IP MAN

Sifu Yip Man, or Ip Man as he is better known is one of the foremost masters of Wing Chun, iconic for his role in its teachings as well as having several famous students that went on to become famous in their own rights, such as Bruce Lee. Born in Foshan, Guandong on October 1, 1893 as Yip Kai Man (Ip Kai Man), he was the third of four children in the family. He grew up during a period of social and political upheaval in the region, and at the age of 12 he began practicing Wing Chun under the tutelage of Chan Wah Shun. Due to Chan Wah Shun’s age, it was his second eldest disciple Wu Chung Sok that taught Ip Man most of his skills and techniques. Man later moved to Hong Kong at the age of 16 where he attended school, and where he further studied Wing Chun under Leung Bik, whose father Leung Jan trained Chan Wah Shun. Eventually he returned to Foshan at the age of 24 and found employment as a police officer, informally teaching Wing Chun to several of his subordinates, friends and relatives. In 1949, as the Chinese Communist Party came to power, Man fled and moved to Hong Kong where he opened a Wing Chun school and started publicly teaching students, whom encouraged him to do so. Under his tutelage his students attained proficiency in the art and practice of Wing Chun, eventually starting their own schools where their victories and skills increased Man’s fame. Some of Ip Man’s most notable students include names like Leung Sheung, Lok Yiu, Chu Shong Tin, Wong Shun Leung, Bruce Lee, Moy Yat, Ho Kam Ming, Victor Kan, Lo Man Kam, Ip Ching, Ip Chun and Leung Ting. Ip man died on December 2, 1972 from throat cancer. His eldest son, Ip Chun, maintained his father’s passion for Wing Chun and continues to keep Ip Man’s legacy alive