Wing Chun Kuen Kuit
咏春拳诀

 Maxims

1. Retain what's coming in, and send off what is retreating.
2. Rush in upon loss of hand contact.
3. Do not be lax when your opponent is not advancing.
4. Once your opponent moves, his center of gravity changes.
5. Make the first move to have control.
6. Attack according to timing.
7. Timing is achieved through practice.
8. A strong attitude and posture gives an advantage over your opponent.
9. Being alert and adapting to the situation allows maximum result for minimum effort.
10. Body follows movement of the hands. The waist and the stance move together.
11. Complement the hands with posture to make good use of the center line.
12. The eyes and the mind travel together, paying attention to the leading edge of attack.
13. Charge into the opponent. Execute three moves together.
14. Strike any presented posture if it is there. Otherwise strike where you see motion.
15. Beware of sneak attacks, leakage attacks, and invisible center line attacks.
16. Soft and relaxed strength will put your opponent in jeopardy.
17. Coordinate the hands and feet. Movement is together.
18. Do not take risks and you will always connect to the target.
19. Have confidence and your calmness will dominate the situation.
20. Occupy the inner gate to strike deep into the defense.
21. To win in an instant is a superior achievement.
22. The Yin Yang principle should be thoroughly understood.
23. The theory of Wing Chun has no limit in its applications.
24. Be humble to request your teacher for guidance. Understand the principles for your training.
25. Upon achieving the highest level of proficiency, the application of techniques will vary according to the opponent.
    

 
Wing Chun Training Proverbs

1. There are not many sets of training exercises in Wing Chun.
2. They are easy to learn but to master requires determination.
3. Learning the usual ways will allow later variations.
4. Short arm bridges and fast steps requires practicing the stance first.
5. Siu Lim Tau trains internal power.
6. Lan Sau in Chum Kiu is a forceful technique.
7. Bui Gee contains life saving emergency techniques.
8. Wooden Man develops use of power. Fancy techniques should not be used in sticky hand practice.
9. Sticky leg practice is inseparable from single leg stance.
10. The steps follow turning of the body like a cat.
11. The posture complements the hands to eject the opponent.
12. The Six and A Half Point Staff does not make more than one sound.
13. The Butterfly Sword techniques have no match.
14. The thrusting and fast attacks are well suited for closing in.
15. Eyes beaming with courage can neutralize the situation.
16. Unknown techniques are not suitable for training practice.
17. Those who completely master the system are among the very few.
    

 
17 Keys to Wing Chun Applications

1. Be ferocious when clashing.
2. Be fast with your fist.
3. Be forceful when applying power.
4. Be accurate with timing.
5. Be continuous when applying Fan Sau.
6. Do not use all your strength.
7. Protect your own posture.
8. Be alert with your eyes.
9. Coordinate your hands and feet.
10. Unite your waist and stance.
11. Movements must be agile.
12. Comprehend the principles of Yin and Yang.
13. Remain calm.
14. Be steady with your breathing and strength.
15. Sink your inner Chi.
16. Be commanding with your fighting demeanor.
17. Be quick to end the fight.
    

Other Maxims & Proverbs

1. There is no difference in who started the study first. The one who achieved accomplishment is first.
   
2. Students from the same teacher will differ in their skills.
   
3. Touching opponent's arm bridge makes the situation more favorable.
   
4. When facing multiple opponents, it is easy to manage the situation.
   
5. When chasing opponent's arm bridge, beware of being led.
   
6. When pushing opponent's elbow, beware of being pulled.
   
7. Learning the techniques without developing the skills will never bring any accomplishment.
   
8. The ideal in Martial Arts is humanitarianism. Accomplishment uses diligence as goal.
   
9. When opponent passes your arm bridge, avert the danger by turning the stance and facing with the appropriate posture.
   
10. Strike when you should. Do not strike when you should not.
    
11. Do not be too eager to strike. Do not be afraid to strike. Being afraid of getting hit will finally be hit. 
12. Persistent attack will surely gain you entry. Staying on the defensive too long will surely get you into trouble.
    
