The Language of Wing Chun: A Glossary for Beginners and Enthusiasts
- Kung Fu Blue Mountains
- Nov 2
- 9 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Wing Chun: A Journey into the Heart of Martial Arts
Wing Chun is more than a martial art; it’s a philosophy, a practice, and a conversation between body, mind, and energy. Its terms may seem foreign at first, but learning this language unlocks the depth, flow, and quiet power within the art.
This glossary is designed to help beginners and enthusiasts alike not just define, but to feel and apply each concept in practice. Think of it as a map guiding you through the living landscape of Wing Chun, where every movement has purpose, and every name tells a story.
Let’s begin with the words that shape the movements—and the movements that give meaning to the words.
🌱Core Concepts & Principles
Wing Chun (詠春, Wǐng Chūn) – “Eternal Spring”
More than a name, Wing Chun embodies adaptability, growth, and natural efficiency. Like spring water flowing around obstacles, it teaches us to move with life rather than against it. Imagine facing an incoming strike, not meeting it with raw force, but with calm precision. You yield, redirect, and respond in harmony with the moment.
Centerline Theory
Visualize an invisible line running down the center of your body. In Wing Chun, this centerline is your axis of control, where attack and defense meet in perfect balance. Mastering this line allows every movement to be direct, efficient, and powerful. Try this: place your hand on your sternum and extend a punch straight ahead. Feel how staying on the line channels energy cleanly, with no waste or strain.
Structure
Structure is the quiet strength beneath every technique. Correct alignment creates stability, balance, and effortless power. Wing Chun isn’t about brute strength; it’s about efficiency under pressure. Picture a tree rooted deeply in the earth: unshaken by wind, yet flexible enough to bend without breaking. That’s the essence of proper structure.
Energy Sensitivity (Ging 感應)
Through exercises like Chi Sau (sticking hands), practitioners learn to sense intention through touch, feeling pressure, rhythm, and timing before they’re seen. It’s not mysticism; it’s trained awareness. Imagine reading your partner’s movement as clearly as words on a page, responding not with thought, but with instinct.
Together, these principles form the heartbeat of Wing Chun: a system of movement, awareness, and connection. But like any art, understanding the principles is only the beginning—you grow through relationships, lineage, and the hands-on practice of forms and tools.
🧭People & Lineage
Sifu (師父, Sī Fuh) – Master or Teacher
A Sifu is more than an instructor; they are a mentor, a guide, and often the cornerstone of one’s martial arts family. Their role extends beyond technique, shaping attitude, respect, and mindset. In Wing Chun, learning from a Sifu isn’t just about movement; it’s about absorbing a way of being.
Si Hing / Si Dai (師兄 / 師弟) – Kung Fu Brothers
These terms describe older and younger brothers in training, based on seniority rather than age. The Si Hing is the senior student, with more experience and responsibility to guide and support juniors. The Si Dai is the junior student, learning from the senior while bringing fresh energy and curiosity. Together, they create a balanced rhythm of learning, mutual support, and growth.
Si Je / Si Mui (師姐 / 師妹) – Kung Fu Sisters
Older and younger sisters in practice embody the same spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. The Wing Chun family grows strongest when knowledge flows freely between brothers and sisters alike, creating an environment where everyone learns, refines, and rises together.
Si Gung (師公, Sī Gūng) – Grandmaster / Teacher’s Teacher
Your Sifu’s teacher. Honoring one’s Si Gung acknowledges the lineage and wisdom passed down through generations. It’s a reminder that every movement we make carries echoes of those who came before.
Toh Dai (徒弟, Tú Dì) – Disciple or Dedicated Student
A student who formally commits to a Si Fu, usually through a discipleship ceremony. This bond represents mutual trust and responsibility, a deeper layer of connection within the martial family.
Kwoon (館, Guǎn) – Training Hall or School
The physical space where students train, but also the community they build within it. A kwoon is more than a room with mats; it’s a living space of discipline, camaraderie, and growth.
Understanding the people and lineage of Wing Chun shows us that the art is never just solo practice; it’s a living conversation passed from teacher to student, from brother to sister, across generations. These relationships give context, depth, and heart to every movement we make.
🥋Forms & Training Tools
With the principles and relationships in mind, we step into the heart of Wing Chun practice: the forms and training tools that turn philosophy into movement. Each form, training tool, or weapon uses not just technique, but a pathway to embodying structure, sensitivity, and flow.
