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Chi Kung in Wing Chun Kung Fu - Scott Baker
Chi Kung in Wing Chun Kung Fu - Scott Baker
In
WING CHUN
Kung Fu
By
Dr. Scott Baker
Copyright Scott Baker 2000 1
Cautionary Note to the Reader
The principles and techniques presented in this book are your information purposes only.
The reader should not attempt any of the techniques and exercises in this book without the
supervision of a qualified instructor. This is most especially true regarding the principles of Dim
Mak. It is the strong recommendation of the author that you DO NOT attempt to apply the Dim
Mak techniques on another person without a qualified instructor who is experienced in Dim Mak
and revival techniques being present. As always, it is wise to consult your physician before
undertaking any stressful exercise routine.
Acknowledgements
I recognize that I would not have been able to attempt this work without the
untiring support and assistance from many of my friends and students. I specifically
appreciate the dedicated effort of Timothy Jeffcoat, who has contributed to this work in
countless ways. It was Tim who first suggested I undertake this effort, and he has added
much to its completion through his dedicated commitment. I would also like to recognize
the support from Erle Montaigue, who has encouraged my efforts, allowed me to use
some of his illustrations, and added the forward which introduces this work. His
generosity and depth of knowledge of internal kung fu has been invaluable. In addition I
would like to thank the many students and fellow martial artists I have been privileged to
work with throughout the years. All have contributed to my understanding in countless
ways. Finally I would like to recognize my first Wing Chun teachers, Si-Fu Peter Yu and
Master Tam Hung Fun, whose dedicated teaching set me on the path that has lead to the
knowledge and understanding within these pages. There have been many other teacher
throughout the years, each has contributed to my understanding and skills in a variety of
ways, but perhaps the most significant has been Master David Nuuhiwa (Uncle David)
whose mastery of the finer points was willingly and unselfishly shared with me.
Erle Montaigue
CHAPTER 1 7
Introduction: 7
What is Kung Fu 7
What it takes to Master internal Kung Fu 7
Wing Chun with or without Chi Energy? 8
A Principle Centered System 9
CHAPTER 2 12
CHAPTER 3 18
CHAPTER 4 21
CHAPTER 5 38
Copyright Scott Baker 2000 4
Learning to Move with Chi 38
Stepping 37
Turning 42
Wing Chun Kicking 43
1. Kicking Seeds 43
2. Kicking Principles 44
3. Soft, Internal Kicking Power 45
4. Kicking Targets 46
5. Kicking as Stepping 49
The Different Energy Expressions of the Three Boxing Forms 49
CHAPTER 6 51
CHAPTER 7 64
CHAPTER 8 79
Advanced Wing Chun Energy Training With the Wooden Dummy, Long Pole, & Butterfly Swords 79
Unlocking the secrets of the Dummy 80
Stages of dummy skills 80
Energy in the WC weapons 81
The 6 point long pole 81
The 8 Slash swords of Wing Chun 83
CHAPTER 9 85
Chapter 4
Beginning with the Root
Si-Fu Baker performing the leg pulling root test. Sifu Jeffcoat showing the un-liftable stance
Si-Fu Baker at age 21 doing a flying kung fu kick at a beach in New Zealand
However, I also was able to counter his As in most schools of martial arts,
efforts to throw or unbalance me, which this wise master had one student who was
greatly impressed the audience as well as the one of those characters who thinks he knows
old master, who later stated that my skills more than he really does. He wanted to try
were very good. his hand at unbalancing me, but he also
failed while I was able to throw him several
times. He then declared that it was only
because I was too big and strong physically.
He invited me to stay for another master to
come who he was confident could throw me
2. Kicking Principles
Si-Fu Baker using the circling kick from the Biu Tze form
At the beginning level you learn the Although in acupuncture the points
dummy form as a set of sequenced blocks, are located precisely and seem very small,
strikes and steps. Once you understand the when it comes to point striking you do not
Dim Mak application of the dummy form need to be nearly as accurate. You are not
you realize that every motion is attacking a trying to hit a spot the size of the point of a
point in some way. In this sense then, there needle, but rather each point has an
are no block, but rather what appears first to activation area about the size of the tip of a
be a blocking motion, a pak sau, garn sau or long pole (slightly larger than a mans
tan sau, is in reality a subtle point attack. thumbnail). This is not too difficult to hit.
Wing Chun is renowned for its Not every point you see in an
economy of motion. This principle is used to acupuncture chart is useful for striking,
perfection within the Dim Mak applications although most of them are. Some points
of the dummy sequences. An attack does not respond only to a press or even a rub, but the
need to be a kick or a punch, or even a palm majority of points respond to strikes if you
strike. In Dim Mak you can attack with a know the correct angle and the right direct
seemingly gentle rub, a press or a squeeze. of the strike for that particular point. If you
Copyright Scott Baker 2000
88
understand the dummy form correctly and
are practicing it accurately then the angle
and direction of your strikes on the dummy
will help you to know which points are
being used.
For many points on the body and
head the correct angle and direction for
striking is from the location on the skin into
the core central plan (often called the
mother-line) of the subject. However, there
are some key points used in Wing Chun that
do not follow this general rule. For example
a glancing blow from the back towards the Small Intestine Meridian points on the neck & head
front activates Triple Warmer 23, the (Diagrams with permission from Erle Montaigue)
terminating point of this meridian located on
the outside edge of the eyebrow. This is also These points are only activated by
true for Small Intestine 17 located beneath striking them from the back in a direction
the ear lobe on the back of the jawbone. toward the chin. Also points located on the
arms are often activated by striking them or
pressing them towards the subjects hand as
well as into the central axis of the limb.
