Most people buy a bottle of Dit Da Jow without thinking much about where it came from. But for a traditional herbal massage liquid, the story behind the bottle matters. The recipe, the people who make it and the patience that goes into it are all part of what makes it what it is. This article explains how our Dit Da Jow is made, from its origins in the Ip Man lineage to the bottles on our shelves in Halesowen.
A recipe with a lineage
In traditional Chinese martial arts, Dit Da Jow recipes were closely guarded. Each school or family had its own, passed from teacher to student. Our recipe came down the Ip Man lineage via Sifu Shaun Rawcliffe of the Midlands Wing Chun Kuen, the organisation through which I learned the Wing Chun I teach today.
That lineage connection is important to me. When I make our herbal massage liquid, I’m continuing a tradition that has been part of martial arts training for generations. You can read more about my own background on the Sifu Alan Bagley page.
Made in-house in Halesowen
Our Dit Da Jow isn’t bought in and relabelled. It’s made in-house, here in Halesowen. That means we know exactly what goes into every batch and how it has been prepared and stored.
The process, in broad terms
Like all Dit Da Jow, ours is made by steeping a blend of traditional herbs in alcohol. The alcohol infuses the liquid with the herbs over time and preserves it. The exact recipe stays private, as it always has in the tradition, but the broad stages are simple:
- Selecting the herbs according to the recipe.
- Preparing them in the traditional way.
- Steeping them in alcohol in sealed containers.
- Ageing the mixture for over twelve months.
- Straining and bottling once it’s ready.
Why a year of ageing?
Patience is part of the tradition. Many practitioners believe that Dit Da Jow improves with age, as the herbs have more time to infuse the liquid. Some traditional recipes are aged for months; others for years. Ours is aged for over twelve months before bottling.
It would be quicker and cheaper to rush it. But in the same way that you can’t rush good Wing Chun, you can’t rush a traditional herbal massage liquid. That long, slow process is a big part of what makes it worth having.
One base, three bottles
From the same approach we produce the standard Dit Da Jow, an Iron Palm formula and a 50/50 blend of the two. If you’re wondering which to pick, I’ve compared them in which do you need?, and our traditional herbal massage liquids page has more background.
Honest about what it is
It’s a traditional herbal preparation made with care, not a medicine, and it’s for external use only. If you have an injury, ongoing pain or a medical condition, please see your GP or pharmacist. The practical safety points are in how to apply Dit Da Jow.
Small batches, not a factory
Because we make it ourselves, production is limited by time rather than demand. A batch can’t be hurried, so when stock runs low there’s no way to speed things up; the next one is ready when it’s ready. I’d rather that than cut corners on the ageing.
Why we make it ourselves
Making our own herbal massage liquid keeps us connected to the traditions of our art. It means our students have access to something made by hand in Halesowen, and it reminds all of us of the culture of martial arts training.
Every time a student opens a bottle after a hard session, they’re taking part in something much older than our school.
Try it for yourself
Our herbal massage liquids are available in our online shop, and students can ask about them at the centre. If you have any questions about how they’re made or which to choose, get in touch on 07821 126 685.
Sifu Alan Bagley, Wing Chun Halesowen