Siu Nim Tao (小念頭) – “Small Idea” / First Form
The foundation of Wing Chun, Siu Nim Tau trains basic hand positioning, structure, and centerline control. Think of it as learning the alphabet of movement; every advanced technique stems from this simple, deliberate practice. It teaches patience, focus, and the precision that underpins all forms.
Chum Kiu (尋橋) – “Seeking the Bridge” / Second Form
Chum Kiu trains bridging the gap, footwork, and turning, teaching you how to move your structure in harmony with an opponent. Picture stepping into a flow where every motion is connected, like dancing across the floor with invisible strings guiding you. Here, the body begins to learn integration, how hands, feet, and core work as one.
Biu Jee (標指) – “Thrusting Fingers” / Third Form
This form focuses on emergency techniques, explosive strikes, and precision. Biu Jee teaches you how to recover when things go wrong, maintain control under pressure, and strike decisively when opportunity arises. It is the form of refinement and resilience.
Mook Yan Jong (木人樁) – Wooden Man Post
A classic training tool, the wooden dummy refines angles, alignment, and flow. Practicing with its arms and legs is like sparring with a silent, unyielding partner, honing structure, timing, angles, and reflex with every strike.
Luk Dim Boon Gwun (六點半棍) – Six-and-a-Half Point Pole
Long pole training develops striking power, distance control, and structural alignment. It extends your body’s energy outward, teaching how to project force with grace and precision.
Butterfly Knives (雙刀, Shuāng Dāo) – Pair of Knives
Paired weapons training builds coordination, precision, and smooth transitions between attack and defense. Practicing the knives helps develop sensitivity, timing, and fluidity in both solo and partner work.
Through these forms and tools, Wing Chun students translate theory into practice. Every punch, step, and strike becomes a living application of the principles, shaped by the guidance of teachers, the support of fellow students, and the lineage that carries the art forward.
✋Hand Techniques & Applications
In Wing Chun, the hands are central to both defense and attack. Each technique is designed to move efficiently, respond instantly, and create openings with minimal effort.
Practicing hand methods trains not just strength, but sensitivity, timing, and the ability to read an opponent’s intentions through touch. Think of your hands as both sensors and tools, translating awareness into action.
Hand Techniques Glossary
Lap Sau (擸手) – Grabbing Hand: Controls your partner’s limbs to create openings while maintaining structure.
Man Sau (問手) – Greeting/Checking Hand: Measures distance, tension, and intention, helping you sense your partner’s energy.
Tan Sau (攤手) – Palm-Up Hand: Deflects incoming attacks while guarding the centerline, keeping your structure intact.
Bong Sau (膀手) – Wing Arm: Lifts and redirects strikes smoothly, creating openings for counters while preserving alignment.
Fook Sau (伏手) – Controlling Hand: Maintains constant pressure, guiding opponents while setting up your next strike.
Pak Sau (拍手) – Slapping Hand: Quick and precise redirection to disrupt rhythm and create space for follow-up techniques.
Jum Sau (沉手) – Pressing Hand: Applies downward pressure to unbalance an opponent while staying rooted in your structure.
Tok Sau (托手) – Supporting/Propping Hand: Redirects or lifts attacks, maintaining control and body alignment.
Gum Sau (金手) – Pressing/Locking Hand: Stabilizes or destabilizes your partner to prepare for a follow-up strike.
Fak Sau (撻手) – Raking/Intercepting Hand: Intercepts or sweeps to create openings, controlling timing and flow.
Jut Sau (戳手) – Thrusting Hand: Penetrates the opponent’s guard to disrupt structure or target openings, using a straight, forward motion.
Charn Sau (撐手) – Striking/Propping Hand: Pushes or destabilizes an opponent while maintaining your own structural integrity.
Garn Sau (耕手) – Ploughing/Following Hand: Maintains continuous contact to feed into subsequent strikes, linking defense and attack.
Ann Tok Sau (暗托手) – Hidden Supporting Hand: A subtle setup for deceptive counters, often unnoticed by the opponent.
Tai Sau (抬手) – Lifting Hand: Intercepts, lifts, or redirects attacks while protecting your centerline.
Training Exercises
Once the hand vocabulary is familiar, you can put these techniques into motion through Wing Chun drills:
Dan Chi Sau (單黐手) – Single Sticking Hands: A beginner drill to develop tactile awareness, timing, and structure with one arm. Move slowly at first: feel the pressure, respond without thinking, and notice how your body naturally adjusts.
