way, through a master-student tea ceremony. This ceremony underlines the deep personal bond that has developed between master and student through the long training period. Organizational structure in modern Europe There is no uniform umbrella organization in Europe under which Wing Chun practitioners are grouped, but rather numerous, sometimes competing and divided associations, schools, and individual teachers. Most associations do not appear in the legal form of associations that have voluntarily merged to form an association, but as commercial organizations in which associated schools are integrated, which are authorized and certified by the association. Some of the associations are organized in a franchise system. In some associations, based on the family system that was used in the past, obedience and obligations towards the master and his teacher are emphasized, although these are rarely directly related to their training students. Characteristics General Wing Chun puts emphasis on economic movement and encourages its practitioners to "feel" through their opponents defenses and to utilize the incoming attacks with deflection, rapid punches and finger pokes. Slapping and defensive manuevers are used to distract the opponent to make them shift their defenses away from their centerline. Wing Chun favors a relatively high, narrow stance with the elbows close to the body. Within the stance, arms are generally positioned across the vital points of the centerline with hands in a vertical "wu sau" ("protecting hand" position). This puts the practitioner in a position to make readily placed blocks and fast-moving blows to vital striking points down the center of the body, i.e. the neck, chest, belly, and groin. Shifting or turning within a stance is done on the heels, balls, or middle (K1 or Kidney point 1) of the foot, depending on the lineage. Some Wing Chun styles discourage the use of high kicks because this risks counter-attacks to the groin. The practice of "settling" one's opponent to brace them more effectively against the ground helps one deliver as much force as possible. Relaxation Softness (via relaxation) and performance of techniques in a relaxed manner, and by training the physical, mental, breathing, energy, and force in a relaxed manner to develop Chi "soft wholesome force", is fundamental to Wing Chun. On "softness" in Wing Chun, Ip Man said during an interview: Forms Most common forms The most common system of forms in Wing Chun consists of three empty hand forms, two weapon forms: the Dragon pole