Ng Mui is regarded as the creator of the Wing Chun system and is often said that Wing Chun is the only martial art invented by a woman. This article hopes to bring more light on the issue of Ng Mui…

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Wing Chun, a renowned Chinese martial art known for its efficiency, practicality, and scientific principles, has captured the interest and admiration of practitioners and enthusiasts worldwide. Rooted in a rich history and legend, Wing Chun has evolved into a powerful combat system that continues to inspire martial artists to this day. In this article, we will explore the fascinating history of Wing Chun and trace its origins back to its legendary founder. Origins and the Legend of Ng Mui: The origins of Wing Chun are steeped in myth and legend, making it challenging to separate fact from fiction. According to popular accounts, Wing Chun is named after Yim Wing Chun, a young woman who learned martial arts from a Buddhist nun named Ng Mui during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) in China. Ng Mui, an accomplished martial artist and one of the legendary Five Elders who survived the destruction of the Shaolin Temple, developed a combat system that emphasized efficiency, economy of movement, and adaptability. Ng Mui drew inspiration from her observations of nature and the movements of animals, incorporating these principles into the new martial art she taught to Yim Wing Chun. Development and Evolution: Wing Chun, as passed down by Ng Mui and Yim Wing Chun, continued to evolve and flourish over the years. It was refined and further developed by subsequent generations of practitioners who added their own insights and experiences. Among the notable figures in Wing Chun's history are Leung Bok Chau, Leung Yee Tei, and Leung Jan, who played significant roles in refining and spreading the art. Leung Jan, a renowned Wing Chun master of the late 19th century, is particularly celebrated for his contributions to the system. He was known for his unparalleled skill and unwavering dedication to Wing Chun. Leung Jan's teachings attracted many students and helped popularize the art, solidifying its reputation as a formidable martial art style. Transition to Modern Times: In the early 20th century, Wing Chun experienced a significant shift as it reached a broader audience beyond closed-door lineages. One of the pivotal figures in this transition was Ip Man, a renowned Wing Chun master from Foshan, China. Ip Man, known for his exceptional skill and teachings, played a crucial role in spreading Wing Chun to Hong Kong and later to the rest of the world. Ip Man's most famous student, Bruce Lee, further propelled Wing Chun to international recognition. Bruce Lee's innovative approach and integration of various martial arts concepts were heavily influenced by his Wing Chun foundation. Through his films and teachings, Bruce Lee brought Wing Chun to the attention of the global martial arts community, sparking interest and inspiring countless practitioners. Wing Chun Today: Today, Wing Chun continues to thrive as a popular martial art and self-defense system practiced worldwide. Numerous lineages and variations of Wing Chun exist, each with its unique characteristics and interpretations. The art's focus on practicality, efficiency, and sensitivity in close-quarters combat remains its defining feature. Wing Chun's popularity can be attributed to its practicality in real-world situations, the effectiveness of its techniques, and its emphasis on body structure, sensitivity, and economy of movement. The system's principles and concepts make it accessible to practitioners of various ages, genders, and physical abilities. The history of Wing Chun is a tapestry of legends, skilled practitioners, and the continuous evolution of an art that has endured for centuries. From the mysterious origins associated with Ng Mui and Yim Wing Chun to the contributions of masters like Leung Jan and Ip Man, Wing Chun has evolved from a hidden gem to a globally recognized martial art. Today, Wing Chun remains a source of inspiration and a testament to the effectiveness of practical self-defense systems. Its principles and techniques continue to be studied and practiced by martial artists worldwide, both for its combative prowess and its holistic approach to personal development. In recent years, Wing Chun has also found its place in popular culture through movies, documentaries, and demonstrations. The art's unique blend of speed, precision, and fluidity has captivated audiences and garnered a new generation of followers. Many individuals are drawn to Wing Chun not only for its self-defense applications but also for its focus on mindfulness, discipline, and inner growth. Modern Wing Chun schools and organizations offer a range of training programs, catering to different goals and skill levels. Traditional lineages, which trace their roots back to the original Wing Chun masters, preserve the art's classical techniques and forms. Contemporary approaches to Wing Chun have also emerged, integrating elements from other martial arts disciplines or emphasizing specific aspects such as sports competition or practical self-defense. Regardless of the approach, the essence of Wing Chun remains intact—a system built on efficiency, sensitivity, and adaptability. Its core principles, such as centerline theory, simultaneous defense and attack, and economy of motion, provide practitioners with a solid foundation for effective close-quarters combat. Beyond its physical aspects, Wing Chun fosters mental agility, resilience, and self-confidence. The practice requires practitioners to develop acute spatial awareness, read their opponents' movements, and respond with lightning-fast reflexes. This heightened focus and mindfulness cultivated through Wing Chun training can also be applied