The purpose of this page is to answer questions that we are commonly asked about the Academy and about Wing Chun in general.

If you can't find the answer to a question here, or on anywhere else on this site, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Question: What is Wing Chun?
Answer: Please see the About Wing Chun page.

Question: What is the CRCA UK?
Answer: We are the UK branch of Randy William's Close Range Combat Academy (CRCA). Please see here for more information.

Question: Where is my nearest club?
Answer: Please see the Nearest Clubs page.

Question: When does the next beginner's class start?
Answer: Click here to see a list of clubs and start dates.

Question: Who is Wing Chun suitable for?
Answer: It is suitable for any healthy male or female and due to its nature is one of the few martial arts that can be practiced well into old age. At our academy we have a minumum age of 14 as we feel Wing Chun is unsuitable for children under that age. If you have any type of medical condition you should consult with your doctor before taking up this art (as you would with any other form of exercise). You must also inform your instructor when you first come along to the club.

Question: Do I need to take gradings?
Answer: No student is forced to grade, but regular gradings will help to deepen your understanding of Wing Chun and will allow you to progress your Gung Fu skills. There are usually no fixed time periods for taking gradings - each student is allowed to progress at their own rate.

Question: What is the point in taking gradings?
Answer: Wing Chun development is separated into distinct and sequential layers/levels. Each level builds upon the previous one. You cannot train at one level unless you are competent at the preceding one. For example, you will not be able to successfully train at Chum Kiu level until you are fully competent at Siu Leem Tau, because Chum Kiu builds upon Siu Leem Tau foundations. The best way to check competency and the ability to proceed is to grade with your instructor. Gradings ensure your development occurs at the right pace, making sure you don't "run before you can walk". Gradings promote drive and a sense of direction in your training. Each grading opens the door to fresh challenges and Wing Chun theory, which helps to prevent staleness in your training.

Question: Are weapons used in the system?
Answer: Yes. Once you have completed the empty handed system, you begin to train with Butterfly Knives and the Six and a Half Point Pole. There is a form associated with each weapon.

Question: How much does it cost to train at the Academy?
Answer: We try to keep training fees as low as we can. Our top priority is teaching Wing Chun, not making money. For up to date price information, please contact us.

Question: Who is the academy's chief instructor?
Answer: The chief instructor in the UK is Sifu Jason Clarke. The CRCA's chief instructor (and Jason's instructor) is Randy Williams. See here for more information.

Question: Who is Randy Williams?
Answer: Sifu Randy Williams is the chief instructor of the Close Range Combat Academy. See here for more information on Randy and the CRCA.

Question: Will Wing Chun help me defend myself in today's society?
Answer: Yes. As with all martial arts, Wing Chun does not make you invincible, but it does give you an advantage. It is a highly practical and effective art, containing street-fighting applications well suited to today's modern society.

Question: How long does it take to learn/complete the system?
Answer: This is a difficult question to answer as the time taken to become competent in Wing Chun is purely down to the individual. The harder you train the quicker you will improve. Regular gradings will help you progress through the system, improving your knowledge and skill. We never force progress in training, and do not allow shortcuts to improve your grade. Each student must show 100 percent competency at one level before proceeding to the next.

Question: How long does it take to be able to use Wing Chun as a method of self-defence?
Answer: This is a difficult question to answer as the time taken to become competent in Wing Chun is purely down to the individual. The harder you train the quicker you will improve. As a rule of thumb, we usually say that an individual can learn basic Wing Chun self-defence within 6 months.

Question: What are the benefits of Wing Chun?
Answer: Regular training will help you develop strength, stamina, confidence, spirit, self-control and of course the ability to protect yourself and others. You will also make some good friends!

Question: Will Wing Chun help me get fit?
Answer: Regular training will condition your body and improve your fitness, but will not help you to become "super fit". Wing Chun fighters are taught to use energy "economically", so fitness is not as essential as it may be in other martial arts. You do not need to be "super fit" to be a highly skilled, powerful Wing Chun practitioner.

Question: Will Wing Chun make me flexible?
Answer: Upper body flexibility is an advantage in Wing Chun and is developed through class training. Leg flexibility is not so important, as kicks are rarely performed above waist height. Therefore Wing Chun training will not give you the flexibility required for head-high kicks or performing the splits.

Question: Why are there no high kicks in Wing Chun?
Answer: Wing Chun's philosophy is that the hands should look after the upper body and that the legs should look after the lower. You would not kick to the head for the same reason you do not punch to the foot. It is seen as impractical and unsafe to do so as part of the Wing Chun system. This does not mean that it is not effective within other Martial Arts, it just means it doesn't work for Wing Chun.
You may see Wing Chun students kicking higher than the waist when they are training. This is purely to improve kicking ability. In actual combat, kicking remains low-level.

Question: Is there Ground Fighting in Wing Chun?
Answer: Wing Chun is predominantely a stand-up martial art. Some styles will not teach ground fighting and insist you must stay up on your feet. In reality there is a great risk that an attacker will take you down to the ground. For that reason, we teach a complete system of ground fighting, showing you how you can use pure Wing Chun techniques and principles to protect yourself on the ground.

Question: Is there a sporting element to Wing Chun?
Answer: Some schools get involved in Wing Chun competition, but we tend not to. We prefer to concentrate on teaching Wing Chun as a method of self-defence. Wing Chun is designed to strike vital points and end a fight as quickly as possible. Therefore it does not lend itself easily to sporting competition, as it requires a considerable degree of modification.

Question: Why don't you see Wing Chun represented in MMA, UFC etc?
Answer: MMA is a sporting competition. Wing Chun is designed to be a method of self-defence and does not lend itself easily to sport. It is designed to strike vital points and end a fight as quickly as possible. Therefore to use it in MMA competitions would require considerable degree of modification. This modification greatly takes away from the effectiveness of Wing Chun.

Question: How does your style differ from other styles of Wing Chun?
Answer: All styles of Wing Chun contain differences, though the core principles usually remain the same. Our style is Randy's own blend of Wing Chun, as taught to him by his three instructors - George Yau, Augustine Fong and Ho Kam Ming.

Question: Do you teach traditional Wing Chun?
Answer: There isn't really such a thing as "traditional" Wing Chun. Since Wing Chun was originally developed, instructors through the years have strived to improve the system, adding their own modifications and "flavours", which are then passed down to their students. When the students become instructors, they too repeat the process. Therefore all styles of Wing Chun today will differ from the original Ng Mui system. Most styles of Wing Chun will differ from each other depending on their lineage. This is a good thing, as it enables the student to pick a style of Wing Chun which works best for them (hopefully ours!). The thing to remember is that Wing Chun today has been through hundreds of years of fine tuning and improvement. One analogy to consider is that of the Motor Car. When you compare the first cars invented to the cars of today - which would you prefer to drive?