I may be slower, smaller, and weaker than my opponent,
So I seek a more clever way to prevail.
About Wing Chun Kuen
Wing Chun Kuen 詠春拳, a branch of Siu Lum (Shaolin) Kung Fu, is a martial art that emphasizes economy of movement and combines the practical applications of using both defense and offense simultaneously. The art is rooted in scientific principles and relies on accepting, understanding, and efficiently utilizing the physical and psychological realities that exist in the context of an actual fight.
Wing Chun is commonly regarded as a close range style of fighting. Although the system does indeed excel at close range applications, the Wing Chun curriculum as passed down from SiFu Yip Man is comprehensive and includes the development of skills for fighting at any range. In fact, SiFu Yip Man himself was especially renowned for his devastating kicks. Some people say Wing Chun is a "soft" style. Wing Chun is actually balanced between "hard" and "soft" movements and principles. We flow with the opponent's power while delivering sharp, explosive strikes.
In our training sessions, Wing Chun principles and techniques are taught in a hands-on manner where you can develop an understanding based on feeling as you experiment with applying core ideas in a realistic context. There are also numerous exercises and drills to develop strength, speed, agility, flexibility, and other physical attributes necessary for becoming an effective fighter. While Wing Chun teaches you practical combat skills, the true essence of the art is to develop your character, discipline and dedication to stand firm in all situations. It teaches you how to accept, analyze and understand other ideas and philosophies.
Understanding the art of Wing Chun begins with accepting a simple idea: You are human. Any sincere practitioner of martial arts (or any discipline) is in a constant quest to grow and reach his/her full potential. However, as human beings we all have limitations. No matter how hard you train, you cannot guarantee that you will be bigger, stronger, or faster than every opponent. Therefore, you must expect that your opponent may have advantages over you. Given such potential shortcomings, the fighting method of Wing Chun focuses on finding the most clever, efficient, and practical way to conquer an adversary even if you are slower, smaller, and weaker.
Our primary mission is to preserve and promote Wing Chun as a practical fighting art as it has been passed down for many generations.
We are a 501(c) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional customs and training methods of the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun Kuen. Our goal is to promote integrity, wellness, and the power of self-healing and growth through practicing kung fu. Hailing from all over the DC-MD-VA area, our members find a common bond in our commitment to become the best version of ourselves through 'old school' practical martial arts training.
We are committed to preserving the art of Wing Chun as passed down by Grandmaster Yip Man ("Ip Man") to his last disciple, SiFu Allan Che Kong Lee. In honor of their generosity and life-long sacrifice, Wing Chun Fist Art House was established to offer local residents and visitors who travel from around the world a rare opportunity to experience the life-enhancing benefits of earning the art of Wing Chun in a small group setting using training methods that have been passed down for generations.
The traditional Chinese term for a martial arts training hall is 館 kwoon (pronounced "goon"). A kwoon traditionally operates more like a second home than a gym or school. We do not operate like most martial arts businesses. We are a community of active members who make a sincere commitment to train hard and support each other's progress in the art of Wing Chun and in our personal lives.
If you are interested in becoming a member, call or email us to Schedule a Visit. We encourage you to observe a session before applying to join our organization.
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About the Director: Michael Speights (pronounced "Spates") Like many people, my interest in martial arts stems back to childhood. However, I didn't explore my desire to learn until after graduating from college. I gravitated towards Wing Chun because it seemed simple, direct, and practical. After some searching, I began training Wing Chun Kung Fu in 2003 in New York City as a student of late SiFu Allan Lee (http://www.wingchunnyc.com). It didn't take long for me to realize just how fortunate I was to have found such a hidden treasure. Over the years, my commitment to progressing in the art has been a major factor in all of my family, business, and other life decisions. Our kwoon in New York holds a prominent place in my heart and I cannot express enough just how deeply my life has been enriched by the art of Wing Chun Kung Fu and the many genuine, good-hearted people it has brought into my life. For years, I trained and assisted in teaching classes at Wing Chun NYC as a senior student. I have trained intensively in the advanced theory and fighting methods of Wing Chun. I enjoy sharing my understanding of the art and look forward to continuing to explore and delve deeper in the years to come. I am humbled by the opportunity to be the Sifu ("teacher helper") of this organization and guide others through their journey in this art. Thank you for visiting, Michael Speights |
SiFu Lee (sitting) and Michael Speights |
This wonderful art would not be around
were it not for the many sacrifices of generations past.
"I am deeply humbled and inspired by my SiFu, Allan Lee (Lee Che Kong). He taught me generously and patiently for many years. His depth of knowledge of, dedication to, and sacrifice for the art of Wing Chun is truly awe-inspiring. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of many great practitioners and I am committed to share Wing Chun as it has been passed on to me." - Michael Speights
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About SiFu Yip Man:The late Grandmaster Yip Man (sometimes pronounced or written "Ip Man") is perhaps the most iconic figure in Wing Chun Kung Fu. For decades, his legacy has been well renowned throughout the international martial arts community. His popularity has spread in recent years as there have been several major international movie releases loosely based on his life as well as plays, documentaries and other artistic tributes. Although SiFu Yip Man was a modest and sincere man who would never have sought such attention, the recent growth of popularity and recognition of his legacy in the general public is well deserved. Today, Wing Chun Kung Fu is one of the most popular martial arts, practiced by many thousands of people in countries all over the world. This popularity is largely due to the dedication and sacrifice of SiFu Yip Man. He was one of the first people to teach Wing Chun Kung Fu publicly. His most famous student, Bruce Lee, is a pop culture icon and perhaps the most recognizable figure in martial arts in the world. SiFu Yip Man taught many students over the course of decades. Among these students, there were a small few that he took on as private disciples. Although he taught all of his students generously, he spent years with each of his disciples intimately teaching and passing on his knowledge.
About SiFu Allan Lee:In 1967, SiFu Allan Lee began learning Wing Chun from SiFu Lok Yiu, the second disciple of the late Grandmaster Yip Man. In time, SiFu Lee became an assistant instructor for SiFu Lok Yiu’s schools. As a result of his good character, talent and dedication to the Wing Chun style, Grandmaster Yip Man chose SiFu Lee as a private disciple. This great honor allowed SiFu Lee to train intensively and complete the Wing Chun curriculum under the expert tutelage of Grandmaster Yip Man. In honor of the Late Grandmaster, SiFu Lee donated his residence in Hong Kong to establish the chief school and office of the Yip Man Wing Chun Martial Art Association. He would later be appointed Chairman and Director of the Yip Man Wing Chun Martial Arts Association, United States Chapter by SiFu Yip Chun, the elder son of Grandmaster Yip Man. After leaving Hong Kong and arriving in New York City in 1974, SiFu Lee had the great fortune and honor of meeting SiFu Duncan S. H. Leung, another private disciple of the late Grandmaster Yip Man. SiFu Leung furthered SiFu Lee's knowledge of the art as they trained and taught together at a Wing Chun Kung Fu school in New York City. SiFu Lee always maintained the utmost respect for, and an open approach to other martial arts and artists. Though SiFu Lee passed away in 2016, his presence can be felt in the many people whose lives he profoundly touched. Our organization is dedicated to ensuring that he is remembered and his teachings continue to be passed on to future generations. Read more about SiFu Lee at WingChunNYC.com in his article “My SiFus: Part I”. |
Here is a photo of SiFu Lee's kwoon in 2014 (Wing Chun NYC):
