Fathers Day card I received today from my son Tyrone. Happy Fathers Day!
Posted by ralph haenel
at 11:50 AM PDT
Updated: Sunday, 15 June 2008 11:52 AM PDT
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Your Kung Fu Coach Ralph Haenel, learning and teaching Wing Tsun Kung Fu since 1984Contact me
Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver Blog
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Happy Fathers Day!
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
A summer seminar moment
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photo from left to right (standing): Luis Figueroa, Victor Wolf, Ciprian Constantinescu, Gary Kaiser, Nilo Lida, Sifu Ralph Haenel with his son Tyrone, German Ferrer from WT Calgary, Steve McMinn
from left to right (first row): Ali Lotfi, Rob Grylls, Siavash Panahandeh, Sebastian Molnar, Edmond Chow, Tony Leung
Above photo shows a moment from our recent summer seminar. While on a raffle ticket campaign for his school, Queen Victoria Annex in Vancouver, my son got a photo, posing with advanced members and trainer team at Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver. In March we last featured a photo of the trainer team. It was part 1 of a series on "ideas for your Wing Tsun Chi-Sau training". Part 4, the conclusion, follows this week! Stay tuned!
Check out today's entry in Brian's 'Functional Wing Tsun' blog. Reaping the rewards.
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Posted by ralph haenel
at 4:24 PM PDT
Updated: Wednesday, 11 June 2008 4:30 PM PDT
Monday, 9 June 2008
About different training methods - summer seminar at Wing Tsun Vancouver
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Short video from our summer seminar. Jennifer is having fun with Wing Tsun Instructor and Fitness Trainer Steve McMinn (www.fit4real.ca). The continuous repetition of the Pak-Sau/Punch exercise is purely about stamina and will power. The repetition and intensity creates quickly awareness of the muscle groups involved. ;-) Naturally, in a self-defense situation this combination would only occur once or twice.
I am painfully aware of my 'blog absence' and vow to post and post and post during the next weeks. :-) Steve McMinn has raised the bar and has been doing a great job with his Real Fitness blog. Have a look at the photos, read what he has to say about the recent Wing Tsun summer seminar: first day, second day.
Yes, once again it was time for one of our three annual seminars here at Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver, the first Canadian Wing Tsun branch. Each seminar week features a unique topic, puts the spotlight on a particular way of training, or another particular aspect of this exciting self-defense system.
After a recent successful seminar at Wing Tsun Calgary, it was a pleasure to greet German Ferrer, head instructor in Calgary. He especially enjoyed working out with our Edmond "wooden arms" Chow, member of the Vancouver trainer team. After having heard about the incredibly friendly atmosphere at the Calgary WingTsun seminar, we are all looking forward to the Fall seminar in Calgary.
Back to last week's seminar. Exercises for all participants involved working with a shock stick (Yawara) and with a rubber knife. But the weapons were merely tools to support developing ideas for different ways of striking. Building muscle memory, understanding the linking of muscle groups, leads to one of the key issues of Wing Tsun, might I dare say a key issue of any martial art.
What am I talking about? The somewhat rare ability, to seamless connect footwork and hand-actions. The ability to explode into the beginning of the first attack. Also, many students got the point, once again, that a world of techniques doesn't do anything, if you don't develop 'knockout power'. Afterwards, when the seminar is over, it feels so good if you have driven yourself to exhaustion during a seminar. Sweat, loads of sweat, moving your shoulders, non-stop footwork, thousands of punches and strikes, working on bridging the distance safely, stopping the attacker from inflicting harm on you.
Don't forget, Kung Fu is Chinese boxing, and there are certain rules of physics that any martial arts has to follow. One of them the physics of how to develop true punching power.
Until next time, have fun and train hard!
