Sung Dynasty

The Ching Dynasty (Manchu)

Cheung Ng and his famous Tan Sau Hand

Shaolin Temple and the Wing Chun Hall

The Snake and Crane

The charming Yim Wing Chun

The Red Junk

Dr Leung Jan of Foshan

Chan the money changer

The young boy with 30 tales of silver

Leung Bik is found in Hong Kong

The return to Foshan

World War II

Return to Hong Kong

Wing Chun - Hong Kong's National Martial Art

Wing Chun in present times

The History of Wing Chun Kung Fu - Past and Present
As researched by Sifu Brian Desir

All the Kung Fu styles have the same roots; their history's all lead back to the famous Shaolin Temple. Though the Chinese had fighting arts in their culture long before the founder of Shaolin established the first temple. In truth the development of Kung Fu stems from many upon many different influences in the Chinese way of life. Some of these influences are totally the opposite way to fighting and violence, now sadly there are many involved in Martial Arts whom may find what I am saying difficult to relate to, maybe because they see Martial Arts as fighting and nothing else? Unfortunately those with such views will lose much of the true content involved in the real Kung Fu way of thinking.

Around 320 AD an Indian monk known as Bodhidharma crossed the Himalayas into China by foot and began to teach Buddhism in Honan province. During the early stage of his ministry he found that his newly found disciples had a low level of concentration and could not last his long lectures, so to deal with this problem he introduced exercises into their daily timetables to inherence health and levels of concentration. So Kung Fu was first devised for health. As time past the young monks would go out amongst the people to do good deeds and the locals would give donations for the monks. Local bandits came to see young monks and even temples as prime targets to rob and pillage that was why the fighting arts developed in the Shaolin Temple. The early development of Kung Fu involved the Five Animal movements these are Tiger, Crane, Snake, Leopard & Dragon from these movements many Martial forms evolved.

This period marks a very important stage in Chinese history concerning the development of kung Fu. The Sung dynasty is often referred to as the Chinese age of chivalry, during this period many legends were born, the fame of Shaolin spread all over China. Modern day films have been made to commemorate the famous fighting monks of Shaolin. During this time government officials also decided to use the arts of Shaolin to strengthen their armies. Hsing I was praised by General Yueh Fei and Kung Fu developed within the military ranks.

Sadly this also marks the time when virtue and spirituality began to fade from Kung Fu and many styles of fighting from empty hand, to the most advanced weapons were formed. Unlike the Shaolin philosophy to preserve life these new forms were designed to kill.

Amongst early Kung Fu pioneer's secrecy was rife, so due to a lack of written records many of the arts form this era died with their inheritors, a great loss to the martial art world of today. As time past the warlords of China became divided each had his own army behind him. There became much unrest and as corruption set into the government, Shaolin became a sanctuary for anti government activity. Not that the Monks wished this role upon themselves it was more a sense of duty for the people the lead them into this revolutionary role. In time the heads of state would catch on and many temples were destroyed, many monks killed. Those who were lucky to escape travelled the countryside, others hid in towns. In time their knowledge would spread all over the country.

During this period China was invaded and taken over by the Manchurians from the north. At this point of time Wing Chun was to evolve into it's early stages. It is said that during the reign of Yung Cheung in the North of China lived an actor named Cheung Ng, he was respected for being a great performer and was also skilled in Kung Fu. He had learnt his fighting skills from a Shaolin monk named Eat Chum. Unfortunately there is very little recorded evidence on these characters and so we cannot go into deep detail. It is said at that point of time in Chinese history there was much unrest amongst the people, food and work was short and the army surpressed the people so as to keep control. Cheung Ng, after giving a good performance on stage, would make many anti political speech and in time he became a wanted man. And so he left the capital and travelled south to Canton province were he meet up with fellow actors in the south, amongst themselves they formed an opera troop which later became known as the Hung Sen (red junk).