to daily life, enhancing one's overall well-being. Moreover, Wing Chun's non-aggressive philosophy promotes conflict resolution and self-control. The art emphasizes avoiding unnecessary confrontation, using minimal force, and finding peaceful resolutions whenever possible. This aspect resonates with many practitioners who seek not only self-defense skills but also personal growth and harmony with others. Wing Chun's enduring legacy can be attributed to its adaptability and its ability to withstand the test of time. It has successfully transitioned from the secretive teachings of a few select individuals to a widely recognized martial art practiced by people of all backgrounds and ages. Its effectiveness in real-world situations, combined with its emphasis on personal development, has secured its place as a formidable martial art in the modern era. As Wing Chun continues to evolve, new generations of practitioners will build upon the foundations laid by the masters who came before them. The art's evolution will be shaped by diverse influences, ranging from technological advancements and scientific research to cross-training with other martial arts disciplines. In conclusion, Wing Chun stands as a testament to the power of human ingenuity, perseverance, and the pursuit of excellence. Its journey from ancient legends to global recognition is a testament to its enduring appeal and the impact it has had on countless lives. As long as there are individuals seeking a martial art that blends practicality with personal growth, Wing Chun's legacy will continue to inspire and shape the future of martial arts. 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The Legend of Wing Chun The legend of Wing Chun Kung Fu can be found in the turbulent, repressive Ching (Manchurian) dynasty of over 250 years ago. It was a time when 90% of the Chinese race, the Hans, were ruled by the 10 percent, the Manchurians. The Manchurians treated the Hans unjustly. For instance, all the female Han infants were made to bind their feet so that when they grew up they would be dependent upon their parents or husband. Men were made to shave the front of their heads and were forced to wear a ponytail (queue) to distinguish them as Han males not Manchurian. The work opportunity of the Hans was also restricted. They were not allowed to hold a position above a certain level in the Government. Heavy tax burdens were placed on the country, so that the Manchurians could have economic control of the Han people. Kung fu training was also banned for the Hans, however the Manchurian Government was adopting the Han culture. The Manchurians respected the Shaolin Temple as a Buddhist sanctuary, since the Manchurians were Buddhists as well. Shaolin Temple When all weapons were outlawed by the Manchurians, the Hans began training a revolutionary army in the banned art of kung Fu. The Shaolin Temple became the secret sanctuary for preparatory training of a classic style which took 15 to 20 years for each person to master. Five of China's grandmasters met to discuss the merits of each of the various forms of kung Fu, in order to develop a form with a shorter learning period. By choosing the most efficient techniques from each style, they developed training programs that would develop an efficient martial artist in 5 to 7 years, one-third the original time. However before this new form could be put into practice, the Shaolin Temple was raided and burned by the Manchurians. Ng Mui, a nun, was the only survivor of the original five grandmasters. She passed her knowledge onto a young orphan girl whom she named Wing Chun. The name means, "Praise Spring", representing "hope for the future". A future without Manchurian domination and injustice. Wing Chun's beauty attracted the attention of a local bully. He tried to force Wing Chun to marry him. Ng Mui challenged the bully that if Wing Chun can beat him in a fight, he would leave her alone. She agreed to teach Wing Chun fighting techniques so she could protect herself. Wing Chun followed Ng Mui into the mountains, and began to learn her new Kung Fu. She trained night and day, until she mastered the techniques. Then she challenged the bully to a fight and beat him. In turn Yim Wing Chun passed her knowledge to her husband, Leung Bok Chao. Through the years the style became known as Wing Chun. Its techniques and teachings were passed onto a few carefully selected students. After Yim Wing Chun passed away, Leung Bok Chao taught his nephew Wong Wah Bo. There is another modern legend of Wing Chun Kung Fu that a Shaolin monk named Chi Sim also taught Wong Wah Bo Wong Wah Bo joined the Red Junk Opera Company and taught Leung Yee Tai who was an actor in the company. Also added the Long Pole- Dragon Pole weapon to theWing Chun system. Leung Yee Tai and Wong Wah Bo both taught Leung Jan who in turn became famous for his skill in Wing Chun Kung Fu. Leung Jan Leung Jan opened an herbal shop in Fatshan, where he practiced medicine. At night he trained his sons and Chan Wah Shun. After Leung Jan passed away, Chan Wah Shun took over the instruction of Wing Chun and Leung Jans son Leung Bik left the province. Leung Jan The Butterfly Swords (Butterfly Knives) a Wing Chun Weapon Chan Wah Shun In time, Chan Wah Shun accepted Yip Man as his last disciple. Chan Wah Shun taught 16 disciples. Yip Man Yip Man Yip Man Yip Man was born in the year 1898 in the town of Fatshan in Namhoi County, Kwangtung Province, in Southern China to a wealthy merchant family. The Yip family permitted Wing Chun master Chan Wah Shun to live and teach a small group of disciples in the family temple, since Chan's local reputation as a fighter discouraged thieves and highwaymen from attacking the family businesses. Yip Man would watch Chan Wah Shun drill his disciples in the ways of Wing Chun. Soon the boy's visits became more regular