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Posted by ralph haenel
at 4:37 PM PDT
Updated: Monday, 9 June 2008 5:13 PM PDT
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Ideas for your Wing Tsun Chi-Sau training - part 3 of 4
In today's world we face an enormous amount of information; it’s the age of “über-information”. Everything is easily accessible. If on video, DVD, youtube, googlevideo, just about any Wing Tsun form or exercise can be found. Well, as long as the actual hands-on training doesn’t come too short. But this has not always been the case. Not too long ago, only in 1988 did my back then WT instructor Sifu Peter Vilimek several times attempt to mail me a Wing Tsun videotape from West Berlin. East German authorities intercepted and confiscated it every time. VCR’s were also an absolute novelty and rare luxury item in the East. It so happened that around that time I bought for a friend a simple VCR on East Berlin’s black market for more than $7000.00! Diplomats from ‘third world’ countries made a killing smuggling certain items from West to East Berlin. Finally, Sifu Vilimek smuggled the video tape into the East. He even offered the East Berlin border guards to inspect the well-filled diaper bag during a family visit. Hidden under dirty diapers did the Wing Tsun tape find its way into the East. One evening then did I surprise my students by connecting the $7000.00 VCR to my mini black and white TV and we started watching the tape over and over again for hours. Above video clip of the first public Wing Tsun demonstration by Emin Boztepe in West Germany came first on that video tape.Open House WingTsunKungFuWear.com Photo Album KungFutheWorkout.com
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In today's world we face an enormous amount of information; it’s the age of “über-information”. Everything is easily accessible. If on video, DVD, youtube, googlevideo, just about any Wing Tsun form or exercise can be found. Well, as long as the actual hands-on training doesn’t come too short. But this has not always been the case. Not too long ago, only in 1988 did my back then WT instructor Sifu Peter Vilimek several times attempt to mail me a Wing Tsun videotape from West Berlin. East German authorities intercepted and confiscated it every time. VCR’s were also an absolute novelty and rare luxury item in the East. It so happened that around that time I bought for a friend a simple VCR on East Berlin’s black market for more than $7000.00! Diplomats from ‘third world’ countries made a killing smuggling certain items from West to East Berlin. Finally, Sifu Vilimek smuggled the video tape into the East. He even offered the East Berlin border guards to inspect the well-filled diaper bag during a family visit. Hidden under dirty diapers did the Wing Tsun tape find its way into the East. One evening then did I surprise my students by connecting the $7000.00 VCR to my mini black and white TV and we started watching the tape over and over again for hours. Above video clip of the first public Wing Tsun demonstration by Emin Boztepe in West Germany came first on that video tape.
At about 0:48 you can watch the Chi-Sau part of the Wing Tsun Kung Fu demonstration in above clip. In a real life fight you may also have to deal with “über-information”. Does the opponent attack first with the left or right, straight or round punch, fake or full power, to a high, mid-level or low target, kicks, steps, jumps, combinations??? ...
Chi-Sau is one of Wing Tsun’s tools, to learn to have instinctively the right responses kick in, well literally. Let’s today look at pressure, yet another component of the Wing Tsun Chi-Sau exercises.
Exercise 3 – Pressure:
1a) Work on using the smallest amount of pressure possible. How much, or better how little is necessary to feel the direction, the speed and the power of an attack? When does the attack slip past the point of contact? When and how can you feel if the attack is trying to slide over or under your arm. Can you feel if the shoulder, elbow or wrist is being used, if the training partner puts suddenly the whole body into it, or shoots a surprise attack?
1b) Work with ‘regular’ pressure, get to know the difference between physical strength and real striking power, find out what one of Wing Tsun’s fighting principles means, the yielding to only greater (!) force. All elements of the continuous Wing Tsun training, including the realization of the fighting and power principles, which require a skilled and knowledgeable Wing Tsun instructor for your progress.
1c) Now train with the highest level of pressure, some may know as the so-called Bruce Lee’s “Bull Chi-Sau”. Try not to lose your structure, maintain balance, secure your positions and pay attention to your timing, just to mention a few points.
So far we have talked about distance, speed and now today about pressure. Adaptation is the bridging idea behind all exercises. Train hard on feeling home in any distance, at various speeds, facing any amount of strength. Enjoy your real life training!