Cheung Ng was also known for his great fighting skills. He was nick named after one of the most important techniques in Wing Chun, Tan Sau. Ng it is noted by Mak Siu Har in his book, the study of Cantonese operas one paragraph explains. Before the reign of Yung Cheung 1723 - 1736, the development of opera was very limited in the south due to defective organisation and unclear division of labour. During the reign of Yung Cheng, Cheung Ng of Wu Pak known as Tan Sau. Ng brought his skills to Foshan and organised the Hung Fa Wui Koon (Now the Chinese Artist Association). From then on, Cantonese opera made great progress. The Book also mentions besides being a very good actor Cheung Ng was especially proficient in martial arts. His one Tan Sau was peerless throughout the Martial Arts World. This historical evidence confirms to us the dates concerning the founding of the Hung Sen or Secret Red society famous for their skills as an opera troop experts in literature, stage, Kung Fu and revolutionary activity. The later Generation of Hung Sen member's 100 years on would become the first to inherit the Wing Chun Style as practised today.

During reign of Kin Lung filthy years after Cheung Ng's Arrival to the south, the King requested his personal guard be taught the fighting skills of Shaolin so as to defend King and country. Kung Fu skills taught to the armies were one day to be used to destroy the Temples, which by now had became the peoples final stand for freedom from the Manchu's.

Five Shaolin Elders came together to form a style of fighting a little more efficient to the former styles of Shaolin. They designated a section of their Temple that was know as the Wing Chun hall. The motto for those involved was hope for the future. This new style was to be a fast learning art so as to train a people's army in a short matter of time.

Chi Shim, Pak Mei, Mu Hin, Fung To Tak and the Buddhist mistress Ng Moy worked hard to from the new fighting art. Each one made great progress refining their art but, due to disloyal members within the temple walls a leak of information went reported to the government officials which lead to a full military assault on the temple causing it to be destroyed by fire. Many Shaolin members lost their lives defending the temple and some escaped and went into hiding notably the abbot Chi Shim ended up in hiding onboard the Red Boat disguised as a cook. The Buddhist mistress Ng Moy took refuge at the White Crane temple on Tai Leung Mountain between the provinces of Szechwan and Yunnan. There she spent most of her time undisturbed: she could relax allowing the horrible memories of death and destruction to heal. Though she had escaped the terrible fate of Shaolin, she and all her colleges were now wanted outlaws, so she kept away from the outside and spent time practising Zen Buddhism a sect of Buddhism originated by Bodhidharma.

Ng Moy often practised her Kung Fu and paid much time furthering the principles she had worked on in Shaolin. One day while walking in a local wood she happened to whiteness a fight between a snake and a crane. Ng Moy saw something in this duel that inspired her to further her research into a new art. Maybe it was the directness and speed of the snake or was it the efficiency of the crane, perhaps both adversary's were admired and both inspired her giving her an idea of how to make her style of fighting more efficient. But I will note that Wing Chun Kung Fu is form by the elements of both Snake and Crane.

Ng Moy would travel into the village of Foshan where she came to know an attractive young girl named Yim Wing Chun. Yim Wing Chun run a beancurd store with her father, Yim Yee. Locally lived a bully who would had a liking toward Wing Chun and after turning him down a number of times his behaviour became threatening towards both Wing Chun and her family, When Ng Moy became aware of this; through concern for Yim Wing Chun she decided she would take her on as her student. Ng Moy often worried about the being arrested by the Manchu officers. Many were highly skilled in Kung Fu, she new that her only hope was to use a superior style of fighting. Efficiency of technique rather than strength, the same applied to Yim Wing Chun, she would have to learn scientific skills if she were to beat her much larger and stronger adversary. After the appropriate time passed and Ng Moy had developed confidence in Wing Chun, she instigated a public challenge match between Wing Chun and the local bully. If he were to win, Wing Chun would become his bride and if he lost then the deal was he would leave Wing Chun alone. This was a trap and he had fallen into it. Wing Chun was no longer the defenceless young girl he could intimidate. She defeated him with ease and with embarrassment, he left never to return into her life. From that day on the local people of Foshan carried much respect for the young girl. There are many stories concerning the life of Wing Chun and her adventures, but today there are no relics or ground evidence to confirm that she ever really existed, Never the less her story goes on to tell that she later married a kung fu expert, Mr Leung Bok Chow. Leung would often practice and Wing Chun often watched her husband noticing weaknesses in his Kung Fu. Time and time again she tried to advice him but he would not have himself be taught by a woman through pride. Finally one day, enough was enough they had a friendly contest. Leung could not believe that his wife was able to beat him every time and so he gave up his former style of fighting and inherited his wife's style. He named the style Wing Chun fist after his wife, the first to learn it.

