The Spring Event Series, held from April 16-25, is rapidly approaching. There are just six short weeks left until we host IAW Founder and WingChun Grandmaster, Sifu Klaus Brand, for the most rigorous training opportunities offered in 2010. On April 17-18, we are featuring the 3rd Annual Spring Camp, which is a full weekend of WingChun fun immersed in the natural beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area. This year, we will travel together to the Marin Headlands, just north of the world renown Golden Gate Bridge. Space is limited, so act now. We hope you won't miss this chance, otherwise you'll have to wait until next year.

A special guest will be joining us during the entire Spring Event Series. Sifu Alexander Lemuth is one of only two WingChun 5th Master Degrees in the IAW. As a Leader of nine Academies of WingChun in Germany, his teaching experience is second only to Sifu Brand himself. I hope you will find his skillful presence an inspiring incentive, as this will only be his third visit to the United States in over a decade. I am personally happy to welcome his capable assistance to Sifu Brand. Expect to witness powerful demonstrations of our art at its highest expression.

Thus, this is a very important final month of collective preparation. As we march towards the summit, try to step up your focus and dedication. Visit the IAW-US Events page to get ready with extra training, such as the Pre-Testing Review, Degree Module, Special Class, Technician Class and WingChun Seminar. Scheduling Private Lessons with your Sihing will also be extremely helpful. Everyone of us can seek advancement, no matter where we are in the IAW Curriculum. Earning your White Blossom in the 1st Student Level is as important as attaining your Black Shirt in the 9th Student Level. Likewise, Pre-Primary Level and Technician Grade aspirants are especially encouraged to increase your efforts.

Work hard, have fun. Stay healthy, keep going.

Best Regards,

Annual Membership
 
We are an active branch of the International Academy of WingChun (IAW), which was founded in 2003 by Sifu Klaus Brand. However, he has been coming to teach regularly in the US since 1997. In support of this support, members of the IAW contribute an Annual Membership. This helps to cover the travel and housing costs of his Spring and Fall visits here. It also subsidizes the production of IAW materials such as graduation certificates, passports, emblems, uniforms and shoes (see below).

Please think about the value you get from the IAW organization founded by and the WingChun art created by Sifu Klaus Brand. Personally, I am proud of our IAW culture based on everyone having fun striving to become your best. I am thankful to be a private student of Sifu Brand for well over a decade. So for 2010, please choose the level at which you will support the IAW and Sifu within the sliding scale of $30-$60. Please submit it to your Sihing or send a check written to Sifu ("Klaus Brand") to the IAW-US HQ at 1380 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702 by March 15, 2010. To certify your payment, you will then receive a 2010 Membership Sticker to place on your IAW Membership Passport, which you should bring to all Testings.

Thanks to those who have already made your contribution this year.

Headquarters Training

In order to simplify and maximize your access to WingChun, members at the IAW-UQ HQ in Berkeley can now attend unlimited monthly Regular Classes. Currently, that is 12, often 13, Regular Classes per month. Based upon the benefits that you enjoy from training, you can decide how much Monthly Tuition to contribute within the sliding scale of $90-$120 per month, which comes out to less than $7.50-$10 per class. Take advantage of this flexible format along with the convenient service of paperless billing we offer freely to our members. We hope this new process will motivate you to practice as much as you can with us.

Just as the Annual Membership promotes the overall IAW and Sifu's vision, your Monthly Tuition sustains your local Academy and Sihing's mission. This is the greater whole that you are a meaningful part of. Our community consists of you the artists, WingChun the art and your teachers who transmit it. Besides covering the logistical operation of your Academy, consider what your involvement with us is worth to you when choosing your Monthly Tuition. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.

Private Lessons 

Private Lessons with my direct teacher have been instrumental, rather indispensable, to my advancement in WingChun. There is nothing that can substitute for this personal attention to detail, especially to reveal subconscious mistakes that you or a peer cannot recognize. You have the advantage of directly sensing and literally feeling the movements of someone who knows your physical coordination better than you yourself.

For the same reasons, all Academy and Group Leaders also make themselves available to their students by appointment. Sihing Ayron Johnson in Atlanta, Sihing Carl Hettiger in Santa Cruz, Sihing Gerald Roliz in San Francisco and myself in Berkeley. 

Teaching WingChun 
 
The IAW-US Instructor Training for 2010 has begun. But it's not too late to join. Anyone can drop in on this exciting 18-part series on the path and practice of WingChun. We will present the Student Level curriculum at a depth that expands your current knowledge. You will not only learn what our methodology is, but how and why our system is unique among modern combat practices.

If your intention is to become officially certified for the Assistant Degree, Instructor Degree I or Instructor Degree II, you must complete 6, 12 or 18 of these Degree Modules, respectively. There will only be two opportunities this year to complete your certification through examination during Instructor Seminars administered by Sifu Klaus Brand on April 24 and October 18.

Transform your passion into the ability to effectively communicate WingChun Self-Defense. Plan to attend the next Degree Module on March 6. 

Student Spotlight 
 
Our WingChun community is composed of unique individuals. As an occasional feature of the IAW-US Newsletter, we get personal with one of our WingChun members. This time the spotlight is focused on Antal Berenyi, a diligent student who trains at the Headquarters in Berkeley. Click here to read through his thoughtful responses and unique perspectives. 

Latest Video
 
In case you haven't seen it yet, our latest WingChun video production WingChun Action II has been published. Visit our YouTube page to check it out. It is a follow-up to our first feature starring Sifu Klaus Brand, which we released in December 2009. We hope you enjoy the outcome of our work and will share it with others.