FIRE HAWK
06-21-2001, 01:50 PM
Five Elders of the Sil Lum Gee
By John F. Di Virgilio
© Copyright 1996
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The Sil Lum (Shaolin) temple was noted for its religious and military arts scholars. Many Ming dynasty generals and prominent Chinese families sent family members to study at the Sil Lum temple. Ming generals and high officials often sought for their sons the rigorous military arts training from the warrior monks of Sil Lum temple. However, in the 17th century, political turmoil swept through China. Ming political power and economic might began to wane through decades of border warfare. The most costly was the protracted war in Korea against invading Japanese armies. The once close Ming ally, the Ching, grew stronger and bolder, gaining political control of the northern Chinese provinces in the early 1600's. By the year 1644, the new Ching government controlled all major territories held by the former Ming Emperor. The fleeing government and military survivors of the now vanquished Ming Dynasty faded into the Chinese communities throughout China. The warrior monks (Ming supporters) of Sil Lum temple in Honan province relocated to the southern Sil Lum temple in Fukien province.
It is at the Fukien Sil Lum temple that the five Chinese youth, each from prominent families, began their training under the warrior monks. These five were destined to become known as the famous "Five Elders of Sil Lum". Four of the five were males and trained together in the Weng Chun Dein (Eternal Springtime Hall). Their names were Fung Doe Duk (eldest in learning rank), Bak Mei (eldest in biological age), Jee Shin, and Mew Hin. The fifth youth was a female named Ng Mui and would join her four older Kung Fu brothers several years later.
The Sil Lum military (martial) arts were taught in the great training hall named the Weng Chun Dein. In this hall, two prominent arts were taught, the Weng Chun Dein Dragon and the Weng Chun Dein Tiger. Other major animal Kung Fu fighting arts were also taught in the great fighting hall. The other major animal forms included the Weng Chun Dein Crane, Weng Chun Dein Leopard, and the Weng Chun Dein Snake. Numerous other long fist and weapon Kung Fu arts were also taught in the same hall.
Of the many styles of Sil Lum Kung Fu arts, the Dragon and the Tiger systems were the most prevalent. It is because of these two dominant systems that the famous hot urn was used to tattoo Sil Lum graduates with a Dragon and a Tiger. All five youth trained and specialized in the Weng Chun Dein Dragon and Tiger systems as well as a number of special hand and weapons arts (the term Dein or "Hall" is often assumed and left out).
More than ten years passed before the five youth became mature Sil Lum experts. Taking an oath to restore the Ming Dynasty, the five experts began to train other Chinese loyalists in kung fu. It was hoped that a trained army of kung fu fighters could be raised to overthrow the northern Ching barbarians. It was this same movement that gave birth to the most notorious Chinese secret societies known as the "Triads". Of the five leaders (Five Elders), Bak Mei was not firmly behind the overthrow effort nor was he really interested in the ever shifting political winds. Bak Mei began to feel the growing scorn from the other four elders for his non-alignment.
The traditional religious sanctuary across China soon began to unravel as the numbers of political refugees seeking new identities grew. Like the Five Elders, many Ming political officials, hiding behind the veil of religion, still harbored political hate and malice towards the new Ching government. An increasing number of partisan attacks against the new Ching government's establishments and officials caused increasing concern. The Ching government knew that these anti-Ching partisans used the religious monasteries as sanctuaries, especially the Sil Lum temple. Ching tolerance of the long held tradition of religious sanctuary became unacceptable.
The alert monks in the Sil Lum temple, sensing the growing political animosity by the Ching government, started to evacuate the temple's premise and sent many monks and nuns off on long pilgrimages to the west. Many of the best Sil Lum martial artists, carrying many secret scrolls, left the temple before the Ching army could attack. With the use of firearms and blade weapons, the new government ordered thousands of monasteries destroyed and all Buddhist monks killed. Many thousands of monks, nuns, and religious followers lost their lives as the Ching army purged all suspected religious sanctuaries. In 1673, after a long siege, the Sil Lum temple in Fukien province was destroyed.
Traveling for nearly a year-and-a-half after the Sil Lum temple's destruction, the Five Elders made their way to the western mountains of China. Traveling independently, the elders disguised themselves as Taoists priests (one Nun). Although the Buddhists were being slaughtered throughout China, the Taoists still enjoyed religious immunity and were often not questioned by Ching troops. During their long travel, nearly nine hundred miles in the west-by-northwest direction, the Five Elders continued to refine their martial arts skill and developed a number of refined fighting systems that required shorter periods of training. In the year 1675, the Five Elders reached a temple on O-mei mountain in Sezchuan province.
Agreement by the Five Elders as to how much political involvement and how many students they should teach was tenuous at best. Bak Mei could not agree with the other elders about the amount of political alignment their followers should have. The dispute would be settled with a martial arts match between Bak Mei and Jee Shin. Bak Mei was known for his internal and external physical abilities. He was a noted lantern fire lighter in the Sil Lum temple in his younger days. Able to whip his legs and back joints to propel his body to twice his own height, he lighted the high lantern fires along the Sil Lum temple's walls. With this deadly skill, Bak Mei was a formidable fighter.
In the first match, a fierce fight broke out between Jee Shin and Bak Mei. Jee Shin, using his favored long fist techniques, was able to hit Bak Mei with more blows, but Bak Mei's tucked-in, crouched Tiger posture proved to be an effective defense against the blows. In turn, Bak Mei countered aggressively and defeated Jee Shin with a devastating series of phoenix eye punches. The implications of this match were far reaching. The well liked Jee Shin soon died from the wounds that he received during the match with Bak Mei. Jee Shin's death shocked the other elders. The enraged Mew Hin soon challenged Bak Mei to another fight. Although closely matched, fate did not favor Mew Hin in the fight, and he lost his life. With the deaths of Mew Hin and Jee Shin, the animosity increased.
The eldest brother, Fung Doe Duk, was next to take up the challenge against the undefeated Bak Mei. Having witnessed the first two deadly fights, Fung Doe Duk was able to avoid Bak Mei's favorite techniques. Bak Mei was also able to avoid injury from Fung Doe Duk's initial maneuvers. The final blow came during a close-in clash. Fung Doe Duk was able to deliver a bone crushing kick to Bak Mei's foot. Bak Mei did not recover from this compound fracture which led to his death a short time later.
The surviving Fung Doe Duk and Ng Mui soon parted ways to travel and to teach on their own. Fung Doe Duk taught his Bok Fu Pai and other Sil Lum arts to his followers. He spent much of his remaining years in western China a good distance from most of society. Ng Mui taught her Mui Fa Pai and the other Sil Lum martial arts to her followers. She also became the matriarch of martial arts to her blood relatives in the powerful Fong clan.
The complete Sil Lum Kung Fu teaching system took Ng Mui and her kung fu brothers nearly fifteen years to learn. After leaving the Sil Lum temple, Ng Mui found it necessary to modify her teaching practices. In order to teach the large numbers of Ming loyalists, the traditional ten-fifteen year Sil Lum Kung Fu curriculum had to be divided into shorter two-three year teaching systems. Each two-three year portion was a complete fighting system and usually formed around two animal forms and one weapon. This allowed the many Ming followers to specialize in certain areas of kung fu that fit various body types and levels of aggressiveness at a quicker pace.
