art that teaches your entire body how to move and respond to energy/aggression in a natural and coordinated way without having to think about what you are going to do. While Wing Chun is a simple system, it takes time to reach this level of mastery. We teach a way, not techniques.

Are there other benefits from Wing Chun other than self-defence?
Wing Chun can help you in many realms and facets of your life such as: fitness, life philosophy, spirituality, community/friends, reduced stress, increased confidence, meditation, breathing, chi gong, energetic sensitivity, body awareness and many more.

Is it safe to train Wing Chun?
We are a professional martial arts club. While there are always minor risks of injury in training in any physical activity, we approach our training with the attitude of serious fun. We are a club that is about learning a martial art system, not in becoming aggressive, violent or inflating our ego. As a result we have a welcoming and friendly club atmosphere with the shared commitment to the development of our learning in a safe and respectful environment. As martial artists we have a responsibility to strive to conduct ourselves with honour, respect and integrity.

How long will it take for me to learn Wing Chun?
That depends to what degree you wish your learning to cease. Wing Chun personal learning can go on for a lifetime. There is no end point. Other factors that account for your meeting your learning goals are commitment, frequency and focus of training, consistency, aptitude and a willingness to learn. For most people it takes 3-5 years of committed training to gain the foundation of skill and body-intelligence that will allow you to feel confident about your self-defense skills and not just be a danger to yourself.

How is Wing Chun taught?
There is a standardized curriculum of skill development in teaching our lineage’s style of Wing Chun Kung Fu. Scaffolded skill building and integration allows the natural and continuous progression of the teachings. Classes are taught by our four experienced instructors, but much of the actual one-on-one learning is done together, passed down from advanced students to newer ones.

How do I join the club?
We are a small club that prides itself on providing exceedingly high quality Wing Chun. As a result, we screen people who wish to join our family. We are looking for people who are serious about their Kung Fu and who see it as more than just a hobby, rather as a life path. Our club is capped at 30 students to ensure we maintain high quality to allow our instructors to spend time with each student every class. If you are seriously curious about Wing Chun, please contact us and come and watch a class. At that time we can have a chat and get to know each other a little. We’ll take it from there . . .

What is expected of me if I join the club?
We expect you to train regularly and consistently. We have a club ethic that students should attend at least 2 classes per week on average over a year. It is a significant investment in time and energy to train somebody in Wing Chun and we insist that people honour and respect this by coming to class and training regularly.

If I am training in another martial art, would it be helpful to train in Wing Chun?
Probably not. Generally, training in more than one martial art at a time is not beneficial, unless you have the time to commit adequately to both arts. Some martial arts may not complement each other well and learning body memory in both arts might confuse, slow down or prevent proper learning of one or both. If you have put in a significant amount of time in learning one art and then want to maintain that while learning another, you might be more successful than starting two new arts at once. We strongly believe in learning one art extremely well instead of being a jack of all trades and master of none. Sifu Jim has been teaching and training Wing Chun since 1991 and he still feels like he has much to learn.

Is Wing Chun like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)?
No it is not. MMA is a sport that is bound by a certain context, limits and rules. Wing Chun is a self-defence system for when you or your loved one’s personal safety or life is at risk. This is a completely different scenario, as there are no rules in a life-threatening situation. Most people who are interested in martial arts have a job, family and other aspects of their life that need time and attention and cannot necessarily afford to be injured through training. Additionally, Wing Chun is a traditional Chinese Martial Art that has a history, culture and etiquette that we as stewards need to keep authentic and pass on to the next generation.

Is there sparring in your classes?
Not in the traditional sense, no. Instead, we have aliveness training. This is different from sparring in that the aliveness training uses safety gear (chest/head protector, etc.) in case of accidents or loss of control due to inadvertent excessive contact. Aliveness training allows students to increase the energy used in their Kung Fu while continuing to develop their technique and energetic sensitivity/explosive release without it becoming a competition or free-for-all.

How much does it cost to join the club?
If you are accepted into the club we will have a mutual try-out to see if it is a good fit for both you and the club. New students are required to make three-month commitments at the $155.00 monthly rate. Longer-term rates (6 and 12 months) are available at discounted rates with other benefits, but this is optional. There are no contracts or hidden fees. New students are required to purchase a club manual, club t-shirt, sash and their sash grading fees which happen approximately every year (variable depending on sash level).

What is the club environment like?
We have over 1000 square feet of training space, sprung hardwood floors, mirrors, equipment, wooden dummy (mok Jong) and weapons.