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Posted by ralph haenel
at 2:50 PM PDT
Updated: Thursday, 13 March 2008 11:51 PM PDT
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Ideas for your Wing Tsun Chi-Sau training - part 2 of 4
Chi-Sau exercises start with various levels of Dan-Chi-Sau, using only one arm, continues with Poon-Sau, the rolling arms, and finally leads to the actual Chi-Sau, using both arms for different attacks and defenses. Bruce Lee introduced Chi-Sau to the public during his first demonstration. Invited by Ed Parker did Bruce Lee participate in the Long Beach International Tournament in 1964, was discovered and subsequently offered the role of Kato, the masked crusader in the 1965 TV series "The Green Hornet". Above video clip features some of the Chi-Sau sequences, starting at about 3:00 into the clip.Open House WingTsunKungFuWear.com Photo Album KungFutheWorkout.com
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Chi-Sau exercises start with various levels of Dan-Chi-Sau, using only one arm, continues with Poon-Sau, the rolling arms, and finally leads to the actual Chi-Sau, using both arms for different attacks and defenses. Bruce Lee introduced Chi-Sau to the public during his first demonstration. Invited by Ed Parker did Bruce Lee participate in the Long Beach International Tournament in 1964, was discovered and subsequently offered the role of Kato, the masked crusader in the 1965 TV series "The Green Hornet". Above video clip features some of the Chi-Sau sequences, starting at about 3:00 into the clip.
Different 'wing chun' lineages place importance on different aspects of the Chi-Sau exercises. In my many years of learning and teaching Wing Tsun I have seen that besides the benefit of developing reflex-like responses many other important advantages begin to form.
One builds over time a good feel for balance, resilient against attempts of being pulled or pushed. It promotes the linkage of muscle groups throughout the body, helping towards a fluid and flexible movement. Another result of Chi-Sau training is an increasing ‘short range’ striking power. Timing and fine-tuned feeling for distance, co-ordination between hand/arm and footwork, better positions, angles and many other accomplishments make the Chi-Sau training a well-rounded exercise.
Quite a few enjoy Chi-Sau even as a different kind of fitness exercise, a workout from hell you can’t get in any gym! Why not? Not everybody’s goal or intention is to become a Kung Fu fighter or Wing Tsun professional. Many look around for different types of exercises, new workout challenges. Again … Why not?
Now today to another set of ideas to help you improve your Chi-Sau training:
Exercise 2 – Speed:
1a) Train any Chi-Sau exercise extremely slow, and I mean really in slow motion. When others in class look at you for just a moment, they should almost have the impression that you stand still. Now try to keep this slow motion up for 20 minutes or longer. For example go through a set of attacks and defenses. Feel exactly which muscles get involved when and how. Feel your tensions, attempt to release them. Feel which muscles don’t seem to do their job. This can be a very excruciating exercise. I have seen many seasoned and strong training partners start shaking and sweating and breaking down within minutes.
1b) Train with ‘regular’ speed, meaning your typical speed during Chi-Sau exercises, yet pay attention to details of your positioning, balance, smooth foot work (stepping, turning, yielding - horizontal AND vertical), distance, timing, etc.
1c) Now train at the highest possible speed, without losing control, without getting sloppy, without losing technical skills, without imitating a windmill, you get the idea. Now many begin to find out what fluidity, flexibility and mobility can mean.
Let’s meet again soon for the third set of ideas on how to improve your Chi-Sau training.
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Posted by ralph haenel
at 7:55 PM PDT
Updated: Wednesday, 12 March 2008 11:38 AM PDT
Monday, 10 March 2008
Ideas for your Wing Tsun Chi-Sau training - part 1 of 4
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Above photo features the members of the Trainer Team at Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver. From left to right: (standing) Sebastian Molnar, Tony W. Leung, Philip Lee, Rob Grylls, Ciprian Constantinescu, Gary Kaiser, Steve McMinn, Edmond Chow, Siavash Panahandeh - (sitting) Brian Yam, Sifu Ralph Haenel, Nilo Lida
Ideas for your Wing Tsun Chi-Sau training:Even within the various 'wing chun' lineages the meaning and execution of Chi-Sau exercises are differently interpreted. I also remember seminars given by my Sifu and Sigung where the same exercise looked every time different. Identical verbal instructions along with varying technical demonstrations of a Chi-Sau section.
