Personal Security and Self Defense Training

Public Security services are not always enough to ensure your safety. This is why many companies and business owners in the Philippines turn to private security to handle their 24-hour security needs. A private security agency can guard your premises day and night, and work with the police to make sure that you are not subject to vandalism or break-ins. In the event of an emergency, a private security company will ensure an immediate response.

Just because a security guard is on site, it does not mean that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to handle every situation. Golden Harvest Wing Chun Philippines is offering a PRACTICAL 16 week self defense course for security agents. Our team of internationally recognized instructors have all been highly training the US Military.

Units of the course include:
Weapons disarming
Fire arm training
Tactical Assault training
Threat evasion training
Hand to hand combat
Weapons handling

This course is ideal for security agencies because it will give security personnel the skills and knowledge they need to effectively handle a wide variety of situions.


Classes starting in March, 2012
Please call 09178795954 for pricing and more info

Women's self defense manila

EMPOWERING WOMEN

詠春拳 Wing Chun Kung Fu is a 400 year-old Chinese martial art that was invented by Buddhist nun named Ng Mui. According to the legend Ng Mui was a Shaolin master who devoted her entire life to learning Kung Fu. During her years of practice, she noticed that most martial arts derived their power from brute strength alone, and also took many years of hard training to use effectively in combat. She decided to develop a revolutionary style that didn't rely on brute strength and didn’t take years to master. She combined the movements of snake and crane style kung fu to create this new, mystical style that would later lead to Chinese martial arts being spread all around the world.

Yim Wing Chun was a beautiful young girl who lived in southern China. A powerful warlord who wanted to force her into marriage constantly tormented her and family. When Master Ng Mui discovered this, she decided to teach Yim Wing Chun the secret style she invented. After training under her new Master, Ng Mui, everyday for only one year, Yim Wing Chun challenged the warlord to a duel. They both agreed that if she lost, she would have to marry the warlord, but if she won, he would have to bow before her and call her “auntie” every time he saw her. The two faced off one afternoon and Yim Wing Chun nearly beat the warlord to death within a matter of minutes. From that time on, the style she used was named after its first disciple, “Wing Chun” kung fu.

Why Wing Chun?

There are 100’s of different martial arts available to the public. These martial arts range from traditional arts like Thai boxing and Taekwondo, to newer arts such as Ju-Jitsu and MMA. All of these arts were invented by men, so most of the techniques require a certain level of physical strength to be effective for self defense. In general, men are physically stronger than women; therefore this approach is not always practical for women wanting to learn self-defense.

Wing Chun Kung Fu is the only martial art in existence that was invented by a woman. That is exactly why it is an ideal martial art for women’s self defense. Wing Chun derives its power from speed, relaxation and harmony of movement, instead of relying on physical strength for power in techniques.

This unique approach has made it one of the most effective and lethal fighting styles ever created. So much so that Wing Chun Kung Fu is taught to NYPD SWAT teams and US military special operations teams as a form of hand to hand combat.

In addition to being an ideal martial art for women’s self-defense, Wing Chun Kung Fu training is an excellent physical and mental exercise routine. Training focuses on muscle memory and reaction through cardio exercise, calisthenics, and repetition of movement. The mental or “meditative” aspects of Wing Chun create a body-mind unity, creating a greater sense of self-confidence, self-control, sensitivity and awareness.

Golden Harvest Wing Chun, Philippines

Golden Harvest Wing Chun was founded by the Chief Instructor, Sifu Steve McGowan in Osaka Japan on July 6, 2004. In period of 8 years, Golden Harvest Wing Chun has expanded to Tokyo, Shanghai, Boston and Metro Manila. Golden Harvest Wing Chun, Manila is one of the only marital arts schools in Metro Manila offering traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu, Self Defense classes and Weapons training. All instructors are fully qualified to teaching Wing Chun; are well rounded in a variety of martial arts and have experience as tactical operatives in the US Military.

Golden Harvest Wing Chun in cooperation with Monsur Del Rosario and the OTTC, is sponsoring a FREE two day women’s self defense seminar. This introductory seminar will cover basic techniques based on Wing Chun Kung Fu that can be used for self-defense.

Dates: Feb 3, 2012 7-9pm / Feb 4, 2012 3-6pm

Venue: OTTC 2f Amberplace bldg, 19 Bayani Road,
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, 1634
889-5463

Website: www.goldenharvestwingchun.com

Cost: FREE

If you have any inquires, please email me at rob.goldenharvestwingchun@gmail.com or call 09178795459.