Ng Mui renamed her Dragon-Tiger system to Mui Fa Pai. Today, there are many versions, with many names, of this concave chest postured (crouched) Dragon-Tiger system. The Mui Fa fighting system is nearly identical to sister arts like those of Bak Mei, Lung Ying, Southern Praying Mantis, Bak Fu, and later Yau Kun Moon. These sister systems utilize the concept of being very aggressive from the best possible defensive posture (crouched posture).
Not all of Ng Mui's teachings were centered on offensive abilities. Some of her students were taught counter fighting principles. Ng Mui instructed Fong Weng Chun (male student) to specialize in the two animal systems known as the Weng Chun Dein Fu-Hok Sheong Ying. Most Fong clansman preferred the Crane techniques. Ng Mui also instructed Yim Wing Chun (female student) to specialize in the two animal fighting systems known as the Weng Chun Dein Sae`I-Hok Sheong Ying (The Eternal Springtime Hall's Snake and Crane form). Yim Wing Chun was not taught a weapon because she was young and not expected to be involved in the ongoing fight against the Ching army.
From Yim Wing Chun to
Chan Wah Soon
Yim Wing Chun's father was a merchant who transported and sold vegetables and beans to the various temples. Leaving his young daughter in the temple to be educated while he traveled on business was both convenient and prudent. It was at White Crane temple in southeastern part of Sezchuan province that this young lady named Yim Wing Chun met the nun Ng Mui. The nun took Yim Wing Chun as a student and taught the young Yim kung fu as part of her education. Through most of her teen years, Wing Chun studied kung fu under Ng Mui. One of Yim's classmates was an older male (Yim Wing Chun's older kung fu brother) named Fong Weng Chun (Fong clan). Fong later became Hung Hay Gung's second teacher and helped Hung (the founder of the Hung Gar system) finish his Tiger and Crane martial arts training.
Although influenced by the other Sil Lum elders, Ng Mui and her blood relations within the Fong clan shared partial credit in teaching the Mok family (Kicking Specialists), Choy family (Long Arm Kung Fu), Lee Family (Short Arm Kung Fu), and Lau family (Short Arm Kung Fu). These family groups along with the Hung family became famous southern warrior clans in the Fukien and Kwantung provinces.
Of particular interest is the Weng Chun Dein Bok Hok (Weng Chun White Crane) kung fu system passed down through the Fong clan. This system of kung fu shares many similar techniques to the Yim Wing Chun system taught by Yip Man. Both include wooden dummy training. Similarly, both systems make heavy use of the Tan Sau (palm up high block), Pak Sau (slap block), Gaung Sau (palm down low block), Kiu Sau (bridging hand), the vertical fist punch, and the straight thrust kick. Both systems emphasize techniques that block and punch at the same time (Lin Sil Dai Dar). Today, the Weng Chun White Crane kung fu system is still practiced in Taiwan.
Yim Wing Chun was having difficulty in sparring against the stronger male classmates who used the Tiger techniques. Ng Mui instructed the young Yim Wing Chun to concentrate on the Crane and Snake techniques from the Weng Chun Dein's five animal kung fu system. By specializing on side body shifting and angular pivoting techniques of the Crane system, Wing Chun found that she could nullify stronger male sparring partners by redirecting their attacks. The Snake system complemented the Crane system with the use of fast centerline combinations that were made up of close-in and multiple strikes. The Snake footwork enabled the person to shuffle across the floor with fast forward moving footwork and disruptive arm pinning techniques. The crane and snake techniques complemented each other and allowed Yim Wing Chun to maximize her abilities against stronger male opponents. To this day, men and women find Yim Wing Chun's system of applications practical and efficient.
By the start of the 18th century, a new generation of kung fu practitioners emerged from the original Sil Lum teachings. Yim Wing Chun married a well-to-do traveling salt merchant, Leung Bok Cho, from Kwantung province. Being a regular traveler on the roadways of southern China, Leung was skilled in the use of the short length broad sword (Doe or Dao). The Leung clansmen had long practiced their sword techniques to protect their salt business over the long journeys into the mountains. Leung, however, was fascinated with the applicability of his wife's hand techniques. He was over joyed to have a wife whose mentor was none other than the famous Sil Lum elder, Ng Mui.
Mr. Leung taught the broad sword system and referred other trusted clan members to Wing Chun for hand-to-hand kung fu instruction. Although Yim Wing Chun learned her crane and snake techniques from Ng Mui, there was no particular name for Yim Wing Chun's kung fu combinations. Wing Chun's Kung Fu or Wing Chun, used by Leung Bok Cho to distinguish between his family's knife techniques from his wife's kung fu, became the name to identify her art. Wing Chun taught her kung fu art to the Leung clan throughout the first half of the 18th century.
The Wing Chun art was passed on to Leung Bok Cho's niece, Leung Lan Kwai. By the close of the 18th century, Leung Lan Kwai's two nephews named Wong Wah Bo and Leung Yee Tai became the keepers of the Wing Chun art. At this juncture, Leung Yee Tai incorporated the Luk Dim Poon Kwan (six-and-a-half-point staff) into the Wing Chun system. The Wing Chun oral tradition states that the staff techniques originated from the Sil Lum elder, Jee Shin. 130 years earlier, while making his way to O-Mei mountain in Sezchuan province, Jee Shin disguised himself as a cook on a large sailing junk that transported a Chinese opera troupe. While traveling west with the opera troupe, Jee Shin taught the Sil Lum long pole techniques to the troupe members. The long pole techniques were passed down through families affiliated with the opera troupe to Leung Yee Tai's father and finally to Leung Yee Tai himself.
The next master of Wing Chun was a respected herbal doctor named Leung Jon. Dr. Leung Jon lived in Fatshan (Foshan) town found west-by-southwest of Quandong (Canton) city. Having learned from both Leung Yee Tai and Wong Wah Bo, Leung Jon carried on the Wing Chun system throughout the early and middle 1800's. Wing Chun was a feminine name and invited many challenges. Dr. Leung Jon often called the Wing Chun fighting art, the Fatshan Kuen (Fatshan Fist). Therefore, not many of Leung Jon's challengers knew that his system had its origins from Ng Mui.
Dr. Leung Jon was a man of larger than average stature and enjoyed the physical expression found within the Wing Chun system. He successfully took on all challenges even in his later years of life. The older Leung Jon defeated a young challenger name Wong Fei Hung, a prominent member of the new (second) generation of Ten Tigers of Kwantung. Dr. Leung Jon was himself recognized as one of the older, original Ten Tigers of Kwantung province.
Dr. Leung Jon's life tragically ended at dinner as he held a bowl of soup to his mouth. To the surprise and shock of the other restaurant patrons, a young man shining Leung Jon's shoes, struck Dr. Leung in the solar plexus with a driving punch. The young man known by the town's people as an orphan often shined the shoes of customers such as Dr. Leung at the restaurant and had been coaxed to attack Dr. Leung at dinner by local gangsters. Unable to move much and unwilling to be taken home to be treated, Dr Leung Jon died the next morning from internal hemorrhaging. Many onlookers believed that he could have saved himself had he gone home immediately and treated himself, but his pride would not allow him to be carried off. Dr. Leung Jon was survived by two sons, several distinguished students, and his head student, Chan Wah Soon (also known as Jow Chien Wah, the money exchanger).