At this point in time the red boat was well established as an opera troop, they were travelling all over the south of China putting on performances. Onboard was one of the surviving Shaolin elders, Chi Shim; he was in hiding disguised as a cook under false identity. Shaolin Temple was destroyed but not dead and the Red Junk became one of many refuges for the surviving members of the revolt. Many of the boat members were part of a secret society known as the Hong Sen or Red Society. They were a very active force in anti government activity in their day, unfortunately through lack of written records much information has been lost. It is said that the boat people had their own style of Kung fu past down from Cheung Ng and recently added to by Chi Shim. Leung Bok Chow was said to have had a nephew onboard the red boat, Leung Yee Tai, he was to be the next in line to inherit the Wing Chun style. Leung Yee Tai in turn taught the style to his friends Wong Wah Bo who introduced the long pole technique taught to him by Chi Shim. Leung Lan Kwai another close friend and boat member was also involved. Thus the future of Wing Chun Kung Fu was now onboard the Red Junk.

Leung Yee Tai past on the knowledge of Wing Chun to a young man (possible relative) named Leung Jan. Leung Jan was a Doctors son and apprentice, outside of his study's he gave all his spare time to practising Kung Fu. Leung Jan was very fortunate because his Si fu and Si Pak's (Kung Fu father & Uncles) were close friends. Though between them their styles of fighting differed, still they often came together so as to consolidate and exchange views on Kung Fu. The young Leung Jan was to learn from all of them, and in time he distilled all of what he learnt. After some years of development he formed a simple yet devastating fighting art.

Former to Leung Jan there are not many relics on the people involved in the early development of Wing Chun Kung Fu. From Leung Jan onwards there is much information that can be found, because towards the end of the 20th Century there were whiteness still alive to pass the history on. It is known that Leung Jan became a very famous fighter and won many challenge fights in his hometown of Foshan. Challengers would travel hundreds of miles only to meet defeat, countless people approached him offering fortunes to be taught his style of fighting but he refused all that asked. As the year went by and Dr Leung Jan was starting to age he took on his two sons Leung Chun & Leung Bik.

Leung Jan run a pharmacy on Chopstick Street in Foshan, the very same store is still in operation today (see page---). Next door operated a moneychanger by the name of Chan Wah Shun. Chan had asked Leung Jan for Kung Fu lessons and was refused, but the refusal of Leung Jan did not stop Chan's search for a way into the Wing Chun Clan. Leung Jan would teach his son's in the evening after work, Chan came to learn of this and so he would spy on them blatantly whilst they trained in Kung Fu, he would also practice the movements so as to be noticed. This annoyed Leung Jan he viewed this behaviour as stealing, and so to get back at Chan every time he saw Chan spying he would purposely teach incorrect movements so as to lead Chan astray. Chan was getting very frustrated and so he meet up with on of Leung Jan's Teachers Leung Lan Kwai to seek advice as to how he could get in with Leung Jan. It is more than likely that Leung Lan Kwai gave Chan a small amount of tuition in kung fu. It is also noted that Chan previously studied Hung Gar, a hard style and was a very strong man. In time he would often break the arms off the wooden Dummy arms, thus he became known as Chan the wooden man. One day the two son were training in the absence of their father and Chan showed up he would not shut up and so the elder of the two Leung Chun decided to have a touch of hands to finally shut Chan up. To Leung Chun surprise Chan was too strong for him he was pushed over and fell on his father's chair breaking it. When Leung Jan returned he noticed his chair had been broken, he questioned his son's and they told him what had happened He was very disappointed and could not believe how it was possible for Chan to over power his son. After giving the situation much thought he decided to take Chan on as his only disciple outside of family.

