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MASTER JAMES SINCLAIRFounder of the UK Wing Chun Kung Fu Assoc. Began his martial art journey in 1972.

June 2014 8th Edition

CAN WING CHUN STUDENTS DEAL WITH BOXERS?HERE WE GET SOME OF THE THOUGHTS OF THE UKWCKFA FOUNDER AND CHIEF INSTRUCTOR

The$ answer$ to$ the$ question$ in$the$heading$ above$ $ should$ be$ a$resounding$ $ ‘YES’,$ otherwise$everything$ we$ teach$ is$ called$into$question.

However,$to$give$such$a$clear$cut$answer,$would$be$misleading$ $as$there$ too$many$different$ factors$to$take$into$account.

Firstly,$a$poor$boxer$will$not$beat$a$good$Wing$Chun$student.$ $And$a$ poor$ Wing$ Chun$ student$ will$not$ be$ able$ to$ overcome$ a$ good$boxer.$ $ So$ the$ answer,$ is$ in$ the$‘good’.$ $And$ this$ comes$down$to$the$coaching.

The$UKWCKFA$promotes$the$use$of$ good$ footwork$ skills$ and$ the$ability$ to$ deal$ with$ a$ highly$mobile$opponent.$ $Whilst$this$is$not$ strictly$ self$ defence,$ it$ does$improve$ the$ Wing$ Chun$ system$in$the$modern$‘Martial$World’.

One$ way$ of$ looking$ at$ the$answer$is$ to$ state$ that$the$Wing$C h u n$ K u e n$ s t u d e n t$ i s$encouraged$to$use$all$parts$of$his$b o d y$ i n$ t h e$ a t t em p t$ o f$overcoming$ an$ opponent.$ $ This$immediately$ increases$ the$weapons$arsenal$ in$favour$of$the$Wing$ Chun$ Kuen$ practitioner$when$compared$to$a$boxer.$

Work Hard You WILL Be Rewarded

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The$next,$ and$ possibly$ critically$more$ important$ factor,$ is$ that$the$Wing$ Chun$ Kuen$ student$ is$further$encouraged$to$strike$any$target,$ and$ is$ not$not$ limited$to$the$civilised$or$socially$accepted$striking$ areas.$ This$ includes$eyes,$throat,$groin$and$joints$

Where$ Wing$ Chun$ Kuen$ should$have$superiority$ $is$in$the$clinch.$$$The$ ability$ to$ use$ elbows$ and$strike$the$throat,$ neck$and$groin$should$ add$ to$ the$ difLiculties$ a$boxer$usually$has$to$deal$with.

Taken$a$stage$further;$in$modern$MMA$ it$ is$ rare$ for$ even$ a$ good$boxer$ to$ win$ a$ challenge$ using$his$ boxing$ skill$ alone.$ $ The$ability$ to$ avoid$ or$ withstand$techniques$ disallowed$ in$ boxing$is$paramount$in$this$arena.$ $Only$by$ being$ exposed$ to$ takedowns,$for$example,$will$a$boxer$be$able$to$ improve$ his$ potential$ to$ use$his$ boxing$ skills$ due$ to$ his$

increased$ awareness$ and$experience.

However,$ this$ is$ just$speculation$until$the$practitioners$meet,$and$this$ is$ exactly$ what$ happened$when$Sifu$Mark$ Phillips$ sparred$w i t h$ c u r r e n t$ E n g l i s h$Heavyweight$ boxing$ champion$John$ McDermott.$ $ The$ respect$from$both$sides$was$genuine$and$after$ the$ session$ there$ was$ no$doubt$ concerning$ the$ approach$the$ UKWCKFA$ has$ to$ training$and$coaching.$$

In$ the$ series$ of$ photographs$ on$this$ page$ and$ the$next,$ you$will$Lind$ a$ number$ of$ variations$ in$dealing$ with$ the$ jabRcross$combination.$ $ We$ wish$ you$ to$know$ that$ these$ are$ stills$ from$video$ footage$ and$ not$ set$ up.$$T h i s$ wa s$ l i v e$ a c t i o n$ a t$considerable$speed.

