WING
CHUN BLOG
SIFU
GARRY’S MEETING WING CHUN MASTERS OUTSIDE OF CHINA
It was extremely exciting getting
ready for my 6th “Roots of Wing Chun” Tour. This tour would
concentrate on Wing Chun outside of China, namely Singapore
and Taiwan. Also, I wanted to visit the Southern Shaolin Temple, having already
visited the Northern Shaolin Temple in 2012.
The Southern Shaolin Temple, according
to Experts today, state that Wing Chun’s origins comes from there.
I do not believe this story. If there
is any truth about wing chun originating from the southern temple, then I
firmly believe there were two factions. One from the northern temple and one
from the southern temple. Grandmaster Lo Man Kam from Taipei, whom is Yip Man’s
Nephew believes Wing Chun’s roots come from the Northern Temple. More about
that in a later blog.
Our first stop was Singapore. Wow,
what a hot and humid City! I am very fortunate to live in Melbourne’s Climate.
Sifu
Joel Lee’s lineage
stems from Leung Ting whom taught Tam Hun Fan. This lineage is very interesting
as it was taught to Leung Ting during Yip Man’s final years alive in Hong Kong.
Sifu Lee style of wing chun produced
different forms to my system. They also had different stances. Jee Shin Wing
Chun has 50/50 stances where Sifu Lee’s students assumed a 60/40 stance with
more weight on the back leg.
My Lineage being Traditional Wing Chun
has its roots with Leung Bik / Yip Man.
My wing chun system has different
forms, footwork and science, so it is fascinating to research other expressions
of wing chun kung fu.
Grandmaster Lo Man Kam also indicated
that his Uncle Yip Man did train under Leung Bik. He stated that Yip Man had 3
teachers but only one Sifu, being Chan Wah Shun. The other 2 teachers were
Leung Bik and Ng Chung So.
Wing Chun is classified as Soft, Soft
and Hard and Hard. Traditional wing chun is Soft and Hard.
It appears that Leung Tings expression
of wing chun is Soft. Soft doesn’t indicate weakness. “Soft in training but
very powerful in application”.
Our next stop is Taipei, the Capital
of Taiwan. Taiwan always had an intrigue for me due to its history with Chiang
Kai Chek being driven out of China by Mao Ze Dong, in the late 1940’s.
Lo Man Kam trained with his Uncle Yip
Man in Hong Kong after the Communists took control of China in 1949.
Lo Man Kam moved to Taiwan in the
60’s.
It was very hot and humid arriving at
Lo Man Kam’s school in Taipei. His apartment is on the 4th floor and
his school is on the rooftop of the Building.
Grandmaster Lo Man Kam was extremely
friendly and hospitable. He shared his knowledge on wing chun. He gave me one
of his books on wing chun and I was very privileged to touch hands with him and
do Chi Sao.
There style of wing chun training is
also relatively Soft.
I did a lot of rolling arms with the
various students training there. We were fortunate to also meet some students
from Hungary, whom were staying there and training for a couple of months.
There stances appear to be 50/50 but
there lead leg is turned in quite far towards the centre.
I am a firm believer of a natural
50/50 weight distribution, stepping toe first as not to be over committed which
will have a major impact on speed and of course interrupt ability.
After we left Taiwan, we stayed in
Fuzhou, preparing to travel to Putian to visit the Shaolin Temple.
I am slowly posting photos on my facebook wall. Please feel free to go there
and make a comment or just have a look.
Stay tuned to my next post on the
Southern Shaolin Temple.