Leung Jan became old and died, his eldest son was also deceased. Chan with his strength wrongfully claimed himself Grandmaster of the Wing Chun style. The surviving son Leung Bik lost face and left Foshan. Following these events Chan opened up school in Foshan, it was the first school to teach Wing Chun Kung Fu openly. In 37 years of teaching Chan took on sixteen students. The most remembered were Ng Chung So - his leading student, Chan Yu Min - his son, Ng Siu Lo student, Lui Yu Jai student, the last member was a little boy by the name of Yip Man.

It was the fame of the Late Grandmaster Leung Jan that promoted the Wing Chun Style in the province of Canton. Chan Wah Shun had also become a great fighter; his son Chan Yu Min became a local bully to Chan's displeasure. So he limited his son's tuition and concentrated more on teaching the son's wife so as to keep the art in his family. Chan had not learnt the whole Wing Chun system, Leung Jan had held back from him many of the finer points of Wing Chun, never the less, with what he had learnt he became very successful. One day a young boy had come to Chan with 30 tales of silver asking to be recruited. Thirty tales was a fortune so Chan believed that the money had been stolen. To confirm honesty he escorted the young boy back to the home of his wealthy parents. On arrival the parents confirmed that the young Yip Man had purposely save the money so as to learn Wing Chun. Chan was well impressed so he accepted Yip Man as his sixteenth and final student.

Chan was very old when Yip Man joined his school, the date was around 1900 and he died shortly after. The responsibility of teaching Yip Man went to Ng Chung So. Yip Man progressed very well and in his teenage years became the pride of the Wing Chun school.

Yip Man would go to Stanley University to study English in Hong Kong. During his time there he would have many fights with the western students and never would he lose. He was becoming famous in Hong Kong for his fighting skills and word was going out about a great young fighter from Foshan. One day a classmate came to school and said to Yip Man I know an old man who fights similar to you, he wishes audience with you. Yip Man at the time was so confident that he reluctantly went so as to talk to the man believing there was no point in fighting for an easy victory. On arrival the old man asked him about his fighting background and the form which he had learnt. Then the old man invited yip man to attack him, Yip man refused, he did not want to hurt the old man. The old man laughed at Yip Man's remark and told him it is you who might get hurt not me. So Yip Man, heated up now, went for him only to find out that he couldn't get close to the old man and was often thrown on the floor. When they stopped Yip Man's pride was hurt but he had the most respect for the old frail man who could beat him every time. The old man revealed himself as Leung Bik, the surviving son of Leung Jan and the true Grandmaster of the Wing Chun style. Yip Man became his first and only student. Some time after Yip Man had learnt the art from Leung Bik the old man died marking the end of a generation.

When Yip Man returned to Foshan he revealed what he had learnt to his seniors, they all humbly agreed that it was a better system for none of them could come close to him. So he became recognised as the head of the Wing Chun style, and was the last master to ever be recognised as the grandmaster of Wing Chun.

Yip Man became a police officer in Foshan and many great stories followed his life in Foshan. He apprehended many criminals single handed, and once seized a pistol from the hand of a killer before the trigger could be pulled. There are many tales of Yip Man to be told, I'm sure that one day someone will produce a film about him, for such great legends should never be forgotten.

At the time of the Second World War most of China was under the military control of Japan. Yip man's family wealth was destroyed or confiscated. A Japanese officer had learnt of Yip Man's fighting skill in Kung Fu and demanded a contest with Yip Man. The defeat of the officer resulted in an offer to Yip Man asking him to teach the Japanese. The Japanese brought much dislike into China; firstly because they were invaders secondly they had been very hard on the people so Yip Man had no choice but to refuse. In doing so life was made very difficult for the master but he never faltered from his loyalty towards his people.

