"Wing Chun starts and ends with its signature punch."
The School
A bridge of iron between intention and motion.
Iron Bridge Wing Chun is a martial arts school offering the best that both traditional and modern training have to offer. Appropriate for experienced martial artists and beginners alike. We cater to all types of training needs ranging from self defense to self improvement.
What is Wing Chun?
"Fists of Fury."
Wing Chun Kuen is a close quarters, southern Chinese system of pugilism. According to its oral tradition it is a compact close quarters curriculum distilled from various Shaolin fighting methods of Ming Dynasty loyalists who sought to overthrow the invader Qing (Manchurian) Dynasty. With structure, tactile sensory and compact efficient movements it is designed to defend against blitz style street encounters with various striking tools: punches, kicks, elbows and even "dirty combatives" such as eye gouges should the situation warrant it.
Training includes forms, striking pads and partner drills including chi sao and sparring.
Simple
Strip away the unnecessary. What remains is what works.
Direct
The shortest line from intention to result. No wasted motion.
Efficient
Borrow the opponent's force. Spend nothing of your own.
Why this school
Sifu believes in a safe, effective training environment where people of all levels can walk away with something to show for their time and effort. You will learn Kung Fu here.
While many Chinese martial arts schools have infamously become little more than "Kung Fu cosplay," Sifu Nick's law enforcement, security and corrections experience lend a necessary context to the Wing Chun curriculum.
Further, as a Defensive Tactics instructor for New York State, Sifu Nick knows how to appropriately and safely scale training to prepare his students for handling modern threats and self defense situations in his "Chinese Boxing" section of class.
Lineage
The tradition carried on
Sifu
Nicholas DeFeo
Sifu Nicholas DeFeo is a 5th generation Disciple of Ip Man Wing Chun. He was formally accepted under Sifu Jerry Liau (易揚) in 2016 and shortly became the primary instructor at Moy Yee San Jong Beijing, teaching on his Sifu’s behalf.
After returning from China five years later, he began working as a Correctional Officer in a maximum security prison before becoming a Warrant Officer in a major Capital Region law enforcement department.
Nick is also a Defensive Tactics Instructor for New York law enforcement, regularly training and testing new recruits through the local police academy in close quarters defense. He enjoys integrating the results-oriented, pressure-based approach of Defensive Tactics into civilian martial arts training.
He has experience in various other arts, both in the realm of combat sports and traditional martial arts. He believes every training pathway has something to offer and specializes in keeping tradition alive while synchronizing it with combat sports methodologies to fit the demands and needs of the modern era.
Begin
Train with us.
New students are welcome. Reach out to schedule a visit or an introductory class.
3 South Street, Ballston Spa, New York 12020
Tuesday nights, 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Acknowledgements
A special thank you to my Sifu Jerry Liau. I would not be where I am as a martial artist without you.
And to my other teachers and mentors past and present: