wing chun history & family tree
DESCRIPTION
Wing Chun History and Family TreeTRANSCRIPT
Show Navigation
About Wing Chun
Ip Man's Wing Chun
Ip Man's Intelligence
Ip Man's Biography
Ip Man or Yip Man
Wing Chun Code of Conduct
Ip Man and his teachings
About Ip Chun in Chinese
Wing Chun Kuen Kuit
Ip Man Tong Wing Chun Museum
A Chronicle of the life of Ip Man
My Father Ip Man
About Sam Kwok
About Sam Kwok
Martial Arts Illustrated Interview
Interview With Master Kwok in Italy
Sam Kwok Interview by Blitzmag
Traditional Wing Chun Bai Si
Long Distance Learning
The Wing Chun Forms
Sil Lim Tao
Chum Kiu
Biu Gee
Dummy Form
Pole Form
Knife Form
Tributes
A tribute from Linda Lee
Tribute to Carlson Gracie
To Ip Chun and Ip Ching
Tribute to Sam Kwok's teaching
Tribute from Paddy Monaghan
Wing Chun Books
The Path To Wing Chun
Martial Arts Principles and Techniques
Ip Man Book
History & Family Tree
Clubs
Europe Clubs
United Kingdom
Russia
Denmark
Wing Chun History & Family Tree http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/history-&-family-tree/
1 of 9 3/17/2013 9:45 PM
Germany
Switzerland
Portugal
France
Spain
Turkey
Belgium
Slovenija
Asia Clubs
China
India
Malaysia
Sri Lanka
Singapore
Indonisia
Africa Clubs
South Africa
Angola
South America Clubs
Argentina
Brazil
North America Clubs
United States of America
Australasia Clubs
Australia
Training Tips
Wing Chun Articles
Ip Ching on Sil Lim Tau
Ip Ching on Wooden Dummy
BJJ and Wing Chun
Wooden Dummy Plans
Strength Training and Wing Chun
Sam Kwok Coaching a boxer
Martial Arts Training Advice
The Wing Chun Centerline
Softness in the Art of Wing Chun
Techniques Glossary
Biu Sau
Bong Sau
Tan Sau
Fook Sau
Pak Sau
Fak Sau
Gum Sau
Huen Sau
Gaun Sau
Wing Chun Chi Sau
The Keys to Chi Sau
Wing Chun History & Family Tree http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/history-&-family-tree/
2 of 9 3/17/2013 9:45 PM
Chi Sau by Ip Chun
Chi Sau Facts and Methods
Too much force in Chi Sau
Stances and Kicking
The Wing Chun Kick
The Wing Chun Stance
Biu Ma Stepping
Huen Ma Circle Stepping
Kung Fu Theory
Principles vs Techniques
What is Fan Sau
Strength and Ging
The stages of learning
Martial arts strength training
Abdominal and Core Muscles
Wall Bag Training
Nutrition for Martial Arts Training
Gallery
Martial Arts Seminars
Duisburg Seminar
Kwok and Gracie Seminar
Swansea Kung Fu Seminar
Russia Seminar
Seminar in Spain
Brazil Wing Chun Seminar
USA Wing Chun Seminar
Training Camps and Holidays
Portugal 2012 Training Camp
Portugal 2011
China trip 2007 photos
Historical Photos
Wing Chun Through The Years
Chinese new year demo
Contact
Contact Master Kwok
Contact the sales team
Shop
Wing Chun DVDs
Advanced Chi Sau DVD
The Keys To Wing Chun DVD
Double Impact Seminar DVD
Traditional Wing Chun DVD
Martial Arts Clothing
White Wing Chun T-Shirt
Black Wing Chun T-Shirt
Hooded Zip Up Sweatshirt
White Martial Arts Training Vest
Training equipment
Wing Chun History & Family Tree http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/history-&-family-tree/
3 of 9 3/17/2013 9:45 PM
Full Face Headguard
Striking Pads / Focus Mitts
Wing Chun Long Pole
Wooden Dummies
Free Standing Wooden Dummy
Long Distance Learning
Video Dowloads
Events
Portugal training camp 2013
Milton Keynes Wing Chun Seminar
You are here: home > about wing chun > history & family tree
Wing Chun History & Family Tree
Article by Dan Knight added on 11 Jul 2012. Last updated on 18 Oct 2012.
How Wing Chun Originated from China
The History of the Chinese martial art Wing Chun is outlined below. This account of the origin of Wing Chun
Kung Fu was written by the late Grandmaster Ip Man (often called Yip Man).
Translation of the late Ip Man's account
Wing Chun History & Family Tree http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/history-&-family-tree/
4 of 9 3/17/2013 9:45 PM
1
2
3
4
The founder of the Wing Chun Kung Fu System, Miss Yim Wing Chun was a native of Canton [Kwangtung
Province] in China. She was an intelligent and athletic young girl, upstanding and forthright. Her mother died
soon after her betrothal to Leung Bok Chau, a salt merchant of Fukien. Her father, Yim Yee, was wrongfully
accused of a crime and, rather than risk jail, they slipped away and finally settled down at the foot of Tai
Leung Mountain near the border between Yunan and Szechuan provinces. There they earned a living by
running a shop that sold bean curd.
