How it all came to be…
Learn the History of Wing Tsun
The martial art of Wing Tsun – pronounced wing chun – has a few different origin stories. There were no written records and so historical accounts are almost entirely verbal.
Bruce Lee might have been the first person to teach it publicly in the U.S. He is reported to have had his first private students in the year 1959 (Wikipedia). Martial art schools that teach the Yip Man lineage of Wing Chun did not open to teaching the public in the U.S. until the early 1970s. For a very well researched account in detail, read the book “Roots and Branches of Wing Tsun” by Prof Leung Ting.
The very first classes in Arizona were taught by Great Grandmaster Leung Ting in Tempe, Arizona at the invitation of instructor Keith Sonnenberg. The Grandmaster returned to Tempe several times more in the years that followed, teaching senior students in the area.
Come check us out at…
Our Martial Arts School
You will learn a serious martial art for self-improvement and self-defense. Advance yourself as a person in important ways. Overcome the cell phone – computer monitor syndrome that afflicts nearly everybody today. Several aspects of the training have benefits for physical and mental problems that are otherwise ignored in our sedentary society.
We do not profess to teach a ring-fighting system. There are distinct differences between the training for a martial art of self-defense, self-defense specifically and the training for ring-fighting.
Like most true martial arts, Wing Tsun students must “empty their cup” and start at the beginning. Your ego should be left at the door, regardless of your previous training.
There are many partner drills in Wing Tsun. This means proper hygiene and concern for your fellow students is very important. Adornments that potentially could hurt or entangle your fellow students are not allowed. These might include rings, necklaces, or piercings.
In the Chinese martial arts, we wear shoes in our classes. Please consult the instructors about proper footwear.
Wing Tsun gradually becomes a vigorous, fast moving martial art, as you, the trainee, become more skilled. It places self-defense as a high priority. It is different from T’ai Chi in that students are taught the fighting applications in addition to movement skills. If you need a reason to move and get in shape, try Wing Tsun’s precision skill-building.
Our WingTsun™ martial arts classes in Gilbert, Arizona teach the art, more commonly known as Wing Chun, a southern Chinese kung fu method of the Yip Man Lineage. We are part of the largest Wing Chun organization – the International WingTsun™ Association. We break the mold of your usual type of martial arts class. Individual attention is part of the instruction instead of the ‘mass teaching,’ military style of larger schools. It is a close-range punching, striking, low kicking and anti-grappling system that develops highly evolved “sticky hands” skills in all students that persevere. It is a superb system of self-defense.
Certain martial arts from southern China and Okinawa maybe related to one of the branches of Wing Tsun, Wing Chun or Yong Chun as it is known in Mandarin speaking parts of China because of certain similarities but nobody knows for sure. The legend says that it was invented by a female monk from the Shaolin monastery. In the 20th century, Bruce Lee studied from Yip Man. There is no ‘sport’ application. Students learn exacting self-defense skills and mastery of the inner self, mentally and physically. Head instructor, Sifu Keith Sonnenberg, has 34 years experience teaching the Leung Ting WingTsun® system of the Yip Man Lineage. You can learn at three evening classes per week and two early morning classes per week in Gilbert. You can read more about Wing Tsun on our news section which has an ongoing list of informative blogs.
Meet the instructors…
Our Sifu’s
Gilbert Arizona
Our Location
Located in Gilbert, with close access for those in Tempe, Mesa, and San Tan Valley, Wing Tsun Arizona is your opportunity to learn the Martial Arts Bruce Lee learned in China. Our address is:
Efficient Martial Arts LLC, dba Wing Tsun Arizona 745 N. Gilbert Rd. #120, Gilbert, AZ 85234
at the S.E. corner of Gilbert Rd. and Guadalupe Rd. in the same center as Salads ‘N Go and Arby’s at the north end of the strip center. We are between Amazing Discoveries and The Gilbert Poolman. Come see us!
