In the place I grew up, most people would be surprised if you tell them that there are different kinds of Kung Fu. So finding Wing Chun masters felt impossible back when I started. Even when I found people who could teach wing chun, they found it uneconomical to teach just one or two students. That was when I began tracing out Indian lineages and wing chun students, finally to find some people who could help me get started.
Some ex-practitioners of wing chun, gave me the basics and Sil Nim Tao. But I was stranded without understanding the deep theories and applications involved in Wing Chun. My only option left was the great and wise, 'Google Sifu'.
From Ip Chun, Wong Shun Leung, Chu Shong Tin and Samuel Kwok to Alan Gibson, Chuck O'Neil, Master Wong and Jin Young, all became my unofficial teachers! Youtube videos, dvds, and books became my source for understanding what wing chun hides beneath the slow movements of Sil Nim Tao, the dynamic shifting in Chum Kiu and the darting techniques of Biu Jee. I practice whenever and wherever possible. The techniques and theories combined with the practice has made me successful in all my fighting/sparring routines. So the bottom line is, Wing Chun can be learned without an official teacher and a big wing chun school at the comfort of your home, though it can never be compared to what we can achieve with a real sifu and lots of wing chun peers.
Always check out the master's lineage when you want to read or buy their stuff. A 1st or 2nd Generation master would be more knowledgeable and they could give tips which will dramatically improve your training. Most of their teachings and directions will be the same, but watch out for those tips like I mentioned. Always learn the forms from the 1st and 2nd generation sifus.
Sifu Kwok's book(mastering Wing Chun) and dvds has helped me a lot in my forms. Master Wong has the cheapest combo dvd series I know of, but don't stick on to his forms because no one knows what his lineage is, I would recommend his collection because it has a lot of applications involved. If you like Online one-on-one training with a systematic approach to get your training analyzed by sifus, you could go to Wing Chun University. Now if you want it for free, I would recommend Jin Young, he has the best wing chun training videos on You Tube.
Have Faith, Train Hard!
