Idman.biz
Wing Chun is a sport that is not yet as popular as classical martial arts in Azerbaijan, and many people are only familiar with it from films about the legendary sifu - that is, the teacher Ip Man. Today, this direction is part of the Azerbaijan Chinese Martial Arts Association and is headed by Asif Sayadov - he is the person who initiated the official development of Wing Chun in our country.
Idman.Biz contacted the local Wing Chun master and took an interview from the coach.
He spoke about the uniqueness, philosophy of this martial art and the prospects of Azerbaijani fighters in the world arena.
- What does the Association you lead represent?
- This is an organization that unites three federations: wushu, kung fu and Wing Chun. I created the latter in 2018, after a ten-year struggle for its registration, and my main activity is related to this. When I became the representative of the International Wing Chun Federation in Azerbaijan in 2008, no one in our country knew about this sport.
Once upon a time, together with Rauf Aliyev, who currently lives in the USA, we participated in a seminar at the legendary Shaolin Monastery. He studied Shaolin Kung Fu, and I studied Wing Chun. A few years ago, at the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, our structures were united. The main goal of the Association is to direct fighters to official starts and prevent participation in dubious "world championships" involving five or six countries.
- Why is Wing Chun, which became a legend thanks to Ip Man and Bruce Lee, still not as popular in Azerbaijan as wushu or kung fu?
- I think it's about mentality. We are more inclined towards classic competitions that have a tangible result - a medal, a title. Wing Chun was originally created not for competition, but for effective self-defense.
Only in the last ten years has the International Federation begun to hold world and European championships, realizing that this type faces the risk of extinction without a competition aspect. This has also increased interest in our country. Today I divide my students into three groups: young people under 30 who are focused on winning medals; elderly people who choose the health aspect of Wing Chun; and employees of power structures who learn Wing Chun as a method of self-defense. Children are the same - parents bring them not for competitions, but so that they can protect themselves.
- Where can those who choose a sports direction show themselves?
- The nearest major start is the World Cup, which will be held in Athens on March 13–16. 11 of our fighters will go there. In addition, on March 8–9, the "World Stars" tournament in Chinese martial arts will be held in Houston. In this competition, I and Shahin Hummatov will perform in the masters category. I will compete in the 46–60 age category, and Shahin Hummatov will compete in the 30–36 age group.
The main event of the year is the world championship in Hong Kong, which is held every two years and covers age categories from 6–60 years. Our athletes will also participate in this tournament.
- Finally, I want to ask you a question not as a journalist, but as a parent. Why should I choose Wing Chun for my son among other martial arts?
- Because in terms of safety, this is one of the most harmless sports. Athletes under 18 train and perform in protective equipment, fights are held only in light contact mode. From the application side, this is the most effective self-defense system. Wing Chun gives the child not only a medal, but also real skills to protect himself at school and in life, to be self-confident.
