Simply Wing Chun Kung Fu

This was a real surprise. Buy this book and pay close attention to every single word. I wouldn't recommend this to the newcomer to wing chun, though. If you are already going to a school or even if you're not enrolled in a school, I'd say start with Wing Chun Compendium and then get this a little later on. You really can't beat this one and it's ridiculously cheap. The author has gone way out of his way to just load this book up with priceless information. He teaches you, the reader, a lot about each technique and includes nice, helpful drawings to show you the shapes and direction of the motions. He teaches you a lot about the various sections of the forms, providing a lot of information on what skill each section develops and how to train the section properly. He also tells you a lot about how each technique can be applied. He, of course, gives some great information on chi sau. Really, I don't actually get the price because even the print quality is worth more than the low $17 I paid for my copy, but I'd say get it while the getting is good. It's so cheap and worth way more than the price you pay.

I have been reading books on wing chun back to back for months now and this was by far the best one I have read. Sifu Shaun is truly without opinion. He (simply) breaks down each section of Wing Chun and delivers plenty of detail on the philosophy and techniques. I especially liked the checklists, and this book has the most helpful diagrams of all the books I have read on the subject. He really allows you to appreciate the subtlety and relaxed nature of this truly effective martial art. A must read for anyone looking to train their mind body and spirit properly during their quest to find "their" wing chun.

A great book as an introduction to Wing Chun, as it states in the title. Sifu Rawcliffe deserves the high regard he is held in in the Wing Chun community. If you're looking for a broad and reflective overview of this remarkable system it would be hard to do better!

With over 40 years experience as student and teacher, I have not seen a better presentation of technique and philosophy. I am not a Wing Chun practitioner but Mr. Rawcliffe's diagrams and explanations have given me an excellent insight to this style. You will NOT learn Wing Chun from this book; you need a teacher for that. But if you are a Wing Chun student, I cannot think of a better reference volume to supplement your training. Other martial arts stylists can also gain valuable insights into there own brand of self-defense by a good reading of this book. Highly recommended and Mr. Rawcliffe is to be commended for setting a high standard for martial arts books.

Although there are many variations of Wing Chun kung fu, there are principles that a central to each. This book focuses on those principles and approaches that are common between most, if not all, variations of Wing Chun Kung Fu. I think it is a great book for beginner students (which is what I am), but I think would be beneficial to all levels of practitioners. I strongly recommend this book.

To: Sifu Shaun Rawcliffe, You did a wonderful job describing it. But, it is such a disservice to the book as a whole, as it needs drawings or pictures showing the movements in detail. The drawings or pictures will be such a great addition, even if the price of the book will jump an additional $20.00. I hope you update it as soon as you can. Thanks, Tony Gonzalez Moline, IL

The detail of the empty hand forms is amazing. This work could easily be used as a curriculum. This was my fourth Wing Chun book, most of the others were extremely disappointing, but not this one. This book does not feature many pictures, however it's detail in explanation more than makes up the difference.

Superb book! Unlike the majority of Wing Chun books which focus on specific techniques, lineage, and "trapping tricks" or "secrets" this book concisely and in my opinion accurately cuts to the heart of Wing Chun-- what makes it alive, devastating and flexible as a martial art. Rawcliffe writes clearly and eloquently, not trying to build himself up or impress. 5 stars for the information, plus another 1 star for the brevity, and yet another 1 star for the enjoyable style in which it's written. Not often you find a well deserving 7 star book!

simply perfect

Interesante

as someone who studied wing chun quite a few years ago i needed something to help me get back to the basics as i just started training again. i personally found this very helpful and help me understand the science behind the techniques as i wanted to try and get everything right from the beginning before i started to pick up any bad habits, which i now realise i had done before. its a great read and very easy to understand, good for referencing and understanding why you are doing these techniques, and why they are so efficient instead of just going through the motions. highly recommended for beginners or advanced students, shaun rawcliffe has got this bang on for me, well done.

Spiega bene e in maniera approfondita i principi e la struttura del wing chun

Not far into it but as a complete novice I find it a very good read and well laid out. Only thing I would disagree about is the anatomy diagram on I think page 27 where the heart and sternum I believe are in the wrong place, but that is small change.