Chan Wah Soon
Chan Wah Soon became the next grandmaster of the Fatshan school and continued to teach until his death in 1913. For thirty six years, Chan Wah Soon taught the Wing Chun art. Nicknamed Jow Chien Wah (The Money Changer), he was already an adult doing business in Fatshan when he started to learn Wing Chun Kung Fu from Dr. Leung Jon. By the early 1870's, Chan Wah Soon established himself as an excellent fighter and Dr. Leung Jon's best student.
With bigger than average physical stature, Chan Wah Soon was a strong fighter. He preferred the one foot forward guard position, with the front foot heel peeled off the ground in his challenge matches. He was undefeated in all challenges. As Dr. Leung's successor, Chan Wah Soon taught only selected students and charged a high tuition.
Master Chan Wah Soon taught only sixteen disciples in his life time. His best and senior student was Ng Chung So. Master Chan's own son, Chan Yu Min, was a late bloomer. Chan Yu Min did not care for the hand-to-hand combat of the Wing Chun system until later in life. Despite his youthful recklessness, the young Chan Yu Min did find a special interest in the Wing Chun Long Staff techniques. He was very gifted and excelled in staff fighting. Chan Yu Min became the undisputed "King of the Pole of Seven Provinces". He defeated all challengers in his own province and all neighboring provinces. Luckily, Chan Yu Min's wife completed his Wing Chun Art under the elder Chan Wah Soon. She later passed on the Wing Chun hand art to her husband, Chan Yu Min, thus completing his Wing Chun art.
The Late Grandmaster Yip Man
Yip Man learned only a short period from Chan Wah Soon before the old master passed away. On his death bed, Master Chan Wah Soon summoned Ng Chung So, his eldest and best student, and instructed him to continue teaching Yip Man. Yip Man diligently practiced until leaving for school in Hong Kong.
At school, Yip Man's Kung Fu skill impressed his school mates. Not more than a year had passed when one of his classmates stated that an old man wanted to speak to him about his Kung Fu art. It took a number of requests before the disinterested Yip Man decided to follow his classmate to meet this mysterious old man. The old man was of small physical stature like Yip Man himself. The elder man was in his late fifties and was introduced as Mr. Leung. Mr. Leung invited young Yip into the warehouse and asked him about his teacher. The old man asked Yip Man to demonstrate his skill. To young Yip's surprise, the old man was able to counter Yip's counter attack. The old man's moves forced Yip Man off balance. Similarly, the next several exchanges between the old man and Yip Man proved to be disheartening. The old man easily countered Yip Man's techniques and redirected Yip Man's movements. Upset at this unexpected setback against the old man, young Yip Man left the premises in disgust.
On the following day in school, his classmate once again stated that the old man wanted to meet with Yip Man. After being persistently pressed by his classmate to see the old man, Yip Man agreed to another meeting. This time, Yip Man was determined not to be humiliated. He would power through the old man's techniques. During the second meeting, Yip Man found himself out maneuvered again by the old man. The old man easily read and rode off the driving force that Yip Man vigorously applied. Sensing Yip Man's disgust with himself, the old man unveiled himself as Chan Wah Soon's Kung Fu classmate. Furthermore, the old man turned out to be Dr. Leung Jon's eldest son, Leung Bik. Yip Man instantly realized that he had run into a great Wing Chun master. This explained all the setbacks that he had suffered earlier.
The meeting between young man and old master proved to be a most important and fortunate meeting for the Wing Chun art. Leung Bik explained that his father, Leung Jon, taught Chan Wah Soon and himself differently. Chan Wah Soon was a big man in stature and never needed or used the many angular slipping techniques of Wing Chun. However, Leung Bik and his younger brother were small in physical stature and so were taught differently, Leung Jon knew that one day his two sons would have to challenge Chan Wah Soon for the right to become head master of the Wing Chun Art. Due to the smaller stature of his two sons, Dr. Leung Jon taught his sons various side body shifting, pivoting, slipping, and pinning hand techniques for smaller opponents to use when facing bigger opponents. Yip Man was now blessed by an opportunity to further refine his Wing Chun training. Having no son, Leung Bik imparted all his knowledge to Yip Man.
Returning to Fatsan, Yip Man's expanded knowledge of the Wing Chun art shook many of Chan Wah Soon's former students who were now under Ng Chung So's guidance. Ng Chung So told the other Wing Chun followers of Yip Man's encounter with Leung Bik. Yip Man's exposure to two great Wing Chun elders, Chan Wah Soon and Leung Bik, had provided him with a greater understanding and interpretation of the Wing Chun art. In contrast, Ng Chung So and his classmates had only exposure to Chan Wah Soon's large body frame of the art.
Throughout much of his twenties, Yip Man taught Wing Chun to only a few students. Turmoil in China made living difficult. Later, Yip Man worked for the county government as a law officer and later joined the Kuo Min Tang military. As an educated man, Yip Man was given a junior officer's rank. By his early forties, Yip Man fought against invading Japanese forces in southern China and rarely saw his wife and two sons. When World War II ended, Yip Man had reached the field grade rank in the army. By 1949, Colonel Yip Man found himself on the losing side of the war against communism. Facing sure death, Yip Man managed to reach British occupied Hong Kong.
Already at the age of 54, and with nothing but his martial arts skill to survive, Yip Man decided to teach Wing Chun. He started his Hong Kong school in the union hall building for restaurant workers. On his first day, a burly restaurant union member name Leung Shung challenged Yip Man to a fight. Leung Sheung was a noted Dragon Kung Fu stylist and aggressively attacked Yip Man. Yip Man easily countered the attack by driving Leung Shung's lead hand over his opposite arm to create a cross-arm pin. Yip Man repeatedly countered Leung Sheung's frontal attacks before countering with his own fast multiple chain punches. Yip Man's counter attacks were masterfully controlled. He pulled each of his punches, not once hitting Leung Sheung's exposed face. The defeated Leung Sheung recognized Yip Man's skill and became Yip Man's first student. Soon, other students were destined to become famous teachers. The names of some of these early Yip Man students include Leung Sheung, Yip Po Ching , Lok Yiu, Choy Sheung Ting, Lo Man Kam, Wong Sheung Leung, Wong Chok, Wong Long, Ho Kam Ming, Yip Ching (Yip Man's younger son), Jiu Wan, Wong Kiu, Cheung Chok Hing, Kou Sung, Yip Chun (Yip Man's oldest son ) and many others.
In the early Hong Kong years, two prominent fighters established the Wing Chun name as a fighting system. Their names were Wong Sheung Leung and Cheung Chok Hing. Wong fought dozens of contenders throughout Hong Kong. In one week, Wong Sheung Leung beat ten Praying Mantis instructors in one-on-one fighting. As a highlight during this week long string of fights, Wong beat three Praying Mantis fighters in one day. This was an incredible feat by any standard because Wong was suffering from a bad cold. Today, the 61 year old Wong, humbly reflecting back to his younger years, states: "I was not as good as everybody makes me out to be; all my opponents were junk". Wong has two grown children (one son) and to this day actively teaches Wing Chun in Hong Kong.
On the other hand, Cheung Chok Hing was known for his bad boy rowdiness. Bigger and stronger than the average Hong Kong male, Cheung also enjoyed the clout of having a father who was the chief of the police inspectors. This clout bailed the young Cheung out of many sticky situations with the law.
