Restarting classes after COVID-19

It feels like an age since Melbourne 2020 went into lockdown, and classes had to stop due to physical distancing.

When I was training with my Wing Chun brothers and sisters in UK, every few days we would get together to enjoy each other’s company and practice.

Imagine how I feel, after a whole year – finally it’s safe enough to start the class back up!

Hi everyone,

I hope you’re all well and feeling good.

With the restrictions lifted now, I plan to resume classes from Monday March 15th at the usual 18:30-20:00, in the Glen Iris Road Uniting Church (Hartwell Room).

I was notified this morning that there will be some restrictions we must adhere to in order to resume class, and it’s as follows:

1. Masks to be worn indoors at all times, except when drinking.
2. Hygiene is to be observed strictly, before all partner training or close distance, we will all wash our hands PRIOR & AFTER the exercise. I will bring extra hand sanitizers which you can use at any time. Bathrooms will be equipped with spray & leave cleaners to use after your trip.
3. Due to the nature of the classes, numbers are limited in the Hartwell Room to 17.
4. All attendees need to check in or be checked in via the QR code which is on posters around and at entrances to the centre.

Provided nothing else changes, we should be back training very soon – I look forward to meeting you, and to current students, seeing you all again. 🥳💪🏻

My very best wishes, Sifu

Traditional Ip Man Wing Chun | Class Events

Traditional Ip Man Wing Chun Melbourne – Wing Chun classes in Melbourne

“In order for our skill to be good, we must touch as many hands as possible – 100, or even 1000…” – a reminder from Grandmaster Michael Tse on Wing Chun.

 

In February 2020, Traditional Ip Man Wing Chun in Melbourne took students to visit Wing Chun Brisbane, another class from the Tse Qigong Centre.

It was the first class trip away together, and students were encouraged to practice, share food, and have a good time together.

Despite hearing initial nerves from the students prior to getting on the plane, Wing Chun Brisbane were such warm hosts it was all well and truly forgotten about over a delicious greek lunch once we arrived.

We can always learn more by touching other student’s hands, to feel their energy and the way they use their skill, so we can refine our own skill and improve.

 

 

Student accounts

Wing Chun

What do Wing Chun and Greek seafood have in common? They are both very enjoyable in Brisbane.

I think the thing that I learned from our trip to Brisbane, is that Wing Chun is practised by a group of collegiate like minded people, who draw great strength from sharing with each other. Yes – it is about feeling hands. But it is also about generosity of spirit and sharing experiences.

I need not have been nervous about my limited experience. I was pleased to find that everyone I met was just excited that I was learning. There was no ego, or superiority, but a generosity to teach someone who was interested in learning.

So we met at a house before dinner in the suburbs, to do some chi sao. On a half tennis court, about 10 of us practised, and watched, and ate. And for me I enjoyed meeting various Sifu from Tasmania, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. I learned how they enjoyed the conversation of hands as well as verbal jousting.

The next day in a church hall, ancient but with character, we had a class before continuing the challenges. It seems a long time since I first saw the Shaolin monks perform Kung fu in DengFeng, on the side of the Soong mountain. At that that time I had no idea that I would take up Wing Chun in my sixties. What a journey. And it is not finished yet.

by Michael Lanyon

 

Can’t wait for the next gathering

I never dreamed when Michael and I started Wing Chun that we were joining a world wide community.

It was great to go to Brisbane to meet the other sifus and their students and also our Si Gongs from Tasmania. In fact one of the wonderful things about Wing Chun is that it was devised by a Buddhist nun for the girl in the village named Wing Chun and there is such equality between men and women in the practice and organisation.

So although I was extremely nervous about how I would fare, everyone was extremely generous and helpful and I never felt awkward. Of course, we were a bit stiff and exhausted, but in a good way and you certainly learn a lot from touching hands with other people and also watching those who are super experienced. In fact, the astonishing thing watching our Sifu is how relaxed he is and how he thinks so much about each move (even in the car going to the airport!).

The trip was also so enjoyable because we shared meals with everyone and chatted: about work, about careers, travel, children, films. We also heard a lot about where and how each of us joined Wing Chun. Can’t wait for the next gathering!

by Elizabeth Lanyon

 

To learn more about Traditional Ip Man Wing Chun classes in Melbourne, please visit the Wing Chun Classes page.

Traditional Ip Man Wing Chun is a member and part of the Tse Qigong Centre.

Tse Qigong Centre China Tour 2019