I first started martial arts at the age of fourteen. I grew up in a small town in New Zealand, so the choice of styles were limited. I trained in Kempo Karate and a little boxing. I studied on and off until I moved to Australia where I continued my training in boxing for a couple of years, until I met a man from Thailand, who introduced me to Thai Kickboxing. I studied for two years until I moved to Sydney, where I continued training in Kickboxing, which led me to start fighting in the ring. I trained hard and fought in the ring for five years, which led me to winning the ISKA Cruiser Weight Australian Kickboxing title in March 2004. At this stage I started to look around at other styles. I trained grappling and ground fighting for a short time, but came to realise that if there were two fighters both with the same skill, same fitness, same fighting spirit but one was heavier, the heavier of the two would win the fight. So again I started to look around for another style, which could take care of the heavier fighter. This led me to the Wing Tsun School in Randwick. Within thirty seconds of watching Si-Fu Fisher demonstrate the principles and technique of WT I knew this was my calling. Everything that I was looking for in a system was right in front of me. I joined up and I'm on the journey. I really enjoy the classes. It's very hands on, everyone is there to help each other, no big egos. Si-Fu and Si-Hing are always moving around the class making sure that all the students are doing their techniques correctly. No one misses out, it doesn't matter if you have taken on WT as a hobby or more seriously, everyone gets the same amount of time. WT gives you a great balance and confidence in life,the forms in WT can be used as a form of meditation,which i find it very peaceful to the mind. WT is a no nonsense self defence system that is real and works. It is designed to overcome the attacker or attackers with the least amount of time.you don't have to be stronger or heavier than your attacker to defeat them,this is why the WT system was designed for woman. WT is by far the best self defence system that i have seen and also training in,for those people out their who what to learn the the real thing,i would not go past the WT system, YOU WON'T BE SORRY. BRENT TAMATI
WT Comes Out On Top Again Brisbane WT student puts his skill into action in real life self defence situation .This real life account is almost a text book Blitz-Defence scenario with typical “Ritual Fight” displays from the attackers. My name is David Webster, I am 29 years old and I am currently a Rifleman in the Royal Australian Regiment. I have studied the martial arts since I was in year 3 Primary School. I have been involved in types of martial art from Ju Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do; Zen Do Kai in the early years with most time spent studying Muay Thai and Brazilian Jui Jitsu in Western Australia. I finally discovered Wing Tsun when I moved to Brisbane in November 2003.I have trained hard “with all guns blazing” to learn all that Wing Tsun offers. Just like any other keen student “I can’t get enough”. On 1st July I was on holidays shopping and enjoying a day in the city by myself. I used a pay phone in the Mall to ring home, as I finished my call I walked backwards a few steps straight into a group of “Rapper Thugs”. Not having looked where I was going I was quick to apologise to their faces, not after any trouble. Well trouble is what followed, they told me to watch were I was going you “F**K Head. Seeing 5 people who wanted to give me a hard time I said “look I’m Sorry OK”, One of the thugs then told me to ” f**k off”. I turned to him and said “don’t Gob off mate, I said I’m sorry”. Then I was punched immediately from a thug to my left. It was a punch to my eye which just glanced off my head. I snapped and in a split second I followed through with lap sao punch as he punched again with his right fist. I landed a knockout right on the button. I knew I was surrounded so I turned right with a right high wedge punch followed by WT Universal Solution, and advanced chain punching till I was punching air because the thug was on his back out cold. I was hit once or twice roughly to the back of my head from someone behind, so I stepped forward and turned back with a nice side kick from Chum Kui form. This was no place for Brazilian Jui Jitsu as I would have had my head kicked from all directions if I had gone to the floor. Clearing a path I left the other 2 attackers to help their knocked out mates. I ran off through town, but it was not over for me yet as one managed to follow me somehow and perhaps used a mobile phone to call his mates telling them of my escape location. At this point I had got away and was reflecting how my expert Si Hing and Si Fu had taught me a system that I would never forget or ever give up to another martial art because it works like a reflex. Unfortunately the thugs caught up again after I sort refuge in the Casino. As I left the building I was approached again but this time I was going to get the first punch. Luck was on my side as only four had returned for a second go at me. As the thugs came into my distance I did whatever I could to end this fight and get away. I attacked with WT to the best of my ability and did not give them a chance to hit me again. The last guy just stood there as I went right through his friends. He did not attempt to follow me again. I will never stop training WT for as long as I live and I will strive to Master every level I can achieve. Thank You David Webster Brisbane Student 2nd Grade Important Note: Although all worked out fine for David. It is not advised that you confront your attackers a second time if you can avoid it. The reason for this is that they could easily come better prepared, including larger numbers and even more dangerous, they could be carrying weapons. It is also recommended that you file an incident report with the local Police. KEEP IN MIND ONLY USE WINGTSUN FOR SELF-DEFENCE