For many very confusing, is it on the other side a sign of function. If your training or demo partner is taller, shorter, stronger, weaker, faster, slower, more aggressive or rather defensive, well this should effect your responses.
Let's agree that within Wing Tsun Kung Fu the Chi-Sau exercise has next to other goals the premise of learning to detect via physical contact the direction, the speed and even the strength of an opponent’s attack.
Wing Tsun offers unique Chi-Sau sections, which usually don't exist in other 'wing chun' lineages. You could also call them two-man forms, which combine in each section a certain number of techniques, attacks and defenses, counter-attacks and counter-defenses. Chi-Sau sections can guarantee that the instructor does not forget to teach certain scenarios, does not exclude certain techniques or applications that he/she personally dislikes (or didn't train enough!).
Assuming the knowledge of Wing Tsun Chi-Sau exercises, here today a few thoughts on how to make your training more effective. I often encourage my students to purposely make mistakes. If you always try to do everything by the book, you might be surprised when your skills misfire when working with a, to say the least, non-cooperative training partner.
Exercise 1 – Distance:
1a) Try varying your exercises by going into the furthest distance at which you can still manage to maintain contact with your training partner.
1b) Resume in the regular (optimum) distance, dictated by how we learn the angles and positions of techniques in our Wing Tsun forms.
1c) Now try to work in the closest possible distance, for example with almost completely collapsed Bong Sau or Tan-Sau.
Train until you can respond in time and successfully in any distance. The three examples could be of course be extended into any distance.
Let's resume tomorrow with exercise number 2! Visit us again!
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Posted by ralph haenel
at 12:01 AM PST
Updated: Monday, 10 March 2008 5:09 PM PDT
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
Wing Tsun Kung Fu seminar impressions - Exercises in adaptation.
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Above you will find a few impressions from our 2008 Jumpstart Seminar at Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver. Exercises serve at different times various purposes. Often it is difficult to interpret the meaning of a certain exercise by just watching a video.
Many also forget that any martial art is man-made. It is OK to have different opinions, it is OK to differ in interpretations. Besides the point of encountering more politics in martial arts than in politics, one unfortunately may find even in the most flexible martial art often astoundingly stiff and immovable opinions and views. So, let's work on implementing the fluidity and flexibility of Wing Tsun in our approach to daily life as well as our attitude towards others.
Even professional martial arts organizations show their true face when they talk about leaving members as traitors, as the incompetent. When they talk about revealing certain "high" techniques only to the worthwhile, to the chosen ones. Haven't we heard this before in history?
Wing Tsun Kung fu is in its nature about adaptation to unforeseen circumstances. So, how does the reality check of your adaptation skills turn out?
Let's not just work on our technique, being 'open-minded' in our physical responses, but also respect the views of others.
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Posted by ralph haenel
at 4:43 PM PST
Updated: Wednesday, 12 March 2008 11:48 AM PDT
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
2008 Jumpstart Seminar at Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver
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At the end of two exhausting seminar evenings; Edmond Chow and Sebastian Molnar working on only one training aspect during blind-folded Chi-Sau, to stay loose and relaxed while trying to feel direction, speed and strength of light attacks.
Thanks to all members of Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver for a great seminar. Your motivation and dedication is always a great experience. Each one of our seminars features exercises around a unique topic. This one could be described as: "True function is born out of the intensity with which we train the basics!". Missed the seminar? We hope to see you next time.
I will keep it brief today. Brian Yam and Steve McMinn have written about both seminar evenings in their respective blogs. Check it out here:
- Brian’s blog at http://functionalwingtsun.blogspot.com, part 1 and part 2.
