READING LIST:
THE WARRIOR SCHOLAR:
Throughout Chinese History, WARRIORS have also been Scholars. This is no different in our
modern society. Today, the ELITE WARRIOR, must still be a scholar. It does little good if you
are a "bad ass" with your hands, but a total DUMB ASS with your mind! "The Navy Seal
spends 6 years in intensive training, study and schooling, and has the EQUIVALENT of
A MASTER'S DEGREE IN GUERILLA WARFARE by the time he graduates his training."*1
ALL Students of SiFu Crider who test for higher levels will be expected to train their minds
as well as their bodies. Therefore there will be required reading.
*1 Cannon, Jeff, Cannon, John (2005) LEADERSHIP LESSONS OF THE NAVY SEALS. New York, McGraw-Hill
Mandatory Reading List For Students
- “Limitations” by SiFu Steve Crider” (This article is posted on THIS WEBSITE under "MEDIA")
- Wing Chun Warrior: The True Life Fighting Episodes of Duncan Leung by Ken Ing, M.D.
- The Dao of Meditation by Jou Tsung Hwa
- The Dao of Taijiquan: Way to Rejuvenation (Tai chi) by Jou Tsung Hwa, L. Wollering, L. Elais ***
- The Art of War by Samuel B. Griffith (translator) and B. H. Liddell Hart (foreword)***
- Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (Author), D. C. Lau (Translator) ***
- The Unfettered Mind: Writings from a Zen Master to a Master Swordsman (The Way of the Warrior Series)
by Takuan Soho (Author), William Scott Wilson (Translator) ***
- Thunder in the Sky: on the Acquisition and Exercise of Power by Thomas Cleary ***
- How To Think Straight: An Introduction to Critical Reasoning by Anthony Flew ***
- Read the article "WHAT YIP MAN TAUGHT ME ABOUT SPEED" by SiFu Duncan Leung
you can find the article below at the bottom of this page
***All students Please visit The “Shadowhand Wing Chun Kung Fu School” website to read
SiFu Doc Savage’s Reviews on works 4 through 9 from the list above: at the SHADOWHAND STUDENT LIBRARY.
ARTICLE:
Originally Posted On Master Leungs Webpage: http://members.tripod.com/wing_chun/hpageie.html
The Article is No Longer Available on that site, so I include it here for Students of
Steve Crider's Wing Chun Kung Fu School Of Self Defense as it is part of your required reading.
.
"What Yip Man Taught Me About Speed"
by SiFu Duncan Leung
Recently an acquaintance gave me a copy of QiGong/KungFu Magazine, the March 1999 issue, which featured an article
written by Master Ron Heimberger. My friend did not quite understand the principles that Master Heimberger was trying
to elucidate. Because of my background as a private student of Yip Man, and my subsequent involvement in Wing Chun
Kung Fu, he thought I might be able to throw some light on the subject. I ask the reader's indulgence for my attempt to
explain what Yip Man taught me. Since my English is not very good, I read the article several times. I am glad that Master
Heimberger is kind enough to take the time to educate the public. If all Wing Chun instructors possessed an open mind like
him, amenable to reason, and were willing to go to the trouble of explaining their ideas and experiences to others, I am sure
It would benefit everyone interested in the art. However, there are some parts in Master Heimberger’s article with which I do
not agree. Certain points that the author makes are somewhat obscure to me, particularly his references to Jacob Bronowski
and Albert Einstein. For example, Master Heimberger mentions that Bronowski -- commenting on Newton’s Second Law of
Motion -- said that force equals mass times acceleration squared. This confuses me because, as I understand it, Newton’s
Second Law states that S F = ma, which does not square acceleration. Since Mr. Heimberger discusses speed in Wing Chun,
I would like to take the liberty to share my interpretation of the principles and theories about speed based on what SiFu Yip
Man taught me and on my own experience. Naturally, what I write here is filtered through my own perceptions and prejudices;
I certainly do not claim to speak for the Wing Chun family, and would welcome any correction that is offered. That certainly
would help me improve. It is my hope that many Wing Chun members will share their ideas with all of us, no matter who they
have learned from. The experience of using the Wing Chun techniques in fighting is what counts. After all, no single fight is
the same. We can always learn something new, or -- win or lose -- find out something from each encounter. What makes the
Wing Chun style so interesting is that one does not have to rely on physical build, but on a logical sequence of economic
movements. Certainly speed is extremely important in fighting. However, no matter how hard one trains, how long one works
to improve, there are always physical limitations. You can always meet someone faster than you. Some people are simply born
with more talent. Wing Chun allows one the possibility of overcoming an opponent’s inherent superior speed by applying the
principles of the art. Yip Man taught that in Wing Chun, there are several types of speed. If you cannot overcome your opponent
with one type of speed, you can beat him with another. In other words, if you can apply the Wing Chun theory of speed, you can
actually become faster. In this regard, there are four areas of concern:
1. SPEED OF TRAVELING:
This is the type of speed we
normally refer to, that is, a punch or kick, a speed which speed can be calculated in feet per second. With consistent practice,
one gradually improves the speed of the movement.
