I want to emphasize that the words expressed here are absolutely a reflection of my feelings and what I have perceived through all these years as a practitioner of Kung Fu, specifically Ving Tsun. Ving Tsun is a martial art that, at first glance, may seem like a collection of isolated exercises, a series of repetitive and mechanical movements with no apparent connection between them. However, those who stay on the surface, who memorize the forms and drills without understanding the underlying strategy, are trapped in an illusion. The truth is that each exercise in Ving Tsun is deeply tied to a specific combat strategy, and without this understanding, the martial art loses its essence.
The exercises in Ving Tsun are not mere mechanical repetitions; they are physical expressions of strategic principles. But in order to decipher their true meaning, it is necessary to understand the “language” of Ving Tsun, something that can only be achieved through an authentic relationship with a teacher who serves as a guide. The teacher, in this sense, is like a legend on a map: without their guidance, the paths seem disconnected and meaningless. The true value of the drills lies in how they connect to form a cohesive strategy.
Imagine that Ving Tsun is like a detailed map of an ancient city, full of roads, alleys, and routes that seem to lead nowhere. Without a legend explaining what each symbol and line means, the map is just a series of lines with no real value. The exercises in Ving Tsun, if practiced without understanding the strategy behind them, are like following routes on that map without knowing where they lead. Only with the legend—the teaching and guidance of the teacher—does each exercise come to life, revealing its purpose and how it connects with the others.
The common mistake that many make is learning the ABCs of Ving Tsun, memorizing the movements and sequences, but never coming to understand the complete “language.” Without understanding the strategy behind the exercises, there is no way to apply them effectively in real combat. It is like knowing all the letters of the alphabet but being unable to form words and sentences with them. This leads many practitioners to hide behind their lineage or the reputation of their teacher, protecting themselves with a curtain of mysticism that gives the false impression of knowledge. However, the truth is that without deep understanding, all that facade crumbles in the reality of combat. It’s important to note that my argument is not to attack the concept of following a lineage, as I personally represent the Yip Man-Moy Yat-Moy Don lineage with pride.
Precisely as representatives of a lineage, it falls upon us the responsibility to ask the honest and necessary questions in order to represent our lineage with dignity. We must not avoid asking questions out of fear of appearing ignorant or being the only student with doubts in the classroom. The lineage loses its prestige when we do not represent it with dignity and honesty. It is our duty to preserve its integrity by seeking deep and genuine understanding, rather than settling for a superficial appearance of knowledge.
Many settle for superficiality, clinging to the prestige of having trained under a recognized teacher or to the mysticism surrounding Ving Tsun as an ancient and secret art. But this mentality is dangerous because it replaces the genuine search for understanding with a false sense of security based on “pedigree.” Without understanding the strategy that each drill represents, the practitioner is doomed to repeat empty movements, unable to apply them when it really matters.
Learning Ving Tsun is like having a map full of routes and paths, but without the legend that explains how to navigate it. The teacher not only teaches the paths but also reveals the legend that allows us to understand how all the elements connect. Without that guidance, the martial journey remains incomplete, and the practitioner gets lost in a maze of purposeless movements. Ultimately, true knowledge in Ving Tsun does not come from the number of drills one knows, but from a deep understanding of how each one fits into a larger strategy.
Practice without understanding is a recipe for failure. It is the strategic understanding, that “legend of the map” that the teacher provides, which turns a simple practitioner into a true martial artist. Only through this understanding can one transcend mere technique and achieve mastery in Ving Tsun, a martial art that, when fully understood, reveals a depth and effectiveness that few can match.