Wan Kam Leung Practical Wing Chun
Australian Capital Territory
History of Wing Chun Kung Fu
The history of Wing Chun has been transmitted orally, resulting in two prevalent narratives regarding its origins. The primary distinction between these accounts revolves around its founder, Ng Mui. The widely recognized version, as conveyed by the Late Grand Master Yip Man, asserts that Ng Mui was a nun. In contrast, a more contemporary interpretation suggests that Ng Mui was, in fact, a monk.
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Ng Mui is widely recognized as the founder of Wing Chun and was one of the five elders associated with the Siu Lum temple. An already skilled martial artist, Ng Mui created a martial arts style inspired by the movements of a snake and a crane. This initial style was known as SeiHoBak Bo (Snake and Crane Eight Step). She further refined this technique, which then became recognized as Ng Bo Mui Fa Kuen (Plum Flower Fist). These three styles served as the foundation for Wing Chun. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), gung-fu was practiced at the Siu Lum (Shaolin) monastery in southern China mainly for physical fitness. However, following the Manchurian usurpation and the rise of the Ching Dynasty, many Ming loyalists sought refuge in the temple, where they were safe and found support among some of the inhabitants. Unfortunately, the Ming loyalists were betrayed by a traitor, leading to an attack by Manchu soldiers who set the monastery ablaze. Only a few individuals, including the five elders, managed to escape the inferno. These disciples had to hide their identities and activities, as the Ching government had prohibited all forms of martial arts practice.
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Ng Mui subsequently developed a revised combat system, drawing upon her extensive training in the temple. This new style emphasized efficient movements and direct attacks, allowing practitioners to achieve proficiency in a relatively brief timeframe. One of Ng Mui's students was a young woman named Yim Wing Chun, who resided with her father in a small village. Yim Wing Chun's growing reputation and beauty caught the eye of a nefarious landlord named Wong. Although she was already betrothed to Leung Bok Chau, Wong attempted to claim her for himself. When he approached Yim Wing Chun and her father to propose marriage, they both firmly rejected him. Undeterred, Wong devised a plan to abduct her. Fortunately, Ng Mui quickly equipped Yim Wing Chun with the skills needed for self-defense. When Wong returned with his men, a confrontation took place, resulting in Yim Wing Chun inflicting serious injuries on Wong.
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​ Yim Wing Chun continued her training under Ng Mui and later married Leung Bok Chau. In the following years, she applied the principles she had learned from Ng Mui to enhance and simplify the martial art. After making significant refinements, Yim Wing Chun began teaching her style to her husband, who was already skilled in various martial arts. Recognizing her expertise, Leung Bok Chau dedicated himself to mastering her style and quickly became proficient. Although Ng Mui was the founder, the art is named after Yim Wing Chun due to her contributions. Leung Bok Chau subsequently taught the style to his uncle, Leung Lan Qui. Leung Lan Qui then instructed Wong Wah Bo and Leung Ye Tai in Wing Chun. Wong Wah Bo was involved with the Red Boat, a Chinese Opera troupe. Over the generations from Leung Bok Chau to Wong Wah Bo, the Wing Chun system became increasingly refined. Leung Ye Tai, also a member of the Chinese Opera, was known for portraying female characters, and his interpretation of Wing Chun was characterized by a softer approach. It was during the "Red Boat Years" that weapon techniques were integrated into the system.
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​ Wong Wah Bo instructed Leung Ye Tai in the techniques of the six-and-a-half point pole, while Leung Ye Tai imparted knowledge of the butterfly swords to Wong Wah Bo. Leung Jan, an herbalist, received training from both Wong Wah Bo and Leung Ye Tai. He successfully integrated the principles of hard and soft martial arts. Leung Jan later taught Chan Wa Shun, who became Yip Man's initial instructor. Tragically, Chan Wa Shun passed away at a young age, leaving Yip Man's training incomplete. In his youth, Yip Man attended St. Steven's Catholic School in Hong Kong, where he met Leung Bik, the son of Leung Jon. After challenging Leung Bik and suffering defeat, Yip Man learned of his identity and sought to become one of his students.
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Grandmaster Yip Man is widely recognized as the pioneer of contemporary Wing Chun Kung Fu. He was born on October 14, 1893, during the Qing Dynasty (KandShoui - September 5 in the Chinese lunar calendar) in the town of Fut Shan, located in Guangdong province. In July 1950, Grandmaster Yip Man began his teaching career on Dai Lam Street in Kowloon, Hong Kong. His inaugural Wing Chun Kung Fu class was conducted for the Restaurant Workers Association. Subsequently, he relocated his school to Lee Tat Street in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, where notable students such as Wong Shun Leung and Lee Siu Lung (Bruce Lee) trained under him.
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Yip Man’s VingTsun Athletic Association holds the distinction of being the first martial arts organization officially registered with the Hong Kong government. Grandmaster Yip Man passed away in his residence on Tung Choi Street on December 1, 1972. The legacy of Wing Chun continues to thrive.