JAB CROSS 1

Boxing Jab Cross TacticsIn this sequence Sifu Ashley Phillips (National Hq) and Sifu Mark Phillips (London Hq) demonstrate how to deal with the classic boxing jab cross hook combination . Note: These shots were taken from live video of sparring practice).

Side Punch covers line of hook with high

elbow

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J ab$Cross$1:$Above$is$the$Lirst$simple$method$which$ resembles$ ‘slipping’$ a$punch.$$

Sifu$ Mark$ Phillips$ is$ using$ a$‘southpaw’$ stance$ and$ utilises$Pak$ Sau$to$ deal$with$the$jab$and$a$ second$ light$ Pak$ Sau$ to$ deal$with$the$cross.$ $The$ second$Pak$Sau$ is$ further$ combined$ with$ a$side$ punch.$ $ The$ side$ punch$ is$the$ strike$ of$ choice$ because$ it$‘bridges’$ and$ protects$ against$the$ potential$ hook,$ it$ is$ also$ a$great$ technique$ as$ it$ has$ long$reach$ and$ is$ naturally$ a$ very$easy$ movement$ to$ deliver,$ very$quickly.$ $All$ of$our$students$gain$$fast$side$punches$before$they$can$deliver$front$or$ turning$punches$effectively.

What$ is$ noticeable$ is$ that$ Sifu$Mark$ has$ his$ rear$ guard$ or$Wu$

Sau$well$placed$for$the$ threat$of$the$second$punch.$$$

$Timing$can$practiced$but$cannot$be$ directly$ taught,$ it$ has$ to$ be$experienced.$ $ Learning$ from$your$ mistakes$ can$ be$ a$ little$f rustrat ing$ for$ some,$ but$develops$ self$ respect,$ humility$and$ respect$ for$ your$ training$partner.

These$ sequences$ require$ some$experience$ to$ apply$ in$ live$application$ as$ it$ could$ be$ too$easy$ to$ walk$ into$ a$ second$overhand$or$ round$punch$if$you$plan$or$think$too$much!

$J ab$Cross$2:$In$ the$ following$ sequence,$ Sifu$Mark$ app l i ed$ a$ d i f fe rent$response$ to$ the$ punches$ from$Sifu$Ashley$ and$has$ adopted$ an$orthodox$ left$ leg$ and$hand$ lead$

INTERCEPTION 1. Sifu Mark Phillips takes the inside intercepion off Pak Sau. Timed like this it offsets the cross completely. The control at speed and using the palm indicates the high level of skill Sifu Phillips has.

JAB CROSS 2

Interception Perfect Timing

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DISTANCE CONTROL IS POSSIBLY THE MOST IMPORTANT UNIVERSAL SKILL IN THE COMBAT ARTS.

stance.

With$both$hands$held$high$Sifu$Mark$uses$Pak$Sau$on$the$ Lirst$punch$and$follows$up$with$the$perfect$ inside$ interception.$ $ There$ is$quite$ simply$ no$ way$ to$ defend$ against$such$perfect$timing$and$placement.

In$ the$ frame$ above$ you$ can$ see$ that$ Sifu$Mark$ Phillips$ has$ taken$ the$ initiative$ and$attacked$ directly$ through$ the$ high$ guard$ of$ Sifu$Ashley$ Phillips.$ $ Once$ again$ the$ need$ for$exceptional$ timing$ and$ distance$ judgement$ $ are$vital.$$The$strike$disrupts$any$attempt$to$attack$by$

Ashley$ and$ turns$ the$entire$scenario$ on$ its$head$as$ now$ Sifu$ Mark$ Phillips$ can$ launch$ further$

attacks$and$increase$pressure.

Master$ Mark$ Phillips$ was$ recently$interviewed$by$a$some$visiting$martial$artists$at$his$school$ in$London.$ $Please$follow$ the$ link$ to$ hear$ his$ own$thoughts$and$experiences$on$YouTube.

http://youtu.be/Wr_7OJnRsEk

YOUR GUARD SHOULD BE ALIVE...Sifu Ashley is caught by perfect timing from Sifu Mark.