Cheung enjoyed the fighting more than spending time to perfect the Wing Chun art. He diligently practiced Wing Chun through the Sil Lim Tao (the first of three Wing Chun hand sets) and through most of the second set, the Chum Kiu. Despite his later inconsistent practice under Yip Man, Cheung is noted for being a naturally talented and fierce fighter. Cheung quickly became known as the best street brawler. During one of his fights, Cheung defeated Chen Ting Hong, a noted Tai Chi expert in Hong Kong. Later in life, Cheung settled down to develop the Wing Chun art and today actively teaches in Australia.
Wong Sheung Leung and Cheung Chok Hing proved that Wing Chun Kung Fu was a practical and efficient martial art. The system was not filled with useless and flowery movements, but instead, contained techniques that were both logical and street tested. Word quickly spread throughout Hong Kong that Wing Chun was the name of a fighting system.
After more than two decades of teaching in Hong Kong, Grandmaster Yip Man passed away at the age of 72 on December 2, 1972. His small Kung Fu Association grew and gave birth to thousands of Wing Chun practitioners around the world. Yip Man's son, Yip Chun, reflecting back to the early years in Hong Kong, stated that his father never in his wildest dreams thought that Wing Chun would become so popular with followers around the world.
Today the Wing Chun Art is practiced in all major countries and in almost every major city around the world. The highly relevant techniques to personal defense and the short learning curve make Wing Chun a very popular art to study. Wing Chun is also an art that allows for the greatest amount of personal adaption. Allowing the many parts of art to fit the person rather than having the person fit the entire art.
Wing Chun Elder
Master Wong Long Ching
Si-Gung Wong Long is master Robert Yeung's teacher. Wong Long joined the Yip Man Wing Chun School in 1956 at the age of 18. Wong Long first came into contact with Wing Chun through Wong Sheung Leung. After six years of studying under Yip Man, Wong began teaching his own students in Kowloon. During Wong's first year of teaching, one of his senior students named Shak Chun Wah brought in and introduced Robert Yeung. Yeung was 24 years old and the same age as Wong Long. Reflecting back to the time when he first met Robert Yeung, Wong remembers that they became more than teacher-student We became good friends. Wing Chun Kung Fu is a partner system. You need practice partners to build and hone your skills. Robert Yeung was not only a friend but a strong and worthy practice partner.
Today, at the age of 58, Si-Gung Wong Long has three grown sons and lives on Hong Kong Island. When teaching, he prefers small groups or one-on-one teaching. Two of his followers, Robert Yeung in Hawaii and Cheung Ping Kwon, a police special forces instructor in Kowloon, actively teach Wing Chun.
The Late Wing Chun Elder
Master Wong Chok
Wong Chok (also spelled Wong Tsok or Wong Chock) was one of Yip Man's early students. Lean in stature, Wong Chok preferred to use the mobility of his footwork to gain an advantage over his opponents. After turning the opponent's corner, Wong liked to jam his shin into his opponent's legs, forcing the attacker to retreat. Wong would then press forward with his counter attack, using his fast shuffling chase steps to pursue and to finish off the attacker.
During the 1980 visit by John F. Di Virgilio, one of Master Yeung's teachers in Hawaii, Wong Chok stressed the need to keep the Wing Chun heritage alive. Wong Chok reviewed the many Wing Chun concepts with John Di Virgilio. Wong also took the time to introduce John Di Virgilio to several other Wing Chun elders in Hong Kong.
Wong Chok passed away in 1982 while still in his early fifties. The harsh Hong Kong environment, combined with his love of non-filtered cigarettes and alcohol, brought an early end to the man who helped Master Robert Yeung to develop his versatile Wing Chun footwork. Wong Chok is survived by his wife and several children who still live in Hong Kong. To see Wing Chun flourish in Hawaii, United States, and around the world will honor his memory.
Master Robert Yeung
Master Robert Yeung was born in 1938 in Kowloon. His first martial arts experience began when he was 16 years old. The teenaged Yeung joined a Japanese Judo school in Kowloon. Yeung found grappling to his liking and stayed with the school for four years, rising to the rank of senior brown belt. Master Yeung recalled that there were not many Kung Fu schools around. The Chinese Kung Fu schools that he visited lacked the discipline and the regimental training found in traditional Japanese Judo training. "I recommend Judo training for teenagers before they learn kung fu."
Master Yeung joined the police auxiliary at the age of 21. He also attended drafting school while working part-time. Master Yeung's childhood friend, Shak Chun Wah, stopped by one day to pass on the word about a system of Kung Fu named Wing Chun. The Wing Chun system was practical and useful in street situations typically found in Hong Kong. As both young men shared their knowledge, Robert Yeung got his first experience with Wing Chun. Shak moved swiftly inside Yeung's arms, delivered several punches, shifted his stance, and trapped one arm over the other arm with a downward pressing palm maneuver. The two friends talked at length about the unique arm trapping and leg jamming techniques within the Wing Chun system. Shortly after this meeting, Shak took Yeung to see Master Wong Long. At the age of 24, Robert Yeung began training in Wing Chun Kung Fu under Si-Gung Wong Long.
Learning quickly, Robert Yeung became Wong Long's close assistant and sparring partner. Robert Yeung rigorously trained with Wong Long for just over four years. To expand his Wing Chun horizon of knowledge, Robert Yeung sought instruction from Wong Chok. During the next two years, Wong Chok imparted to Robert Yeung the two coveted Wing Chun weapons. Wong Chok also expanded Yeung's knowledge of using Wing Chun's tactical footwork traps and jams to uproot and gain advantage over an opponent. Yeung established himself as a skilled and aggressive fighter. His unyielding and forward charging ability earned him the Wing Chun name Yeung Biu ("Biu" is a special Chinese name for Tiger).
Master Wong Chok took Robert Yeung to meet the now aged Yip Man. With Wong Chok's introduction and recommendation, Yip Man gave his approval for Robert Yeung to open his own school and teach students. Robert Yeung stayed in Hong Kong for another two years before meeting his wife and moving to Hawaii, U.S.A. in 1971. He recalled the many hardships that he had to endure in a new country as an immigrant. Despite the rough transition, Yeung officially opened his first Wing Chun school in Hawaii in 1973. As his following grew, Yeung's school moved from Rex Ravell's gym in Honolulu to the Armed Forces YMCA. The Armed Forces YMCA became the home of Wing Chun in Hawaii for the next 12 years, from 1974 to 1986 when the building was sold. Master Yeung's school relocated to the Chinese Cultural Plaza, Chinatown, in 1987. Today, Master Yeung's Wing Chun Kung Fu school is still open. His Wing Chun school in Hawaii is one of the oldest traditional schools operating outside of Hong Kong.
Today, at the age of 58, Master Yeung has retired from work to spend more time at his Chinatown Wing Chun school in Honolulu. His two children (one girl and one boy) are now grown. Master Yeung enjoys teaching and plans to travel more during his retirement from work. He states that there are many promising young students in his school today. "If they can diligently pursue their Wing Chun training, they will become our next generation of Wing Chun teachers."
During the past 24 years of Master Yeung's teaching in Hawaii, several hundred Wing Chun practitioners have come through his program. Dozens of Master Yeung's students have finished the Mook Jong (wooden man) techniques. Of the many graduates of Master Yeung, seven have established their own schools while many others are teaching small groups around the United States. Although Master Yeung never mentions his success, it can be said that he is one of the most successful Wing Chun teachers in the United States. This 1996 Journal (Yearbook) is dedicated to Master Yeung, his many graduates, and his numerous followers.
