The Best Books to learn Wing Chun

As mentioned in this previous article, the beauty of learning Wing Chun is that this can be done from home and in isolation. Whether you’ve got the space and money for a proper dummy, or whether you’re just practicing with whatever you can, you can still make strides whilst training Wing Chun alone. We’ve written about this before, and learning Wing Chun on your own is certainly viable.

So, why not compliment this with some of the best reading material out there on the subject? From the correct form and stances to the history and culture behind Wing Chun, we have scoured the internet and found the top 10 books for learning Wing Chun.

These books have been picked on a few different variables. These include price and value for money, page length and illustrations, and the status of the author within the Wing Chun community. We have also decided to mix things up a little and go for variety. This means that some of the books included are exclusively about training with a dummy, whilst others look closer at the culture of Wing Chun and so on. Many of these books can be purchased physically, as well as digitally. As Bruce Lee once said “Knowledge will give you power”, so why not improve your mind where Wing Chun is concerned?

The creation of Wing Chun by Benjamin Judkins

This book is literally about how Wing Chun came to be. With this in mind, if you’re after specific techniques, then this book probably isn’t for you. However, if you want to fully immerse yourself in the culture then this book is ideal. It documents the earlier days of the art and its Chinese roots. As the front cover has weapons on it, you will also read about the weapon-side of Wing Chun too which is sometimes not taught in certain Wing Chun schools.

Painful holds and throws in Wing Chun by Semyon Neskorodov

Painful holds and throws is literally that. It is based on the most effective methods of fighting under the Wing Chun umbrella. Too often, Wing Chun fighters often focus on the striking aspects of the art. However, this book also includes a number of throws and nasty clinches. Complete with illustrations throughout the book, this could complement other areas of your Wing Chun game nicely.

Wing Chun Kung Fu by Ip Chun

There’s no better place to start in Wing Chun than with Ip Mans son himself. Of course, this book isn’t just for newcomers to the art either. Even if you’re advanced, you’re certain to learn a few things here…it is Ip Chun after all. Here, the Grandmaster shows various techniques which are complete with illustrations to help. Interestingly, this book was released over 20 years back in 1998. Nonetheless, it still remains as relevant today as ever.

Traditional Wing Chun by Igor Dudukchan

This book is somewhat of an encyclopedia when it comes to learning Wing Chun. Not only does it focus on the practical forms and techniques, it also looks at the history and origins too. With this said, there’s something here for everyone. Whether you’re a history buff or just want to improve your training, this book is ideal. As alluded to in the title, it is based on the more traditional methods of Wing Chun, too.

116 Wing Chun Dummy Techniques by Yip Chun

This book is written by Yip Chun, the son of Yip Man. However, these techniques are shown in the book by Yip Man himself. With this said, it really doesn’t get any closer to the origins than this. As the title suggests, this book is ideal for those training with a wooden dummy too. Here, there are 116 techniques to improve kicks, punches, blocks, dodges, and more. If you’re training alone – then this book is perfect for you.

Wing Chun: Strategy and tactics by Jon Rister

The front cover of this book literally reads ‘Attack, attack, attack!’ which sets the tone of its literature nicely. At over 300 pages in length, this book is based on developing your fighting strategy and really thinking about your Wing Chun in a practical setting. With this said, it offers various counters and combos that are not always thought about. By the title, you can guarantee that it is often based on offense too.

Close Combat Wing Chun by Randy Williams

As the title suggests, this book is about the techniques used in close-combat Wing Chun. This is based specifically on blocks, strikes, kicking, footwork, and the general fundamentals. It also promises how to improve your speed and agility too by improving the basics. There’s nothing flash here, just good, solid Wing Chun. If you like this book, a sequel was also published by Williams.

Wing Chun Plum Flower Posts by Wayne Belonoha

This book is designed exclusively for training with plum flower posts. The idea behind this is to increase your footwork. Whether this is designed to speed your feet and improve your dodging and blocks, or to counter with kicks of your own…this has it all. The point of this book is solely aimed at the lower body, so don’t expect any punches or upper-body attacks in this one.

Wing Chun Wooden Dummy by Jason Korol

As the title says, this book is about training with your wooden dummy to improve your skills. The sub-title of this book is ‘become a master of infighting’. Once more, this literature is perfect for those training on their own with a dummy. Here, Korol puts a lot of effort into explaining how to move correctly so reading this will make sure your form is correct throughout.

Wing Chun Kung Fu Bamboo ring by Tyler Rea

So far, a lot of the additions in this article have focused on training with the dummy. However, fear not as we have also included Rea’s Bamboo ring training which is great if you want to improve your hand and arm reflexes. The bamboo ring is a classic training method used by Wing Chun practitioners and is far cheaper and mobile when compared to a dummy. Here, Rea covers a lot of ground about the key movements to increase your hand speed, which is essential when using Wing Chun.