Review of the Ving Tsun Musuem's Wing Chun Series #5/6 Biu Ji: Thrusting Fingers & Focus Control DVD by Sifu Benny Meng

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Review of: VTM Wing Chun Series #5/6 Biu Ji: Thrusting Fingers & Focus Control By Sifu Benny Meng

Review by: Todd Taganashi
DVD Bought on: Everything Wing Chun
This DVD is also available for download on Everything Wing Chun Instant Access

Quick Review:
Part 1:
Biu Ji is the third hand form taught in Wing Chun Gung Fu. For years this level of training was kept as a highly-guarded secret in the Ip Man Wing Chun School, and it was only taught to a few select "closed door" students. I have seen a quite a few videos on Biu Ji and I have to say that each Sifu has his (or her) own interpretation of the applications and true purpose behind this form, perhaps due to the secretive nature this form had for so many years. However, they all seem to agree that this form contains the most advanced concepts and techniques of the Wing Chun system. Contained in this form are some very special techniques that the Wing Chun man can use to recover the dominant position if he finds that he has lost the advantage in a fight.

In the VTM Wing Chun Series #5 Sifu Benny Meng teaches the advanced-level concepts and applications of the Biu Ji Level. He starts out by first demonstrating the Biu Ji form in its entirety, and then goes over each individual movement one by one. Sifu Meng always does a fantastic job explaining each movement in great detail. I would say that his videos contain the most extensive explanations of each movement than any other I have seen to date. This is a testament to Sifu Meng's encyclopedia-like knowledge of Wing Chun. After watching his videos it will become clear to even the uneducated martial artist that Wing Chun Gung Fu is a highly-evolved form of personal combat. Throughout his videos Sifu Meng always stresses concept over technique. After demonstrating the Biu Ji applications, a good deal of time is dedicated to discussing fine details such as positioning and energy release. I have heard some say that if you mastered the Sil Nim Tao and Chum Kiu Levels of training you would never have a need for the techniques of Biu Ji. Possibly, but I don't think so. Sifu Meng points out at the end of the video that the purpose of Biu Ji training is not only to learn how to recover from a bad position but also to develop explosive power. As always Sifu Benny Meng has provided present and future students of the martial art world with a fine video which demonstrates, documents, and teaches the devastating fighting art of Wing Chun.

Part 2:
Part two of the VTM Biu Ji video focuses heavily on the combat strategies and philosophies of Wing Chun Gung Fu. Sifu Meng starts this lesson with a short discussion on the subject of efficiency , one of the main philosophies in Wing Chun. He goes on to describe how, in the realm of personal combat, this efficiency can be translated into minimum time, energy, and movement. From there Sifu Meng demonstrates how Wing Chun uses this combat efficiency when fighting in the four ranges of combat (kicking, punching, trapping, and grappling range). Anyone who has reached the Biu Ji level of training should be well-practiced in the concept of facing and the six gates, since these two areas are crucial to the combat efficiency of Wing Chun. Sifu Meng does an exceptional job when it comes to teaching at this level. A lot of people think that the Wing Chun system is only good for close range fighting, but after they see this video they will think differently. Sifu Meng teaches that, by using the concept of facing in combination with the instinctive defense of the six gates, there is no attack against which the Wing Chun Fighter cannot defend. The last part of this video concentrates on what, for lack of a better word, I will call "advanced" Chi Sau techniques. Here Sifu Meng teaches how Wing Chun's main concepts should be applied while practicing Chi Sau. There are four primary striking techniques taught in this section and then combinations thereof are demonstrated as well. Once again Sifu Meng and his assistant Sifu Roadruck do a great job with the very difficult task of relaying to the viewer a sense of the energy requirements that makes these techniques work. I have heard of Chi Sau, and the entire combat system of Wing Chun itself, described as a continuous play of hard and soft energy. To be able to demonstrate that play of energy on video so that the viewer can actually get a feel for it ,as Sifu Meng has done, is very commendable. Overall Sifu Benny Meng's VTM Wing Chun Series Biu Ji DVD is one of the best on the market today. The combination of high quality production, outstanding demonstrations, and solid teaching plan set Sifu Meng's videos in a class by themselves.

Technical Review:

• DVD Length: 112 Minutes
• Display: NTSC
• Region: 0
• Type: DVD-R
• Language: English (No Subtitles)
• Video Quality: High (Professional Production)
• Audio Quality: High (Professional Production)

Content Review:
Part 1:

• Introduction
  • Opening the DVD is a very nice short historical segment introducing Sifu Meng, detailing his journey in the art of Wing Chun and paying homage to the many great masters under whom he studied.
• Biu Ji Form Demonstrated by Sifu Benny Meng
• Biu Ji Form Section by Section
  • Sifu Meng has one of his advanced students go through the Biu Ji form section by section as he explains the details of each movement.
  • Hook Horse
  • Punch & Biu Ji
  • Wing Chun Elbows
  • Emergency Hands
  • Pressing Elbow
  • Hacking Elbow
  • Palm Strikes
  • High and Middle Gate Chopping Hands
  • Asking and Sending Off Hands
  • Encircling Hand
  • Thrusting Hand
  • Long Bridge Grasping Arm
  • Three Bows to Buddha
• Attributes Developed by Practicing the Biu Ji
  • Ability to Recover From a Bad Position
  • Explosive Power to the Extremity
• Review
• Release Energy (Explosive Power)

Part 2:

• Overview
  • Sifu Meng gives a brief overview of everything that we have learned through practicing at the three levels of hand forms: Sil Nim Tao, Chum Kiu, and Biu Ji. He also goes over the fighting strategy and philosophies of Wing Chun.
  • Efficiency
  • Economy of Movement
• Long Range Combat Strategy
• Trapping Range Combat Strategy
• Grappling Range Combat Strategy
• Wing Chun Gate Theory
• The Gate Theory as it is Applied in Chi Sau
  • Take Over the Center
• Gate Theory Demonstration
  • Six Gate vs Three Gate
• Biu Ji and Thrusting Power
  • Using Two Hands to Strike During Chi Sau Practice
• Five Major Striking Techniques
  • Sifu Meng demonstrates five major Wing Chun techniques used during Chi Sau practice.
  • Breaking the Center
  • Spread Hit
  • Slap Hit
  • Grab Hit
  • Combinations
• Tactics
• Conclusion