-THE END-
By John F. Di Virgilio
© Copyright 1996
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The Sil Lum (Shaolin) temple was noted for its religious and military arts scholars. Many Ming dynasty generals and prominent Chinese families sent family members to study at the Sil Lum temple. Ming generals and high officials often sought for their sons the rigorous military arts training from the warrior monks of Sil Lum temple. However, in the 17th century, political turmoil swept through China. Ming political power and economic might began to wane through decades of border warfare. The most costly was the protracted war in Korea against invading Japanese armies. The once close Ming ally, the Ching, grew stronger and bolder, gaining political control of the northern Chinese provinces in the early 1600's. By the year 1644, the new Ching government controlled all major territories held by the former Ming Emperor. The fleeing government and military survivors of the now vanquished Ming Dynasty faded into the Chinese communities throughout China. The warrior monks (Ming supporters) of Sil Lum temple in Honan province relocated to the southern Sil Lum temple in Fukien province.
It is at the Fukien Sil Lum temple that the five Chinese youth, each from prominent families, began their training under the warrior monks. These five were destined to become known as the famous "Five Elders of Sil Lum". Four of the five were males and trained together in the Weng Chun Dein (Eternal Springtime Hall). Their names were Fung Doe Duk (eldest in learning rank), Bak Mei (eldest in biological age), Jee Shin, and Mew Hin. The fifth youth was a female named Ng Mui and would join her four older Kung Fu brothers several years later.
The Sil Lum military (martial) arts were taught in the great training hall named the Weng Chun Dein. In this hall, two prominent arts were taught, the Weng Chun Dein Dragon and the Weng Chun Dein Tiger. Other major animal Kung Fu fighting arts were also taught in the great fighting hall. The other major animal forms included the Weng Chun Dein Crane, Weng Chun Dein Leopard, and the Weng Chun Dein Snake. Numerous other long fist and weapon Kung Fu arts were also taught in the same hall.
Of the many styles of Sil Lum Kung Fu arts, the Dragon and the Tiger systems were the most prevalent. It is because of these two dominant systems that the famous hot urn was used to tattoo Sil Lum graduates with a Dragon and a Tiger. All five youth trained and specialized in the Weng Chun Dein Dragon and Tiger systems as well as a number of special hand and weapons arts (the term Dein or "Hall" is often assumed and left out).
More than ten years passed before the five youth became mature Sil Lum experts. Taking an oath to restore the Ming Dynasty, the five experts began to train other Chinese loyalists in kung fu. It was hoped that a trained army of kung fu fighters could be raised to overthrow the northern Ching barbarians. It was this same movement that gave birth to the most notorious Chinese secret societies known as the "Triads". Of the five leaders (Five Elders), Bak Mei was not firmly behind the overthrow effort nor was he really interested in the ever shifting political winds. Bak Mei began to feel the growing scorn from the other four elders for his non-alignment.
The traditional religious sanctuary across China soon began to unravel as the numbers of political refugees seeking new identities grew. Like the Five Elders, many Ming political officials, hiding behind the veil of religion, still harbored political hate and malice towards the new Ching government. An increasing number of partisan attacks against the new Ching government's establishments and officials caused increasing concern. The Ching government knew that these anti-Ching partisans used the religious monasteries as sanctuaries, especially the Sil Lum temple. Ching tolerance of the long held tradition of religious sanctuary became unacceptable.
The alert monks in the Sil Lum temple, sensing the growing political animosity by the Ching government, started to evacuate the temple's premise and sent many monks and nuns off on long pilgrimages to the west. Many of the best Sil Lum martial artists, carrying many secret scrolls, left the temple before the Ching army could attack. With the use of firearms and blade weapons, the new government ordered thousands of monasteries destroyed and all Buddhist monks killed. Many thousands of monks, nuns, and religious followers lost their lives as the Ching army purged all suspected religious sanctuaries. In 1673, after a long siege, the Sil Lum temple in Fukien province was destroyed.
Traveling for nearly a year-and-a-half after the Sil Lum temple's destruction, the Five Elders made their way to the western mountains of China. Traveling independently, the elders disguised themselves as Taoists priests (one Nun). Although the Buddhists were being slaughtered throughout China, the Taoists still enjoyed religious immunity and were often not questioned by Ching troops. During their long travel, nearly nine hundred miles in the west-by-northwest direction, the Five Elders continued to refine their martial arts skill and developed a number of refined fighting systems that required shorter periods of training. In the year 1675, the Five Elders reached a temple on O-mei mountain in Sezchuan province.
Agreement by the Five Elders as to how much political involvement and how many students they should teach was tenuous at best. Bak Mei could not agree with the other elders about the amount of political alignment their followers should have. The dispute would be settled with a martial arts match between Bak Mei and Jee Shin. Bak Mei was known for his internal and external physical abilities. He was a noted lantern fire lighter in the Sil Lum temple in his younger days. Able to whip his legs and back joints to propel his body to twice his own height, he lighted the high lantern fires along the Sil Lum temple's walls. With this deadly skill, Bak Mei was a formidable fighter.
In the first match, a fierce fight broke out between Jee Shin and Bak Mei. Jee Shin, using his favored long fist techniques, was able to hit Bak Mei with more blows, but Bak Mei's tucked-in, crouched Tiger posture proved to be an effective defense against the blows. In turn, Bak Mei countered aggressively and defeated Jee Shin with a devastating series of phoenix eye punches. The implications of this match were far reaching. The well liked Jee Shin soon died from the wounds that he received during the match with Bak Mei. Jee Shin's death shocked the other elders. The enraged Mew Hin soon challenged Bak Mei to another fight. Although closely matched, fate did not favor Mew Hin in the fight, and he lost his life. With the deaths of Mew Hin and Jee Shin, the animosity increased.
The eldest brother, Fung Doe Duk, was next to take up the challenge against the undefeated Bak Mei. Having witnessed the first two deadly fights, Fung Doe Duk was able to avoid Bak Mei's favorite techniques. Bak Mei was also able to avoid injury from Fung Doe Duk's initial maneuvers. The final blow came during a close-in clash. Fung Doe Duk was able to deliver a bone crushing kick to Bak Mei's foot. Bak Mei did not recover from this compound fracture which led to his death a short time later.
The surviving Fung Doe Duk and Ng Mui soon parted ways to travel and to teach on their own. Fung Doe Duk taught his Bok Fu Pai and other Sil Lum arts to his followers. He spent much of his remaining years in western China a good distance from most of society. Ng Mui taught her Mui Fa Pai and the other Sil Lum martial arts to her followers. She also became the matriarch of martial arts to her blood relatives in the powerful Fong clan.
The complete Sil Lum Kung Fu teaching system took Ng Mui and her kung fu brothers nearly fifteen years to learn. After leaving the Sil Lum temple, Ng Mui found it necessary to modify her teaching practices. In order to teach the large numbers of Ming loyalists, the traditional ten-fifteen year Sil Lum Kung Fu curriculum had to be divided into shorter two-three year teaching systems. Each two-three year portion was a complete fighting system and usually formed around two animal forms and one weapon. This allowed the many Ming followers to specialize in certain areas of kung fu that fit various body types and levels of aggressiveness at a quicker pace.