Repetition is important for muscle memory in skill development. However, you want to shock muscles from time

2014 SEMINARS JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

Advanced HandSkills Seminar

This seminar covers the material for the 3rd level grading.

Chi Sau 2For those with some experience in Chi Sau, Master Sinclair helps home your skills.

Kicking SeminarThis seminar covers the whole range of kicking, knee strikes, sweeps and Chi Gerk.

Woooden Dummy2Covering the more advanced training on the dummy. For those who attended the first seminar.

Remain Calm In The STORM

WING CHUN STRAIGHT PUNCHMIND THE GAP!

Mark Phillips and John McDermott

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The$ Chinese$ characters$ above$state$that$if$a$Sifu$teaches$you$for$a$day,$he$is$your$Father$for$life.

The$ UK$ Wing$ Chun$ Kung$ Fu$Association$was$ formed$in$1985.$$This$means$that$before$we$know$it$ 2015$ we$ will$ be$ our$ 30th$Anniversary.$$

This$ length$ of$ time$ is$ amazing$for$ any$ organisation$ to$ survive.$$Through$ recessions,$ and$ good$times,$ through$ Litness$ fads,$ diet$and$ lifestyle$ changes,$ and$ the$many,$ many$ more$ choices$ that$people$now$have.$ $Over$the$near$30$years$the$Assoc.$has$managed$to$ offer$ people$ something$ that$they$ wish$ to$ try.$ $ Some$ have$stayed$a$matter$of$months$whilst$some$ have$ stayed$ the$ entire$journey.$$Two$students$who$have$been$trained$with$James$Sinclair$$since$ before$the$ founding$ of$the$

UKWKCFA$are$Master$Abid$ Mahmood$ and$Master$ Eric$ Wilson.$$Both$ of$ whom$ have$formally$ completed$the$ art$ many$ times$over$and$yet$choose$to$ remain$ within$the$ Assoc.$ and$ still$call$ James$ Sinclair$their$Sifu.

Without$ their$ own$ words$ it$is$ difLicult$ to$ say$ why$ they$should$stay$as$ long$as$they$have.$$However,$ one$ could$ presume$that$they$have$experienced$more$good$ times$ than$ bad$within$ the$Assoc$ in$ this$ time.$ $ They$ have$built$ good$ respect$ for$ their$fe l low$ students$ and$ even$friendships.$$

What$ is$ also$ remarkable$ is$ that$both$ Eric$ and$ Abid$have$ had$ to$

travel$ considerably$ in$order$ to$ maintain$ their$

contact$and$training.$$

There$is$a$point$in$training$when$anything$ becomes$ natural.$ $ The$brain$ stops$ resisting$ learning$and$seems$to$relax,$and$the$body$works$ much$ more$ naturally.$$Master$ Sinclair$ has$ seen$ this$happen$to$many$ students$ and$it$always$ appears$ to$ happen$ after$approx.$ a$decade.$ $Before$ this$ it$is$ somewhat$ analogous$ to$ force$

一日為師，終生為父HOW LONG TO GET GOOD?

Wing Chun Master

Abid Mahmood

Wing Chun Master

Eric Wilson

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feeding$ a$ baby,$ you$ can$ get$ the$nutrients$ in,$ but$ it$ is$ a$ struggle$and,$ sometimes,$ it$ is$ spat$ right$out$again.$ $However,$ like$parents$our$ teachers$ do$ know$ what$ is$best$and$will$keep$trying$to$ feed$you$the$right$things!

It$would$appear$that$everyone$has$the$capacity$to$become$very$good$at$Wing$Chun$Kuen,$but$not$everyone$wants$it$enough$to$wait,$work$and$be$willing.

Winners'Never'QuitQuitters'Never'Win

Patience$is$a$virtue$and$one$that$is$being$lost$in$a$world$where$most$people$rush$about,$expect$things$here$and$now$and$light$speed$is$something$a$large$part$of$the$science$community$wish$to$attain.$$Wing$Chun$Kuen$practitioners$are$fast,$but$even$so.....$$$

Many$students$over$the$years$have$asked$how$long$it$takes$to$get$good.$$The$standard$of$good$varies$in$one$person$to$another’s$opinion.$$It$is$like$asking$how$long$a$piece$of$string$is.

