Firstly, what I presented isn't from gossip in a newspaper. It's folklore stories that have been passed to me verbally, like 99.9% of all other students here that's what I have to go on and research further.
If you want to clarify the history of the Red Boats you will have major issues as again it's all based on verbal transmissions. I suggest you look into Canton Opera as it's a very good starting point.
Yes it is all speculation imho. Stories from Fung Chun and how he performs his forms with an emei signature is all speculation because he has not said that himself. Or are yuo saying that he, the eldest descendant of Wing Chun today, does not know that he is doing Emei?
That's YOUR fact Hendrik. Not his. He is just rotating his huensau seed, as most of us elder families do. In fact, Mak Yiu Mings SLT from Cheung Bo must also be emei according to you then?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4O3KnlSlCY
But it isn't. It is simply the Cheung Bo salutation and very common in the Fatsan Wing Chun from Chiu Wan. FWIW They also have the same opening as Lee Shing family, albeit slightly hidden or minimized.
In other families they call this signature Sap Jee Sau
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaQPL...eature=related
And all evidence suggests that Leung Jan was 70 years old when he started teaching the Kulo methods we see today. 70 years old!! Retired and only capable of teaching a point method of sansau techniques. ALL great stuff though and not to be forgotten, but really, where do you think he taught as much as he could?? It reminds me of young students attempting to copy Ip Mans videos. Young men training like old men. Wing Chun is not supposed to be like that imo.
FWIW I totally understand where you're coming from Hendrik and I do appreciate you sharing your knowledge of the 12 Zhuang of Emei and your evidence (if we can call it that) of its connection to Wing Chun. The thing is, others have other evidence. Other stories, just as you do, that point the finger in different directions than you.
Everything is worth researching IMHO but we must also spend time training so we can familiarize ourselves with eachother. This I'm afraid is where all exchange stops. We don't train together. We don't meet eachother.
I only hope this year doesn't become another 'bash eachother' period in Wing Chuns history, because that is what we're doing here. We're creating history with every post we make and I for one would like to see everyone make an effort to get along.
Man, I would even like to get out at some point and meet up with as many of you as I can!! But I'm like a Vampire. I only come into your house if I'm invited