- Steve’s blog at http://stevemcminn.blogspot.com Read about part 1 written on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 and part 2 published on Thursday, February 21, 2008.
I have added 27 photos from the seminar at our online photo album. Go to www.realisticselfdefense.net/photoalbum/ The new photos are listed starting on page 13.
Congratulations to all members who received their well-deserved promotions!
Bojan Subotic, SG 2
Jennifer Deon, SG 2
Sascha Peters, SG 2
William Chau, SG 4
Dave Zraly, SG 5
Fred Lo, SG 5
Vasile Nuca, SG 5
Neal Marshall, SG 8
Mansun Lui, SG 8
Adrian Law, SG 8
And also congratulations to the members of the newly formed 2008 Technician Grade Team!
Sebastian Molnar, SG 12
Tony Leung, SG 12
Rob Grylls, SG 12
Edmond "Wooden Arms" Chow, SG 12
Siavash Panahandeh, SG 12
Philip Lee, SG 12
Steve McMinn, SG 12
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Posted by ralph haenel
at 7:09 PM PST
Updated: Wednesday, 12 March 2008 11:51 AM PDT
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Find our Self-Defense Open House ad in the Spring 2008 Mind, Body & Soul magazine
 | Interested in Self-Defense? Find our Self-Defense Open House ad on page 21 in the Spring 2008 Mind, Body & Soul magazine of The Georgia Straight, Vancouver's News and Entertainment Weekly. The first month of 2008 has come to a close and it's time to take a hard look at the progress of our New Year’s resolutions. Kick off 2008 right! It's the perfect time to get into a exciting new training routine. What's the secret to keeping your New Year's resolutions in 2008? Don't go it alone! We at Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver are looking forward to see you for our two week Open House event in February. Join us for a great workout. Four evenings of commitment-free training. |
Wing Tsun Kung Fu is not just about self-defense, it’s about developing a healthy level of confidence, it’s about learning to successfully deal with stress scenarios, but it’s also about discipline, and balancing your work and your private life as well as a training routine that completes you as a person. Use the feedback from your classes as a positive boost to get through tough times at work, and yes, even at home.
All the information about the Open House, including address, map and photos of the school location, can be found at our special Open House web site at www.FreeSelfDefenseClasses.com.
No need to call ahead. Feel free to bring participating guests along. Join us during the following four evenings:
Monday, February 4th, 7-10pm, evening 1 of 4
Wednesday, February 6th, 7-10pm, evening 2 of 4
Monday, February 11th, 7-10pm, evening 3 of 4
Wednesday, February 13th, 7-10pm, evening 4 of 4
Find our ad on page 21 in the Spring 2008 Mind, Body & Soul magazine of The Georgia Straight, bring it to one of the open house evenings and receive a additional bonus!
Questions? Please e-mail me at SifuRalphHaenel at aol.com
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Posted by ralph haenel
at 9:49 PM PST
Updated: Sunday, 3 February 2008 10:25 PM PST
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Sebastian Molnar - Salsa & Wing Tsun - Teaching is simply another way of learning.
video clip: Sebastian Molnar and his lovely wife Yukiko performing during a anniversary dinner in front of members of Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver and their families.Open House WingTsunKungFuWear.com Photo Album KungFutheWorkout.com
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video clip: Sebastian Molnar and his lovely wife Yukiko performing during a anniversary dinner in front of members of Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver and their families.
Today I want to take a moment and introduce yet another member of the trainer team at Wing Tsun Kung Fu Vancouver. Sebastian is highly motivated, passionate and enjoys learning and teaching. But let his bio speak. You can find it at our special Open House web site at www.FreeSelfDefenseClasses.com, click on the tab 'Trainer Team' and scroll down to 'Sebastian Molnar'. Or click here for a direct link.
Another quote from Sebastian: "The other side to learning is passion." Enjoy reading his bio!
Find Sebastian's Salsa web site at: www.geocities.com/salsa_seb/
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Posted by ralph haenel
at 2:49 PM PST
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