The companion volume: history, systematics and didactics, the purpose of the forms, Chi Sau and Lat Sau, and the eight essential skills.
Published in German and Spanish; excerpt in English translation.
From “Systematics”
Wing Chun is often called a “system” (also in Chinese) as opposed to “style”. Actually, this refers to two systems: on the one hand a “fighting system” and on the other hand, a didactic system. The fighting system is based on the movement system and the fighting strategies and tactics, the didactic system is based on the formal exercises and the course of instruction. Unfortunately, in many cases these basics are not documented or only weakly documented and changed frequently, often under the pretense of “enhancements”, even if it is really about effective advertising.
From “Strategy”
The strategy of Wing Chun is a strategy of efficiency (one could say that efficiency is the core principle of the style), as numerous traditional mottoes convey (more about these in the book “Eight Pattern Wing Chun Kung Fu”). And even though essential parts of the Wing Chun curriculum are fixed movement sequences (forms), Wing Chun is not based on automated single techniques but on automated concepts and patterns.
A typical example is the diagonal Tan Sau in the first section of our first set, which has a clearly defined position for good reasons. But we never try to attain this exact position in partner exercises or in a fight. This is not the idea of a Tan Sau.
The Tan Sau of the forms is really just one of many possible manifestations of a Tan Sau movement pattern, which follows the Tan Sau concept. (The only physical commonality of all possible Tan Sau manifestations – the Tan pattern – is a supination at the joint behind the point of contact.) The Tan Sau concepts are those, which are targeted especially towards Tan Sau (for example the principle, that Tan Sau acts like a wooden log in water in relation to Bong Sau and the center line, see “Eight Pattern Wing Chun Kung Fu”) and all superior concepts (for example those which cover all patterns or Chi Sau in general, as well as the principles which cover Wing Chun or fighting in general).