Learning to Play Again
- Lancaster Wing Chun Assoc.
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
by Sifu Nick Francis |
I want to talk about playing!
Specifically, as it applies to Wing Chun, we talk about playing all the time, and yet it seems to be very difficult for us to grasp, or at the very least, as adults, fully enjoy. We talk constantly about playing.
We do this intentionally to augment our ability to learn.
In fact, did you know that there are actually some MMA fighters that actually do the same thing.
Professional fighters, playing!!!
Do you know why?
Well for starters, I tend to think they don't want to risk losing a million dollar payout if an accident happens while sparring.
-and even more important- (among other reasons)
Because play is the quickest and fastest way to learn.
Now, of course, no one is stating that sparring doesn't have its time and place, but there is something more valuable.
PLAYING! Don't believe me... have a listen to how these guys explain it! |
So with this said...
What does it mean to play?
When you hear the word "play". What do you think of?
I immediately think of having fun.
To me, playing has some level of whimsy or child likeness about it. When I hear of the idea of play, I immediately assume that I am going to be taking part in some sense of shared enjoyment, fun, laughter, and even expressed joy. When it comes to our Wing Chun training, is this what you are thinking of too? If not, why not? What if this is exactly what Wing Chun is all about?
What if playing is a skill that we can develop through Wing Chun that will benefit every other aspect of our lives...
I absolutely think "playing" is a skill! However, as we get older, have you noticed that it can feel like we forget how to play? Yet playing, at one point in all our lives, was something that came natural to all of us. So how did we lose this ability? What have we exchanged in its place?
Do we naturally outgrow the joy of playing, or do the pressures of life force battles on us that we slowly drift and forget?
Maybe, if you are a bit like me, you too find that the very things that you want to enjoy somehow lose their luster over the years. Well, the idea of this post is to revisit the idea of playing and perhaps by doing so, maybe we can find a way not only to preserve it, but also find that in its preservation have a tool that helps other areas of our life become more pleasurable as well. If for no other reason, if by learning Wing Chun, we could learn to play again... doesn't that sound like a great reason to learn?
The September 18, 2025 publication of the Ontario Psychological Association suggests that we must learn to play again,
"Adults often struggle with play because their brains are wired for productivity and they may feel overwhelmed by responsibilities, making playful activities seem exhausting or like another task to perform. Mental load, stress, and societal expectations can make it difficult for adults to engage in play, even though it is essential for emotional well-being and creativity."
https://www.psych.on.ca/Public/Blog/2025/Playfulness-and-Play-for-Adults
So, now that we have introduced this, let me share where this is coming from.
It's coming from the mirror.
What mirror? The Chi Sau mirror of course!
If this is your first time hearing me introduce this concept, I hope it is a help in understanding how I view some of the benefits of Wing Chun.
At the root of the matter, I believe Wing Chun is about self-mastery.
Wing Chun is about learning to lead oneself.
As it pertains to Chi Sau then, this is what I acknowledge as the most difficult aspect of our training.
To review, we have:
In class, I see "play" happening every day. I see the rest, relaxation and mindfulness demonstrated in our forms. I see smiles and laughter shared while doing drills. Even while testing our techniques in the safe space of our street applications there is an obvious shared goal, relationships fueled with care and support.
... however, once we get to Chi Sau, I see anxiety, competition, and aggression.
Why is this...I suggest that it is because it is a mirror into our true selves. And this makes sense because although Chi Sau is not a fight and it is not sparring...
In a sense it is! Chi Sau is actually a fight to take ownership over ourselves. And it is a battle that we must win.
To me, this is precisely why Chi Sau is so important. It is the greatest tool for the job. With it, we come face to face with our emotions, our fears, our egos and our pride.If this sounds a bit uncomfortable, I think you would be right to think so, and the prescription to remedy this is play. Play is the antidote. Play is the solution.
Play = Laughter, curiosity and fun. Play is the path toward mastery and maturity. If we can do this, train in a way that keeps us laughing and playing, then the natural result will be to keep growing, making learning Wing Chun a wonderful, wonderful thing!
I hope you will join me in making the Lancaster Wing Chun Association a place where we can all fall in love with playing all over again! |
"The Lancaster Wing Chun Association exists to build people through learning traditional Ip Man Wing Chun in a safe and supportive environment." |
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