Wing Chun & Fencing

In 1984, my Sigung Karl Godwin, began exploring the parallels between Wing Chun and fencing. Bruce Lee had used fencing concepts and terminology as a model to translate Wing Chun theories into terminology easily acceptable to the Western mind. In 1987, he began formal instruction under the tutelage of Philip Gonzales, student of Leonardo Terrone. Terrone trained at the "Scuola Militare Magistale di Schirma" in Rome at the turn of the century. This method of fencing is significant because Terrone, an established dualist, emphasized a touch should be seen as stopping an enemy rather than just scoring a point. Terrone was considered a revolutionary of his time because he strongly felt fencers should be equally skilled with either hand. These two points make this particular branch of fencing especially suitable for Wing Chun technical analysis.

Similar principles found in both Wing Chun and fencing are controlling the range of movement of the body such as when defending the centerline, keeping movements of your weapons within an area and fixed elbow positions.

Understanding right of way is critical in both Wing Chun and fencing. If there is an immediate threat, it must be defended and then you can attack. Not before. If your opponent had their arm straight and their point threatening your target (point in line) it would be pure suicide to attack right on to their point, and so If the attack is initiated when the opponent has their point in line (i.e. with the arm straight and the point threatening the target) the attacker must first deflect the opponent’s weapon/or arm”.

There are many more similarities between Wing Chun and classical fencing. From posture to control of the weapon to the precision and placement of an attack are all shared concepts.

Posted by Adam Williss, Founder of The Dragon Institute

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In 1984, my Sigung Karl Godwin, began exploring the parallels between Wing Chun and fencing. Bruce Lee had used fencing concepts and terminology as a model to translate Wing Chun theories into terminology easily acceptable to the Western mind. In 1987, he began formal instruction under the tutelage of Philip Gonzales, student of Leonardo Terrone. Terrone trained at the "Scuola Militare Magistale di Schirma" in Rome at the turn of the century. This method of fencing is significant because Terrone, an established dualist, emphasized a touch should be seen as stopping an enemy rather than just scoring a point. Terrone was considered a revolutionary of his time because he strongly felt fencers should be equally skilled with either hand. These two points make this particular branch of fencing especially suitable for Wing Chun technical analysis. Similar principles found in both Wing Chun and fencing are controlling the range of movement of the body such as when defending the centerline, keeping movements of your weapons within an area and fixed elbow positions. Understanding right of way is critical in both Wing Chun and fencing. If there is an immediate threat, it must be defended and then you can attack. Not before. If your opponent had their arm straight and their point threatening your target (point in line) it would be pure suicide to attack right on to their point, and so If the attack is initiated when the opponent has their point in line (i.e. with the arm straight and the point threatening the target) the attacker must first deflect the opponent’s weapon/or arm”. There are many more similarities between Wing Chun and classical fencing. From posture to control of the weapon to the precision and placement of an attack are all shared concepts. Posted by Adam Williss, Founder of The Dragon Institute