 |
A fairly new Shaolin style, Wing Chun was developed approximately 300 years ago. Tradition gives the following history: during the Ching Dynasty (1662-1722), the Shaolin Temple in Hunan Province was immensely powerful because of its Kung Fu training. Threatened, Manchurian troops aided by disloyal monks burnt and destroyed the temple. Abbess Ng Mui was among the few that managed to escape. A master of Shaolin Kung Fu, she adapted the Shaolin style, combining its most effective techniques into a less strength-focused martial art that could produce proficient fighters in a shorter amount of time.
Around this time, Ng Mui met Yim Wing Chun, who had fled with her father to the temple on Mt. Tai Leung where she was staying. Yim Wing Chun was naturally very beautiful and was seeking a method of protection from the local bully who harassed her. She became Ng Mui's first student, learning the techniques of the abbess' dynamic self-defense system. The story goes that after mastering Ng Mui's Kung Fu style, Yim Wing Chun defeated the bully. Ng Mui later named her style "Wing Chun" after her student, and left to travel around the country. Yim Wing Chun promised to always honor the Kung Fu traditions and handed down the style to her betrothed husband Leung Bok Chau.
Over the years, Wing Chun Kuen was carefully passed on to only a few students, and remained fairly unknown. In 1949, it was brought out of China and into Hong Kong by Yip Man, thus beginning the rapid spread of modern Wing Chun Kung
Yip Man
Like challenges? Take the Wing Chun Quiz.
Image
of "Yip Man" from
The World Wing Chun Kung Fu Association (http://www.cheungswingchun.com/WWCKFAindex.html).
better.life@c031.aone.net.au. Aug 2001. Email message.