until, Yip Man was about nine years old he approached Chan and asked to be accepted as a student. Chan Wah Shun was about 60 years old at the time and didn't want to accept another disciple this late in life. To discourage him, Chan told Yip that he would admit him as a student as soon as he could pay the tuition price of three taels of silver. But when Yip Man returned the next day with 300 pieces of silver, which was his entire life savings. So once Chan and Yip Man's parents saw that this boy had such a strong desire to learn Wing Chun, his parents agreed to let him study. And Chan Wah Shun accepted him at which point, Yip Man became the last of Chan's 16 disciples. Yip Man studied with Chan Wah Shun for four years, until the old master's death. Yip subsequently spent another two and a half years training with his senior, Ng Chung So. When Yip was 16 years old, his parents sent him to Hong Kong to attend St. Stephen's College. There, he quickly fell in with a clique of classmates who liked to offer and accept kung fu challenges. He welcomed the opportunity to put his Wing Chun training to the real test. Yip discovered that he liked to fight. He would accept a challenge on the slightest provocation. On one such occasion, a classmate named Lai dared Yip to go after an old kung fu practitioner who worked at the silk company of Lai's father. The man was well into his 50s and very eccentric, but Lai insisted the man's kung fu was very good. That evening Yip Man found the man living on a fishing boat anchored near the typhoon breakers in Hong Kong Bay. Yip first performed the entire Siu Lim Tao form of Wing Chun. After that the old man agreed to a match. Yip promptly attacked the old man and quickly found himself in Hong Kong Bay. After repeated attempts and repeated soakings, Yip Man wanted to learn from the old man. Yip Man soon found out that the old man was Leung Bik. Leung Bik explained the difference in his Wing Chun compared to Chan Wah Shun's and proceeded to take Yip Man as a student. Yip Man studied with Leung Bik for two and a half years. Wing Chun Grandmaster Leung Jan’s eldest son, Leung Bik, a legendary Wing Chun master, which is also Grandmaster Chan Wah Shun’s Siheng/Kungfu elder Brother(elder master). This is Grandmaster Leung Bik’s photo during his eighties. Photo sourced from Kulo Village, China “ Right picture is a young Leung Bik. Leung Bik At the age of Fifteen, Yip Man went to Hong Kong to pursue academic studies at St. Stephen’s College in Stanley (Hong Kong was a British colony). He met Leung Bik, the son of Leung Jan (Sifu of Chan Wah Shun). Yip Man followed Leung Bik to further advance his Wing Chun. Yip Man returned to Fatshan and told his seniors about the old man that he had met. When his seniors scoffed at him, Yip Man challenged them and defeated them with his newfound knowledge. Yip Man stayed in Fatshan where he was involved with the police and raised a family. In 1948 Yip Man fled to Hong Kong during the People's Movement. In Hong Kong, a homeless and penniless Yip Man was given refuge at a restaurant. Yip Man watched the instructor(Leung Sheung) there conduct a kung fu class. Leung Sheung at the time was a practitioner of Bak Mei and Dragon kung Fu. After watching the class for a time, Yip Man demonstrated his skill to Leung Sheung and Leung Sheung promptly became Yip Man's first student in Hong Kong. After this Yip Man started teaching Wing Chun to the Restaurant Worker's Association. Yip Man eventually moved his place of instruction. Yip Man trained excellent fighters, chief among them are Wong Shun Leung, Grandmaster William Cheung, and Bruce Lee. After 20+ years of teaching in Hong Kong, Yip Man passed away in 1972. Yip Man and Bruce Lee Yip Man and William Cheung Legacy of Yip Man - Wing Chun Kung Fu - The Legacy from Yip Man students These are most of Yip Man students who spread Wing Chun Kung Fu across the world. William Cheung, Wong Shun Leung, Bruce Lee, Moy Yat, Leung Ting(梁挺), Duncan Leung, Hawkins Cheung, Leung Sheung ( Leong Seong ), Lee Shing, Lok Yiu, Chu Shong-tin, Wong Kiu (王喬), Yip Bo-ching (葉步青), Wong Long, Wong Chok, Law Bing, Ho Kam-ming, Derek Fung Ping-bor (馮平波), Chris Chan Shing (陳成), Victor Kan Wah Chit (簡華捷), Stanley Chan, Chow Sze-chuen, Tam Lai, Lee Che-kong, Simon Lau, Wang Kiu (王喬), Kang Sin Sin (Kong San San), Yip nephew Lo Man Kam, and Yip sons Ip Ching and Ip Chun 1950 picture some of Yip Man with students Yip Man pic with students The Wooden Man or Wooden Dummy Id like to add In training Wing Chun Kung Fu, or any Martial Art, its ideal to train the way you fight. That means for example in working the Wooden Dummy or Wooden Man, (Muk Yan Jong, Cantonese) there is a way to practice the Wing Chun sets in a fighting way, where you do the moves the same as if you were in a fight. Example if you did a low Pak or low Bonsao as in the triple low Bonsao set, in a fight you wouldnt do that low Bonsao directly in front of you or you would still get hit in the stomach. You would low Bonsao stepping to the side deflecting it away from you. So in practice you do it the same as if your in a fight. The Wooden Man is an excellent training tool to keep your Wing Chun Kung Fu sharp. The Wooden Man Grandmaster William Cheung William Cheungs Wing Chun Kung Fu style in forms and fighting is practical, countering opponents attack with simultaneous block and strike with footwork kicks blindside control trapping and balance. Specialties vary in each fighter noticed, some use more chopping, palm strike, wusao, tan, gan, pak, bonsao, fook, huen, bilsao, fatsao, biu jee fingers, elbow, angle deflect, as well as art of Dim Mak (striking pressure points) Wing Chun Kung Fu can be a simultaneous attack and defense art. In learning it is realized that you are responding to an attack. What ever your opponent does will give you which type of