Little is
actually known about Pan Nam, who passed away in
1996. He comes from the Da Fa Min Kam (Painted Face
Kam) and Chan Wah Shun (Yip Man's Sifu) lineages. He
was said to be a Hung Kuen practitioner for a long time
before learning Wing Chun.
About
Pan Nam's Wing Chun:
"The Shaolin Temple monk, Yi Chum, was said by Pan Nam to
be the true founder of Wing Chun. Yi Chum taught Tan Sau
Ng, who taught Dai Fa Min Kam, Wong Wah Bo and Leung Yee
Tei (Leung Jan's teachers) and so on until Pan Nam (see
lineage chart below).
This branch of
the Wing Chun family tree has not only preserved a
different, possibly older, form of Wing Chun but also the
Qigong (Chi-Kung) exercises that Master Pan said have been
a part of the Wing Chun System from its inception.
The techniques
in Pan Nam Wing Chun are relaxed until the moment of
initiating the attack. The stance uses a 50/50 weight
distribution. The toes are pointed straight forward and
advances are made with stepping movements as opposed to
dragging the rear leg. The system emphasizes triangular
footwork, as compared to linear directions. The punches can
be directed towards any line from the shoulder. The
emphasis is upon a sudden move that controls the opponent,
disrupts the opponent's stance, and forceful strikes to
vital points. In Chi-Sao, the hands do not roll; they
are in contact with each other a bit similar to the way the
Tai Chi Push-Hands exercise is performed.
Rather than
thinking of one's own centerline, the re-direction of the
opponent's centerline is the key to successful attack. At
that point, one's attack can occur from any direction of
one's shoulder. Logically and physically, there are many
advantages through striking from any angle (as opposed to
the centerline only). The idea of intercept prevents
the opponent from placing one in a position of defeat -
trapping, pinning, stance disruption, etc. The principle of
intercept is to redirect the opponent's movements before
the opponent can complete a move, offensively or
defensively.
This
redirection of the opponent's energy is conducted through
(1) sensitivity, (2) "going with the flow" of the
opponent's movement (as distinguished from "giving in"),
and (3) proper contact with the opponent's arm or leg.
Without the concept of intercept, one is reliant upon
either eye-and-hand coordination (which may be deficient to
superior reach or speed) or simply a contest of brute force
(which may be deficient to superior strength)..."
Quoted From http://www.wingchunbakmei.com/pannam1.htm
Reprinted with
permission from THE WING CHUN
ARCHIVE.