| Wing Chun Kuen is a combat system that was developed between 300 - 400 years ago. This system has been shrouded in mystery and fable as to exactly how it emerged and the authenticity of the folklore. Reason for the mystery is, during the development of the Wing Chun System there where no real documents or records kept as in modern day society. The history of Wing Chun was passed orally through story telling, which we know changes through time and can be greatly exaggerated. this will bring different interpetations creating various stories from various families of the Wing Chun System. Here we will follow one of the stories that represent the history of Wing Chun, passed down from the Ip Man Lineage. The Manchurian army invaded China in the early 1600's. After years of battle the Manchurian government dethroned the Ming Dynasty and began the Qing Dynasty. During the early rule of the Qing Dynasty, the 2nd Manchurian Emperor Kangxi, who reined from (1662 - 1722), believed that the Monks and others, where training in the temple to rise up and overthrow the new Manchurian government in order to restore the throne to the rightful family member of the Ming Dynasty. The Manchurian government succeeded in burning down the Shaolin Temple of Mt. Sung, Honan due to a few Shaolin Monks who betrayed the others, as they set fire to the temple from the inside. Many Shaolin Monks and Nuns died and only a few escaped, including the 5 elders. These elders that escaped the burning of the Shaolin Temple are, 4 Shaolin Monks and 1 Shaolin Nun. The 4 Monks are: Master Fung To Tak - who developed White Tiger Kung Fu Buddhist Abbott Pak Mei - who developed White Eyebrow Kung Fu Buddhist Abbott Jee Shin - who kept the traditional Northern Shaolin Kung Fu Master Miu Hin - who develoed the 108 Dragon Palms The 1 Nun is: Buddhist Abbess Nug Mui - who developed Plum Flower Fist Kung Fu Now the legend has it that when the 5 elders escaped they decided to go there seperate ways, believing that this would reduce their chance of capture. Ng Mui fled to the Shaolin Temple of Mt. Sung in the Honan province of China and took refuge in the white crane temple on Mt Tai Leung. It is said, that one day while walking along Mt. Tai Leung, Ng Mui witnessed a fight between a crane and a snake. Upon reflecting, on the combat simplicity beween the 2 animals, Ng Mui gave thought to her Plum Flower Fist Kung Fu System, and revised it using the human bodies physical mechanics. This change started the development and beginning stages of a martial art known as Wing Chun. The Wing Chun Story States, that during the time that Ng Mui took refuge on Mt.Tai Leung Mr. Yee was wrongfully accused of a crime and fled from his native home in Canton, finally resting at the foothills of the Tai Leung Mountains. This is where Ng Mui came to know the familly through purchasing bean curd. Mr. Yim Yee had a beautiful daughter that was betrothed to Leung Bok Chau, a salt merchant from Fukien. Unfortunately Yim Wing Chun had attracted the attention of a local warlord, who stated he was going to marry her. Ng Mui heard of the situation and felt sorry for Yim Wing Chun. Ng Mui offered to teach Yim Wing Chun the newly developed fighting system so that she could protect herself. Yim Wing Chun agreed and trained in the mountains day and night unti she mastered the techniques and principles that Ng Mui was teaching her. Upon her arrival back to the village, Yim Wing Chun challenged the warlord and defeated him soundly in open hand combat. This allowed Yim Wing Chun to freely marry her intended husbad Leung Bok Chau. Shortly after Ng Mui told Yim Wing Chun to honor the Kung Fu tradition and to practice diligently, by further developing her abilities. Passing on the Kung Fu system to her husband Leung Bok Chau, who named the system Wing Chun after his wife. Leung Bok Chau taught Wing Chun to Leung Lan Kwai, a herbalist to took a student Wong Wah Bo. Wong Wah Bo was a member of the opera troupe that played onboard a junk (commonly called by the Chinese the Red junk). Wong Wah Bo was a friend of Leung Yee Tai, who at that wime was taught the six and a half point long pole (now called Luk Deem Boon Kwan), by Abbott Chi Shin. Both Wang Wah Boand Leung Yee Tai being close friends shared their knowledge among each other refining there abilities and adding the Long Pole techniques to the Wing Chun System. Leung Yee Tai taught the complete Wing Chun System to Leung Jan, a well know herbal Doctor in Fatshan in the Kwangtung Province, of China. Leung Jan excelled in the martial art of Wing Chun Kung Fu, grasping the highest level of understanding and proficiency. During this time Leung Jan had various challenges and defeated all of his opponents. Leung Jan taught his two sons Leung Bik and Leung Cheun and later accepted another student that was not family called Chan Wah Shen. Chan Wah Shen during his time of teaching taught 16 other students, the Wing Chun System. Chan Wah Shens youngest and last student was Ip Man. Ip Man born in Fatshan, China in the year of 1893, began training Wing Chun at the age of 7 in 1901. Years later when Chan Wah Shen died in 1905. the senior students honored his teachers request and taught Ip Man until the age of 15. It was at this time that Ip Man moved to Hong Kong to persue his academic studies at St. Stephen's College. It was while Ip Man was in Hong Kong that he met and began his training with Leung Bik, the eldest son of Master Leung Jan. Through Leung Bik, Ip Man learned the finest details of Wing Chun studying for approximately 4 years. Then upon completion of his academic studies Ip Man returned to China and worked as the "Captain of Local Police Patrols of Namhoi". During this time Ip Man married and had 4 children, 2 boys and 2 daughters. The 2 young boys Ip Chun and Ip Ching where taught Wing Chun by their father. Then in 1949 Ip Man had to flee Mainland China, due to the Communist takeover. Ip Man left his family and all possessions in Mainland China until he was able to provide for them. In 1950 starting from humble beginning, Ip Man started to teach a small class the Wing Chun Kung Fu System fulltime, at the resteraunt workers union in Hong Kong. 10 years later Ip Man was able to bring his family to Hong Kong. Where his 2 sons Ip Chun and Ip Ching learned from there father the complete intimate details of the Wing Chun System. They also taught along Ip Mans side until his death. Grandmaster Ip Man passed away on Dec 2nd, 1972 at the age of 79. The Ip brothers, Ip Chun and Ip Ching where left entrusted to pass on the Wing Chun Kung Fu System in its most authentic and purest form. Even to this day they are Masters of the Wing Chun System and leading members of the Ving Tsun Athletic Association. |
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