response to deal with the attack by deflecting the attack, countering it, and finish with an attack of your own. A simultaneous block and strike. A deflect and strike at the same time. Martial Arts is not an attack, it is defense. When used you are defending yourself or defending someone else. It is not used with anger or in revenge. That would not be using it in good intentions. In knowing more deep in the Martial Arts you realize the fight is the last thing you want. That you can subdue someone without harm, a fall instead of a fight. And if you cause harm in defense of an attack to take a limb, not a life. If you harm their arms they wont hit you. If you harm their legs, they wont run after you. The laws of government will be on your side when you are in your defense of being attacked, and you may convince your opponent that you do not wish to be an enemy, but that you rather be looked at as an ally and friend. - Joey Pagan Grandmaster William Cheung and Bruce Lee Grandmaster William Cheung On November 22, 1998, Grandmaster William Cheung was inducted into the 1998 Blitz Hall of Fame, receiving the award for "Lifetime Tribute for Martial Arts". He has been called the Masters' Master; he was considered by Bruce Lee to be the "ultimate fighter": William Cheuk Hing Cheung was the sole inheritor of the Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu system, and was the person responsible for introducing Bruce Lee to Wing Chun Kung Fu. In 1951, at the age of ten, Cheung started his training in Wing Chun Kung Fu under the late Grandmaster Yip Man. From 1954 to 1958 Cheung was a live-in student of Grandmaster Yip Man. It was during this time that he inherited the complete system of Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu. Between 1957 and 1958 Cheung won the Kung Fu elimination contests in Hong Kong, defeating opponents with many more years' experience. In early 1954 Cheung introduced Bruce Lee to Grandmaster Yip Man, and became his personal trainer. Throughout the four and a half years the two men developed a very close friendship, and Cheung passed on to Bruce Lee most of his techniques and helped developed his overall confidence and experience in fights. In later years he was to use these techniques in competitions, and also in his movies. In 1959, after completing his training under Grandmaster Yip Man, Cheung left Hong Kong to pursue an academic career at the Australian National University in Canberra. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Economics. After moving to Melbourne to teach Wing Chun professionally in 1973, Cheung began operating a very successful Martial Arts School. In 1976 he was elected the President of the Australian Kung Fu Federation. Cheung was appointed as Chief Instructor to the U.S. Seventh Fleet based in Yukosuka, Japan, during 1978 to 1980. Throughout this time, he was in charge of the intensive mental and physical development program of close quarter hand to hand combat for the marines. Many of Cheung's students have achieved international recognition for their martial arts prowess. In 1982 his students, Joe Moahengi and Rick Spain, won the heavyweight and middleweight divisions respectively in the World Invitation Kung Fu Championships held in Hong Kong. Furthermore, Cheung himself, in 1983, was inducted into the "Black Belt Hall of Fame" as Kung Fu Artist of the Year and again in 1989, into the "Inside Kung Fu Hall of Fame" as Martial Arts Instructor of the Year. From 1979 Grandmaster Cheung and many of his juniors conducted special programs for special law enforcing officers and special operation groups in the Armed Services in U.S.A. and other countries, teaching unarmed combat, restraining and disarming assailants and a fire arm retention program. It was at the Harvard University, Boston, in 1984 that Grandmaster Cheung set the world speed punching record of 8.3 punches per second . To promulgate his ideas and stimulate and enliven the art, Cheung has authored a variety of books for the general public including "Wing Chun Biu Jee", "Wing Chun Butterfly Swords", "Wing Chun Dragon Pole", "Advanced Wing Chun", "How to Develop Chi Power", "Wing Chun Kung Fu" (in French), "A Comparison of Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do" Volumes I and II. He has also produced a number of videos, including the well-known "The Wing Chun Way", "Tao of Wing Chun" and "PRO-TEKT: A Personal Protection Program". From his early training in Martial Arts, Grandmaster Cheung has become an expert in Meridian, Pressure Points and Meditation dealing with internal energies. Over the last ten years he has used this knowledge to develop many successful programs treating sports injuries and teaching stress management. Grandmaster William Cheung has been honoured by the China Guangzhou Medical University and Hospital Research Institute as a Research Professor for his Cheung's Meridian Therapy (CMT) program. This appointment is for the two year period from January 2000 until January 2002. As the result of these, Grandmaster Cheung's seminars, workshops and treatments are now much sought after all over the world. Yip Man His Name Belongs In A List of Immortals At the time of his death in December 1972, Yip Man could not have imagined that his name would be remembered among those of the most distinguished international grandmasters in the annals of martial arts history: Dr. Jigoro Kano, Gichin Funakoshi, Moriehi Uyeshiba. Yip Man's name belongs on that list of immortals. As the rightful patriarch of the Wing Chun style of kung fu, he succeeded in spreading his obscure but dynamic fighting art first throughout the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong and then throughout the world. His Teachings Are The Cornerstone of Modern Martial Arts His teachings have become a cornerstone of the modern martial arts era. The bare-boned