I would like to share with you my path to WT. My first taste of self defence began when I was 11 years old doing Karate, I found this did not appeal to me so I stopped. I then took up Tae Kwon Do with some friends at a local PCYC in my home town of Cairns. After doing approx 2 years of this I felt that I was not able to cover every aspect of self defence principles, therefore I stopped going and decided to do what most other teenagers were doing at the time, and that was boxing. It is from boxing that I thought I could reach my goal of self defence and attack and learn some tricks of the trade along the way. During my boxing days, I would train up to 4 days per week and thought I was really excelling from the training. I was fortunate enough to have several amateur fights on the boxing circuit, including entering a "tough man "competition, and competed in a cage fighting competition and have a taste of "grappling which was becoming big sport at the time. However WT has given me the ability not to let myself be on my back in a situation. At the time I thought I was doing the right thing as far as self defence goes, now looking back I think how wrong I was. Enduring several lashings is not the best way to learn. Since joining WT I feel that I have given myself the best possible discipline to equip myself in situations where tension is the enemy. Prior to joining WT I made sure I shopped around for the most appropriate technique and now I am definitely sure I made the correct decision. WT principles are precise and are derived from real life scenario's, so it is not the case of just doing something at training and it's not possible to relate it to real life situations, WT only works on scenario based techniques. Not only have I learnt not to let my opponent touch me in any way shape or form, instilled in me is principles of position and control. I have also learnt that strength and power are not the winning formula. I recently completed my law degree and now I am working in Criminal law which has opened my eyes to antisocial activity which makes me appreciate my wanting to take up self defence again. For me WT is interesting to learn and it has programs designed for women, whereas not a lot of martial arts have. WT is my answer to confidence and ability. James
My name is Bob Elder and I am a 7th grade student at Randwick HQ, Sydney Australia and train under Sifu Stefan Fischer. I have no previous martial arts experience and come to think of it, I've never really hit anything in my life - maybe a door or wall, but that's about it. I've been a musician for nearly 30 years, 15 of which were full time professional. In that time I've done records, cds, videos and a million gigs around Aust.& NZ., anything from executive functions and weddings to bush rodeos and the most hostile bikie gang gigs. Music equals fashion and trends and there is always someone who disagrees with or dislikes your music, hair, clothes, shoes, makeup, moving, whatever - they have an opinion! Go back 30 years and you've got quite a few wardrobe and hair style changes and a few of the times I hated it more than they did! Anyways, as you can imagine, I've built up quite an arsenal of smart arse come backs and put downs and this was always my first reaction and response, give as good as you get and they will leave you alone. Man, I was aggro, ready, didn't have a clue but hey bring it on brother! Note to the editor; not with the bikies, they were alway right. A couple of weeks ago I played at a pub in the Rocks, same drunks, same 'play some blah blah blah ya poof'. All night long. Thankyou. But I realised I wasn't responding, I was letting it wash, I realised I wasn't that insecure anymore. It wasn't arrogance, I wasn't a fighter or a martial artist, I just wasn't that interested. Instead of absorbing I was able to deflect. Don't take it personally. As my Si hing Stefan Mai often says, 'look but don't touch'. This is something that, upon starting a martial arts school, I never really expected to achieve. I am a small guy, I've seen people go around bigger band members to get to me to whinge about the very people they just went around! GO TELL THEM!! Life goes on, and I've moved on - I've got the marriage, the mortgage and the menopause, but this is better than I expected, this WT thing. I have trained as hard and intense as I can, made some bloody good friends and leant some incredible things about myself and other people. I personally don't want to ever find out how good this is, I don't want to hit anyone. But I never expected to have this inner peace, this confidence to walk away, this responsibility of power and control. Thankyou - Chung Si Yip Man, Si Jo Leung Ting, Si Gung Kernspectt and Sifu Stefan Fischer. Bob Elder - Sydney
12 months ago I began researching the martial arts, looking for the most effective style available. Being of small stature and carrying an irreparable knee injury, I was keen to locate a style that: - would not rely solely on strength
- made 20 minute flexibility routines redundant
- would be practical with my injury
- would be equally effectively in 30 years when I'm not as strong or agile.
