Is there a registered and recognised grading system for wing chun or does it just depend on the gym you go to?

Question

Is there a registered and recognised grading system for wing chun or does it just depend on the gym you go to?

Answer 1

There is no definitive syllabus for Wing Chun. There are several international Wing Chun bodies (such as Leung Ting's organisation and William Cheung) but most masters have their own decision as to when to grade a student.

During my training, in the 70's and 80's, some instructors (in more commercial schools) had a grading session every few months and some had coloured sashes.  My mainstream training however didn't. While training in Hong Kong, my instructor simply taught you. You knew you were advancing when he started to teach you something new such as part of a form.  Traditionally, you were given your knives (Bart Chaarm) when he felt you were qualified to teach. That had a ceremony attached to it which was quite memorable.

So I'd say that there isn't a recognised syllabus for WC but within a large organisation, you will follow a syllabus set by the head of that organisation, within a single club unaffiliated to a bigger organisation or head of Wing Chun, it will follow his own syllabus whereas a traditional master will not grade until instructor level. Sometimes this is classified as stages of novice, junior student, student, senior student, assistant instructor and instructor.

Hope that helps

Answer 2

depend on the gym

Answer 3

Chinese Martial Arts have suffered from a lack of standardization for years, this is one of the pitfalls.  Unlike other bodies, like TKD and American Krav Maga both of which have national standards.

Look, as long as you feel you are enjoying what you are doing and seem to be getting something from the practice of your art, than it is ok.

Answer 4

Well like all martial arts, it really depends on the gym, and how traditional they are.

Check out this site, it explains it a little better.

http://www.wingchunsociety.f2s.com/train...