Today the ‘umbrella’ term for all Chinese Martial Arts is Kung Fu or Gung Fu. This means a well-mastered skill or a long-practiced physical prowess. The term was used to refer to Chinese Martial Arts in general in the 1970s. This was due to the popularity of Bruce Lee and the fact that his skill was referred to in Chinese as “hao kung fu” (or great physical prowess). The word “Kung Fu” can be used to refer to other physical skills, that take time to master. Examples of this are cooking, painting, carving, dancing, etc. Today, to avoid confusion, China officially refers to Chinese Martial Arts as “Wu Shu” which has a literal translation of ‘Martial Arts’.
Wing Chun is just one of many Chinese Martial Arts available. Legend says it was developed during the reign of Emperor K’angshi (1662 – 1722) by a nun called Ng Mui. The style she developed was purely for practical effectiveness. Ng Mui designed it to defend herself against much younger, stronger, and fitter opponents. When the Shaolin Temple in which she lived was burned to the ground Mg Mui was forced to flee to Tai Leung Mountain, in Southern China. It was here that Wing Chun Kuen was born. There are many roots and branches of Wing Chun and while there are some truths in the legend it is challenging to map and trace Wing Chun through its history.
Traditionally Chinese Martial Arts were taught through their respective family lines. Wing Chun is no different and has been passed down over many years. It has been continually refined through the fighting experiences of practitioners. In 1949 the widely known Grandmaster Ip Man, fled Fatshan in China to settle in Hong Kong. While in Hong Kong circumstances forced him to teach Wing Chun to earn a living. This was the first time that Wing Chun had been taught openly. Ip Man taught many esteemed students until he died in 1972. This included his own two sons, Ip Chun and Ip Ching, and the late Bruce Lee.
Wing Chun has spread around the globe and gained popularity for its simple yet effective techniques. Students of Grandmaster Ip Man have moved from China over the years to pursue education and/or occupation. Their perception of Wing Chun has gone with them. As a result of this many knowledgeable practitioners of Wing Chun teach around the World.
At the core of Wing Chun is a set of principles that define it as a unique defense system. If the practitioner adheres to these principles and passes them on, the successful continuation of traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu is ensured. Emphasis is placed on the education of students in the control and use of the body. This is key to the development of the Martial Artist and the person. Age, sex, size, or physical ability is not the deciding factor in developing a Wing Chun practitioner. An individual’s ability to use it is!
Ip Chun, the son of Ip Man, continues to promote the Wing Chun that his father was instrumental in developing. While he was alive Ip Man taught many students. Testament to the inherent health benefits of the Wing Chun system some still live and others, although now deceased, enjoyed long lives.
The Wing Chun Collective is proud to continue teaching and promoting traditional Wing Chun in the same way that its instructors always have. Although now not affiliated to a particular Wing Chun lineage, our collective experience allows us to integrate and innovate freely.