Tradition vs Revolution

As a non Chinese practitioner of Chinese Martial arts, one common problem I and other people like my self run into is "Tradition". Why is tradition a problem? Tradition is the root of culture and our identities as human beings. Its serves as a basis for interaction and governs how we behave. There in lies the problem, expecially in the Martial arts community. Traditionally the Chinese have been very reluctant to teach and share martial arts with outsiders. The one's who have made great efforts to share their cultures with us "westerns" are typically the revolutionaries who have decided to deviate from traditional thinking.

Wing Chun, Hun Gar, Jeet Kuen Do and countless other revolutionary martial arts were created by combining the best aspects of two or more different art forms. These styles are effective for the purpose they serve, because they break the boundaries of tradition.

I found a really interesting article about the anti western sentiments still carried by some older generation chinese which were portrayed in the recent hit Ip Man 2.

Original text

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/andrew_ohehir/2011/01/28/ip_man_2

"Ip Man 2": China's anti-Western kung fu phenomenon
In the sequel to "Ip Man," the martial-arts smash, Bruce Lee's teacher brings the Wing Chun to evil white people
By Andrew O'Hehir

*

Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen in "Ip Man 2"

Chinese action star Donnie Yen and director Wilson Yip breathed prodigious new life into the martial-arts genre with their quasi-biographical 2008 film "Ip Man," a huge hit on multiple continents. A sequel went into production almost immediately, and the result is "Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster," which follows Yen's eponymous martial arts master as he brings the Wing Chun style to Hong Kong. As every kung fu buff already knows, the real-life Ip's most famous pupil would be an American-born kid named Lee Jun-fan, better known as Bruce Lee.

Yip and screenwriter Edmond Wong stick closely to the winning blend of nationalist agitprop, colorful melodrama and epic fight choreography (again by the great Sammo Hung) from the first film, and despite its flat and trite portrayals of Western characters -- referred to repeatedly as "foreign devils" -- "Ip Man 2" is nearly as enjoyable as the original. Its not-so-secret weapon is the poised, calm performance of Yen, who somehow manages to play Ip as both character and archetype. He kicks ass in all directions, taking on street thugs, rival Hong Kong masters and an arrogant English boxer, all while embodying Confucian-Buddhist ideals of modesty, balance, honor and selflessness.

How much any of this has to do with the historical Ip Man (more often rendered in English as Yip Man) is, to put it diplomatically, open to debate. Ip was a police officer in his hometown of Foshan under the pre-revolutionary regime, and fled to British-ruled Hong Kong after the Communist victory in 1949, inconvenient facts that somehow got elided in turning him into a movie hero and nationalist icon. According to biographers, Ip was an opium addict who launched a school in Hong Kong partly to support his habit, whereas Yen's Ip is of course a noble family man, struggling to feed his wife and kids and refusing payment from poor students. The real Ip probably never fought a British boxing champion, just as he never delivered a public beatdown to a Japanese general (as seen in "Ip Man").

If the "Ip Man" movies are better understood as inspirational fantasies about the construction of modern Chinese identity than as biography, they still attest to the renewed vigor of Hong Kong cinema in recent years. Cinematographer Poon Hang-sang and production designer Kenneth Mak capture lavish 1950s street scenes that almost suggest the work of Wong Kar-wai, and Hung's spectacular fight sequences feature the total destruction of an enormous fish market, along with the climactic showdown between Ip and a sneering British boxer (Darren Shahlavi), implausibly known as Twister. Hung himself appears in the film (despite his reported poor health), playing a mustachioed, faintly corrupt rival kung fu master who redeems his honor during the fateful confrontation with Twister.

It's tempting to read "Ip Man 2" in the context of contemporary East-West relations, in fact. Wong's screenplay uniformly depicts British characters (portrayed, as usual, by an erratic assortment of multinational white people) as vain, cruel, arrogant and bigoted, at least until the last minute or so of the movie, when Ip's final plea for cooperation and tolerance is greeted by a standing ovation from Europeans. (All of this, arguably, is pretty minor payback for Hollywood's treatment of Asians over the years.) Yen and Yip have announced that they're done with Ip-Mania and won't make a proposed third film about Ip's tutelage of Bruce Lee. It's safe to assume somebody else will. Wong Kar-wai's long-planned Ip film starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai is reportedly in turnaround, but a prequel, "The Legend Is Born: Ip Man," starring Dennis To, has already been released in China.

"Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster" is now playing in New York and Los Angeles, with wider North American release to follow.

Wing Chun dummy video notes day 3

Double handed blocks/counter attacks

Using the Guen/Huen Sau is very effective against power attacks. The Huen/Guen sau can be used against powerful round house kicks at a proper distance. When using these blocks it is essential to come inside the attack. If your opponent throws a round house kick at your mid section, staying in a stationary position while performing this block is a very BAD idea. The force from the kick will hit your forearms head on, so if you are up against an experienced kicker, he will probably break your arm. These blocks have to be done from the inside of the attack. The guen sau can be used to trap the kick while you are throwing a kick to the knee joint. The Huen say and be used to trap the lower part of the leg while you grab the arm and counter strike to the body of face. Double handed blocks and counters must have the power from the body behind them so it is essential that you turn into the attack with your hips and move forward.

Wing Chun and Arnis (Kali-Escrima)

Escrima - The Filipino Martial Art
by George Royal

Original text
http://psychjourney_blogs.typepad.com/warrior_traditions/2009/01/escrima---the-filipino-martial-art.html

Escrima is a popular Filipino martial art dating back to the 1500s, during the colonization of the Philippine Islands by the Spanish. Escrima is a very simplified but practical form of combat technique originally designed as a self-defense tool. Escrima is also known by many other names such as Eskrima, Arnis, Arnis de Mano, Kali and FMA (Filipino Martial Art). Because of its effectiveness, Escrima is also taught extensively in many Special Forces including the Navy Seals and Army Special Forces.

Brief History:

Many believe that Escrima or Filipino Martial Art originated from Chinese influenced Indonesian fighting tactics such as Kun Tao, Chuan Fa and Tai Chi double stick forms. Others believe the Escrima art form to be wholly developed by the Filipino people. However, the most plausible explanation seems to be rooted in the history of the Spanish colonization.

When the Spanish occupied the Philippine Islands, a form of art similar to Escrima had already existed but was only recreational. However, this art began to develop into a more martial discipline when the Spanish prohibited indigenous Filipino weapons such as the Bolo (machete), daggers and fighting sticks in the 1700s. It remained a clandestine art until the Americans took over in 1898. From then on, the Filipino Martial Art started to gain recognition and popularity.

In the West, Escrima was introduced and popularized by Filipino immigrants after the Second World War, particularly in the American states of Hawaii and California.

Weapons and Footwork in Escrima:

Unlike other forms of martial arts, the primary tool to learn the basic concepts of Escrima is focus on weaponry, which is followed by empty-hand techniques. The Rattan stick is the most common weapon used in Escrima training, which includes hand and head protection when sparring. Other weapons include burned and hardened stick made of hardwood, such as Molave or Kamagong (ebony). Modern versions may be made out of aluminum, other metals, or high-impact plastics. The Nunchaku (also known as Kung Fu sticks or Double sticks) weapon was popularized by actor Bruce Lee, an avid practitioner of Escrima.

Each range - the distance between opponents - in Escrima has its own characteristics and footwork techniques. Good footwork enables efficient control of these ranges. The footwork is demonstrated in terms of triangles with two feet occupying two corners of the triangle and the step to the third corner. The shape and size of the triangle is dependant on the particular situation.

Escrima Facts:

1. Escrima is mixture of hard (like Karate) and soft (like Tai Chi Ch’uan) styles.

2. Escrima is taught on ideal street-fighting settings without the need for uniforms.

3. Restraining techniques are not focused on but rather on offensive, combat styles.

4. There are no official rankings in Escrima except for titles to recognize seniority of instructors.

5. Most of the power in Escrima is derived from body movement and economy of motion, rather than strength.

6. Escrima is a complete martial art, focusing on weaponry and empty-hand techniques.

7. Escrima provides effective training in sparring against multiple opponents.
offers articles, tips and tricks about different martial arts.

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Taking the history and basic principles of Wing Chun into account, it has a number of similitarites to Arnis. That may be one reason why the legendary Bruce Lee was an avid practitioner of Kali-Escrima (Arnis) under Goro Don Inosanto.

