Larne WingTsun Seminar - May 2010

Si-Hing Michael O'Leary paid a visit to Larne on Sunday 23rd of May to give another WingTsun seminar in Si-Hing James McQuaid's school. As well as attendees from Larne, some of the students from the Dublin City Centre and Blanchardstown school's travelled up. The theme of the seminar was the concept of the Biu-Tze form and how various WingTsun movements are linked by this common thread.

The highest empty hand form in WingTsun is the Biu-Tze. The name "Biu Tze" roughtly translates as "thrusting fingers" and the form itself is characterised by powerful open hand strikes rather than the punching techniques from the Siu-Nim-Tau and Chum-Kiu forms.

The Biu-Tze also has many techniques to deal with close range situations such as the use of elbows to attack and defend.

WingTsun has been described as quite structured at the beginning but more formless at an advanced stage. This is reflected in the Biu-Tze form where Bong-Sau's become elbow strikes and Tan-Sau's become open hand strikes and the difference between them is minimal.

Traditionally there was also a saying that the Biu-Tze form does not leave the door. This means that the form and its applications was only taught to advanced students/inner members of the group. By the time that a student learned the Biu-Tze, he would be very proficient in WingTsun and he could afford to let his opponent come closer rather than attacking them at the first chance.

However while many people rightly equate a high level of WingTsun with the Biu Tze, they think that if they learn the form and its applications then they too will be a high level. The movements in the Biu-Tze are only effective if they sit on top of good basic WingTsun and this is what the students worked on during the seminar. Sharpening up their basics while gaining an insight as to how these fundamentals can be developed further.