Wong Shun Leung Method Wing Chun Kung fu taught by Sifu David Peterson at the Melbourne Chinese Martial Arts Club (MCMAC) Melbourne Australia.

Sifu David Peterson in Amsterdam! Sept 06 from www.iucta.nl

Recently the UCT was honoured with a visit of Sifu Benno his friend from Aussie-land Sifu David Peterson. The UCT opened his doors to a limited amount of participants of any lineage who was interested. So we had guests from two different WSL organisations! Looking at the reactions after and during the seminar all where really impressed by the extensive knowledge Sifu Peterson has on the Wong Shong Leung system. Sifu Peterson will visit the UCT on a regural base so we can offer his expertise to more students next time. We extend a warm thank you along this way to David!

Brief report on the recent Denmark training trip!!! June 06 from www.iucta.nl

Sifu David Peterson guest in Odense! The previous week Sifu Allan Jensen, Sifu Morten Ibsen and Sifu Benno Westra had the privilege to be able to share ideas on Wing Chun with one of the leading authorities on the Wong Shun Leung system - Sifu David Peterson. Sifu Peterson proved to be an outstanding instructor on the WSL Ving Tsun system. Not only did he go into detail over the WSL way, but he also showed that he truly is a Martial Artist with no ego what so ever. It was a great honour for Sifu Benno to be able to train with such a personality. All which is the essence of the ‘UCT International’ - gaining knowledge by sharing knowledge! In September of this year Sifu Peterson plans to visit Sifu Benno in Amsterdam, to keep up the growing friendship. More information on this will follow in August. In the picture: Sifu Peterson with Sifu Westra

‘Siu Nim Tau’ & ‘Cham Kiu’ Seminars Sept and Oct 06

Members of the ‘MCMAC’ recently joined with students of Sifu Enzo Verratti at the ‘Wing Chun Chinese Boxing Club’ in Brunswick over two Saturday afternoons to participate in detailed seminars on the first two Wing Chun training forms, ‘Siu Nim Tau’ (the “young idea”) and ‘Cham Kiu’ (“bridge searching”) presented by Sifu David Peterson.

Both forms were thoroughly broken down in minute detail by Peterson so as to help the participants fully understand how the ‘Wong Shun Leung Method’ both trains and applies the techniques/concepts contained in these two fundamental components of the system. The ‘Siu Nim Tau’ form is especially rich in information involving structure, technique, application in combat, development of power and basic strategy, hence the full four hours of the first day’s seminar was completely taken up in very detailed explanation and discussion.

‘Cham Kiu’ form, whilst also a rich source of information, especially with regard to movement, power generation, the use of the ‘bong sau’ action, kicking and specific ‘Chi Sau’ applications, is considerably easier to breakdown and so there was a good deal of time also spent on drilling specific applications and theories during the four hour presentation. A very enjoyable and enlightening time was had by all who attended and a special word of thanks is extended to Sifu Verratti and his students for making their school available and for making the ‘MCMAC’ members feel so welcome on both days.

Both seminars were captured on film by Mr Brett Brogan (thanks Brett and all who volunteered on camera!) with a view to producing a DVD of the event in the not-too-distant future. Whether present or not at the seminars, it is very likely that many people will be keen to obtain a copy of the DVD when it is available so keep your eyes on this site for news of its impending release.

Have Gung-fu Will Travel from the Jan 2006 edition of the Camberwell Grammar School Magazine,'Spectemur'

Staff member, Mr David Peterson, teacher of Chinese in the Junior, Middle and Senior School, recently returned from his third trip to the United Kingdom this year (2005), his fifth such trip there since July 2003. These trips were made at the invitation of several prominent British martial arts organisations who desired his expertise as a guest instructor in the art of Wing Chun Gung-fu, a popular southern Chinese system of combat.

Apart from his duties as a Chinese teacher, Mr Peterson has also conducted classes in Wing Chun Gung-fu as part of the School’s Friday Activities Programme since 1990 and is a world-recognised authority on the system. Having studied the art since the early 1970s, firstly in Australia and then later (from 1983) in Hong Kong, Mr Peterson is a direct student of the late Sifu (master) Wong Shun Leung, who also taught the celebrated action star, Bruce Lee.

Well known for his writings on Chinese martial arts, history and cinema, especially the Wong Shun Leung Method of Wing Chun, having previously published dozens of articles in journals around the world, and on several Internet sites, Mr Peterson is also the author of the first English-language book on the subject, entitled ‘Look Beyond the Pointing Finger: the Combat Philosophy of Wong Shun Leung’, which presents the wisdom of Mr Peterson’s late Wing Chun Gung-fu instructor.

Mr Peterson has become a travelling ambassador for the art since the death of his teacher, having also conducted two very successful seminar tours of the United States in 1998 and 2000. He is due to return to the UK in March 2006, and there are now plans underway for him to travel to Greece and Denmark later in the year. In the meantime, as well as his duties here at CGS, Mr Peterson instructs at the ‘Melbourne Chinese Martial Arts Club’ and continues to promote the legacy of his teacher both here and abroad.

Articles Section Updated Mar 06

The Articles section has now been updated with many articles on Wing Chun Kung Fu, Wong Shun Leung and David Peterson. Click here to check it out.