efficiency of his fighting techniques, coupled with the knowledge that he was Bruce Lee's instructor, caused millions to regard his art with awed curiosity. Wing Chun means magic to them. Throughout the world, wherever instruction is not readily available, martial artists have at least attempted to imitate the subtleties of the art's sticking and trapping techniques. Wing Chun Is The Most Influential Martial Art Today Wing Chun is the most influential martial art to emerge from 20th century China. Unfortunately, the art did not achieve international acclaim during Yip's lifetime, so he did not foresee the need publicly to name an heir to his role as leader of the Wing Chun clan. He still held and transmitted much of his art through vows of secrecy. Now that more than two decades have passed since his demise, many glory-seekers will invent intricate tales, misrepresent Yip photographs, and literally fight for the right to become known as his personal disciple and heir. Dozens of second and even third generation practitioners have advanced such counterfeit claims ... a bizarre phenomenon once the facts are revealed that Yip Man did not begin teaching until after his 50th birthday, that he did not like to teach and that he rarely did so. Yip Man Was Born Into A Respected And Wealthy Chinese Family Yip Man was born in October 1893 in the town of Fatshan in Namhoi County, Kwangtung Province, in Southern China. He was the son of a wealthy merchant named Yip Oi Doh and his wife, Madame Ng. As is still the custom, businesses and corporations in China were often built around family groupings of fathers, sons, sons-in-law, cousins, uncles, granduncles and grandfathers. The Yip family was no exception. Collectively, they owned a large farm and a merchandise exporting business which played an important role in bringing domestic renown to fabrics made from the Fatshan silkworm. The Yip family lived in some 20 old-style Chinese estates which lined both sides of Happiness and Scholarship Avenue. On one side of the avenue, in the centre of the estates, stood the Yip ancestral temple. Inside the temple, the Yip family permitted Wing Chun master Chan Wah Shun to live and teach a small group of disciples, since Chan's local reputation as a fighter discouraged thieves and highwaymen from attacking the family business. Yip Man Became Fascinated With Wing Chun At A Very Early Age As a boy Yip Man was tutored in the traditional Chinese classics. He was forced to memorize ancient poems and Confucian philosophy, to learn to paint as well as to write his own poems. But whenever he could escape from the surveillant eyes of his tutors, he would wander over to the ancestral temple and watch Chan Wah Shun drill his disciples in the ways of Wing Chun. Soon the boy's visits became more regular until, finally, when Yip was about nine years old he approached Chan and asked to be accepted as a student. Chan did not take the boy's request seriously. "Chan Wah Shun was about 60 years old at the time," explains William Cheung, one of Yip Man's oldest and most devoted disciples, "and most of his students were already over 30." Besides, many wealthy families of the day did not want their sons' attention drawn away from academic pursuits by the practice of kung fu, especially after the Boxer Rebellion fiasco in 1900. His First Teacher Did Not At First Take Yip Man Seriously So to spare the boy's feelings, Chan diplomatically told Yip that he would admit him as a student as soon as he could pay the tuition price of three taels of silver. Chan did not think that a nine year old boy, from a wealthy family or not, could produce that much money anytime in the near future. "But when my master Yip Man returned the next day," says Cheung, relating the story as told to him by the Grandmaster, "he went up to Chan Wah Shun with 300 pieces of silver. That was a lot of money! You could have bought a good-sized house in those days for 300 pieces of silver. He Used His Life Savings To Become Chan Wah Shun's Student "But Chan Wah Shun did not simply accept the money. Instead he thought that this little kid had just pinched 300 pieces of silver to give to him. So he took Yip Man to his parents to try to find out where the silver had come from. "Then they realized that the 300 pieces of silver were his whole life savings. So once they saw that this boy had such a strong desire to learn Wing Chun that he'd given away all his money, his parents agreed to let him study. And Chan Wah Shun accepted him." Yip Man Became The Youngest Direct Line Practitioner of Wing Chun Yip Man became the last of Chan's 16 disciples. He also became the youngest in a direct line of Wing Chun practitioners dating back nearly 200 years to the art's fabled beginnings at the original Shaolin Temple in Honan Province. At that time in Chinese history, the Shaolin Temple was a hotbed of revolutionary activity. "You see, 400 years ago when the Manchus took over China," recounts Cheung, "about 90 percent of the Chinese people considered themselves to be members of the Hon nation. The Manchus, on the other hand, came from the Northern border areas. So in order to prevent the people from overthrowing their government, the Manchus placed a lot of restrictions on the Han. "They forced the Han men to shave their foreheads and to wear pigtails so that they could be easily identified. They made the Han women bind their feet so that they became completely dependent on the men. And since the women could not walk very far, the men could not wander off. High positions in the government had to be held only by Manchus, or by Hans who had been made Manchus through a special ceremony. They even limited the number of knives that could be kept in a Han household." Outside of the government imposed restrictions, the Manchus encouraged the populace to continue with business as usual, engaging