Ng Mui renamed her Dragon-Tiger system to Mui Fa Pai. Today, there are many versions, with many names, of this concave chest postured (crouched) Dragon-Tiger system. The Mui Fa fighting system is nearly identical to sister arts like those of Bak Mei, Lung Ying, Southern Praying Mantis, Bak Fu, and later Yau Kun Moon. These sister systems utilize the concept of being very aggressive from the best possible defensive posture (crouched posture).
Not all of Ng Mui's teachings were centered on offensive abilities. Some of her students were taught counter fighting principles. Ng Mui instructed Fong Weng Chun (male student) to specialize in the two animal systems known as the Weng Chun Dein Fu-Hok Sheong Ying. Most Fong clansman preferred the Crane techniques. Ng Mui also instructed Yim Wing Chun (female student) to specialize in the two animal fighting systems known as the Weng Chun Dein Sae`I-Hok Sheong Ying (The Eternal Springtime Hall's Snake and Crane form). Yim Wing Chun was not taught a weapon because she was young and not expected to be involved in the ongoing fight against the Ching army.
From Yim Wing Chun to
Chan Wah Soon
Yim Wing Chun's father was a merchant who transported and sold vegetables and beans to the various temples. Leaving his young daughter in the temple to be educated while he traveled on business was both convenient and prudent. It was at White Crane temple in southeastern part of Sezchuan province that this young lady named Yim Wing Chun met the nun Ng Mui. The nun took Yim Wing Chun as a student and taught the young Yim kung fu as part of her education. Through most of her teen years, Wing Chun studied kung fu under Ng Mui. One of Yim's classmates was an older male (Yim Wing Chun's older kung fu brother) named Fong Weng Chun (Fong clan). Fong later became Hung Hay Gung's second teacher and helped Hung (the founder of the Hung Gar system) finish his Tiger and Crane martial arts training.
Although influenced by the other Sil Lum elders, Ng Mui and her blood relations within the Fong clan shared partial credit in teaching the Mok family (Kicking Specialists), Choy family (Long Arm Kung Fu), Lee Family (Short Arm Kung Fu), and Lau family (Short Arm Kung Fu). These family groups along with the Hung family became famous southern warrior clans in the Fukien and Kwantung provinces.
Of particular interest is the Weng Chun Dein Bok Hok (Weng Chun White Crane) kung fu system passed down through the Fong clan. This system of kung fu shares many similar techniques to the Yim Wing Chun system taught by Yip Man. Both include wooden dummy training. Similarly, both systems make heavy use of the Tan Sau (palm up high block), Pak Sau (slap block), Gaung Sau (palm down low block), Kiu Sau (bridging hand), the vertical fist punch, and the straight thrust kick. Both systems emphasize techniques that block and punch at the same time (Lin Sil Dai Dar). Today, the Weng Chun White Crane kung fu system is still practiced in Taiwan.
Yim Wing Chun was having difficulty in sparring against the stronger male classmates who used the Tiger techniques. Ng Mui instructed the young Yim Wing Chun to concentrate on the Crane and Snake techniques from the Weng Chun Dein's five animal kung fu system. By specializing on side body shifting and angular pivoting techniques of the Crane system, Wing Chun found that she could nullify stronger male sparring partners by redirecting their attacks. The Snake system complemented the Crane system with the use of fast centerline combinations that were made up of close-in and multiple strikes. The Snake footwork enabled the person to shuffle across the floor with fast forward moving footwork and disruptive arm pinning techniques. The crane and snake techniques complemented each other and allowed Yim Wing Chun to maximize her abilities against stronger male opponents. To this day, men and women find Yim Wing Chun's system of applications practical and efficient.
By the start of the 18th century, a new generation of kung fu practitioners emerged from the original Sil Lum teachings. Yim Wing Chun married a well-to-do traveling salt merchant, Leung Bok Cho, from Kwantung province. Being a regular traveler on the roadways of southern China, Leung was skilled in the use of the short length broad sword (Doe or Dao). The Leung clansmen had long practiced their sword techniques to protect their salt business over the long journeys into the mountains. Leung, however, was fascinated with the applicability of his wife's hand techniques. He was over joyed to have a wife whose mentor was none other than the famous Sil Lum elder, Ng Mui.
Mr. Leung taught the broad sword system and referred other trusted clan members to Wing Chun for hand-to-hand kung fu instruction. Although Yim Wing Chun learned her crane and snake techniques from Ng Mui, there was no particular name for Yim Wing Chun's kung fu combinations. Wing Chun's Kung Fu or Wing Chun, used by Leung Bok Cho to distinguish between his family's knife techniques from his wife's kung fu, became the name to identify her art. Wing Chun taught her kung fu art to the Leung clan throughout the first half of the 18th century.
The Wing Chun art was passed on to Leung Bok Cho's niece, Leung Lan Kwai. By the close of the 18th century, Leung Lan Kwai's two nephews named Wong Wah Bo and Leung Yee Tai became the keepers of the Wing Chun art. At this juncture, Leung Yee Tai incorporated the Luk Dim Poon Kwan (six-and-a-half-point staff) into the Wing Chun system. The Wing Chun oral tradition states that the staff techniques originated from the Sil Lum elder, Jee Shin. 130 years earlier, while making his way to O-Mei mountain in Sezchuan province, Jee Shin disguised himself as a cook on a large sailing junk that transported a Chinese opera troupe. While traveling west with the opera troupe, Jee Shin taught the Sil Lum long pole techniques to the troupe members. The long pole techniques were passed down through families affiliated with the opera troupe to Leung Yee Tai's father and finally to Leung Yee Tai himself.
The next master of Wing Chun was a respected herbal doctor named Leung Jon. Dr. Leung Jon lived in Fatshan (Foshan) town found west-by-southwest of Quandong (Canton) city. Having learned from both Leung Yee Tai and Wong Wah Bo, Leung Jon carried on the Wing Chun system throughout the early and middle 1800's. Wing Chun was a feminine name and invited many challenges. Dr. Leung Jon often called the Wing Chun fighting art, the Fatshan Kuen (Fatshan Fist). Therefore, not many of Leung Jon's challengers knew that his system had its origins from Ng Mui.
Dr. Leung Jon was a man of larger than average stature and enjoyed the physical expression found within the Wing Chun system. He successfully took on all challenges even in his later years of life. The older Leung Jon defeated a young challenger name Wong Fei Hung, a prominent member of the new (second) generation of Ten Tigers of Kwantung. Dr. Leung Jon was himself recognized as one of the older, original Ten Tigers of Kwantung province.
Dr. Leung Jon's life tragically ended at dinner as he held a bowl of soup to his mouth. To the surprise and shock of the other restaurant patrons, a young man shining Leung Jon's shoes, struck Dr. Leung in the solar plexus with a driving punch. The young man known by the town's people as an orphan often shined the shoes of customers such as Dr. Leung at the restaurant and had been coaxed to attack Dr. Leung at dinner by local gangsters. Unable to move much and unwilling to be taken home to be treated, Dr Leung Jon died the next morning from internal hemorrhaging. Many onlookers believed that he could have saved himself had he gone home immediately and treated himself, but his pride would not allow him to be carried off. Dr. Leung Jon was survived by two sons, several distinguished students, and his head student, Chan Wah Soon (also known as Jow Chien Wah, the money exchanger).