After the war the Communists took control of China and all the wealth from the upper class families was taken away for the use of the state. In 1949 Yip Man was one of many Mainlanders to go to Hong Kong in pursue of a new life. Shortly after his arrival in Hong Kong he gambled all his money away and was starving on the streets of Macao (an Island off Hong Kong).

In that area worked a young man named Leung Shun, he would often talk to Yip Man and give a little charity. One day when coming home he found a sick Yip Man on the street corner ill and near death. He decided that he could not leave the old man to die and so he took him into the shelter of the Workers Union of bus conductors. There, Yip Man recovered and was to later show his gratitude to Leung Shun.

Leung Shun taught Kung Fu in the Workers Union on certain nights of the week. Yip Man would watch the class and inform Leung Shun of weaknesses in the style. Leung Shun, a well built man, felt insulted that this old man was putting down his fighting art. To prove a point Yip Man asked Leung Shun to attack him, but, Leung Shun refused in fear he maybe hurt the old man who he had gone out of his way to help get well. Yip Man insisted and assured Leung Shun its ok I can look after myself. Reluctantly Leung Shun attacked only to find that Yip Man successfully fended him off every time. He was very surprised in Yip Man's ability. Yip Man now revealed himself as the Grandmaster of the Wing Chun style and Leung Shun became his first student in Hong Kong. Leung Shun's former class, the workers union became the platform from where Wing Chun would spread all over the world.

There are two or three books on the market that explain the later history of Wing Chun, so I will be very brief. Yip Man had over one hundred students the most noted were Leung Shun, Ho Kam Ming, Yip Bo Ching, Chu Shong Ting, Wong Shun Leung, Bruce Lee, William Cheung and his two son's Yip Chun & Yip Ching. Back in the sixties some of the above were involved in street fights all over Hong Kong against members from other branches of Kung Fu and due to the constant victory's of the Wing Chun fighters the Wing Chun school of Yip Man became very famous. The most notable promotion for the Yip man Wing Chun school was the success of the late great Bruce Lee. Still looked upon today as the King of Kung Fu, Bruce related the Wing Chun philosophy to all fighting systems and formed his own system, Jeet Kuen Do. Unfortunately Bruce died before he structured his syllabus properly and so today there are many faces to present day J. K.D. Nevertheless the principle is still the same, e.g. directness and simplicity.

Yip Man in our time was the last living example of the great masters of old. His spirit will live on forever amongst the present and future generations of Wing Chun practitioners. Today both his sons, Yip Chun and Yip Ching, teach student's from all over the world. Outside of Hong Kong, Wing Chun Kung Fu has the strongest following in Germany, but it is commonly stated by the top masters the highest standard amongst practitioners in the west is in Britain.

Master Lee Sin was the first to teach Wing Chun in the UK, he ran a restaurant in London's China town. Upstairs he used a large room to teach Kung Fu, this was where the seeds of Wing Chun in Britain were sown. Many of the members from Master Lee Sin School are today leading members in the Martial Arts community. The class members from that time where virtually all Chinese amongst those involved were Joseph Cheng, Austin Goh, Eddie Yoeh, Nigel Fan, Simon Lau, Samuel Kwok and others. They were to later open the doors for westerners to learn Wing Chun Kung Fu in Britain. After the death of Bruce Lee many enthusiasts looked into his background and since then there has always been a growing interest for Wing Chun. In the 1980's Wing Chun gets big in Britain magazines like Fighters & Combat brought out much information on Wing Chun schools and interviews of the different masters from far and near. Styles like Karate were still more unified and popular.

Pioneering Masters like Austin Goh and Samuel Kwok were two of the first to openly teach the art of Wing Chun in the UK. Both Austin and Sam travelled to the Far East and studied further with Master Yip Chun. Austin returned to England and formed his own association in West London. Samuel Kwok returned as Master Yip Chun's representative and set up his schools in Blackpool & Manchester. With Sam in the North and the others in London Wing Chun spread all over Britain.