in all normal forms of cultural endeavour, including monastic pursuits. Buddhist and Taoist monks were permitted to travel and participate in religious rites virtually unencumbered by the new regime. Thus the Shaolin Temple, with its long-established tradition of martial arts training, became the obvious sanctuary for dissidents, revolutionaries, and secret societies dedicated to the overthrow of the government. The Shaolin Temple Was a Hotbed Of Revolutionary Activity Meanwhile many members of the Han officer corps who survived the collapse of the Ming dynasty re-swore their loyalties and aligned themselves with the new Manchu leadership. These professional soldiers were highly skilled in the martial arts and well-versed in the fighting tactics of the Shaolin Temple. Whenever they were sent into an area of Shaolin activity to enforce the Manchu will, they quickly put a halt to the Robin Hood operations of rebellious monks. Wing Chun Became A Tool For Revolution "In those days it took at least 18 years to train a full-fledged Shaolin martial artist," describes William Cheung. "They had to do ten years of a hard physical style, and then eight years of internal style. During that time they also had to practise swords and spears, and various other kinds of weapons. "So for the revolutionaries to train someone in Shaolin to match the skills of the Manchu soldiers, it would take 18 years ... and even then they were doing basically the same thing (with regard to fighting technique). They had to find a solution to this problem. So over 200 years ago, the oldest and most knowledgeable elders of the Shaolin Temple got together and decided to develop a style which would combine the best of all the other styles, and which would take a much shorter time to learn. The Monks Needed An Art That Would Train A Warrior Faster and More Efficiently "Then with that purpose in mind, they met repeatedly and engaged in lengthy discussions. Each elder was the master of his own style. And each master revealed all his secrets. Eventually, they developed a theory from which they derived a set of fighting principles." The combat theory of the elders was as simple as it was profound. Since their objective was to invent a technically superior system of self defence, they began by examining the two existing types of martial arts. They noted that the hard or external styles - Shaolin, traditional chuan-fa, modern karate - committed the body's placement well before a kick or punch impacted with its target. In this way the technique accumulated maximum momentum, and imparted maximum force. Of course the weakness of the approach was that the early commitment left the hard stylist vulnerable to an assortment of throws and perpetual unbalancing techniques. On the other hand, the soft or internal styles - tai chi chuan, pa kua, hsing-i - kept the body's weight elusive, and committed only at the instant of impact. But the problem with this approach was that the soft stylist did not strike with enough penetration or power. An Efficient Warrior Must Learn To Interrupt His Movements The elders reasoned, then, that if they could devise techniques which landed repeatedly with both the unpredictable swiftness of a soft style and the violent penetration of a hard style, then no enemy would be able to plan an effective counter. All styles would be defeated. Consequently the monks agreed that the new fighting art should contain nly those techniques which could be thrown with total commitment, halted abruptly, then instantly re-thrown from another angle with another committed technique. They called their new approach the theory of interruption. An Efficient Warrior Must Learn To Fight In Close-Range Next, since close-range techniques are both easier to interrupt and faster to learn, they determined that the new art would tend to emphasize in-fighting. Any attempts on the part of the enemy to use flashy, long-ranged movements such as high kicks and controlled swings, would be frustrated through a system of jams, straight-line hand strikes and quick, interrupted footwork patterns. The new stylist would be able to obtain favorable in-fighting distance safely, and with little effort. Finally, once the proper in-fighting range was secured, the new stylist would have to be trained to use physical contact with the enemy's limbs to sense the enemy's next technique spontaneously. Then both hands could be used as a team for either interrupted strikes, combined with limb traps or for simultaneous parry-and-open hand with its slaps, grabs, parries, finger pokes and palm strikes, which would be favored over the closed fist. This process of interruption would continue with increased fury until the enemy had been vanquished. The Shaolin Temple Was Raided and Destroyed Before The System was Completed The Shaolin elders became so encouraged by the progress of their theoretical discussions that they renamed the martial arts training room in which they met "Wing Chun Hall" or "Forever Springtime" Hall. The words "Wing Chun" expressed their hopes for a renaissance in Shaolin martial arts instruction, as well as for a more effective weapon in their struggle against the Manchus. "But before they could completely develop their system," continues William Cheung, "someone tipped off the government and they raided the Shaolin temple. Everybody scattered. A Legend of Ng Mui, and Wing Chun Ng Mui, A Surviving Shaolin Nun and Temple Elder, Developed Wing Chun "The founder of the style, the nun Ng Mui, had been one of the temple elders. She escaped the raid and hid herself in a nunnery on Tai Leung Mountain between Szechwan and Yunan provinces. She spent her time there developing the movements of the new system. When she finished she called it "Wing Chun" after the Wing Chun Hall in which the Shaolin elders had held their discussions." Designed For Smaller