2. SPEED OF DISTANCE:
Wing Chun straight-line theory states simply
that a straight line between two points is the shortest distance. Therefore, punching straight is shorter and quicker than a hook
punch or a swing. To bring your foot with a roundhouse kick to the head covers a greater distance than a shorter and quicker
punch to the head. It is the same as trying to punch to the shin; that is, it is much shorter and faster to kick to the shin. To use
an analogy: if you and I both stand in front of a building and have a race to the back door and you go around the building while
I go straight through the building from the front door to the back door, you may be the faster runner, but I may get there before
you because I have less distance to cover.
3. SPEED OF READINESS:
From a resting standing position, when one tries to throw
a heavy punch or tries to kick with power, it is typical to cock back the leg or arm before executing the movement. This not only
telegraphs the move, but also wastes valuable time in the extra motion. In Wing Chun, the power is not generated just by the
moving hand or leg, so there is no need to cock. One uses the other side of the body to pull back as he or she rotates to push
out the punch or kick simultaneously. For example, if one is going to throw a left punch, one initiates power by pulling the
right arm and shoulder back as fast as he or she can, while punching with the left hand at the same time.
4. SPEED OF REACTION:
In general, people spend most of their time practicing their techniques in their forms alone until they are very"
good with all the techniques, but in actual combat the application is ineffective. This is like learning to ride a bicycle by sitting
in a chair moving the legs and arms simulating the bicycle experience. When that person actually tries to ride on the bicycle,
he or she will surely fall. This is because the proper reflexes and feeling of balance have not been developed. Yip Man used
to say if you want to learn to swim, go down to the water; don’t just move your arms and legs and think that you are a swimmer.
A fight requires at least two people. You can train and fight with yourself all day long, but unless you apply the techniques
with another person, you will not get very far. Wing Chun has only three forms. After learning and understanding the first
form, one trains with Chi Sau, which requires two people, and from which one develops the feeling of contact and reflex.
Then there are the technique drills which also takes two people. When you work with the drills over and over, month in
and month out, they become habit, second nature. When an attack comes you will react to it without thinking. Fighting
happens so very fast and you may be upset, angry, unprepared or even scared. There is no time to think. Such are the
Wing Chun Theories of Speed that I learned from Yip Man.
~SiFu Duncan Leung
BLOCKING vs. COVERING:
Originally posted by Duncan Leung,
Sunday Dec 6, 1999 at 23:02:50
on Duncan Leung's Public Wing Chun Discussion Forum
attached to his website on Tri-pod.com
"What is the differnce between blocking and covering. Wing Chun does not block, it covers. However, there has to be some
intital contact. Blocking is when you see a punch or kick thrown at you at a certain area and your eye catches it and your
brain orders you to do something to stop the attack. That is blocking. This takes time and makes blocking always one
movement behind the attacker. This is a reaction after an attack. Covering is to cover or shut off the space that one could
possibly to get hit before an area is attacked. This is thinking ahead and is quicker as you are one movement ahead of the
attacker. For example, if an attacker pulls your lead hand down so that he can have a clear space to attack your head, you
automatically put up a rear guard hand to cover the open area (space). That is why Wing Chun has Chi Sau: to train you
to react and to cover the space that is open to attack automatically without thinking."
-SiFu Leung
“NO Retreat, NO REGRETS!”
MEDIA:
This section below contains VARIOUS NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT SiFu Crider, his conquests over
adversity; his efforts in Community Service through Martial Arts and illustrating that he has strived
to live by his life's motto..."NO RETREAT, NO REGRETS!":
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