SIFU GARRY’S WING CHN BLOG

LEUNG BIK WING CHUN

 

In Southern China, the Leung Bik / Yip Man Wing Chun System is classified as:

“the attack fighting system” of wing chun.

All other wing chun systems are classified as:

“the self defence fighting system” of wing chun.

The Leung Bik Yip Man wing chun system is very unique. It has 4 forms, where all other wing chun styles have 3 forms. I might state, that some systems have only 1 form, which is known to include the 3 forms in one.

The Leung Bik system has the “advanced Sil Lim Tao form” unique to this wing chun style.

Chum Kiu and Biu Jee forms are totally different than the main stream wing chun.

Dragon pole and Butterfly sword forms are also very different in structure and dynamics.

Also, the wooden dummy set has more footwork, different sequences and so on.

Why is this so?

Leung Jan “king of wing chun” would not initially teach wing chun to his Son, Leung Bik. Leung Jan thought his Son would use wing chun for illegal activity. Leung Bik was always getting in trouble, mainly for fighting in the streets and accepting challenge matches.

His martial skill was very good, consisting of southern kung fu and a little bit of wing chun, from what he picked up from his friends.

Leung Bik realized that the wing chun of the day had many limitations in a fighting environment and decided to use everything that “worked”, meaning, he experimented with a variety of techniques from other systems.

Leung Bik eventually met up with one of his Father’s teachers and learnt wing chun from him for a couple of years. Eventually, his father, Leung Jan found out and decided to adopt his Son as one of his disciples.

Leung Jan taught his Son everything he knew about wing chun, even passing down some traditional wing chun manuscripts which are still in circulation, today, in Foshan.

When Leung Bik decided to develop his own wing chun system, he incorporated all his martial knowledge and skill to create a very dynamic and unique form of wing chun.

Leung Bik’s wing chun system included many more kicks kicks as well as straight line wing chun attacking kicks. He also decided to develop kicks that covered all gates form high to low. Obviously, from his many street fights, Leung Bik realized the limitations of the wing chun at the time, therefore, incorporated many extra techniques not seen in wing chun styles at the time.

After Leung Jan retired from teaching in Foshan, he returned to his native village of Gulao, where he taught a synthesised version of wing chun, due to his age. He called this a 72 point system and named it Pien Sun Wing Chun. (side on wing chun).

The principles of “side on wing chun” share many core concepts and principles with his Son’s wing chun system.

Leung Bik Yip Man Wing Chun system and Leung Jan’s Gulao Pien Sun Wing Chun share many core principles and concepts, being, Central Line theory, Centre Line theory, Parallel Leg fighting, Circular footwork, Attack and defend simultaneously and the side on neutral stance.

Martial Arts circles suggest that Gulao wing chun is the purest in the World due to its isolation from the commercial world.

Considering the 2 systems share many core principles, one can assume the 2 systems have the same origins from Yim Wing Chun and her husband, Leung Bok Chao.

Today, there is much negative publicity concerning the authenticity of Leung Bik and his wing chun system. A lot of people in the wing chun fraternity state that Leung Bik never existed.

Due to my recent roots of wing chun china trips, I have come to the conclusion that he did exist and that Leung Bik did in fact create a unique wing chun system and passed it down to Yip Man, whom in turn taught it to William Cheung.

My wife and I have been fortunate enough to learn the much sought after Gulao Pien Sun Wing Chun from a leading wing chun master from Gulao village. His name is Grand Master Fung Keun, the son of the late legendary Fung Chun.

In Foshan, the wing chun Masters acknowledge Leung Bik with much respect and honour. They call his system the true attack fighting system of wing chun.

There are literal extracts of Leung Jan and Leung Bik’s existence in the Foshan Museum.

Yip Man’s son stated to me that his father had 3 teachers but only one Sifu, Leung Bik being one of the teachers. I have photos of Leung Bik’s manuscripts that were given to Yip Man.

Yip Man’s nephew, Lo Man Kam also talks about Leung Bik, during his stay with Yip Man.

Categoric proof that Leung Bik did exist! And that the Traditional concepts of wing chun are still being adhered to, today.

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My lineage is from Leung Bik/Yip Man system of wing chun.