Practitioners To Defeat Larger Opponents Says Cheung, "One day when Ng Mui travelled down to the village at the bottom of the mountain, she met the daughter of bean curd vendor Yim Yee Gung. The girl and her father were in a lot of trouble because the town bully wanted to marry her. The bully was the leader of a gang and threatened to ruin Yim Yee Gung's business, so eventually Yee Gung and the girl would have to agree. "Ng Mui told them to play along with the bully, but agree to the marriage only if he could then defeat the girl in a kung fu contest. And since in those days it took several months for a marriage to take place anyway, the bully agreed. Meanwhile, the girl started learning Wing Chun with Ng Mui. Later, the girl stood on a platform waiting to respond to the bully's challenge. He ascended onto the platform, and fought her. She had won! "After the contest, Yim Yee Gung asked Ng Mui to take care of his daughter. So the girl followed Ng Mui to the nunnery. And then Ng Mui gave the name "Wing Chun" to the girl, since she now became the future of the art. Yim Wing Chun stayed with Ng Mui until she died." Wing Chun Begins To Be Passed On Within Families And Close Friends Years later, Yim Wing Chun taught the new art to her husband, a salt merchant named Leung Bok Chau. He in turn taught the art to the herbalist Leung Lan Kwai, who taught the art to a Chinese opera star named Wong Wah Bo. Wong Wah Bo then exchanged kung fu techniques with another member of his opera troupe named Leung Yee Tai. Together, Wong and Leung then added the long-pole techniques to the system. And finally, Leung Yee Tai taught the art to Dr. Leung Jan, who passed it on to Chan Wah Shun. At A Young Age, Yip Man Was a Formidable Sparring Opponent Yip Man studied with Chan Wah Shun for four years, until the old master's death. Yip subsequently spent another two and a half years training with his senior, Ng Chung So, and Ng's two students, Yuen Kay Shan and Yiu Choi. Sometimes they would strap on jackets padded with horse hair and feathers and spar with full-contact techniques directed to the body. Apparently young Yip developed a passion for realism during these early sparring sessions. When Yip was 16 years old, his parents sent him to Hong Kong to attend St. Stephen's College. There, he quickly fell in with a clique of classmates who liked to offer and accept kung fu challenges. He welcomed the opportunity to put his Wing Chun training to the real test. Within a short time, he developed a reputation as a superlative fighter. He had stood up to hard stylists and soft stylists, to instructors and students, and even to a foreigner or two. Yet despite his small five foot, 120 pound frame, never once had he lost. Yip Man Liked To Fight And Accepted All Challenges Yip discovered, in fact, that he liked to fight. He would accept a challenge on the slightest provocation. On one such occasion, a classmate named Lai dared Yip to go after an old kung fu practitioner who worked at the silk company of Lai's father. The man was well into his 50s and very eccentric, but, Lai insisted, his kung fu was very good. Yip Man Loses To An Old Man That evening Yip Man found the man living on a fishing boat anchored near the typhoon breakers in Hong Kong Bay. "Hey, old man!" yelled Yip. The old man did not answer. Yip Man picked up a stone and threw it in the man's direction. "Hey, old man!" he yelled once more. "What do you want, youngster?" "I've heard that you are a great kung fu master and I've come here to find out. I'd like to spar with you." No answer. "Old man," Yip said again, "I'd like to spar with you." The man stood silent. He stared into Yip's eyes, then moved his gaze up and down the boy's length. "I don't know, youngster," he said at last, stroking his chin. "You look pretty puny. I might be wasting my time. I'll have to see you do a form first." This request irritated Yip Man. "All right, old man," he said, dropping into a pigeon-toed horse stance. "Watch!" Yip performed the entire Shil Lim Tao form of Wing Chun, with its long isotonic motions which always seemed punctuated by a sudden combative pop. The old man smiled. "Okay, youngster. Come on board. We'll spar." No sooner had the two squared off than Yip Man raced after the old man in a blaze of punches. The old man met Yip's attack, stepped to the side, then ... SPLASSSHHH! The old man looked down at Yip in the waters of Hong Kong Bay. "What's the matter, youngster?" he said. "I thought you wanted to spar!" Yip climbed out of the bay, onto the dock, and back onto the boat. "Don't worry, old man," he said. "I'll show you sparring!": He launched after the old man, a jet on takeoff. A few techniques were exchanged at a furious pace, then ... SPLASSSHHH! "Hey, youngster! Do you want to spar or do you really want to swim?" Yip Man could not understand what had gone wrong. He had done so well against other supposed 'masters', but he didn't even know what this guy was doing. The Old Man Accepts Yip Man As A Student Yip Man began to visit the old man at every opportunity. He would bring him wine and roast duck. Sometimes he would wash the man's clothes, then leave. But not a word was spoken between the two. After about a month, the old man confronted Yip. "Look, youngster," he said, "I know that you are a Wing Chun practitioner. And I know that you aren't bad. I also know that you show me all this kindness because you want to learn from me ... Well, okay, I'm going to teach you, rather than let the art pass away. You see, I too am a Wing Chun practitioner. My name's Leung Bik. I am the son of your teacher's teacher." Leung Bik then explained how his father, Dr. Leung Jan, had withheld key elements of the Wing Chun system from Chan Wah Shun. Chan had been over six feet tall, whereas Dr. Leung's two sons, Leung Chun and Leung Bik, only stood at about five feet. So