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A legend is not history; a legend is a teaching story with a purpose of conveying something very human that mere fact can not.

Wang Kiu told Maier thus: The Shaolin temple fell during the night. After dawn, nearby villagers crept timidly into a scene of murder and destruction. Amid the smoke and ash, they found a few ceramic plaques with writing on them. Unable to read them, but certain they were valuable, the peasants hurried the plaques away and hid them until someone would come to claim them. These plaques are thus among the Pai carried by the PoPai hand, along with names and pictures of our lineage.

Sink Elbow

Protect Center

Wang Kiu told Maier thus: The Shaolin temple fell during the night. After dawn, nearby villagers crept timidly into a scene of murder and destruction. Amid the smoke and ash, they found a few ceramic plaques with writing on them. Unable to read themselves, but certain they were valuable, the peasants hurried the plaques away and hid them until someone would come to claim them. These plaques are thus among the Pai carried by the PoPai hand, along with names and pictures of our lineage.

Staying rooted and holding to CenterLine are the first things to learn in Wing Chun. Isolating the hands from the rest of the body sets them free to be fast and efficient. This KunKut is also fundamental to working at close range.

All Steps Follow the Outline

Wang Kiu told Maier thus: The Shaolin temple fell during the night. After dawn, nearby villagers crept timidly into a scene of murder and destruction. Amid the smoke and ash, they found a few ceramic plaques with writing on them. Unable to read themselves, but certain they were valuable, the peasants hurried the plaques away and hid them until someone would come to claim them. These plaques are thus among the Pai carried by the PoPai hand, along with names and pictures of our lineage.

All Points Point to the Center

Wang Kiu told Maier thus: The Shaolin temple fell during the night. After dawn, nearby villagers crept timidly into a scene of murder and destruction. Amid the smoke and ash, they found a few ceramic plaques with writing on them. Unable to read themselves, but certain they were valuable, the peasants hurried the plaques away and hid them until someone would come to claim them. These plaques are thus among the Pai carried by the PoPai hand, along with names and pictures of our lineage.

Lose His Hand, Rush In

Wang Kiu told Maier thus: The Shaolin temple fell during the night. After dawn, nearby villagers crept timidly into a scene of murder and destruction. Amid the smoke and ash, they found a few ceramic plaques with writing on them. Unable to read themselves, but certain they were valuable, the peasants hurried the plaques away and hid them until someone would come to claim them. These plaques are thus among the Pai carried by the PoPai hand, along with names and pictures of our lineage.

Stop What Comes, Follow What Goes

Wang Kiu told Maier thus: The Shaolin temple fell during the night. After dawn, nearby villagers crept timidly into a scene of murder and destruction. Amid the smoke and ash, they found a few ceramic plaques with writing on them. Unable to read themselves, but certain they were valuable, the peasants hurried the plaques away and hid them until someone would come to claim them. These plaques are thus among the Pai carried by the PoPai hand, along with names and pictures of our lineage.

Since the 1980’s, more and more lists of KunKut have become public. A few are common to most or all lists. Others are found on only one or two. Some lists are quite long. There are also lists of lists (example). Language is challenge. Most KunKut originated and were passed on orally and in a context. What was the thought behind that exact word choice? Am I confusing dialects, or misled by an individual’s accent? Has the right word led me to the right written character? Will that character lead the reader back to the right thought? A considerable academic challenge!!!

Wang Kiu teaches us that “Less is More” in terms of KunKut. It is easier to recall a handful than a bookful. If they are carefully chosen, that few will logically imply others--they will unfold and multiply like the forms do. Thus, he gives us 5 primary KunKut (video) that he says generate about 80% of the Wing Chun System. Maier added the 1-5 numbering during the 1990’s.

SiuNimTao

ChumKiu

BiuJee

KunKut translates literally as “Fist Principles”, but refers to short, pithy aphorisms or maxims of 2-8 words. Like a Bonsai, they are exercises in focused thinking and clear expression.

KunKut 2 & 3 are practically “Universal”, found on most lists. Maintaining forward pressure can be difficult to remember!

KunKut 4 & 5 both deal with what is called a “broken” CenterLine, where an opponent’s success and/or our mistake has us mis-aligned.

KunKut 4 applies to the macro-scale of our facing and moving.

KunKut 5 applies to the micro-scale of our hands.