What is Wushu?

Wushu 武术 is, literally, "the art of fighting," or “martial arts.” Westerners are more familiar with the term "Kung Fu," which translates loosely as "skill," and was popularized by Bruce Lee movies and the TV show "Kung Fu." "Wushu" now commonly refers to the type of Kung Fu popularized by Jet Li and films such as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "The Matrix". It emphasizes a clean and powerful style of movement, and is practiced as sharply aesthetic, highly athletic forms.

Wushu demands skill, concentration, spirit, and consistent dedication. For those who persevere, the rewards are great: strength, balance, and flexibility in mind and body, and the development of physical, mental, and spiritual resources.

Wushu has two main categories: routine exercises, or "forms," called "taolu" 套路 in Chinese, and free combat fighting, or sparring, called "sanshou" 散手 in Chinese.  While we have taught both forms and sparring at JING, we have recently focused our Wushu hours in the rigorous Forms training -- stretching, kicking, jumping, twisting, and wielding weapons large (staff, spear, pudao, etc) and small (straightsword, broadsword, chainwhip, etc).

 

Learn more about our JING Wushu Instructors and see our Class Schedule, then come visit.

Find out more about Wushu for Kids and our After-School Programs and Camps.

See fancy photos of Wushu by our JING Performance Team.

And read our favorite books: The Ultimate Guide to Martial Arts Movies of the 1970s and
Awakening the Sleeping Tiger

What is Wing Chun?

JING does not currently offer classes in Wing Chun. To learn Wing Chun in San Diego, please visit Wing Chun Kuen.

Translated literally, Wing Chun 永春 means "beautiful springtime," or "radiant springtime." Wing Chun is also called "Ving Tsun" or "Yong Chun."

Wing Chun's appeal is due both to its simplicity and to its depth. The key idea of Wing Chun is "economy of action implemented through the centerline." Correct positioning, feeling, timing, and strategy are utilized instead of brute strength, demonstrating that a difference in skill can make up for a difference in size. Enthusiasts of chess, music, and math are aware of how a few well-chosen concepts can produce a wealth of expression that can take a lifetime to explore – such is the case in Wing Chun.

Wing Chun is different from many of today's popular styles, such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Kung Fu. These styles block first and then attack. Wing Chun emphasizes self-defense, focusing on methods that allow a block and an attack in the same movement. The style is based on human biomechanics rather than animal movements, using primarily straight line, fast, direct strikes and sophisticated simultaneous blocking and striking techniques, redirecting the force of an opponent rather than attempting to meet a possibly greater force directly.

The way the art produces efficient fighters in a relatively short amount of time is by sticking to several core principles and by taking a very generic approach to techniques. Much training time is spent cultivating "Contact Reflexes." The student practices guarding various zones about the body and deals generically with whatever happens to be contacted or touched in that zone. This allows for a minimum of technique for a maximum of application, and for the use of an automatic or subconscious response.

Wing Chun kung fu teaches people how to defend themselves using practical and efficient fighting applications, including short-range power generation for close-range fighting, and using opponents' force against themselves.  Students develop sensitivity for the movements of their opponents, and therefore quick reactions and reflexes. Wing Chun also trains students' strength and structure so that they can easily and efficiently execute clean and proper techniques.
 

To learn Wing Chun in San Diego, please visit Wing Chun Kuen.

 

What is Bujinkan?

JING is honored to house Bujinkan Taka-Seigi Dojo | San Diego. The centerpiece of BTSD|SD training is Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and Shinken Taijutsu.

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is a collective of nine classical schools of Japanese warrior arts. These arts were used by the families and clans of feudal Japan to build and maintain a power base. The schools of the Bujinkan represent a rich tradition and heritage of victory. They enabled the warriors of the past to survive in society. These schools are the roots of many modern discourses such as Aikido, Judo, Karate, and Ju-Jitsu.

Shinken Taijutsu can be interpreted as a school of modern warfare. Shinken Taijutsu was formed from Shinkengata (real combat methods, originally developed by Takamatsu Soke and then refined by Hatsumi Soke), the Taijutsu of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, and the modern applications of many combat methods. In 1997, through Menkyo Kaiden, Shinkengata was given to Shihan Legare for the purpose of further developing it to be relevant in the 21st century. Shinken Taijutsu is taught by Shihan Legare on a seminar basis.

In a nutshell, if you think of Samurai and Special Forces; swords, spears, and firearms; striking, grappling, leaping, and rolling; strategy and tactics; philosophy, scholarship, and warriorship; then you are on target.

For more information, please visit the website of Bujinkan Taka-Seigi Dojo | San Diego.

What is Taiji?

Tai Chi 太极 translates as "the supreme ultimate."  In Chinese philosophy, Tai Chi is the mother of Yin and Yang. It is the theory of opposites, the positive and the negative, the full and the empty. 

The underlying philosophy of Tai Chi is that mind, body, energy, and spirit must be unified for wholeness and complete health. The martial philosophy of Tai Chi is  to channel potentially destructive energy (in the form of a kick or a punch) away from one in a manner that will dissipate the energy or send it in a direction where it is no longer a danger.

