Ip Man is a famous Wushu master who has contributed to the spread of Chinese martial arts around the globe. He gained worldwide fame thanks to his student Bruce Lee. This charismatic actor was the first to bring Chinese martial arts to the western world. His compact techniques and amazing speed soon made Wushu incredibly popular. Naturally, many wanted to know who trained the great actor. It turned out that Bruce Lee's favorite martial art was Wing Chun, who was taught by master Yip Man.
Ip Man. Biography
The future master of style Wing Chun was born in 1893 in the city of Foshan, which is located in the province of Guangdong (China). Ip Man was from a wealthy aristocratic family, which left his mark on him. From early childhood he was engaged in martial arts. At the age of six, Ip Man became a student of Chkhan Vasyun, the illustrious master of the Wing Chun style. It was this man who was the first teacher of the one who in the future will glorify this minimalistic style of Wushu, making it a world heritage. For six whole years, little Yip Man studied with Master Wing Chun until his death. However, the training did not end there, since before his death, Chkhan Vasen asked one of his students to continue training the young fighter. Thus, Ng Zongsou became the second teacher of the future legend.
In addition to martial arts, his hometown gave Ip Man a decent classical education. In general, education, politeness and a lively flexible mind became the constant companions of the adherent Wing Chun. At the age of 15, a young martial artist went to Hong Kong to continue his studies at St. Stephen's College. There he studied the art of Wing Chun under the master Lyon Bik, who possessed excellent combat skills.
Return to Foshan
After Yip Man completed his studies in Hong Kong, he returned to his native Foshan. At that time he was 24 years old, and he was a fully-fledged master of Wing Chun. Upon arrival home, the legendary fighter enlisted in the police, but he still continued his martial arts classes. Ip Man often entered into a confrontation with other Wushu masters, and also conducted joint training.
At home, Master Wing Chun married and had children. He had two daughters and two sons. During this period of his life, Ip Man did not have his own Wushu school. He did not have regular students, but he taught his art to family and friends, which allowed him to hone his skills and understanding of martial art. The life of the master at that time was simple and happy. He lived in abundance, a loving family and friends were nearby. Problems with money bypassed Yip Man, but this state of affairs could not last forever.
Japanese occupation
From 1937 to 1941, an outstanding Wushu master served in the ranks of the Chinese army. However, after his country suffered a crushing defeat in the war with Japan, he returned to his native land. The Japanese occupation did its job - Yip Man's economy was completely plundered, like everything else. At the same time, the wife of the great master fell ill. Hard times did not break the stubborn fighter Wing Chun - he did not make contact with the Japanese administration, as a result of which he was left without a livelihood. Despite the help of friends, only poverty and hunger were expected in his native Foshan Yip Man, which forced him to move to Hong Kong.
Only in 1945, after the end of the war, did the legendary teacher return to his hometown. There he again went to the police and was even able to restore the material well-being of his family. However, this did not save his wife, after many years of illness she died. The civil war raging in China has finally ended, but the Communists won, making Yip Man’s position precarious. After all, he supported the conservative government, moreover, he was a policeman who worked on the losing side. Therefore, in order to avoid certain death, the master was forced to leave for Hong Kong again.
New life
In an instant, a person who had a high social status and decent condition, became a poor ragged man , eking out a miserable existence on the streets of Hong Kong. The loss of his beloved wife, family and friends shook the spirit of the master, but fate smiled at him. He was picked up by people involved in martial arts. Ip Man, whose biography today is known to all Wushu fans, settled in the building of the Union of Restaurant Workers, where at first no one knew about his amazing abilities. However, over time, people learned about his outstanding skills, and 56-year-old master Wing Chun began teaching Wushu in Hong Kong.
According to a true biography, Ip Man initially trained only a few people. They quickly progressed in the development of Wing Chun, as they were already masters in a different Wushu style. A few months later, the master began to teach other people. Which categorically violated the traditions of Wing Chun, since earlier this skill was transferred only within the clans. Ip Man did not just teach Wing Chun the masses, but also took money from them for this.