in order to give his sons a slight technical edge, Dr. Leung did not teach Chan Wah Shun the proper interrupted footwork patterns. Further, he held back many techniques even from the three forms. After Dr. Leung died, the two sons and Chan Wah Shun argued over who would become the next grandmaster. Chan challenged the two sons, and because he was so much bigger, he was still able to defeat them. Chan then chased the two sons out of the Fatshan area. Yip Man studied with Leung Bik for two and a half years. Meanwhile he continued to accept challenges. During one encounter, he badly injured his opponent. The police threatened to prosecute, so Yip fled to Japan for a year until the commotion had subsided. Yip Man: A Wing Chun Grandmaster At the Age of 20 When Yip Man finally returned home to Fatshan to take a wife and assume his responsibilities in the family business, he was only 20 years old, but already a Grandmaster of Wing Chun. He lived a leisurely life there, practising Wing Chun with either a few select students or on the wooden dummy he kept in his flower garden, until the Communist takeover in 1949. He subsequently fled to Hong Kong, penniless, where he spent the remainder of his life teaching. Today, 90 percent of Wing Chun schools in the world can be traced directly to his efforts. Grandmaster William Cheung Helped Teach Bruce Lee At the age of ten, William Cheung began his training in Wing Chun Kung Fu under the instruction of Yip Man. He was 14 when he decided to follow Wing Chun as a way of life. For the next four years, he trained full time under Yip Man's roof. Between 1957 and 1958 Cheung won the kung fu elimination contests in Hong Kong, defeating opponents with many more years experience. During that period, he helped to teach Bruce Lee many of the techniques that Lee would later use in his very successful film career. Some of Yip Mans students wanted to stop Yip Man from teaching Bruce Lee because the culture was to only teach the Chinese, and Bruce Lees mother was half German. So Yip Man continued to teach Bruce Lee through his top students Wong Shun Leung and William Cheung. Opened The First Wing Chun Kung Fu School In Australia From 1959 when he arrived in Australia to pursue his academic studies, Cheung organized small informal groups interested in martial arts. However, the death of his master, Yip Man, in 1973 marked a turning point in his life. He decided that the traditional taboo placed on the teaching of Wing Chun to non-Chinese was anachronistic and unjustifiable. Accordingly, he formed the first Wing Chun Kung Fu school in Australia in which the full extent of this Chinese art was taught to students of both Chinese and non-Chinese. Taught Close-Quarters Combat To U.S. Marines In Japan Cheung was appointed as a Chief Instructor to the U.S. Seventh Fleet based in Yukosuka, Japan, and served in that capacity from 1978 to 1980. During this time, he was in charge of the intensive program of close quarter combat for the marines. Cheung's Students Have Achieved International Recognition Many of Cheung's students have achieved international recognition for their martial arts prowess. In 1982 his students won both the heavyweight and middleweight divisions in the World Invitation Kung Fu Championships held in Hong Kong. Further, Cheung was himself awarded the 1983 Black Belt Hall of Fame Award as Kung Fu Artist of the Year. Set The World Speed Punching Record Of 8.3 Punches Per Second In 1984, William Cheung set the world speed punching record of 8.3 punches per second at Harvard University in Boston. More recently, he has been actively engaged in research and development to improve training and the execution of techniques, and has been the first in his field to apply advanced biomechanical methods such as high speed filming and computer technology in an attempt to empirically analyze the movements of the art of Wing Chun Kung Fu. To promulgate his ideas and stimulate and enliven the art, Cheung has authored Kung Fu Butterfly Swords, Kung Fu Dragon Pole, How to Develop Chi Power, Wing Chun Bil Jee, Advanced Wing Chun, and most recently, My Life With Wing Chun. In 2014 the book Wing Chun System, surprising pictures are identical to some pictures in this earlier written blog. Continues To Teach Extensive Seminars Around The World In recent years, Cheung has been extensively involved in conducting workshop seminars for various groups in different countries around the world throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. For more on Grandmaster Cheung and the Global Wing Chun Kung Fu Association WING CHUN AS A UNITED MARTIAL ART by JOEY PAGAN NYC Wing Chun is in every form taught by every practitioner a very dangerous combat martial art. Every person who learns this martial art becomes a highly skilled fighter capable of defending themselves, and able to inflict damaging bodily harm. It instills confidence in their abilities and maintains achievement in the mind. There are specialized techniques in every form of Wing Chun taught by each master or practitioner, that there really isnt a less efficient Wing Chun. Every Wing Chun is very efficient, and makes a very efficient fighter out of anyone. For in every Martial Art it is the fighter behind the Art who has trained hardest with the most effort who will master over anothers skill. Noticing techniques of different Masters of YipMans successors ( students of his first generation lineage ) all have the finest fighting skills to succeed in combat. So with each lineage of Yip Man to also any other form of Wing Chun that may be even outside the Yip Man lineage. Respect is to all practitioners and Masters, for the Martial Art of the combined Kung Fu of the 5 Shaolin Masters, called WING CHUN KUNG FU Joey Pagan New York City visit www.cheungswingchun.com

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