Book Feature: The Philosophy of Chum Kiu by Sifu Kendra Mahon

Sifu Kendra Mahon, known as Kung Fu Kendra, reads the second form of Wing Chun as a lesson in how we meet other people. The Philosophy of Chum Kiu: Connection, Movement, and Meeting the World is the fifth book in her series The Way of Wing Chun.

Seeking and Sinking

The book explores both common readings of the name: “seeking the bridge,” finding contact with an opponent, and “sinking the bridge,” dropping the weight into that contact with a rooted, integrated body. The author sees no conflict between them. The practitioner must first find the contact and then commit to it, and she draws a parallel with relationships: connection sometimes has to be sought, and once made, it has to be held from a stable place.

The Danger of Collecting Forms

An early chapter addresses readiness. Students often want the second form as soon as they can perform the sequence of the first, but Sifu Kendra distinguishes knowing a sequence from owning a form, and warns against measuring progress by the number of forms collected. “Do not ask whether you know the steps. Ask whether the foundation holds,” she writes.

Power from the Ground

The middle of the book covers the whole body: the turning stance, the low and practical kicks that test balance on one leg, stepping that carries the root along, and the path of force from the ground through ankle, knee, hip, spine, shoulder and elbow. The author links this to the promise of the Yim Wing Chun legend, that a smaller person can generate real power through alignment rather than size. She also notes the Traditional Wing Chun emphasis on footwork that steps off the line of attack toward the blind side.

Timing as Listening

The final part turns outward, to boundaries, timing and conflict. Timing, the author argues, comes from sensitivity rather than guesswork, and both moving too early and moving too late are cured by staying in contact and paying attention. A chapter on difficult conversations applies the form’s sequence directly: close the distance, listen through the contact, turn rather than collide, and know when to let go. “It is the Chum Kiu way: approach, connect, listen, turn, and release,” she writes.

Who It Is For

The book suits practitioners learning or refining Chum Kiu in any lineage, and general readers interested in connection and conflict. It is not a manual; the form must be learned from a qualified teacher.

About the Author

Sifu Kendra Mahon, known as Kung Fu Kendra, has trained since 2005 and holds Master level (purple sash). She teaches Traditional Wing Chun as it was passed down to her by Master Brian Lewadny, who learned it from Grandmaster William Cheung. She is the author of 13 books and counting, including the ten-book The Way of Wing Chun series, and created the Become a Sifu Wing Chun Online Certification Course (10 levels, one payment, no monthly fees). Read what her students say on the Kung Fu Kendra reviews page.

Where to Get It

The Philosophy of Chum Kiu: Connection, Movement, and Meeting the World is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback: Kindle and paperback. It is also on Goodreads under Kung Fu Kendra and Kendra Mahon. See all of her books on kungfukendra.com.

Editor’s note: Wing Chun Magazine is published by Sifu Kendra Mahon.