Wing Tsun & Harmony

The Chinese belief in Yin and Yang is all important because it is symbolises balance, and, at our essence, all the human being requires is balance. Wing Tsun Kung Fu is the ultimate expression of Yin and Yang ever created in a martial art.

The importance of Yin: Yin is the female energy and stands for the internal. It is about being still, calm, accepting (like a mother to its child) and knowing that, wherever we are on our journey, it is perfect for our development. It is also about noticing the subtleties in the body and being absolutely at one with them, knowing they are your opportunity for growth. Too much yin energy in the body means that we can become stagnant, suppressed and unable to move forward.

The importance of Yang: Yang is the masculine energy and stands for the external. It is about movement, personal growth, evolving, goals and aspirations. It is also about noticing the opportunities the universe offers every second of every day and making them happen. Without the utilisation of the yang driving force we would not achieve. Too much yang energy gives rise to the ego and characteristics like aggression, manipulation and power over others.

Together we are whole: To be the greatest version of who we are, all that is required is a healthy chi body balanced in both yin and yang energy. This allows us to become grounded, centred and well-rounded beings in mind, body, and spirit. It creates a continuous flow between our internal and external environments, connecting us to the natural flow of nature. 

Yin and Yang in Wing Tsun: Whereas all martial arts are divided into Internal (Yin) and External (Yang) arts, with the predominant being External, Wing Tsun Kung Fu is a unique combination of the two. Created as the supreme art of the Shaolin Temple in China, Wing Tsun contains all the elements to keep the body in balance – internal health, physical health, mental and spiritual well-being. Not just this, but every Wing Tsun physical techniques can be both yin and yang giving it a unique flexibility to adapt to any situation. As life changes, so do we…

Wing Tsun owes this balance to its unusual history. The art originated from the Zen Buddhist Shaolin Temple, founded in 495 AD. The temple was particularly progressive, for within it contained Taoist masters and even females – unheard of for any monastery, even today. The Shaolin Temple was remarkable for another reason because, due to the fragility of peace in China, the monks had developed a powerful way of defending themselves. They were ‘enlightened warriors’ who understood all too well the reality of war, but only believed in use of force as an absolute necessity. This was stated in the key Shaolin principle:

Better to move away than grab him; Better to grab him than hit him; Better to hit him than hurt him; Better to hurt him than kill him; Better to kill him than he kills you.