Wing Chun recognizes that combat is not a structured event where two men compete according to a pre-arranged set of rules and a definition of victory. Rather it is about defending your life, your loved ones, your rights, and your freedoms. It is facing multiple attackers who may be wielding weapons against you. It is not "pretty" or "elegant". Rather it must be simple, direct, and to the point. Accordingly, Wing Chun training is a no-nonsense, combat-intensive approach to self-defense; it is quick, deadly, efficient, simple, logical, and very, very easy to learn. Wing Chun students learn to defend themselves with hands, feet, knees, elbows, sticks, knives, and anything else that can be used as a weapon.

Yet with all of that, Wing Chun is a sophisticated set of principles that can be used by men and women of any shape or size. Wing Chun is known as a soft art, meaning that it derives its power from relaxation; it is also considered an internal art according to the original definition of relying on sound bone structure rather than on muscular strength.

Wing Chun offers a complete approach to self-defense in that it covers all aspects of fighting from entering to ground fighting, but unlike many of the popular mixed martial arts Wing Chun doesn’t take what it considers useful from several other separate arts, rather it has always been a unified system with a central unified theory which doesn’t require a change of mind-set to move from one aspect to another.

Because Wing Chun’s concern is self-defense, rather than competition, training emphasizes boxing. Consequently, the system is based on the most efficient and safe way to punch. Instead of compiling a list of unrelated punches, kicks and blocks, Wing Chun designed an adaptable punch that can become whatever the situation requires. In other words, if the techniques of a martial art can be compared to tools in a tool box, the Wing Chun punch is more like a Leatherman® Multi-tool, except that the Wing Chun punch converts from one tool to another much more quickly and there are more options to choose from. This adaptability has given rise to another unique feature of Wing Chun training, sensitivity training, in which the punch responds to angles and pressures received from the attacker’s punches or blocks. This type of training frees up the brain so that it may focus on the higher-level aspects of a fight.

This type of training is also combat intensive, so most of class time is spent on partner-training drills and controlled sparring.

Wing Chun’s unique approach to self-defense has given rise to a holistic approach to training. Rather than giving students a closed set of skills and techniques to master before they can advance, Wing Chun gives students the whole set of skills from the beginning, let’s them familiarize themselves with these skills, and then works to deepen understanding of and perfect the performance of those skills throughout the training. The system works at perfecting these skills through six fighting forms, each of which assumes familiarity with the preceding form. However, since each course helps to perfect the skills from the course before, mastery of one form cannot be achieved without exposure to the concepts of the subsequent forms. This holistic approach to training resists attempts to rank the students of Wing Chun as in white-belt, brown-belt, black-belt, etc. However, students naturally improve as they move from one course to another.

At the Wing Chun Hall, there is no standard monthly fee for tuition. Rather, tuition is fixed to each course. However, students can make monthly payments until they complete payment for each course.

In order to more deeply understand the concepts, principles and techniques in each course students are encouraged to repeat courses and help to teach others. Therefore, graduates of any course who are still students of a more advanced course can return to a given course for no extra fee. Students who finish all of the courses are encouraged to continue to train by returning to any course and to practice in the open sessions. They may continue training for a low fee of $50/mo, or they may continue studying to become an instructor.

The following gives a brief description of each course. For more information on any given course, search the linked page attached to that course.

For information on seminars, click here: •Seminars

Form: Fundamental Concepts

Length: Six weeks

Tuition: $80

Class Times: Introductory Courses start every week. Check the "News" tab for the next date and call (801) 487-7438 for an appointment.

• Introductory Course

Form: Fundamental Concepts

Length: Six months

Tuition: $540 or $90/mo

Class Times: Tuesday/Thursday 7pm--stay posted for daytime classes.

• Novice Course

Form: Establishing Bridges

Length: Twelve months

Tuition: $1200 or $100/mo

Class Times: Monday/Wednesday 7pm--stay posted for daytime classes.

• Intermediate Course

Form: Explosive Extremities

Length: Nine months

Tuition: $990 or $110/mo

Class Times: Tuesday/Thursday 6pm--stay posted for daytime classes.

• Advanced Course

Form: Wooden Man Form

Length: Twelve months

Tuition: $1440 or $120/mo

Class Times: Tuesday/Thursday 6pm--stay posted for daytime classes

• Wooden Man Course

Form: Dragon Pole Form

Length: Four months

Tuition: $480 or $120/mo

Class Times: Monday/Wednesday 6pm--stay posted for daytime classes

• Dragon Pole Course

Form: Eight Direction Slashing Swords

Length: Twelve months

Tuition: $1440 or $120/mo

Class Times: Monday/Wednesday 6pm--stay posted for daytime classes

• Butterfly Swords Course

In addition to the traditional Wing Chun training forms listed above, there are a few forms of additional training. One such experience is the Mui Fa Jong, or "plum flower posts." This apparatus consists of 6 posts, approximately 12 inches high, arranged in the pattern of a 5 pointed star, or plum blossom, with one post in the center. Two students will stand atop these posts and fight, attempting to knock the other student off the posts, in an attempt to study balance. Students who have a Mui Fa Jong at their disposal will quickly gain a more solid understanding of footwork, which clearly manifests itself in all aspects of training.

Hei Gong is the study of internal energy, and is an integral part of Wing Chun training, beginning in Siu Lim Tao. The training of Hei Gong accompanies the empty hand forms in how it is learned. In Siu Lum Tao, students learn to create and build energy in their Dan Tien. Chum Kiu students practice placing energy throughout their body, while Biu Jee students understand how to release energy with their motions. However, while students are various stages of training study Hei Gong, it is important to realize that this is a very personal form of training, as each students understanding and ability will be very different.