In wing chun circles in China, the Leung Bik/Yip Man system of wing chin is referred to as the

“true attack/fighting” system of wing chun kung fu.

The Leung Bik/Yip Man system of forms are very unique, due to the forms being extremely different to the main stream wing chun of today.

The Leung Bik/Yip Man system incorporates high kicks, with knees and elbow strikes, as well as dim mak attacking. Leung Bik was a rebellious teenager who incorporated many of his peers techniques into his wing chun while developing his system of wing chun.

There are generally 6 wing chun kung fu forms, being, sil lim tao, chum kiu, biu gee empty hand forms and 2 weapons forms, dragon pole and butterfly swords.

In the early history of wing chun, there was only one continuous form, which incorporated the concepts of the 3 forms – slt, chum kiu and biu gee.

The red boat member, Wong Wah Bo, was purported to have created the 3 empty hand forms, and his student Leung Jan developed the forms to what we know today.

Another red boat member, Leung Yi Tai was said to have kept the tradition of San Sik. This is a set of fist techniques put together to practise and develop continuous movements in set form

This was a system of practise prior to wing chun forms being developed.

San Sik or Sup Yi Lo is still practised today, mainly stemming from the Kulo village wing chun system.

The Jee Shin wing chun Sil Lim Tao develops short range attacks, introduces one to Biu Gee (dim mak concepts) and side neutral stance. Apart from the afore mentioned, sil lim tao also develops balance, coordination, simultaneous arm movements, forward intention, center line and central line theory, techniques positioning, range and most importantly, chi power.

Through natural Tan Tien breathing we cultivate our energy or chi via our Kidneys and store the enrgy in the tan tien.

When we train the second form “advanced sil lim tao” we then utilize reverse tan tien breathing, which helps to develop potential energy in the arms and enhances our intention.

Sil Lim Tao is like the “alphabet” of the system.

If we have good alphabet we have good English or good numeracy for good mathematics.

Therefore, if we have good sil lim tao we will have good structure with our wing chun kung fu skills.

Chum Kiu form teaches us the concept of bridging the gap and then, seeking the bridge.

This naturally relates to moving in on your opponent, to a practical range where we can strike.

In the Leung Bik/Yip Man system of wing chun, there are 5 ranges of combat.

Non contact – contact – exchange – pursuit and retreat.

In most other wing chun systems, there is no concept of retreat.

Chum Kiu is classified as a foot work form, commonly using side neutral stance and bridging the gap with Bon Sao.

I find this quite contradictory, to have no retreat technique. In wing chun we always assume our opponent is larger and stronger, therefore, we cannot use force against force, as the stronger person will always win.

Therefore, without a retreat step, it would be extremely difficult to avoid the intentions of a larger, angry perpetrator.

Biu Gee develops the concept of pursuit and retreat. It also introduces us to pressure point striking, using the fingers as a deadly weapon.

There is also a reference to the Baqua in the biu gee form, which represents the 8 directions of the Universe. This also covers the directions of potential attack.

Fut sao is the technique used in Biu Gee to demonstrate the concept of pursuit and retreat.

In Jee Shin’s wing chun biu gee form the close range concept for elbow and knee strikes are introduced.

Biu Gee is the pinnacle of wing chun culminating in the deadly art of thrusting fingers, striking soft targets and pressure points to manipulate and control your opponent.

In some wing chun circles, Biu Gee is the “secret” of wing chun kung fu. Some Master regard biu gee as too deadly to teach to the public, so it is very difficult to see biu gee in action.

There are also 2 weapons form in wing chun. In the Leung Bik/Yip Man system we actually learn the 61/2 point dragon pole (luk dim boon gwun) and the 8 slash butterfly swords (bart jarm dao).

In some systems of wing chun they teach the long dragon pole (31/2 point pole). This pole is at least 9 ft long. The 61/2 pt pole is only about 6ft, so it is much easier to manoeuvre. The 9ft pole is used more for structure and strength training.

Even though there are many variations with wing chun forms all over the world, they all teach the practitioner to become more proficient, fluent and skill full with the art of wing chun kung fu.

Abbot Jee Shin introduced the dragon pole to the Red Boats, namely Wong Wah Bo.

The Butterfly Swords was a conventional weapon used from the outset of wing chun kung fu.

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