World of Windy City Wing Chun
Creating a grading system gives students a sense of where they are in terms of their skill, so Ken and I finally came up with a system that we thought would aide the student in knowing where they are in their training journey.
Being a geek of the old Dungeons & Dragons days, I asked a simple question, “If I were to make a Wing Chun character what abilities would that individual have that would distinguish him/her from other martial artist?”
The levels in the world of WCWC are represented in standard D&D format, with the lowest possible rating being that of a 3 to the highest rating being an 18. Each ability is broken down into 3 levels. For example, the listening stage is the first level any practioner can achieve in the sticky ability, and the correlated skill rating would be anywhere from a 3 to a 7 for level 1. Similar to grade school A – F letter scale, if someone was achieving 50% listening ability in listening he would rank in the neighborhood of a 5 (grade of C). However, that ranking is what the student can do the majority of time, that doesn't mean he doesn't have glimpses of being able to do things in level 2 or possibly level 3.
Going from rating 4 to 5 is in fact a major leap in skill ability, though it may seem a small fluctuation numerically. If each rating represents an ability that one can do at 50%, in order to get to the next number rating, one must improve by 100%.
Level 1
3 - F
4 - D
5 - C
6 - B
7 - A
Level 2
8 -F
9 - D
10 - C
11 - B
12 - A
Level 3
13 - F
14 - D
15 - C
16 - B
17 - A
18 Mastery
Stick
Stick is the number one ability that a Wing Chun Gung Fu practioner possess. It is what separates him/her from any other martial artist. Without any kind of sticking ability, one would simply be exchanging hit for hit with his opponent, but the WC Fighter doesn't simply carry a weapon, but a shield and weapon upon anything that he does, consistently controlling and hitting upon will.
1) Listening - (3 - 7) Stage 1 of sticky hands involves the ability to listen not only to oneself when dealing with the force, but at the same time the ability to follow the force of others upon contact.
(All yellow lvl's have a minimum skill point of at least a 5 in this particular category)
2) Controlling - (8 - 12) Once the practioner can listening to the force and follow it, he then begins the next stage of controlling the force to do as he will. Thus, a symbiotic relationship occurs between the opponents force and your will to control his force.
3) Setting a web - (13 - 18) The final stage is a culmination of 1 and 2, and now regardless of the force the practioner can now make any force stick to his triangle at will. At this stage, you force a stick when you need to block and release the stick when you want to hit.
(The lowest lvl 13 means you are attacking and blocking with a fully armed and functional use of a triangle. Also trust exist of equal lvl not only in the art, but in oneself)
Killer Instinct
This basically means the ability to pull the trigger upon command, but also the humility to know that it should not be pulled until its needed. Mindless randomized fighting is not even considered the lowest level of K.I. For individuals who do this, don't even posses the ability to kill with one hit. If you can explode the hit you have a greater sense of responsibility in using your weapon.
1. Ability to pull the trigger - It comes down to the simple answer once running is no longer an option, can you pull the trigger.
(Not really a question of whether your right or wrong, but simply yes or no in a heated situation).
2) Knowing when to pull the trigger - Once you know that you can pull the trigger, you need to know when to do so.
3) Humility not to pull the trigger only as a last resort - At this level the greatest sense of responsibility, exhausting all other options before doing so.
Mobility
Mobility goes beyond the first stages of simply motion. But the mastery of ones center to manipulate it any shape, form, or fashion upon the users will. Mobility is first looked upon as patterned and memorized footwork, but at the latter stages, one detaches from this robotic motion and freely moves to whatever he/she feels without any limitations whether their on their feet or lying on their back.
1) Knowledge of footwork - Basically referred to as the weeble wobble stage, the practioner has basic knowledge of all the footwork necessary to move around in Wing Chun.
(Someone categorized at a lvl 7 consistently moves in motion however, he/she may or not be in full control of the center and also has knowledge of all 16 foot work's)
2) Ability to control the center - At this stage, one knows all the footwork, but can actually use the structure to support ones triangle for any technique. One also can chain multiple foot works and still maintain the center at will.
(Structure actually used to enhance or aide the top triangle in all that you do)
3) Ability to manipulate the center - Full mastery of the center, no longer trapped in the robotic motion of Wing Chun training, one can now manipulate his center at will. From standing to leaning, ducking, running, and throwing ones center of balance and regaining it again.
(In dancing terms you could say this is referred to as freestyle or without any form at all, but always in total control of the center)
Wisdom
Based more so on one' s knowledge of the art as well as the ability to use the knowledge not only in fighting but as well as in everyday life. Wisdom also encompasses something somewhat unique to the Wing Chun practioner which cannot be learned, a certain sense of common sense which he learns to further expand the deeper he/she trains.
1) Parroting - The primary stage goes hand in hand with the physical stage of monkey see, monkey do. At the same time wisdom is simple repeating exactly what the teacher says regardless of full understanding or not.
(Someone at lvl 7 has completed all 6 forms even though its at a copy cat stage, in addition also has knowledge of repeating why he/she is doing certain things in wing Chun)
2) Theory and application - A very deep stage is achieved now in the actual understanding and application of what one knows. Not only can you say, but also do, and teach what you know.
3) Self-awareness - At this stage of development, one goes beyond the level of teaching that he received from his teacher and evolves the art further through his own expression. Without taking this next step, the practioner falls short of true discovery and is left to be nothing more then a clone of his/her teacher.
Explosiveness
This in its first step is the first scene done with the punch. Then eventually it continues to grow will all movements regardless of the technique which you use it at (blocks, attacks, takedowns, and shi-na). Then at later stages it encompasses everything from hands to kicking to overall mobility of oneself.
1) Single technique - From the stages of motion, power, timing , and then structure, one has achieved the actual ability to fully release a punch with considerable damage ability.
(The jump from lvl 7 to 8 means that you have the ability of hit 1 hit kill with your punch)
2) Any motion - Not limited to just the primary training of the punch, every motion can now be used with deadly force. And, now the practioner can release attacks with a one hit and kill ability on a consistent basis.
3) Entire body - Everything now can be done with explosiveness, from attacks to even blocks, or any technique for that matter. Even in how the practioner moves represents the knowledge and skill to explode his technique.
J.M.T (Jedi Mind Trick)
First impressions are simple, in that hat people are emotional individuals and with the ability to sink and control ones emotion, one can easily turn it to his/her advantage. However, J.M.T is not only limited to that but also a deeper sense of awareness of oneself as well as an awareness of ones surroundings as well as the individuals who are in it. J.M.T. measurements also take into account ones mental toughness, through the difficult and draining mental torturer one must endure to complete the art.
1) Self control in a controlled environment - The first stage in a controlled setting of being able to empty, quiet, sink and soften the mind.
2) Self control in the outside environment - Similar in every aspect of stage 1 but now one can maintain being cool outside of the school setting.
(Basic emotions like fear, anger, hate, can be kept under control by you. So basically your gonna be like fonzie. And what was fonzie like? Cool. Correctamundo. At lvl 8 JMT, one has passed through the mental torture of the earlier stages, and has a 99% chance of being considered lifers in the art.)
3) Negotiator - The highest level of mental control of oneself as well as others. Being in a heated situation and being able to defuse a situation and avoid conflict, but at the same time always prepared to pull the trigger if need be.