During the reign of Emperor K'anghsi of the Ching Dynasty (1662-1722) Kung Fu became very strong in the
Siu Lam [Shaolin] Monastery of Mt. Sung, in Honan Province. This aroused the fear of the Manchu
government [a non-Chinese people from Manchuria in the North, who ruled China at that time], which sent
troops to attack the Monastery. Although they were unsuccessful, a man named Chan Man Wai, a recently
appointed civil servant seeking favor with the government, suggested a plan.
He plotted with Siu Lam monk Ma Ning Yee and others who were persuaded to betray their companions by
setting fire to the monastery while soldiers attacked it from the outside. Siu Lam was burned down, and the
monks and disciples scattered. Buddhist Abbess Ng Mui, Abbot Chi Shin, Abbot Pak Mei, Master Fung To
Tak and Master Miu Hin escaped and went their separate ways.
Ng Mui took refuge in the White Crane Temple on Mt. Tai Leung [also known as Mt. Chai Har]. It was there
she met Yim Yee and his daughter Wing Chun from whom she often bought bean curd on her way home from
the market. At fifteen, with her hair bound up in the custom of those days to show she was of an age to marry,
Wing Chun's beauty attracted the attention of a local bully. He tried to force Wing Chun to marry him, and his
continuous threats became a source of worry to her and her father. Ng Mui learned of this and took pity on
Wing Chun. 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 Kung Fu. She trained night and day, until she
mastered the techniques. Then she challenged the bully to a fight and beat him.
Ng Mui later traveled around the country, but before she left she told Wing Chun to strictly honor the Kung
Fu traditions, to develop her Kung Fu after her marriage, and to help the people working to overthrow the
Manchu government and restore the Ming Dynasty.
Wing Chun History & Family Tree http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/history-&-family-tree/
5 of 9 3/17/2013 9:45 PM
After her marriage Wing Chun taught Kung Fu to her husband Leung Bok Chau. He in turn passed these
techniques on to Leung Lan Kwai. Leung Lan Kwai then passed them on to Wong Wah Bo. Wong Wah Bo
was a member of an opera troupe on board a junk, known to Chinese as the Red Junk. Wong worked on the
Red Junk with Leung Yee Tei. It so happened that Abbot Chi Shin, who fled from Siu Lam, had disguised
himself as a cook and was then working on the Red Junk. Chi Shin taught the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole
techniques to Leung Yee Tei. Wong Wah Bo was close to Leung Yee Tei, and they shared what they knew
about Kung Fu. Together they shared and improved their techniques, and thus the Six-and-a-half-point Long
Pole was incorporated into Wing Chun Kung Fu. Leung Yee Tei passed his Kung Fu on to Leung Jan, a well
known herbal Doctor in Fat Shan. Leung Jan grasped the innermost secrets of Wing Chun, attaining the
highest level of proficiency. Many Kung Fu masters came to challenge him, but all were defeated. Leung Jan
became very famous. Later he passed his Kung Fu on to Chan Wah Shan, who took me and my elder Kung
Fu brothers, such as Ng Siu Lo, Ng Chung So, Chan Yu Min and Lui Yu Jai, as his students many decades
ago.
It can thus be said that the Wing Chun System was passed on to us in a direct line of succession from its
origin. I write this history of the Wing Chun System in respectful memory of my forerunners. I am eternally
grateful to them for passing to me the skills I now possess. A man should always think of the source of the
water as he drinks it; it is this shared feeling that keeps our Kung Fu brothers together.
Is this not the way to promote Kung Fu, and to project the image of our country?
- Ip Man
Wing Chun Family Tree
How our Wing Chun was passed down to the instructors in the Sam Kwok Martial arts Association. Our
Martial Art Linage:
Wing Chun History & Family Tree http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/history-&-family-tree/
6 of 9 3/17/2013 9:45 PM
Wing Chun History & Family Tree http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/history-&-family-tree/
7 of 9 3/17/2013 9:45 PM
Tags for this article:
HistoryIp ManBruce LeeYim Wing Chun
Ways to share this article:
Tweet 1 0
Search the site
Upcoming Events
Portugal training camp 2013
Milton Keynes Wing Chun Seminar
Most Recently Added Pages
Sanda Boxing Gloves
Wing Chun Knife Video
Ju Cheung
Ip Man Book
Wing Chun Book Reviews
Find us on Facebook
Sam Kwok's Ip Man Wing Chun -
Official Fan Page
Like You like this.
You and 8,420 others like Sam Kwok's Ip Man Wing Chun -
Official Fan Page.
Join our newsletter
Like 291
Wing Chun History & Family Tree http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/history-&-family-tree/
8 of 9 3/17/2013 9:45 PM
Latest newsletter edition
© 2013 Samuel Kwok Wing Chun Association
Home | Sitemap | Facebook | Web Design | YouTube
Wing Chun History & Family Tree http://www.kwokwingchun.com/about-wing-chun/history-&-family-tree/
9 of 9 3/17/2013 9:45 PM