13. Punch starts from the heart.
    
14. The staff does not make two sounds. A kick does not miss.
    
15. Power is generated from the joints. Strength originates from the heels.
    
16. Store metal energy with the mind. Move chi with mental energy. Exert strength with chi. Generate power with strength.
    
17. No harm will come if chi is nurtured naturally. Power can be stored bent with enough to spare. Chi comes out of Dan Tin, and travels along the waist, the thighs, and the back.
    
18. Know yourself and your opponent, and you will always win.
    
19. People do not know the extent of my skills, but I know their abilities.
    
20. Go along with your opponent's failing posture, in order to take advantage of it.
    
21. Glass-like head, cotton-like belly, and iron-like arm bridge. You can strike anywhere when your arm bridge has passed beyond your opponent's three joints.
    
22. Pass by opponent's incoming arm bridge from above. Jam opponent's bridge to restrict his movement.
    
23. Create a bridge if opponent's bridge is not present. Nullify the bridge according to how it is presented.
    
24. Know the difference between Yin and Yang, real and feigned. Take advantage of any available opportunity.
    
25. Sticking to opponent while shifting hand position shows good control of situation. Being stuck to by opponent while attempting to shift your own hand position cannot produce the intended result.
    
26. Bong Sau must not remain. Fan Sau should be closely paced.
    
27. Know your own limit in the use of power. Letting all out is 90 percent of the way to
    defeat.
    
28. The knees lead the stance. The waist links the body.
    
29. Where the mind goes, the eyes go, and the hands and feet follow.
    
30. Strive to remain calm in the midst of motion.
    
31. Loosen up the muscles and relax the mind.
    
32. The three terrors of Wing Chun are Tan Sau, Bong Sau, and Fok Sau.
    
33. Feet and hands work together, and the threat comes to an end.
    
34. Beware of brute strength when facing someone from the same style. Beware of the situation in a confrontation.
    
35. Uniting the waist with the stance, power can be generated.
    
36. In a match do not expect any compassion.
    
37. Grasping to the throat is a ruthless technique. Once commenced, cannot be stopped.
    
38. Storing energy resembles pulling a bow. Releasing power is like shooting an arrow.
    
39. Circular and straight accompany each other. Bent and straight complement each other.
    
40. Extreme softness enables to be hard. Being extremely natural enables to be agile.
    
41. Direct the mind to store spirit, not chi, in the body. Otherwise it leads to sluggishness.  
    
42. No power is obtained when occupied with chi.
    
43. Use alterations in stepping forward and backward. Hands and feet should be closely coordinated. Invisible posture. Invisible kick.
    
44. As long as you are sticking to your opponent, you are unlikely to lose. A well trained waist can prevent loss of balance.
    
45. Hand techniques must follow the Yin Yang principle.
    
46. Strength must be applied with inner power.
    
47. There is a counteraction to every attack.
    
48. Rapid moves are hard to guard against.
    
49. Go in when opponent slows down. Kicks lose nine times out of ten.
    
50. Feet are like wheels, and hand like arrow.
    
51. A hand used for attack serves also to parry.
    
52. Do not collide with a strong arm bridge. Get out of the way and take initiative to attack.
    
53. During sticky hand exercise, the hand which has entered beyond the elbow will win nine times out of ten.
    
54. Do not follow, force or butt against opponent's hands.
    
55. Destroying opponent's center line will control his bridge.
    
56. In Bon Sau the forearm inclines, the wrist is on the center line, and the fingers droop.  
    
57. A raised elbow weakens the force. The elbow must be strong. Then you can take on any attack.
    
58. If opponents grasp your arm bridge, do not oppose with brute force. Go with opponent's force to change into rolling hands. turn around the situation to control him.