The$greatest$asset$any$student$can$have$is$tenacity,$the$ability$to$deal$with$the$troughs$and$enjoy$the$peaks.$$Don’t$try$to$compare$to$anyone$else,$it$is$your$journey$alone.$$You$need$others$to$train$with,$but$their$journey$is$their$own$too.

Set$some$goals,$attend$some$seminars,$take$the$gradings$and$move$forward,$we$would$love$to$have$you$as$part$of$the$UKWCKFA$teaching$team.$$

Always$remember$that$if$you$believe$you$can’t$do$something$you$are$absolutely$correct.$$Dream,$imagine$or$visualise$yourself$performing$the$art$with$ease$and$you$are$part$of$the$way$there...

Copyright$2014UKWCKFA

CLUB SPIRIT

AWARDS AND REWARDSIt is evident that many people will remain training if they feel they are moving forward. Gradings help them to have clearly defined goals.

1. May 2014 Successful Siu Nim Tao grading students.

2. Student of the Year: a most coveted award.

3.May 2007 Successful Siu Nim Tao grading students. Most of these people are still training in Wing Chun Kuen today.

Training hard together

builds a bond..

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Sifu$ Nick$ Martin$ is$ one$ of$ the$most$ popular$ teachers$ in$ the$UKWCKFA.

Nick$ began$ his$ training$ with$James$ Sinclair$ in$ 1995$when$ in$his$ early$ teens.$ $ He$ has$ moved$from$ total$ novice$ to$ go$ on$ to$become$the$recipient$of$both$the$‘Student$ of$ the$ Year’$ and$‘Instructor$of$the$Year’$awards.

On$winning$ the$ Student$of$the$ Year$ award,$ Nick$states$ that$ it$ was$most$humbling$ to$ win$ and$to$ feel$ he$has$ risen$ to$the$top$of$the$pyramid,$especially$ when$ there$are$ so$ many$ good$ and$deserving$students$training.$$

Now$ after$ nearly$ 20$ years$ as$part$ of$ the$ UKWCKFA$ Nick$ can$only$ say$ that$ his$ reason$ for$continuing$ to$ train$ and$ teach$ is$that$ he$ feels$ Wing$ Chun$ has$become$ such$a$ large$ part$ of$his$life$ that$ it$ is$now$ a$reLlection$of$who$he$is.$$

However,$Nick$ is$ a$great$student$too$ and$ feels$ that$ even$ after$ so$l ong$ tha t$ t he re$ a re$ s t i l l$improvements$ and$ changes$ that$

can$be$made.$ $Nick$states$that$he$truly$gains$ pleasure$from$seeing$his$ students$progress$and$begin$to$share$his$love$of$the$art.$$

Nick$ has$ recently$ had$ the$opportuni ty$ to$ take$ over$teaching$ at$ Imperial$ College$ in$London.$ $He$has$ impressed$all$of$the$ students$ with$ his$ open$attitude$and$undeniable$skills.

As$ a$ representative$ of$ the$UKWCKFA$ Nick$ has$taught$ and$ trained$ in$Hong$ Kong$ and$ the$USA.$ $He$ is$ recognised$by$ t h e$ V i ng$ Tsun$Athletic$ Assoc.$ and$ has$

become$ one$ of$ the$ main$representatives$ in$ the$ Assoc,$demonstration$team.$ $Along$with$$Ashley$ Phillips$ Sifu$he$ has$ even$demonstrated$ at$ a$ London$Film$Premiere$in$Leicester$Square.

Nick$ states:$ “$I$ am$ proud$to$ call$him$(James$Sinclair)$my$Sifu$and$now$ stand$by$him$as$one$ of$the$Assoc,$senior$instructors”.

Nick$ has$ plans$ for$ his$ own$ full$time$academy$in$Central$London$and$is$working$toward$that$goal.