Taiji is practiced as a gentle and graceful, yet intense, exercise; Tai Chi emphasizes continuous movement, alert relaxation, solid stances, a straight body, and the movement of chi, or energy, throughout the body.  Taiji is well known for its many health benefits, including improving strength, balance, and flexibility; improving overall cardiovascular health; improving daytime alertness and night-time sleep; and easing the symptoms of as fibromyalgia.

At JING, we are proud that all students undergo solid foundational training in Taiji, building strong legs and coordinated movements that will serve them in practically all aspects of life, from running marathons to blowing glass to multitasking in the kitchen.  We are also very proud of our curriculum, which allow students to slowly and methodically learn all the major styles, forms, and weapons of Taiji in a rational, tiered set of classes.

Here is a short list of the some of the great Tai Chi we teach in San Diego:

Modern and Combined Forms
9-Form Beginner Tai Chi Fist (Taijiquan)
24-Form Tai Chi Fist (Taijiquan)
42-Fist Tai Chi Fist (Taijiquan)
48-Fist Tai Chi Fist (Taijiquan)
32-Tai Chi Sword (Taiji Jian)
42-Tai Chi Sword (Taiji Jian)
Tai Chi Broadsword (Taiji Dao)
Intermediate Tai Chi Fan (Taiji Shan)
Wudang Tai Chi Sword (Taiji Jian)

Single-Style Forms
Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi (Taiji) 40
Traditional Yang Style Tai Chi (Taiji) 108
Beginner Sun Style Tai Chi (Taiji) 
Sun Style Tai Chi (Taiji) 73
Beginner Wu Style Tai Chi (Taiji) 
Wu Style Tai Chi (Taiji) 45
Beginner Chen Style Tai Chi (Taiji)
Chen Style Tai Chi (Taiji) 36
Chen Style Tai Chi (Taiji) 56
Chen Style Tai Chi (Taiji) Sword

Push Hands
Yang Style Tai Chi Push-Hands
Chen Style Tai Chi Push-Hands

 

Learn more about our JING Taiji Instructors, see our Class Schedule, then come visit.

See fancy photos of Taiji by our JING Performance Team.

Learn about our Great-Grandmaster, Professor Li Deyin.

Read about JING's own "28-Form White Crane Health Exercise".

And read the definitive book of Taiji: Taijiquan, by Li Deyin
 

What is Bagua / Pa Kua?

Bagua 八卦(also known as Pa Kua) is, arguably, the most circular, refined, and complex of all martial arts. Bagua comprises one of the major 3 internal styles of China alongside Xingyi (Hsing-I) and Taiji (Tai Chi). As with these other 2 internal styles, the practice of Bagua generates Qi (internal energy) for both health and combat purposes.

From the book Dragon Stretches its Claws: An Illustrated Manual of Bagua Zhang, by Liu Jing Ru and CS Tang,

“Move like a dragon; Swing about like a monkey; and Change postures like an eagle.
 

“Make steps as if you are wading through mud; Twist both hands as if you are twisting a rope; and Turn about as if you are turning a stone mill.”
 

Named after the mystic Eight Trigrams (Ba Gua), an ancient system of divination, Baguazhang (Ba Gua Palm) is a martial art that employs subtle movement, explosive power and a unique form of maneuvering.  But Baguazhang is more than just a martial art. Its elegant and balletic yet powerful forms build strength, coordination, and flexibility, while its traditional postures and exercises enhance Nei Gong (Inner Strength).

The most distinctive trait of Baguazhang is that its movements imitate Taoist circle-walking, and twisting and circling are the norm. Bagua movements are intended to be smooth and co-ordinated, with the body employed as a whole. Reliance is not placed on the use muscle power generated from a single portion of the body, rather the source of power in Baguazhang is the Dantian, (considered the body's Qi centre located in the lower part of the abdomen two inches below the navel).

Bagua practitioners also practice with many weapons, ranging from small concealed weapons to oversized broadswords. Training with these weapons help teach the practitioner about the proper linkage and internal balance, as well as how to use the weapons effectively and, perhaps more importantly, how to defend against them.

 

JING does not currently hold group classes in Bagua, but we welcome you to train in Wushu and Taiji to build your foundations; and then, when our Bagua coaches deam you ready, you can schedule private lessons.   Please call 858-578-8267 or email  info@JINGinstitute.com to begin! 
 

 

What is Qigong /Chi Kung?

Again from the wonderful website www.vivalachi.com:

Qi 气 or Chi is one of the most difficult of all Chinese concepts to comprehend. The literal meaning of Qi is “breath” or “air”, and by extension, “breath of life “, “life force” or “energy that sustains living beings”. The Chinese believe that the flow of Qi governs nature and life.

For more and much more detailed information about Qi and Qigong, and to schedule classes or healing sessions, please visit the Dr.s' website, www.vivalachi.com.

 

For Moving Meditation, where we practice Qigong from the outside in, please join one of our Taiji classes.

Read about Developments in Qigong and Acupuncture Research.

 

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9865 Businesspark Avenue, Suite D, San Diego, CA 92131
Phone (858) 578-8267