East Anglia Wing Chun

YIP MAN TONG
GRAND OPENING CEREMONY
November 9th/10th 2002 Foshan Canton province China
Foshan is a city in the south of China that has a history of Literature, Art, and of course Kung Fu. It is the ancestral home of both Wong Fay Hong of Hong Gar and of the great Yip Man of Wing Chun, two of Chinas most renowned Kung Fu Masters. Now finally thanks to the efforts of Grandmaster Yip Chun a memorial museum has been established in respect to his father Yip Man. The Tong (museum) was officially opened on November 8th, accompanied with displays and seminars on the 9th. There were delegates present from around the world who came to take part in the event. After the opening speeches Master Yip Chun thanked all those who contributed in support towards the Tong. This included members of his association from around the world, senior members of the Wing Chun Association in Hong Kong, Foshan City council and the Chinese Government. After 8 senior representatives together cut the ribbon master Yip Chun stood in the middle. This was followed by some Kung Fu displays given by some of the other branches of Wing Chun. The first of the guests were then able to enter the Tong for the first time. I had the honour of being present and able to congratulate my Master on such a great achievement. A lot of work and preparation was involved to make this event possible. For master Yip Chun at 79 years of age it has not been easy so he was happy, and also relieved that he has completed the work involved towards sealing his fathers legacy. Master Yip Chun has probably done more work towards passing Wing Chun Kung Fu down to a new generation. All the same the Master feels that setting up the Tong is his greatest achievement and contribution to the Martial Arts. When a memorial or museum is raised in respect to someone there is usually the question as to why.
To understand the answer you need to take a look at the history behind the life and achievements of Yip Man as follows. Yip Man was the last undisputed Grandmaster of the Wing Chun style. His life story is truly a legend to be remembered. Most of his life was contributed to the learning off, development and passing on of the Wing Chun kung fu system. A number of his disciples achieved great fame and fortune in their martial arts careers the most renown being Bruce Lee. Yip Man's teachings spread all over the world. Wing Chun Kung Fu is practiced in every country and has become the worlds most popular Chinese Martial Art. And so Yip Mans Disciples, Friends and Family along with a world of Wing Chun followers felt that Yip Man should be remembered, not just in the World Martial Arts community but also and even more so in his home town in Foshan. This is the purpose of the Yip Man Tong.
To fully appreciate his legend we must go back two generations on the Wing Chun family tree to a time when the practice of Kung Fu was in its golden age. Around that time in China's southern province of Canton in a town know as Foshan lived a Doctor known as Dr Leung Jan. As well as being a respected man in medicine, Leung Jan was also a kung fu expert of what was a respected but relatively unknown style at the time, Wing Chun Fist. Leung Jan was undefeated and had won many fights. His skill was unbelievable and he refined his fighting arts to perfection. Today the story's told of Leung Jan are not all true. All the same looking at the real man you can compare his story with the likes of Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp. He was a well established and respected man in Foshan. Leung Jan inherited his Kung Fu from Leung Yee Tai and Wong Wah Bo, members of the Red Boat (Hong Sen) floating opera. But unfortunately we lack solid evidence to confirm these historic facts, prior to Leung Jans error. We can only cross examine what little evidence we have with the legends these men left behind. Then try our best with the help of logic and speculation to find a reasonable conclusion. Whereas in Leung Jans case we have all the evidence to say he did exist lived and taught in Foshan. The original concept of Wing Chun came from Shaolin Kung Fu, maybe as far back as 300 years. It is believed that the first spark of inspiration came from Northern Shaolin and was taught by the Shaolin Monk Yat Chum his disciple Cheung Ng a famous opera performer who became an outlaw for his speeches of discontent towards the government of the day. In fear of his life Cheung Ng escaped from the north and moved to the south (Canton Province) where he continued to act and helped develop the beginning of the Hung Sen (The Red Boat). Cheung Ng was said to have been as great Kung Fu expert and was nick named Tarn Sau Ng. The history in-between Cheung Ng and Leung Jan has been lost all we have to go by is the Wing Chun archives that Leung Jan passed onto his sons, Leung Chun, Leung Bik, and only student Chan Wah Shun. Leung Jan's fame spread all over Canton. Many people had asked him for lessons but he refused all, regardless to generous offers. Eventually Chan Wah Shun was very fortunate to have been accepted as a student. It took a lot of patience and persistence before he was finally accepted. Leung Jan taught his sons a more advanced technique to that which he taught Chan. But Chan was physically stronger and trained harder than both the brothers. In time with both his strength and gained skill he was able to overcome them both.
Not long after Leung Jans death his eldest son Leung Chun had died also, Leung Bik had left Foshan. So Chan Wah took it upon himself to open up the first Wing Chun school and teach openly. In total he had fifteen students. Chan's Wing Chun school was a respected school in Foshans martial arts community he was getting old now and did not wish to recruit any more members. Then at the turn of the last century a young boy from the respectable Yip family asked if he could join the School. Chan not wanting to offend The Yip Family told the young boy that the cost of learning Wing Chun was 30 tales of silver. He expected never to see the young man again but Yip Man returned some months later with the total amount of tales. Chan was shocked and suspected that the silver had been stolen so he accompanied Yip Man back to his family to inquire.
On arrival Yip Mans mother explained how her son had worked hard to save up for his study of Kung Fu. Chan was impressed. He also liked the thought of keeping the 30 tales of silver and so he accepted Yip Man as his sixteenth and final student. Two years after Yip Mans recruitment Chan had retired and not to long after died. The senior school member Ng Cheung So completed Yip Mans training by Chans request. Yip Man took to Wing Chun very well and in time he became the pride of the Wing Chun school. There were many challenges back in those days and just like his predecessor's Yip Man had a chain of victory's with no defeats. This won him fame in Canton Province he gained more respect for the Wing Chun style and the admiration of the people in Foshan. It is important to note the character of Yip Man. He never started fights, neither was he a bully in all recorded incidents he was always defending his reputation as a Kung Fu expert or standing up against brutality and defending the weak. After a solid and accomplished childhood, at the age of 16, Yip Man went to Hong Kong to further his education at St. Steven's college.
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