Chan Wah Soon
Chan Wah Soon became the next grandmaster of the Fatshan school and continued to teach until his death in 1913. For thirty six years, Chan Wah Soon taught the Wing Chun art. Nicknamed Jow Chien Wah (The Money Changer), he was already an adult doing business in Fatshan when he started to learn Wing Chun Kung Fu from Dr. Leung Jon. By the early 1870's, Chan Wah Soon established himself as an excellent fighter and Dr. Leung Jon's best student.
With bigger than average physical stature, Chan Wah Soon was a strong fighter. He preferred the one foot forward guard position, with the front foot heel peeled off the ground in his challenge matches. He was undefeated in all challenges. As Dr. Leung's successor, Chan Wah Soon taught only selected students and charged a high tuition.
Master Chan Wah Soon taught only sixteen disciples in his life time. His best and senior student was Ng Chung So. Master Chan's own son, Chan Yu Min, was a late bloomer. Chan Yu Min did not care for the hand-to-hand combat of the Wing Chun system until later in life. Despite his youthful recklessness, the young Chan Yu Min did find a special interest in the Wing Chun Long Staff techniques. He was very gifted and excelled in staff fighting. Chan Yu Min became the undisputed "King of the Pole of Seven Provinces". He defeated all challengers in his own province and all neighboring provinces. Luckily, Chan Yu Min's wife completed his Wing Chun Art under the elder Chan Wah Soon. She later passed on the Wing Chun hand art to her husband, Chan Yu Min, thus completing his Wing Chun art.
The Late Grandmaster Yip Man
Yip Man learned only a short period from Chan Wah Soon before the old master passed away. On his death bed, Master Chan Wah Soon summoned Ng Chung So, his eldest and best student, and instructed him to continue teaching Yip Man. Yip Man diligently practiced until leaving for school in Hong Kong.
At school, Yip Man's Kung Fu skill impressed his school mates. Not more than a year had passed when one of his classmates stated that an old man wanted to speak to him about his Kung Fu art. It took a number of requests before the disinterested Yip Man decided to follow his classmate to meet this mysterious old man. The old man was of small physical stature like Yip Man himself. The elder man was in his late fifties and was introduced as Mr. Leung. Mr. Leung invited young Yip into the warehouse and asked him about his teacher. The old man asked Yip Man to demonstrate his skill. To young Yip's surprise, the old man was able to counter Yip's counter attack. The old man's moves forced Yip Man off balance. Similarly, the next several exchanges between the old man and Yip Man proved to be disheartening. The old man easily countered Yip Man's techniques and redirected Yip Man's movements. Upset at this unexpected setback against the old man, young Yip Man left the premises in disgust.
On the following day in school, his classmate once again stated that the old man wanted to meet with Yip Man. After being persistently pressed by his classmate to see the old man, Yip Man agreed to another meeting. This time, Yip Man was determined not to be humiliated. He would power through the old man's techniques. During the second meeting, Yip Man found himself out maneuvered again by the old man. The old man easily read and rode off the driving force that Yip Man vigorously applied. Sensing Yip Man's disgust with himself, the old man unveiled himself as Chan Wah Soon's Kung Fu classmate. Furthermore, the old man turned out to be Dr. Leung Jon's eldest son, Leung Bik. Yip Man instantly realized that he had run into a great Wing Chun master. This explained all the setbacks that he had suffered earlier.
The meeting between young man and old master proved to be a most important and fortunate meeting for the Wing Chun art. Leung Bik explained that his father, Leung Jon, taught Chan Wah Soon and himself differently. Chan Wah Soon was a big man in stature and never needed or used the many angular slipping techniques of Wing Chun. However, Leung Bik and his younger brother were small in physical stature and so were taught differently, Leung Jon knew that one day his two sons would have to challenge Chan Wah Soon for the right to become head master of the Wing Chun Art. Due to the smaller stature of his two sons, Dr. Leung Jon taught his sons various side body shifting, pivoting, slipping, and pinning hand techniques for smaller opponents to use when facing bigger opponents. Yip Man was now blessed by an opportunity to further refine his Wing Chun training. Having no son, Leung Bik imparted all his knowledge to Yip Man.
Returning to Fatsan, Yip Man's expanded knowledge of the Wing Chun art shook many of Chan Wah Soon's former students who were now under Ng Chung So's guidance. Ng Chung So told the other Wing Chun followers of Yip Man's encounter with Leung Bik. Yip Man's exposure to two great Wing Chun elders, Chan Wah Soon and Leung Bik, had provided him with a greater understanding and interpretation of the Wing Chun art. In contrast, Ng Chung So and his classmates had only exposure to Chan Wah Soon's large body frame of the art.
Throughout much of his twenties, Yip Man taught Wing Chun to only a few students. Turmoil in China made living difficult. Later, Yip Man worked for the county government as a law officer and later joined the Kuo Min Tang military. As an educated man, Yip Man was given a junior officer's rank. By his early forties, Yip Man fought against invading Japanese forces in southern China and rarely saw his wife and two sons. When World War II ended, Yip Man had reached the field grade rank in the army. By 1949, Colonel Yip Man found himself on the losing side of the war against communism. Facing sure death, Yip Man managed to reach British occupied Hong Kong.
Already at the age of 54, and with nothing but his martial arts skill to survive, Yip Man decided to teach Wing Chun. He started his Hong Kong school in the union hall building for restaurant workers. On his first day, a burly restaurant union member name Leung Shung challenged Yip Man to a fight. Leung Sheung was a noted Dragon Kung Fu stylist and aggressively attacked Yip Man. Yip Man easily countered the attack by driving Leung Shung's lead hand over his opposite arm to create a cross-arm pin. Yip Man repeatedly countered Leung Sheung's frontal attacks before countering with his own fast multiple chain punches. Yip Man's counter attacks were masterfully controlled. He pulled each of his punches, not once hitting Leung Sheung's exposed face. The defeated Leung Sheung recognized Yip Man's skill and became Yip Man's first student. Soon, other students were destined to become famous teachers. The names of some of these early Yip Man students include Leung Sheung, Yip Po Ching , Lok Yiu, Choy Sheung Ting, Lo Man Kam, Wong Sheung Leung, Wong Chok, Wong Long, Ho Kam Ming, Yip Ching (Yip Man's younger son), Jiu Wan, Wong Kiu, Cheung Chok Hing, Kou Sung, Yip Chun (Yip Man's oldest son ) and many others.
In the early Hong Kong years, two prominent fighters established the Wing Chun name as a fighting system. Their names were Wong Sheung Leung and Cheung Chok Hing. Wong fought dozens of contenders throughout Hong Kong. In one week, Wong Sheung Leung beat ten Praying Mantis instructors in one-on-one fighting. As a highlight during this week long string of fights, Wong beat three Praying Mantis fighters in one day. This was an incredible feat by any standard because Wong was suffering from a bad cold. Today, the 61 year old Wong, humbly reflecting back to his younger years, states: "I was not as good as everybody makes me out to be; all my opponents were junk". Wong has two grown children (one son) and to this day actively teaches Wing Chun in Hong Kong.
On the other hand, Cheung Chok Hing was known for his bad boy rowdiness. Bigger and stronger than the average Hong Kong male, Cheung also enjoyed the clout of having a father who was the chief of the police inspectors. This clout bailed the young Cheung out of many sticky situations with the law.
