Wing Chun Kung Fu Fights the Way
by: Grant Currall
Respected Kung Fu teacher offers the thinking person's martial art to local university students.
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Wing Chun Academy of Western Australia instructor Rolf Clausnitzer agrees the defence system is in tune with women's needs, but that class numbers are small when compared to the rising popularity in other martial arts from Tai Chi to Tae Bo.
To combat the problem, Rolf is conducting an initiative to promote Wing Chun Kung Fu throughout Edith Cowan and other universities in Perth.
He is convinced that current advertising and media are continuing to ignore self-protection aspects of certain martial arts in favour of others focusing on physical benefits, like losing weight and developing trim bodies.
“Whenever warnings and recommendations are issued to women on the subject, either by police, government departments, or community groups, [they] tend to play down or ignore the relevance of martial arts training as a valid form of protection.
“It's almost as if learning how to fight [back] is considered redundant or something undesirable,” he says.
Legends suggest the art was developed some 300 years ago by a Buddhist nun in southern China and then named after her exceptional female student Yim Wing Chun (meaning 'in praise of springtime').
The revolutionary system allowed women to use something smarter than brute strength. By developing a method of sensitivity training the art enabled students to literally feel out a larger opponent's attack, turn that force upon them, and keep out of harms way.
Rolf has no doubt that in many cases where women have ended up being attacked, raped or abducted, a working knowledge in how to protect themselves effectively, and efficiently, would have prevented the escalation of threatening situations.
“There are simply too many martial arts being taught that take too long to learn, are not very practical or functional against street attacks and often lack vital training in the psychological aspects of real life encounters,” he says.
Wing Chun Kung Fu promotes itself as simple, quick to learn, and more practical for women's protection, teaching efficient movements rather than physical strength. The system emphasises random ways for students to apply fast responses to whatever threat presents itself, irrespective of the form it takes.
“In practice this means that whilst one hand intercepts and deflects an attack, the other applies a simultaneous counter attack; something the attacker will not be expecting,” Rolf says.
It is a system in stark contrast to others, such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do or Judo, where training is heavily focused on set responses to set attacks. In such cases students can be subject to a mental jam or paralysis when facing unfamiliar situations.
With regard to its somewhat feminine nature, Rolf recalls a story from his teacher advising men at a seminar to watch women fight in order to appreciate their spirit and ferocity.
“Whilst most men were more concerned with how they looked in front of their mates, the women would waste no time in attacking their opponent with every weapon at their disposal,” he says.
But aside from legends and stories Rolf is keen to promote a general raising of consciousness to see martial arts being properly taught in schools and the public arena, by government, the media and community groups.
“I see training in an effective martial art as a form of insurance, worth investing time and effort in,” he says.
Born of a Japanese mother and German father in 1941, Rolf's interest in Wing Chun grew from a chance encounter with the phenomenal Bruce Lee in 1958. Six years later he became the first foreign student of Lee's legendary Hong Kong master, Wong Shun Leung.
As his experience with Wing Chun grew so did his knowledge, co-authoring possibly the first English language book on the popular Kung Fu system.
Now residing in Perth, he admits that the relative scarcity of Wing Chun instructors, compared with other martial arts, and a low profile has not helped to broaden Kung Fu's appeal in the community.
“Just about every woman has heard of Karate, Judo, and Tae Kwon Do, but very few have heard of Wing Chun,” he says.
Because of this, Rolf decided university initiatives promoting Wing Chun Kung Fu might be one way to broaden it's appeal. The positive response from students has heartened him. Though he did not have gender differences in mind, there is no doubt that he would like to see more women train in Wing Chun.
“I [would] like to see more women train in Wing Chun. Historically, the proportion of female students has always been small, but there is no reason why the situation should remain that way.”
Beginner courses run every 8 weeks.
All enquires can be made to Rolf Clausnitzer on 08 9250 5905 or wcka@optusnet.com.au
