Wu Wei Gung Fu
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Wu - Wei Gung - Fu (translated as "The Spontaneous Movement of the Gung Fu") is a Chinese non-classical Martial Art, based on the original teachings of Bruce Lee and on Wing Chun Gung Fu.
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[edit] History
(It is important to note that the history of Wing Chun Gung Fu (or - Wing Chun) was passed orally, and therefore many versions exist as to the exact history of Wing Chun's creation. Despite this, most versions concur on the existence of 3 major characters: Ng Mui, Yim Wing Chun, and Leung Bok-chau (Wing Chun's husband).)
About 300 years ago, Yim Wing Chun lived in central China. In her youth she studied the classical Gung Fu system "Plum Flower Fist", taught to her by the Buddhist nun Ng Mui. In the course of her studies Wing Chun found this fighting system to be obsolete and ungainly, and proceeded to develop a Gung Fu system of her own: a system based on the concept of Wu - Wei – that which fits the moment. This new martial art was then named after her: "Wing Chun Gung Fu" (Also known as "Wing Chun", "Ving Tsun", or "Wing Tsun").
Wing Chun taught the new system to her husband, Leung Bok Chau, a performer. The two masters of the new system traveled across China, passing the system on to a chosen few. Many years later, the system was taught to a man who was to become one of the world's renowned martial artists: Yip Kai Man (Also known as Yip Man). Yip Kai Man, who was born in China, taught Wing Chun in Hong Kong, and was very renowned for his skills in Chi Sau techniques.
One of Yip Man's students was a man who became very famous in his own lifetime: Lee Jun Fan, also known as Bruce Lee. After leaving Hong Kong and moving to the USA, in which he was born, Lee, who was one of Yip Kai Man's most talented students, wished to carry on teaching the system he was taught. Due to Yip Man's firm objection to teach the system to non-Chinese, Lee had to abandon the system's name. Instead, he named what he taught "Jun Fun Gung Fu" (meaning, Bruce Lee's Gung Fu). The revised system was to become the martial art: Jeet Kune Do (The Way of the Intercepting Fist) (today officially called "Jun Fun Jeet Kune Do").
Amongst the first to study under Lee's instruction on the lawns of Seattle University, Washington, was Joseph Cowles, the founder of Wu - Wei Gung - Fu. After a few years of being Lee's student in Seattle, Cowles – by then one of Lee's most dedicated students – asked for his permission to teach Jun Fan Gung Fu. While Lee would not authorize the use of his name, he approved of Cowles' wish to teach self defense. In 1970, Cowles moved to Dallas, Texas. The following year he began teaching.
Wishing to avoid the use of names and titles that were not his to use, he called the system which he taught Wu - Wei Gung - Fu, named after the Chinese philosophical concept that describes spontaneous action (Wu - Wei): a concept highly regarded also by Lee himself, who, when once asked by Cowles which technique was "best", replied "There is no best. That which fits the moment is best!".
In 20 January 2006, Cowles retired and appointed Eyal Koren as his successor, awarding him with a 9th degree red sash and making him Jo-Si: the head of Wu - Wei Gung - Fu worldwide, with Soke Joe Purcell as his parallel in the USA.
[edit] The basic concept
A Chinese fable demonstrates the notion of Wu-Wei:
The gray heron, sitting motionless and staring at the charging eagle, seems to be a helpless victim - but as the eagle is about to seize its prey, he often ends up impaled on the heron's sharp beak due to the momentum of its own attack. The heron had but little choice. It chose the only path available to it: pointing its beak at the charging eagle. That was the right choice to make in order to survive. This is a classical example of the Taoist notion of Wu - Wei: "Doing nothing, yet accomplishing everything".
Wu - Wei Gung - Fu is based upon quintessential non-classical elements. Joseph Cowles, the system's founder and Bruce Lee's student, named the system after one of his teacher's most cherished philosophical notions: Wu-Wei, the principle of spontaneous action and of using that which fits the moment. Not inaction, but rather the effective achievement of a goal with minimal expanse of energy.
"...my action is that of Wu-Wei (spontaneous act) which is according to the circumstances without pre-arrangement." - Bruce Lee[1]
The system is based upon Wing Chun Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do, and also incorporates techniques and concepts derived from western boxing, Jiu-jitsu, Aiki-jitsu, Aikido, Muay-Thai, Escrima-Kali and Sambo. The students of the system learn hands and footwork, holds and bars, trapping (Martial Arts), grappling and the use of sharp and blunt weapons. Though the system doesn't include the use of firearms, it does contain techniques against an aggressor armed with such weapons. Wu - Wei Gung - Fu training strives to develop its students' mental and physical abilities. After several years of training, each student is encouraged to find his or hers own path within the system's teachings.
[edit] The Founder
Prof. Joseph Cowles, the founder of Wu - Wei Gung - Fu, was a friend and a student of Lee Jun Fan (Bruce Lee), and is a friend and a teacher of Jo-Si Eyal Koren, the current head of the system. Prof. Cowles was born in the USA on January 20, 1928. Following a two years service in the US Marines, Prof. Cowles started training in Judo in a YMCA branch in Seattle. In the very same year he met Lee, who was yet to open his first school, The Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute[2], and became his personal student. After Bruce Lee had taught Gung Fu in Seattle for several years, Prof. Cowles, who was by then one of his most dedicated students, asked his permission to teach Jun Fan Gung Fu. While Lee would not allow the use of his name, he did tell Cowles he could teach self-defense. Cowles moved to the Dallas area of Texas in 1970, and in 1971 began teaching a few students.
In order to not encroach upon Lee's name or the name of his art, he termed his teaching Wu - Wei Gung - Fu - based on the Chinese philosophical concept of spontaneous action.
Degrees and Achievements[3]:
- In 1974, Prof. Cowles received a mark of recognition from Prof. Larry Brooks for his exceptional contribution to the Bushido Jiu-jitsu Ryu Society.
- In 1978 he received the rank of Shodai for the system he founded.
- In 1983 Prof. Cowles was appointed Western States Executive Director for the Society of Black Belts of America by the society's founder, Robert L. Murphy.
- Prof. Cowles is a lifetime member of the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute and of Kimishin-Kai, and holds the rank of Godan in Kimishin-Ryu.
[edit] Head of the System
Jo-Si Eyal Koren was born on August 7, 1963 in Israel. He is married and is the father of two children. Koren was acquainted with the martial arts at the age of 12. He began his training in Goju-Ryu Karate and in the classical martial art of the Shaolin temple, Shaolin Five Animals. After years of training, Koren heard word of the martial art of Wu - Wei Gung - Fu founded by Joseph Cowles, a student of the late Bruce Lee. Koren traveled to the USA and was taught by Cowles, who later authorized him as the system's delegate in Europe, Australia and Israel. Koren has been teaching in Jerusalem since 1986 and has developed many combat theories and techniques that were later tested and approved by Prof. Cowles. In 2006, upon his retirement, Cowles made Koren Jo-Si: the head of Wu - Wei Gung - Fu worldwide.
[edit] References
- ^ Lee, Bruce (1999). Chinese Gung Fu: The philosophical art of self defense, 19th edition, Ohara Publications inc., 7. ISBN 0897501128.
- ^ Andy Kimura
- ^ Board Members