Lineage
Yip Man
Yip Man was raised in an affluent family in Foshan, Guangdong. At the age of seven, he started his Wing Chun training under Chan Wah-shun. At that time, Chan was 70 years old, and much of Yip Man's instruction was provided by Chan's second oldest disciple, Wu Chung Sok. Prior to his passing, Chan conveyed his wish for Wu to carry on the teaching of the young Yip Man.
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At the age of 16, Yip relocated to Hong Kong with his family's support and enrolled in St. Stephen's College, an institution catering to affluent expatriates. During this period, Yip witnessed a police officer assaulting a woman and decided to intervene. The officer attempted to push Yip away but was ultimately overpowered. Following this incident, Yip hurried back to school accompanied by a classmate. Later, this classmate recounted the event to an older resident of their apartment complex. Intrigued, the man approached Yip and proposed a Chi Sau challenge, viewing it as a chance to demonstrate his abilities. Yip accepted the challenge, but after exchanging a few strikes, he was bested. The man then revealed himself to be Leung Bik, a senior student of Chan Wah Shun and the son of Chan's instructor. From that point onward, Yip dedicated himself to studying Wing Chun under Leung Bik's guidance.
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At the age of 21, Yip returned to Foshan and secured a position as a police officer. He began to teach Wing Chun informally to a number of his subordinates, friends, and relatives. Following the victory of the Chinese Communist Party in the war, Yip moved back to Hong Kong at the close of 1949.
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Yip established a school in Hong Kong, but initially, it struggled to attract long-term students and faced financial challenges. The institution relocated twice, first to Castle Peak Road and then to Lee Tat Street. By this time, some of Yip's students had developed sufficient skills to open their own schools and began competing against practitioners of other martial arts styles. As Yip's students achieved numerous victories in these competitions, the reputation of Yip Man and Wing Chun grew significantly. In 1967, with the support of his students, Yip founded the Wing Chun Athletic Association to address his financial issues and promote the art of Wing Chun globally. Yip passed away from throat cancer on December 2, 1972, in his residence at 149 Tung Choi Street.
Wong Shung Leung
In his early years, Wong trained in various martial arts, focusing mainly on Taijiquan and Western Boxing. He decided to move away from these disciplines following two significant events: the first occurred when he triumphed over his boxing coach during a sparring match (accounts of this event differ slightly), and the second was his encounter with Wing Chun master Yip Man. Intrigued by the tales of legendary Wing Chun practitioners, Wong sought out a teacher to learn the art. Friends of his older brother introduced him to Yip Man. One account suggests that after defeating several of Yip's students, Wong faced Yip Man in a match, where Yip easily overcame him and subsequently accepted him as a student. Wong later began assisting Yip in teaching. He also became an active participant in Beimo fights (bare-knuckle, no-rules contests), which were held clandestinely due to their illegal nature. At the outset of his Beimo career, Wing Chun was relatively unknown compared to other Kung Fu styles. However, as Wong achieved numerous victories—reportedly as many as 60—Wing Chun gained recognition throughout Hong Kong.
Wan Kam Leung
In his early years, Master Wang explored various martial arts styles. However, it was not until he moved to Hong Kong in 1959 that his brother introduced him to Wing Chun Kung Fu. His initial instructor in Wing Chun was Leung Sheung, the most senior student of Yip Man, with whom he trained for seven months. In 1962, Wong Shun Leung established a Wing Chun school directly across from Wan's residence. Wan was captivated by Wong's philosophy and practical methods in Kung Fu, leading him to become Wong's first official student. Due to his dedication and hard work, Wan's training fees were waived after just three months. Over time, he became Wong's closest student and training partner, continuing their training together for two decades.
Wan commenced his Wing Chun instruction in 1969, following seven years of training under Wong. In 1979, he journeyed to Beijing to study Qigong with several masters, aiming to integrate this knowledge into his Kung Fu practice. In 1993, Wan received an invitation from the Hong Kong police force to serve as the chief instructor for the G4 (VIP Protection Unit), making him the sole Kung Fu master employed by the British Hong Kong government.
In 1988, Wan received his Senior Instructor Certificate from his mentor, Wong Shun Leung. He dedicated many years to enhancing his understanding of Wong Shun Leung's Wing Chun style, and with his master's approval, the style he created was named Practical Wing Chun. Out of respect for his teacher, Wan vowed not to teach this new style until after Wong's passing. Following Wong's death in 1997, Wan established his first Practical Wing Chun School on Nathan Road in Kowloon and began teaching full-time. Today, Practical Wing Chun has expanded globally, with branches in Australia, mainland China, the United States, and Europe. Wan's adaptations of Wong's original Wing Chun style were intended to create a modern, adaptable martial art focused on self-defense against genuine attacks, while still honoring the fundamental principles of traditional Wing Chun. The system emphasizes the use of body mechanics to counteract stronger opponents, adheres to the principle of five center lines, and employs 135-degree angles. The wrists are kept flexible, and the elbows are positioned downward. Grandmaster Wan continues to analyze and refine his system to ensure that the art remains dynamic, practical, and relevant.
