The moment of truth for these kinds of techniques can never be predicted, but if the reflexes have been honed with hard training then the chance actions of Wing Chun can become a devastating wild card. As with anything in martial arts training, developing ability with the chance action fighting skills requires time, dedication and perseverance. In Wing Chun these kinds of skills are called chance actions, usually done after a crossing hand strike and thus also referred to as second actions. This style of striking is the primary and first task in Wing Chun, but occasionally there are special circumstances, distances and opportunities that allow for techniques that project, throw, lock joints or do damage to the legs. The best known techniques of Wing Chun are Crossing Hand these actions have to do with striking the head and neck while simultaneously taking away the opponent’s ability to defend or counterattack. ![]() Although each part is a separate study, the different sections are meant to function together as a seamless whole. ![]() He teaches that Wing Chun has 5 primary aspects to it: Crossing Hand, Pulling, Pushing, Closing and Footwork. Today Sifu Lam teaches Yip Man’s Wing Chun as he learned it from Wong Shun Leung, and has also continued developing the art by organizing and clarifying its varied component parts. Like Yip Man, Wong Shun Leung and all the great teachers in the Wing Chun lineage, Sifu Lam has secured a place for himself in the history of Wing Chun Kung Fu. In 2006 Sifu Lam was awarded Sifu of the Year by the World Ving Tsun Athletic Association. In recognition of his achievements, leadership and contributions to Wing Chun, Sifu Lam was made the 1991 President of the Hong Kong Wing Chun Society. In 1978 he won a prestigious Hong Kong open tournament, beating all challengers, and was awarded the champions gold coin. Like his teacher, Sifu Lam competed in numerous challenge matches and tournaments. Sifu Lam’s school quickly gained fame and was known all over the world for producing top notch Wing Chun and Muay Thai fighters. His students at that time were among the highest ranked competitors in Hong Kong. At Sifu Lam’s school in Hong Kong he offered instruction in Wing Chun and Muay Thai side by side. Sifu Lam not only mastered the style of Wing Chun taught by Sigung Wong, but also learned Muay Thai boxing in Thailand from several champion fighters. He spent the better part of 13 years training daily at Sigung Wong’s school, and the last 6 years of his time there was spent as Sigung Wong’s assistant instructor. Sifu Lam first began learning Wing Chun over 35 years ago with the famed Hong Kong challenge fighter Wong Shun Leung. For the next 7 years I threw myself into Wing Chun training under Sifu Lam and never looked back. I signed up that very day and within a month was attending all public classes and showing up for 2 privates a week. Here was a Sifu that not only talked about the internal and often secret aspects of Kung Fu, but could demonstrate those skills with ease and seemed eager to teach anyone who would learn. After 20 minutes or so of this I knew I had found the teacher that I had been looking for, hidden in a backyard in Monterey Park. Before we knew it, he was having us attack him in various ways as he effortlessly deflected and countered our movements. Within about five minutes of being in his backyard, Sifu Lam was giving us an impromptu demonstration and lecture about what Wing Chun was and what it was like to experience it firsthand. He laughed a lot and seemed to derive great joy in sharing his knowledge about Wing Chun. Sifu Lam turned out to be a very approachable, articulate and easy-going man. ![]() ![]() The next Saturday morning we headed off to Monterey Park California not knowing what to expect but excited about the adventure. I mentioned this to a good friend of mine who also at the time was in search of a traditional martial arts teacher. He said if I was interested I should come and check out his Sifu, who taught out of his backyard, and always welcomed visitors to his class. He was absent-mindedly doing some techniques in the air, and after asking him about it I learned they were movements from Wing Chun Kung Fu. I first heard about Sifu Gary Lam from a Chinese medicine colleague a little over 10 years ago.
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