YIN YANG
Tenth Sequence:
The ending sections of the dummy
often vary somewhat between different
schools.
Concluding Remarks
A relatively common sequence of My purpose here was not to explain every
techniques from this set starts with a crossed motion on the dummy in terms of Dim Mak
bong sau followed by the double grabbing applications. However, each motion, no
motion on the dummy arm with a step to the matter how seemingly insignificant does
side and a stomp kick to the leg. The crossed have a Dim Mak application. All I have
bong sau attacks Pericardium 6 on the inside done here is introduce the Dim Mak
of the wrist to set up the system for the concepts that are hidden in the dummy set of
remaining attacks. The bong hand then grabs Wing Chun. As I stated previously most of
the wrist with a twisting press to activate the the dummy sequences described have 3 or
heart and lung meridian points on the more different Dim Mak applications for the
bottom and top sides of the wrist. This is same set of motions. Here we have
done to further prime the system for the described only one for each combination.
stomping attack to stomach 34 just above Dim Mak in Wing Chun is the icing
the kneecap. This stomp combined with the on the cake so to speak. All the other skills
pull on the arm will bring your attacker regarding the use of energy or chi in Wing
forward and down while dislocating the Chun are just as important and impressive.
knee. To be able to perform Dim Mak effectively
these other skills need to be developed first.
It is true that any fool can strike a few points
and knock someone out, but this really is not
Dim Mak. To use Dim Mak effectively and
Copyright Scott Baker 2000
105
skillfully you need to be able to control the previously initiated into the skillful use of
release of energy. The exercises and training Chi-kung, I encourage you to continue to
methods described in this book introduce grow in your skills. My hope is that this
you to the process for developing this Chi- book has added to your knowledge and
kung control. Once you are in the process of invited further experience and progress.
progressing with these skills then the Dim Wing Chun is a very advanced kung
Mak skills are a natural compliment, and an fu system. Its physical motions are effective
important addition to enable you to use chi and practical. Hopeful you now see that
energy as a real weapon. This book is not a Wing Chun also possess very practical and
text on Dim Mak per say. Its focus is on the effective Chi-kung skills. To begin to
development and use of Chi energy within experience these deeply rich skills, all you
Wing Chun kung fu. Dim Mak is simply one need to do is start along the path. Chi is
part of this bigger picture. If you make it any learned through experience, a competent
more or less than that you will likely miss guide is helpful, and in the more advanced
the most important and impressive Chi-kung levels even essential, but anyone can begin
skills of the Wing Chun system. by taking the first few steps into the realms
of Chi-kung skills. Yes there are many
A Final Invitation: charlatans out there who make claims that
Those of you who have invested the are both incredible and unverifiable. In my
time and effort to obtain and read this text experience, such individuals are never able
will undoubtedly have many questions. to demonstrate these skills. What I have
Questions are the beginning of wisdom, and suggested and outlined in this book are real,
of learning. I invite you to continue to practical, demonstrable Chi-kung skills that
question, respectfully of course, but ask, are an intimate component of the complete
seek and inquire for a richer more complete Wing Chun system. My desire is to bring
understanding. If the things I have Wing Chun people together in harmony, to
introduced within this book are strange, share our collective understanding of this
new, or confusing to you, then I ask that you great kung fu system. This work is an effort
keep your mind open to the possibilities of to begin such sharing, and to invite others to
energy use. Those of you who have been likewise share what they have.
About the author: there, and found that he was attracted to full
contact competitions. He began training as a
Born in New Zealand, Scott Baker began his kickboxer and competed successfully
training in Wing Chun around the age of 12. throughout the western United States. At the
He studied under Master Tam Hung Fun of same time Scott was studying at Brigham
Hong Kong and under the guidance of Si-Fu Young University in Utah for a Ph.D. in
Peter Yu. Scott practiced diligently for many Psychology, which he completed in 1995.
years and after moving further away from Soon after arriving in the USA Scott
the school he began feeling the need to test was asked to teach Wing Chun by a few
his kung fu skills. He visited with and close friends. In addition to teaching
compared with many other martial artists privately and publicly he was also asked to
often agreeing to engage in combat with instruct law enforcement and military
them. He was never disappointed and would personal in the use of both lethal and non-
write to his Si-Fu about some of these lethal techniques. In 1998 Scott moved to
encounters. Si-Fu Peter Yu would even read the Chicago area where he continues to
some of these letters to Scotts kung fu teach privately and periodically travels to
brothers at the Wing Chun school. At 22 conduct seminars on the internal skills of
Scott ventured out into the world and Wing Chun. As part of his work as an
traveled to the United States of America. He international leadership/management
again compared with other martial artists consultant Scott has traveled to China and
Copyright Scott Baker 2000
107
was further able to compare with many Scott is the best foreign master
masters of different kung fu systems while of Chinese Gung Fu I had ever met
there. One of the most skillful masters he A wonderful compliment indeed.
encountered was Master Yang, an 81 year
old Tai Chi master who praised Si-Fu Baker For further information contact Si-Fu
again and again both in public and privately. Scott Baker at: www.wingchunkungfu.com
Master Yang is quoted to have said,