Unless you’re an initiate of a family system or an inner circle or closed door disciple of a legitimate Wing Chun lineage you’d normally never hear unification mentioned as a Wing Chun principle. This is especially the case in these days where the principles have been confused with kuen kuit or have been minimalised to a smaller subset. However, unification is a feature of the art which we can always see present in every manifestation of it. Hence, it qualifies as a principle.
There are two kuen kuit which refer to unification: “yi hap yat” (mind and body unified) and “yu ma sau yiu hup” (hip, stance and arm unite). There are three types of unification. One is of the body. One is of the mind. The other is the mind-body unity referred to in the kuen kuit. They logically inter-relate. Let’s differentiate and discuss these.
I believe I’ve commented on body unification in an article on “body unity”. You’ll note that I said in that article that there are degrees of body unity contingent on the situation. Whilst in some cases we may be required by context to strike without full body unity and with varying degrees of support from muscle and body part mass not directly involved in our strike (referred to as “unlinked”), when this is the case there must still be some degree of unity as the arm cannot strike without some degree of support from being connected to the larger core musculature and skeletal structures. Mostly, the vast majority of the time, in Wing Chun the body functions in realworld self defence application in a linked fashion.
What is of significance for this principle, however, is really the linking of mind and body. The term “mind” in Eastern thinking is not one single entity but is composed of several different types or sections according to the functioning which manifests itself. We often hear of “intent” or “intention” in Wu Lin (the martial arts world). I believe that in application this is the aspect of mind referred to in the kuen kuit, “yi hap yat”. There is, however, a very logical case which can be made that the substratum, on which intent and bodily and psychological relaxation (another Wing Chun principle) is based, involves other features of the mind. The mind has to be able to be clear, focused, and able to remain free from distraction in order for intent to manifest appropriately. Hence, intent proceeds from clarity, focus and relaxation. It can really only manifest when these other aspects are in place.
I’d argue that the training process has to involve body, mind and spirit in several ways. In part, this entails training the “right mind”. One has to rid oneself of inappropriate attitudes stemming from either personality or past history. One has to divest oneself of a lot of the mental clutter that can surround Wing Chun to grasp the legitimate art. This entails not allowing one’s own inappropriate attitudes and ego to intervene. There is no room for anger, greed or ignorance. It involves not allowing the brain-washing which a number of Wing Chun groups practice to intrude. It entails not becoming a mind slave to a sifu or system. It entails ensuring that the historical, psychological and emotional clutter that swirls around in public Wing Chun circles does not distort one’s thinking, one’s mindset. It entails not allowing one’s thinking to be captivated by the marketing lies that are promulgated to ensnare and enslave students. To me, it also entails not allowing one’s mind to be distorted and weakened away from what I’ll call here the martial art warrior mindset (the Japanese refer to it as “bushido”) to the modern business-commercial, competitive, sport martial art mindset. The two mindsets are worlds apart and any attempt at coexistence puts the former at grave risk of being weakened, distorted or dismissed and destroyed.
Training also needs to encompass focusing on developing and consistently sustaining the appropriate mindset during training and being able to automatically utilise this mindset during realworld self defence. It entails ensuring the mind and body act as one with calmness, without emotion and with intent. It entails entering the mind of the dragon.