System vs. style

Through more than 20 years of exhaustive research, travel, and training, our founder, Grandmaster Benny Meng developed the Shaolin Wing Chun Kung Fu Martial Arts System: Hung Lung Sin Fu Faat Mun Paai   空 龍 善 虎 法 門 派,  a complete, scientific based martial art system which harmonizes with the physics of the world we live in so that a practitioner can attain maximum efficiency in human combat. By teaching the close quarter combat efficiency of Wing Chun, we ensure that our students are proficient and effective in all ranges of martial arts to include long kicking, long striking, short striking, and grappling. The teaching methodology we use to pass on this martial arts knowledge is the same method they used in the Shaolin Temple hundreds of years ago. We call this method the Shaolin Halls Method of training. Progressing through the Shaolin Halls a practitioner learns to control their mind, their body, and their emotions so that they can be both effective and efficient in their daily lives as well as in a combat situation, in short, 'Harmonizing the Mind, Body, and Spirit."  Tuning your Human Machine!

Current discussions and written treatises on martial arts training often treat the terms "Style" and "System" as interchangeable, yet they are not at all synonymous. A style is a form that is distinctive and identifiable as an artistic expression with characteristics particular to the artist. In contrast, a system is a combination of intricately related elements organized into a complex whole that produces results far greater than the mathematical sum of its individual parts. A style could also be a system, but most are not. They reflect some of the attributes of a system, but are not complete.

A complete system is one that at all times adheres to a consistent philosophy yielding practical combat applications, practical training methodologies, and a complete science with principles, concepts, strategies, and tactics that do not allow the outcome of an engagement to be determined by luck. Every aspect of a complete system must be consistent with every other part. A system's philosophy is what drives that consistency. Most martial arts studied today lack an overriding philosophy that guarantees consistency throughout training and application. They are best classified as styles rather than as systems.

Even modern day Wing Chun, which prides itself on its systematic attributes, may require closer scrutiny.  As you are training it today, are you guided by an overriding philosophy that is consistent with every aspect of your training? Are your training methodologies completely consistent with your combat applications? For example, many "looping" exercises are employed to train muscle memory, but this looping would never be attempted or allowed in actual combat application. A consistent philosophy would dictate methodologies aligned directly with combat application, negating the need for deprogramming the looping from the practitioner's instinctive reactions before sending him off to battle. Does your training involve looping exercises? Are there so-called "transitional" movements in your forms that are not directly tied to combat applications? If so, your forms, philosophy, methodologies, and applications are not consistent with one another.

Shaolin Temple Wing Chun, as trained by today's Shaolin Wing Chun practitioners, is an example of a complete martial arts system. It has an overriding philosophy that keeps applications, methodologies, and employment of science consistent throughout training. Shaolin Wing Chun Martial Arts practitioners train every move at every level in exactly the same manner as they would use them on the battlefield. As a science, Wing Chun's logic flow is crucial to maintaining its integrity. The sequence of learning must follow this logic flow closely. The philosophy that guides this sequence is called "Saam Mouh Kiu" and it is deeply rooted in Shaolin tradition.

1. Fao Kiu - "Floating Bridge"Another frequently used expression of this same concept is "Hoi Fao" meaning "Illusion, cloudy, or unclear." Philosophically, the Fao Kiu stage is the stage of "Wandering." The level of one's existence is primarily at the basic subsistence level of Maslow's famous Hierarchy of Needs. There is no time for higher-level development or life. In terms of combat, Fao Kiu represents "Lucky Strike" time. At this stage the practitioner is violating the Wing Chun time frame. He possesses no realized comprehension of space or time. In a physical confrontation it would be the same as standing right in front of the guy and trading blows with him. This means the practitioner and his opponent can hit or kick each other as chance dictates. Fate will select the winner. Philosophically, they represent a stage where both combatants are unclear of their path or reason for existence. They exist in an illusion. As martial artists, they are unaware of the basics of time and space and have failed to recognize any higher level of knowledge.
2. San Kiu - "Separate Bridge"This is also referred to as the "Awareness Stage." This stage represents partial nature and/or understanding of the "True Time Frame," but they have no concrete ability to identify and deal with the intricacies of the interactions between time and space. They cannot express both together in harmony. At any moment, they may be able express one or the other in their kung fu, but not both simultaneously. Philosophically, at this level practitioners are beyond the basic level of subsistence. They have the capacity and the time to engage in incomplete considerations of religion, and philosophy.
3. Wing Kiu - "Everlasting Bridge"It is important to note the character for "Wing" is the exact same character employed in the original name of the Wing Chun System. It represents the everlasting nature of the real science upon which it is based. Wing Kiu is also referred to as the "Focus Stage." Another phrase used on the journey to this stage is "Hoi Gong" meaning "open light" or enlightenment. It is used in the Siu Nim Tau level of training to represent that the practitioner has been exposed to this idea (Nim) - he is aware of Saam Mouh Kiu, space and time, and the Wing Chun Formula and the relationships between each of them. Philosophically, the Wing Kiu stage reflects the practitioner's comprehension of the true reason for his own existence. He is approaching real enlightenment in terms of the universe surrounding him. His perceptions of his universe are in harmony with reality. In a physical confrontation, the practitioner's every motion is in harmony with space and time with no distortion of either. This is the highest level of combat skill. Harmony with reality replaces struggle. The opponent's own distortions defeat him while the practitioner maintains harmony with the realities of space and time.