|
Wing
Chun Kuen, over 200 years history, the
true lineage of Wing Chun is an issue for which the answer
is only
recently beginning to emerge, but legend has it that its origins
were rooted in the history of the Shaolin
Temple. On ancient days, Wing Chun Kuen
was so precious that people were unwilling to expose it. There was no books for reference, only passed on verbally. |
|
|
|
The Group of Wing Chun people were very low profile. They never
acted ostentatiously and never participated in Chinese Traditional
Events. Wing Chun was not a Party or School. At that time, Wing Chun
was a precious esoterica, only rich people could afford and
have chances to
learn Wing Chun Kuen.
|
|
|
One story was happened in a Shaolin Temple where a nun,
named Ng Mui resided. At the time, a band of
Qing Dynasty
soldiers attacked the Temple and Ng Mui was forced to flee to
the province of Guang Sai in order to escape the burning and
destruction. There she met a man called Yim Yee who had a
daughter named Yim Wing Chun. Yim Yee offered
her a shelter,
and in return for their kindness, Ng Mui taught
his daughter martial
arts. The style that Ng Mui taught to
his daughter was not named
at the temple, Ng Mui named it after the girl Wing Chun.
Yim Wing Chun soon
became a master of this style and later married Leung Bok Chow,
and from them it was passed on from generation to generation,
eventually becoming very popular throughout
Southern China. |
|
Another version of history tells a different story entirely, one
which involved a Buddhist monk called Chiu Yuen, and Da Jung, a
Ming Dynasty military officer who later became a monk at the
southern Shaolin Temple of Fukien. In this version
Chiu Yuen and Da Jung were given credit for having brought
Wing Chun to the
South, where it was said to have played a profound role in the
secret societies involved in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty.
This competing legend states that the style was named after Wing
Chun Tong (Everlasting Spring Hall) in the Shaolin Temple. |
|
Whichever legend is actually true, the art of Wing Chun was
passed on through the centuries and eventually reached the 20th
century disciple Yip Man in Fatshan. Yip Man would in turn teach
many famous disciples including one of the worlds most widely
known stars, Bruce Lee. As a teenager, Bruce Lee studied
Wing
Chun with Yip Man. He later brought the style with him to the
United States where he eventually founded a school and taught it
to American students. When Bruce Lee became an international
movie star in the 1970's, Wing Chun was once again in the
spotlight and has since then grown into one of the most popular
styles in both Asia and the West. |
|
Despite Bruce
Lee's advanced level in the martial arts, he was
still a Wing Chun
man. He expounded the use of the centerline principle, as
well as simple, direct, non-telegraphic and economical
motions. And although he may have borrowed tools from other
martial arts systems, he used the techniques to conform to the
Wing Chun
Way.
When Bruce demonstrated his skill with the kali sticks,
you can still see his upright Wing
Chun structure. |
|
JeeK
Kuen
Do was Bruce's finger pointing to
the moon. JeeK
Kuen Do was a goal for
which to aspire. Even Bruce couldn't express
JeeK
Kuen
Do all
the time. The term "Jeek
Kuen Do" was created too early.
He regretted to name "JKD"
, he hoped he could withdraw the term "JKD"in
the end. His Wing Chun
Brother Wong Shun Leung soothed Bruce Lee that no
matter what name Bruce was, Bruce Lee was Bruce Lee. No matter
what name Wing Chun was, Wing Chun was still Wing Chun.
Jun Fan Kung Fu was his
Wing Chun,
especailly Chi
Sao (Sticking
hands, a Wing Chun
sensitivity exercise). In other words,
"JKD" was one of the Wing Chun Theory that Bruce
comprehended. |
|
|
|