Grandmaster Tse’s Wing Chun Note 469

Third Star: Jyún Máh 轉馬 – Turning Stance

Jyún 轉 means turning, Máh 馬 means stance or footwork, so Jyún Máh means turning stance. Jyún Máh is one of the most important of the Ten Star Footwork. If we practise Jyún Máh well, then all our footwork in Wing Chun will be better as it is the foundation of all the Ten Star Footwork. The reason for this is that it teaches us to turn on the heels and keep the feet shoulder width apart. When we train, no matter how many times we turn, the feet should remain shoulder width apart. This is particularly important when we are performing the second form, Tsum Kìuh 尋橋 – Looking for the Bridge, and the third form Bīu Zī 標指 – Thrusting Fingers, as we need to do a lot of Jyún Máh. Then, when we come to the Wooden Dummy, all the turning and footwork will be correct and accurate.

When we are training Jyún Máh, we must first begin with Hōi Máh 開馬 – Opening Stance and then Yìh Jih Kìhm Yèuhng Máh 二字鉗羊馬 – Character Two Goat Griping Stance (Basic Wing Chun Stance). Then we can begin to train Jyún Máh. We turn on our heels and turn the feet 45 degrees and keep them parallel. Our weight should be 70 percent on the back leg and 30 percent on the front leg. In Tsum Kìuh we hold the hands in a double Wàahng Làahn Sáu 横欄手 – Horizontal Bar Hand (it does not matter which hand is on the top) and we turn our shoulders 90 degrees and square to the side we are turning to. When we turn, we turn 180 degrees to face the opposite side, and we should use Faat Gihng 發勁 – Release Power, then we will use the power of the legs. The arms in Wàahng Làahn Sáu should be relaxed and firm position, just hold the balance of the upper body.