Teaching methods
He taught the legendary master Wing Chun in his own unique manner. Few of his school's students could boast that Ip Man taught them. The biography of the personality of the great fighter suggests that he taught only the very first students. Then they passed on his amazing knowledge to the new arrivals. That is, the senior students of Ip Man conducted the entire training, while the master himself just sat on the sidelines and looked at classes. Only occasionally did he come up to correct one of his favorites.
Not everyone liked this method of training, so some Wushu fans, of those who were richer, decided to take individual lessons from the great master. However, even in this way, it was difficult to get the undivided attention of Yip Man. In most cases, he showed the form or exercise only once, after which one of his students followed the correct execution. The fact is that the unusual fighter Wing Chun was not particularly eager to become a teacher. Who knows, he would open his amazing Wushu school if it weren’t forced by need. It is known that he did not like to deal with beginners, since slow execution of movements could ruin the technique. As his biography tells us, Man Yip was not an ideal teacher. But despite this, many students loved him and were devoted to the art of Wing Chun all his life.
Ip Man - Bruce Lee's Only Teacher
It was the style of Wing Chun that formed the unique battle pattern that distinguished Bruce Lee from many other film actors of that time. Its compact and swift punches looked amazingly fast and efficient. If earlier in the Western world Wushu was considered harmless dancing, now the attitude to this art has changed radically.
If not for the contribution of Bruce Lee to the popularization of Wing Chun, then this martial art would remain a little-known Chinese style. Despite the fact that the talented actor used techniques from various martial arts, the principles of his movements were taken from Wing Chun.
Teacher and pupil
Unfortunately, the great master died a long time ago (in 1972), so the only way to understand what Ip Man was like is a biography. Bruce Lee was not particularly talented, but he was a diligent student and constantly joked around others, amusing his old teacher. Master Wing Chun not only taught his students to fight, but also instilled in them high moral qualities. He taught people modesty and kindness, because he perfectly understood that martial art should not be given into bad hands.
Another interesting feature of Yip Man is his habit of giving nicknames to his students. For example, Bruce Lee received the nickname “Upstart” from him, which he subsequently fully justified. The famous actor studied at Wing Chun school for only 4 years. His training was never completed, but he well understood the principles of this unique art, embodying them in his own style - Jeet Kune Do.
Features of Wing Chun
What distinguishes the Wushu style, promoted by Yip Man, from other schools, hundreds of which are still fighting for a place in the sun in the Middle Kingdom. One of the main differences is the compactness of the movements and their practicality. Many Wushu styles are completely divorced from reality. They diligently study the most complex stylized movements, which have absolutely no practical value.
The methods of teaching Wing Chun were completely different from those in other schools of traditional Wushu. There were no long complexes of movements depicting a duel with an invisible enemy. Only three laconic complexes corresponding to different levels of training, in which the whole technique of style was laid. Thus, most of the training went to pairwork, sticky hands and free fights. Ip Man taught students as well. The biography of this person is significant in that he streamlined and structured the learning process in order to achieve maximum efficiency.
Efficiency Wing Chun
The simplicity and naturalness of the movements made Wing Chun one of the most practical styles of Chinese Wushu. This style quickly gained popularity in China, as it had a number of advantages over other schools. While adherents of other traditional directions have been hitting the air for decades, Wing Chun students practiced their skills in pairs, which gave them an undeniable advantage in the fight. This martial art gave quick and lasting results, not beautiful promises. The embodiment of Wing Chun's strength was Yip Man himself, whose biography is rich in numerous fights with representatives of other schools. The Chi Sao exercise, or “sticky hands,” is of great benefit. With his help, fighters learn to feel the enemy with their hands in order to maximize the reaction to his attack.
World fame
It would be foolish to assume that all that Yip Man left for us is a biography. The children of the great master continue his hard work, and his ideas are relevant to this day. If not for this person, then we would hardly have known that there is such a martial art as Wing Chun. The legacy of Yip Man is thousands of Wushu schools across the planet, in which millions of students learn his beautiful art.
Every year, there are more and more people who want to join Wing Chun. This is due to films featuring Grandmaster Ip Man (Ip Man in English). Photos of this extraordinary person hang in every room where his Wing Chun line is practiced. Let's hope that the great Wushu master will not be forgotten, and his wonderful art will take its place in the modern world.