Nick Martin SifuAn extraordinary teacher who, having completed the formal art, loves teaching and sharing the art with all.

He has a large core of private students and teaches formal classes in Docklands, Ilford, Bethnal Green and Lewisham.

Call: 07830 136501

NICK MARTINNICK MARTIN SIFU

YOUNG MASTER!

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N EW S$ N EW S$NEWSTh e$ L o n d o n$W i n g$ C h u n$A c a d e m y$( LWCA)$ i s$once$ again$celebrating$competitive$success$ with$a$ v e r y$i m p r e s s i v e$ou t i n g$ i n$ t h e$BCCMA$ Nat ional$O p e n$ S a n$ S h o u$competition.

San$ Shou$ is$ a$ highly$ skilful$c ompe t i t i o n$ t h a t$ i s$ l i k e$kickboxing$but$ with$ throws$ and$takedowns$ allowed$ too.$ $ With$only$limited$experience,$but$with$excellent$ coaching$ Sifu$ Mark$Phillips$had$three$students$enter$the$ competition$ and$ they$ each$won$a$ medal.$ $ One$ Gold$ and$ 2$Silver’s...$very,$very$impressive.

MORE....

It$ was$ only$ a$ few$ short$ weeks$ago$ that$ Sifu$ Phillips$ (who$ is$now$ a$ Brazil l ian$ Jiu$ J itsu$Professor,$ as$ a$ Black$ Belt)$ had$some$of$his$BJJ$students$enter$an$open$ BJJ$ competition.$ $ Once$again$ they$ walked$ away$ with$Gold.$Silver$and$Bronze$medals.

The$LWCA$is$a$remarkable$school,$set$in$Wood$Green$North$London,$ it$has$ an$ incredible$ array$ $ of$classes$ and$ equipment$ on$ offer.$$If$ you$ live$ in$ that$ area$ there$ is$only$ one$ school$ to$ attend..$$Simply$GO!$What$are$you$waiting$for...?

Call:$07976$855259$RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

WEB(DEVELOPMENT

The$ UKWCKFA$ is$ working$ on$ a$couple$of$new$websites.$ $The$reRh a s h i n g$ o f$ t h e$UKWINGCHUN.COM$ site$ is$coming$ along$ slowly.$ $ It$ is$looking$ quite$nice$and$ is$a$ little$

more$ simple$ and$clean.$ $ It$will$be$live$one$day!

However,$we$have$a l s o$ wo rked$h a r d$ o n$ a$video$ based$w e b s i t e$which$ will$h a v e$ w e b$based$ Wing$Chun$Tutorial$lessons$as$well$a s$ e x c i t i n g$

f o o t a g e$ f r om$competitions$etc.$$So$

far$we$have$ 18$Chi$ Sau$and$ almost$ as$ many$ Chi$

Gerk$ video$ Liles$ complete$ and$ready$to$post.

This$new$website$will$ be$free$to$all$ current$ UKWCKFA$ members,$bu t$ we$ may$ i n t roduce$ a$subscription$to$non$members.$ $If$your$membership$is$ out$ of$date$you$will$ not$ be$ able$ to$ access$ it$once$it$goes$live.

The$new$site$is$not$yet$complete$bu t$ l o oks$ a$ l o t$ l i ke$ t h e$machinations$ of$ YouTube.$ $ It$ is$very$easy$to$navigate.

Look(out(for(ukwingchun.tv

More to come...We hope you enjoy this first newsletter in many years. As time is so limited for everybody these days we can only hope to try and release these quarterly at most.We would welcome your questions and photographs. We cannot guarantee to use any photos, but we will do our best.RegardsUKWCKFA

Take part in the next editon• Send us your photos• Send us your questions• Send us your thoughts

UK Wing Chun Assoc. Founded 1985

Members of the:

Ip Man Martial Art Athletic Assoc (Hong Kong). World Wing Chun Union (Hong Kong) Ving Tsun Athletic Asosc (Hong Kong)

UK WING CHUN ASSOC.National Hq, Unit 4, The Plank Lubards lodge, Hullbridge Road, RAYLEIGH. Essex SS6 9QW