Cheung enjoyed the fighting more than spending time to perfect the Wing Chun art. He diligently practiced Wing Chun through the Sil Lim Tao (the first of three Wing Chun hand sets) and through most of the second set, the Chum Kiu. Despite his later inconsistent practice under Yip Man, Cheung is noted for being a naturally talented and fierce fighter. Cheung quickly became known as the best street brawler. During one of his fights, Cheung defeated Chen Ting Hong, a noted Tai Chi expert in Hong Kong. Later in life, Cheung settled down to develop the Wing Chun art and today actively teaches in Australia.
Wong Sheung Leung and Cheung Chok Hing proved that Wing Chun Kung Fu was a practical and efficient martial art. The system was not filled with useless and flowery movements, but instead, contained techniques that were both logical and street tested. Word quickly spread throughout Hong Kong that Wing Chun was the name of a fighting system.
After more than two decades of teaching in Hong Kong, Grandmaster Yip Man passed away at the age of 72 on December 2, 1972. His small Kung Fu Association grew and gave birth to thousands of Wing Chun practitioners around the world. Yip Man's son, Yip Chun, reflecting back to the early years in Hong Kong, stated that his father never in his wildest dreams thought that Wing Chun would become so popular with followers around the world.
Today the Wing Chun Art is practiced in all major countries and in almost every major city around the world. The highly relevant techniques to personal defense and the short learning curve make Wing Chun a very popular art to study. Wing Chun is also an art that allows for the greatest amount of personal adaption. Allowing the many parts of art to fit the person rather than having the person fit the entire art.
Wing Chun Elder
Master Wong Long Ching
Si-Gung Wong Long is master Robert Yeung's teacher. Wong Long joined the Yip Man Wing Chun School in 1956 at the age of 18. Wong Long first came into contact with Wing Chun through Wong Sheung Leung. After six years of studying under Yip Man, Wong began teaching his own students in Kowloon. During Wong's first year of teaching, one of his senior students named Shak Chun Wah brought in and introduced Robert Yeung. Yeung was 24 years old and the same age as Wong Long. Reflecting back to the time when he first met Robert Yeung, Wong remembers that they became more than teacher-student We became good friends. Wing Chun Kung Fu is a partner system. You need practice partners to build and hone your skills. Robert Yeung was not only a friend but a strong and worthy practice partner.
Today, at the age of 58, Si-Gung Wong Long has three grown sons and lives on Hong Kong Island. When teaching, he prefers small groups or one-on-one teaching. Two of his followers, Robert Yeung in Hawaii and Cheung Ping Kwon, a police special forces instructor in Kowloon, actively teach Wing Chun.
The Late Wing Chun Elder
Master Wong Chok
Wong Chok (also spelled Wong Tsok or Wong Chock) was one of Yip Man's early students. Lean in stature, Wong Chok preferred to use the mobility of his footwork to gain an advantage over his opponents. After turning the opponent's corner, Wong liked to jam his shin into his opponent's legs, forcing the attacker to retreat. Wong would then press forward with his counter attack, using his fast shuffling chase steps to pursue and to finish off the attacker.
During the 1980 visit by John F. Di Virgilio, one of Master Yeung's teachers in Hawaii, Wong Chok stressed the need to keep the Wing Chun heritage alive. Wong Chok reviewed the many Wing Chun concepts with John Di Virgilio. Wong also took the time to introduce John Di Virgilio to several other Wing Chun elders in Hong Kong.
Wong Chok passed away in 1982 while still in his early fifties. The harsh Hong Kong environment, combined with his love of non-filtered cigarettes and alcohol, brought an early end to the man who helped Master Robert Yeung to develop his versatile Wing Chun footwork. Wong Chok is survived by his wife and several children who still live in Hong Kong. To see Wing Chun flourish in Hawaii, United States, and around the world will honor his memory.
Master Robert Yeung
Master Robert Yeung was born in 1938 in Kowloon. His first martial arts experience began when he was 16 years old. The teenaged Yeung joined a Japanese Judo school in Kowloon. Yeung found grappling to his liking and stayed with the school for four years, rising to the rank of senior brown belt. Master Yeung recalled that there were not many Kung Fu schools around. The Chinese Kung Fu schools that he visited lacked the discipline and the regimental training found in traditional Japanese Judo training. "I recommend Judo training for teenagers before they learn kung fu."
Master Yeung joined the police auxiliary at the age of 21. He also attended drafting school while working part-time. Master Yeung's childhood friend, Shak Chun Wah, stopped by one day to pass on the word about a system of Kung Fu named Wing Chun. The Wing Chun system was practical and useful in street situations typically found in Hong Kong. As both young men shared their knowledge, Robert Yeung got his first experience with Wing Chun. Shak moved swiftly inside Yeung's arms, delivered several punches, shifted his stance, and trapped one arm over the other arm with a downward pressing palm maneuver. The two friends talked at length about the unique arm trapping and leg jamming techniques within the Wing Chun system. Shortly after this meeting, Shak took Yeung to see Master Wong Long. At the age of 24, Robert Yeung began training in Wing Chun Kung Fu under Si-Gung Wong Long.
Learning quickly, Robert Yeung became Wong Long's close assistant and sparring partner. Robert Yeung rigorously trained with Wong Long for just over four years. To expand his Wing Chun horizon of knowledge, Robert Yeung sought instruction from Wong Chok. During the next two years, Wong Chok imparted to Robert Yeung the two coveted Wing Chun weapons. Wong Chok also expanded Yeung's knowledge of using Wing Chun's tactical footwork traps and jams to uproot and gain advantage over an opponent. Yeung established himself as a skilled and aggressive fighter. His unyielding and forward charging ability earned him the Wing Chun name Yeung Biu ("Biu" is a special Chinese name for Tiger).
Master Wong Chok took Robert Yeung to meet the now aged Yip Man. With Wong Chok's introduction and recommendation, Yip Man gave his approval for Robert Yeung to open his own school and teach students. Robert Yeung stayed in Hong Kong for another two years before meeting his wife and moving to Hawaii, U.S.A. in 1971. He recalled the many hardships that he had to endure in a new country as an immigrant. Despite the rough transition, Yeung officially opened his first Wing Chun school in Hawaii in 1973. As his following grew, Yeung's school moved from Rex Ravell's gym in Honolulu to the Armed Forces YMCA. The Armed Forces YMCA became the home of Wing Chun in Hawaii for the next 12 years, from 1974 to 1986 when the building was sold. Master Yeung's school relocated to the Chinese Cultural Plaza, Chinatown, in 1987. Today, Master Yeung's Wing Chun Kung Fu school is still open. His Wing Chun school in Hawaii is one of the oldest traditional schools operating outside of Hong Kong.
Today, at the age of 58, Master Yeung has retired from work to spend more time at his Chinatown Wing Chun school in Honolulu. His two children (one girl and one boy) are now grown. Master Yeung enjoys teaching and plans to travel more during his retirement from work. He states that there are many promising young students in his school today. "If they can diligently pursue their Wing Chun training, they will become our next generation of Wing Chun teachers."
During the past 24 years of Master Yeung's teaching in Hawaii, several hundred Wing Chun practitioners have come through his program. Dozens of Master Yeung's students have finished the Mook Jong (wooden man) techniques. Of the many graduates of Master Yeung, seven have established their own schools while many others are teaching small groups around the United States. Although Master Yeung never mentions his success, it can be said that he is one of the most successful Wing Chun teachers in the United States. This 1996 Journal (Yearbook) is dedicated to Master Yeung, his many graduates, and his numerous followers.
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