Whilst comparing the styles, I was recommended to WT by a former army officer, now training other martial professionals the world over. He holds black belts in a range of martial styles, though had not participated in WT. Importantly, I had never met this gentleman, and he'd never met Sifu Stefan. As a result, I was confident that his views were impartial. He was very impressed with WT's simplicity and effectiveness as observed at several demonstrations. At the same time, he had learnt that Si-Fu Stefan's organisation were serious martial artists who were serious about teaching WT. The comment that swayed me was that the best self-defense style needs to combine elements of evasion and avoidance and not rely on blocking force with force other than as a last resort. From what he had seen, WT did this best. It is now 9 months since I began, and I have just completed my 2nd Level. Though I travel an hour to get to Si-Fu's classes, the journey's are well worth the effort. I've found WT to be extremely effective and well taught by patient, interested instructors. All members of the club have been welcoming and willing assist in the learning process. WT's advantage seems to be the quality of it's few techniques. It focuses on compact movements and simple strategy for self-defense. There is never a question about which technique is appropriate for a particular situation. I can master the techniques comfortably regardless of my knee problem, and have absolute confidence that as the years pass, I will still be able to look after myself using WT.I recommend WT to anyone who wishes to learn extremely effective self-defense. Paul Rheinberger
I was first introduced to Martial Arts in my school years practicing Tae Kwon Do. I was only a belt away from a black belt but I did some thinking and realized that going to classes felt like a chore, and that not only was it a chore but I was getting bored and it felt that this art had no more to offer me. Still being a fan of Martial Arts, I stumbled across WingTsun on the internet and in magazines. My interest in WT was getting bigger, so one day I visited Si-Fu Stefan Fischer's school in Randwick, and I was impressed when I saw the demonstration, Si-Fu offered a 1 week free trial and half way through the trial I knew this is what I wanted to do. Wt to me is an effective system, which has plenty to offer me, I found Si-Fu to be an approachable and a gentleman, and at the same time a very technical and impressive WingTsun teacher. After a while, I enjoyed WT so much I joined the Full-time Academy and I am happy to be in the WT family. Frank Fernandez.
My interest in martial arts was always to train in the most effective self-defense techniques available. After watching grapplers devastate all comers in UFC events, like many people, I believed that this was the way to train. I chose Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and eagerly enjoyed training for over three years. After a few confrontations I realised that I was too happy to go to the ground instead of going there as a last resort. This situation made me an easy target for other aggressive parties, despite being in a position in which I was supposed to have the upper hand. The results of such incidents weren't worth entertaining. What I wanted was an art with the scope to fight at all distances, that could meet violence with equal aggression and wasn't susceptible to the common attacks from other arts. After attending an exhibition and training for some time I believe that Wing Tsun certainly fulfills my requirements. The logic and principles behind WT are undeniable. Wing Tsun has helped my confidence in my defense abilities incredibly. I'm happy Wing Tsun is now my Martial art of choice. Glenn Sparham
My first exposure to the martial arts was in 1994 while studying at Macquarie University. I learnt Tae Kwon Do there for 4 years (getting a black belt after 3). It was great, it improved my fitness and was very good socially. I started training Wu Shu whilst at Macquarie before I obtained my blackbelt (in Tae Kwon Do) and was training both arts for about a year and a half before stopping Tae Kwon Do and continuing with the Wu Shu.About three years ago I moved to Newtown and stopped Wu Shu. I then looked around for something new and found Kick Boxing. As luck would have it, there was a hail storm two years ago which ruined our training hall. I then had to looked around for something new. I was considering doing either Brazilian Ju-Jitsu or Capoera. Luckily I saw Stephan's WT sign one Saturday and checked it out. The scientific approach that WT takes to fighting was what got me hooked. It made more sense than anything else I had ever seen or read about. I love the way little parts of the puzzle drop into place every now and then. I believe that after training WT for 6 months I was much more capable of defending myself than what my black belt in Tae Kwon Do had taught me. I've now found my martial art and don't have to look any further. Matt
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