Dan Inosanto Interview - Amazing videos are here

Wing Chun Dummy notes day 2

Performing the Bui Tze as a form requires a lot of practice and patience. After preforming the form over and over again, I learned how to take certain techniques out of the form and how to apply them 1) in a real situation (emergency only) and 2) on the Wing Chun dummy. This form has a lot of hidden defense and counter offense techniques in it the one can only discover over time. The circular foot movements in the Bui tze can be used in the dummy form to rotate inside an opponents defenses. The Bui sau or darting hands can be used as finger strikes, neck chops and counter offensive hand grabs. These techniques are really hard to defend against because the come upwards, under your opponents line of vision. The Kwan sau is a useful block against powerful kicks as long as you adjust your distance. Elbow strikes and be worked into the sequence of attacks from the Bui sau hand-grapping motions. Penetrating defenses with basic attacks is more effective than multiple move combos. Always mind the distance your are from the (dummy) opponent because distance also effects the amount of power you can put into an attack.

Arm breaks are most effective when thrown in inside and outside pak sau combinations. Once you grab an opponents arm (from a tan sau/wrist rotation) it may turn into a wrestling match. Its better to strike and break rather than grab and break. Lets face it, it the guy is trying to hurt you, hes NOT going to throw single attacks so you have to always prepare for two or three attacks in advance.

Wing Chun is like playing chess, you have to be able to calculate 2-3 moves ahead of your opponent. When the gloves are off, then one mistake means that you get hit. If you get hit with one, then two, three ect will ALWAYS follow so there is no room for error. When training with the dummy, its good to think about what attack you are block and what arm you are striking. Use the dummy as a template for a body, dont just do techniques. In every technique you do on the dummy, think of where you are and what you are going to do if the technique is countered or doesn't work like you planned. Unlike the dummy, a real person moves, thinks and reacts, so you have to create and imaginary opponent in your head when you are training alone. Just using the dummy as it is (a stiff piece of wood) is not enough.

When throwing elbows, there are 3 angles you can use to strike the head, side of the head spear the body. When throwing a downward elbow to the head, make sure that you clear or trap an arm first because your opponent can use an elbow to counter your strike and hit you in the face. Elbow strikes are best thrown in combination with blocks because your opponent is going to attack you when you come into his range. You may hit him with the elbow, but you will get hit with his counter if you dont block and strike/ trap and strike at the same time.

Wing Chun Dummy notes day 1

I just recently decided to start a blog about Wing Chun training here in the Philippines and Japan. As a friend and I thought about what to write in the blog, we came up with an idea that is 1) good for me and 2) will help other on training tips in Wing Chun. Once one reaches a certain level of understanding of wing chun as an art, the need for training partners isn't quite the same as when one first starts out. Now that I've been practicing Wing Chun for quite some time now, I've decided to keep a record of my training notes here online in the form of a blog. This will help me remember what I've learned in teaching and training on my own.



Day 1 notes
The best training partner around 24/7 : the Wing Chun dummy
Day 1

When practicing on the Wing Chun dummy, just doing the form over and over again gets really boring so its good to expand your creativity while maintaining the basics of the form. If you notice, all movements in the form flow together, so its easy to change up the movements as long as one move flows into the next. When doing the Kau sau, it doesn't always have to be done with both hands on the outside of the top arms of the dummy. Kau sau can be done on the inside as well, between single arms, with fluid movements that flow from one to the next. In application for sparring or training (Chi sau) this is good because it breaks the rythm and patterns of movement that forms get your stuck in. When dealing with a real person, they are not going to follow the form so its good to change things up and be creative. In my opinion, Wing Chun is not a pattern based martial art, like Karate or Taekwondo, it is a template. The moves in forms are designed to teach you what your body can do with series of coordinated movements. Think of them more as templates of movement rather than "forms".

In Wing Chun, flow in continuity are more important than power. If you are practicing Wing Chun on your own, like I am when I film the video notes, its good to make sure that your movements are defined and flow together. Pay close attention to hand positioning and make sure that your hands never come more than a shoulder length apart.

When doing kicks in a small space, the move or movements you perform before the kick have to adjust your distance BEFORE throwing the kick. Using a lower Bong Sau or Gaun Sau is good for this. If you break contact with the dummy or adjust your distance as you are kicking, this will throw you off balance in a chi sau or when you try to do this in a real situation.