Chi Sau (黐手) – Sticking Hands: A paired drill building reflexes, fluidity, and connection. It’s like a conversation through touch, teaching you to respond instinctively to an opponent’s energy rather than forcing your own will.
Dap Sau (打手) – Striking/Deflecting Hands: Focuses on moving around your partner’s centerline while practicing controlled deflections. Use hand techniques like Tan Sau or Bong Sau to redirect energy efficiently.
Lat Sau (擸手) – Rolling Hands: Rolling with incoming pressure, Lat Sau teaches smooth redirection, adaptability, and effortless control. Imagine water flowing around a rock—never rigid, always responsive, always balanced. Through Lat Sau, you develop timing, distance, and the subtle art of turning defense into opportunity, learning to attack and protect simultaneously while staying true to Wing Chun principles.
🦵Leg Techniques & Applications
In Wing Chun, the legs are not just support; they extend your reach, maintain balance, and create openings. Each kick and movement is designed to be direct, efficient, and integrated with your hands, so your body moves as a single, unified system. Think of your legs as extensions of your hands, delivering defense and attack while keeping your structure intact.
Leg Techniques Glossary
Bong Gerk (膀腳) – Side Kick from Wing Position: Protects the centerline while creating space and pushing away an opponent.
Tan Gerk (攤腳) – Forward Push Kick: Disrupts advancing opponents with a direct, controlled thrust.
Hun Bo (混步) – Circular Sweep: Off-balances opponents with a smooth, circular motion, useful for controlling distance or creating openings.
Ji Gerk (指腳) – Pointing/Thrusting Kick: A straight, rapid thrust with the tip or ball of the foot, targeting vital areas along the lower centerline. Short, precise, and coordinated with hand techniques to maintain balance and control.
Dai Chak Gerk (低側腳) – Low Side Kick: Strikes knees or calves to disrupt an opponent’s base and stance.
Cheen Tek (前踢) – Front Snap Kick: A quick forward push, combining speed with structural integrity.
How Gan Tek (後跟踢) – Back Heel Kick: Short, explosive strike using the heel, ideal for sudden bursts of power or to create openings.
🧍Stance & Foot Position
Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma (二字鉗羊馬) – “Character Two Adduction Stance”
The foundation of all Wing Chun leg techniques, Yee Jee Kim Yeung Ma teaches your body to stand with stability, alignment, and readiness.
Knees are slightly turned inward, feet shoulder-width apart, and weight evenly distributed. This stance is more than a static position—it’s a living base from which every strike, block, and step flows.
Practicing this stance cultivates balance, rootedness, and centerline control, allowing you to move forward, backward, or sideways with speed and precision. Think of it as the quiet power beneath every action: steady, flexible, and ready for anything.
Footwork & Drills
Once the leg techniques are familiar, they are integrated through movement and footwork drills:
Stepping and Shifting: Wing Chun footwork emphasizes balance, efficiency, and maintaining the centerline. Step lightly, always ready to advance, retreat, or pivot while keeping your structure aligned. Use kicks like Tan Gerk or Bong Gerk in combination with hand techniques to control distance and create openings.
Sweeps and Low Attacks: In drills, Hun Bo and low side kicks are used to off-balance an opponent or disrupt their stance. Practice slowly at first, focusing on precision and control rather than power, noticing how your legs and hands work together as a single unit.
Snap, Thrust, and Heel Kicks: Rapid kicks like Ji Gerk, front snap, and heel kicks are practiced in controlled sequences. These are short, explosive, and seamlessly coordinated with your hands and centerline movement. Imagine striking, deflecting, and controlling all in one fluid motion.
💭Final Thoughts
Learning Wing Chun is like learning a new language—a language of movement, energy, and connection. Each term, drill, and technique is alive in practice, not just on the page. The art reveals itself through experience, through the rhythm of motion, and through the subtle conversation between you and your partner.
Step onto the training floor and feel the flow: the hum of energy, the precision of structure, and the gentle guidance of touch. Each block, strike, and stance is more than technique; it’s a lesson in balance, focus, and self-discovery.
Whether you are just beginning or have years of experience, Wing Chun invites you to explore, experiment, and grow. The first step is simple: show up, move, and let your body speak the language of Wing Chun.
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