Frequently Asked Questions:

What other martial arts styles resemble Wing Tzun and Latosa Escrima?

There are several Wing Chun families and Filipino styles, and several hybrids like the Jun Fan / Jeet Kune Do clubs.

Similar movements and terminology may be found in other programs, but EBMAS Wing Tzun and Latosa Escrima are unique in concept, theory, and application.

But don’t take my word for it...come try a class and find out for yourself why we're unique.


How does this program compare to other popular arts like Krav Maga or Brazilian Ju Jitsu?

On the surface, Wing Tzun looks very similar to Krav Maga, and Wing Tzun's groundfighting has several similarities to BJJ.

I'm a fan of any product of the Israeli Defense Forces, and I think Krav Maga is a great crash course in practical self defense. My only criticism of Krav Maga (the LA slick version) comes from my limited exposure to it, so take it with a grain of salt. The movements seem scripted to favor the strongest position or movement. The movements are good, but not always possible, and more importantly, not as efficient as they could be.

An outstanding exception to the highly commercialized North American Krav Maga is the variety taught by one of Krav Maga's founders, Moni Aizik. His 'Commando Krav Maga' seems more ruthless and less kick-boxing oriented. He is a Judo/Ju Jitsu Champion and trainer of champions, and makes monthly visits home to Israel from Toronto to train elite units! He is the 52 year old man that I want to become now (in my 30's). He has some great dvd's coming out and will soon begin certifying instructors in his programs. Visit his websites at www.combatsurvival.com and www.EdgeCombatFitness.com.

Submission sports like Brazilian Ju Jitsu train some of the best grappling & ground techniques available. Statistics show most fights go to the ground one way or another, so ground skills are always useful!

Having said that, if I'm ambushed and/or outnumbered (and likely injured), my first solution should not be to tie up with one person and go to the ground (read: Concrete).

Wing Tzun's unique anti-grappling program allows students to perform the same techniques from the ground as we do standing. (Since there is no torque-based power in our kicks or punches we can do it on our back). Our preferred techniques are banned from almost every legal competition, suggesting we're doing something right for street applications.


What do the different spellings of Wing Chun mean?

Wing Chun is typified as the generic spelling and pronunciation associated with the numerous families of this style. Ving Tsun was the original English spelling used by Yip Man in Hong Kong through the 50's and 60's.

Several Wing Chun families choose to differentiate their program by spelling their name differently. Names you might see include: our own Wing Tzun, Leung Ting's Wing Tsun, Ving Tsun, Weng Chun, and Wing Tchun, and (sadly) many more.

What is the technical difference between WT, WC, VT?

Wing Chun has ‘drifted’ throughout southern China and southeast Asia over the past 300+ years, and since the 1950's around the world. Whether your Wing Chun is from Hong Kong, Vietnam, or Germany certain elements are common, but not necessarily identical. Like languages and dialects, Wing Chun students from very different families can communicate and train on certain universal ideas, but have totally different training methods and applications.

To illustrate; Yip Man was already retired when he accepted Dr. Leung Ting as a private student. Those private lessons were certainly different from what he taught 30 years prior. It was still ‘Yip Man Wing Chun’, but a more refined version. It was pure technique and concept in the absence of youthful strength and stamina.

Master Boztepe was taught Dr. Leung’s refined version and continues to improve on it in his own organization. Master Boztepe has been focusing for many years on ensuring the techniques and applications are based in scientific principles to ensure sound duplication across the numerous schools and cultures. Also unique to Master Boztepe is his effort to safely simulate the realities of a street fight for everyday people.

How does rank advancement work in EBMAS? What is your equivalent to Black Belt? How long will it take for me to  achieve that?

For the sake of brevity, there are 12 student grades and 12 instructor grades (technician and master levels). The significance of reaching 1st Level Technician would equate it to other school's black belt. Qualified students may open work-groups at level 6 and earn probationary instructor's licenses at level 8. My personal opinion is that a level 8-10 student is the equivalent of black belt. But as the saying goes, its not the style or the rank, but the man behind it.

The average WT or LE student can earn Technician rank in 4-6 years. Like so many of my peers and students, I'm not in it for the rank, but rather the training material that the rank represents.

*Compare this to the neighborhood Tae Kwon Do or family Karate studio where you can commit (via binding contract) to 'buy'  your black belt within 18-36 months! Some hard core schools might make you wait 3 whole years for a black belt.

How often can I expect to test and what does it consist of?

A dedicated, hard working student can expect to test 2-3 times a year until they reach level 6. Testing becomes less frequent, as the material takes longer to digest.

Rank advancement tests are conducted during a seminar with a Technician or Master level instructor. Most instructors evaluate the student over the course of the seminar, thus minimizing ‘spotlight’ testing at the end of the seminar. Everything is testable, but the focus is always on application and comprehension of the concepts.

What does SiFu mean?

Sifu traditionally means teacher, mentor, or father.

It seems most organizations award this title when the student becomes a teacher. In our organization, the title ‘Sifu’ is awarded only when three criteria are met.
1. You must be at least 2nd Level Technician
2. You must have at least 30 active students in the organization
3. You must have brought one of these students up from beginner to 1st Level Technician.

So, the organization has several interests in mind: technical/fighting skill, teaching skill, business know-how, and family loyalty.

How soon can I expect to reach ‘effectiveness’ or ‘proficiency’ in Wing Tzun and Latosa Escrima?

As with any new skill or hobby, proficiency requires frequent practice and HARD WORK. Speaking from personal experience, after 6 weeks into Wing Tzun I felt as effective as the sum total of my seven years invested in Tae Kwon Do and Shotokan Karate!  Nothing against those arts...its just that their focus was sport, whereas WingTzun & Latosa Escrima focus on survival by any means.

What is Chi Sau? What makes it so special? What does it have to do with a real fight?

Chi Sau and Chi Gerk are translated as clinging arms and clinging legs, respectively. This method of training is exclusive to the Wing Chun families. The simplest explanation: it is a reflex drill that teaches muscle memory in the limbs to seek openings in the opponent’s defense while maintaining personal protection.

What makes it unique is that it trains the student’s tactile sensitivity to ‘feel’ opposing pressure and exploit it without sacrificing his/her own protection. The Chi Sau and Chi Gerk training allows the student to defend and attack without thought or sight.  Their reactions are automatic and based on whatever their opponent does.  The most dramatic demonstrations are done while blindfolded!

Chi Sau and Chi Gerk teach your limbs to ‘stay in the fight’ once they make contact with the opponent. The clinging limb instinctively and instantaneously flows into another attack. For example, as I punch, the opponent might block it in a manner that folds my arm into a ‘Bong Sau’, and subsequently into a chop to the throat or an elbow strike with the original punching arm. The application of continuous forward pressure and sticking to an opponent removes the need to ‘chamber’ a strike as other systems do.

How flexible do you have to be to participate?

Wing Tzun and Latosa Escrima both keep all kicks below the waist! All warm-ups and post workout stretches are for injury prevention, not high kicks.

We’d rather spend a ½ hour training than stretching to do the splits (for kicks that will never get used in a real fight). All of our kicks are below the waist because: they don’t require a warm up, they are faster, are harder to block, and are more effective at stopping an attacker’s momentum.