Let's face it. Ip Man probably blew up because of the movies. If you don't already know who Ip Man is, he is a master and teacher of Wing Chun. He was born in Foshan, Guangdong and received traditional Chinese education. He actually did not start learning Wing Chun age 12. His most famous student is Bruce Lee.
Let's get a little deeper into the style of Wing Chun. Conceptually, Wing Chun is not a flashy type of kung fu. It focuses on defense rather than offense. It is not an art meant to inflict harm upon someone, but to protect someone in case of harm. This is why Wing Chun requires quick movements and strong legs to support the often, quick blurry of moves from the top. It also requires the individual to be relaxed. The movements are fluid and very smooth to the watcher's eye. Think of it as the opposite of boxing. Furthermore, a lot of Wing Chun practitioners are against the use of high kicks. This is because high kicks require a longer recovery time, thus leaving the individual vulnerable to chest-down attacks from the enemy.
Wing Chun, unlike many other fighting style, has 3 progression forms. The first is Siu Nam Tau (Little Idea). This first progression focuses on basics such as stance and posture to familiarize the practitioner with the form itself. The second form is Chum Kiu (Seeking Bridge). This form focuses on closing in on the opponent. Body parts such as the hands, elbows, knees are focused here to emphasize the significance of pivoting and following through with the opponent's attacks. The final form is called Biu Ji (Thrusting Fingers). This form focuses on kicks and thrusts when the user's form has been broke. This is especially helpful in emergency situations.
