How Ip Chun, son of Hong Kong martial arts titan Ip Man, is carrying on his father’s legacy on the grand age of 95
In a quiet Wing Chun dojo in Hong Kong’s Prince Edward, the stupid rhythmic thuds of fingers hanging timber ring out, first slowly, then gradually increasing in tempo. From a flurry of angles at the much yan jong – or wood dummy – the lightning jabs come from Ip Chun, ninety-five, son of the mythical Ip Man. What Ip lacks in glamour and folklore surrounding his father, famed because of the grasp of kung fu celebrity Bruce Lee, he more than makes up for with his vitality – his weekly timetable, 8 training totaling 15 hours, on top of regular journeys to Foshan and Shenzhen for training, is demanding for most people his age.
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Ip Chun, son of mythical Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man, teaches training in Hong Kong and on the mainland. Photo: Sam Tsang Chun, son of legendary Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man, teaches instructions in Hong Kong and the mainland. Photo: Sam Tsang Ip Chun, son of mythical Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man, teaches lessons in Hong Kong and at the mainland. Photo: Sam Tsang In a quiet Wing Chun dojo in Hong Kong’s Prince Edward, the stupid rhythmic thuds of fingers placing wood ring out, first slowly, then gradually increasing in tempo. From a flurry of angles on the muk yan jong – or timber dummy – the lightning jabs come from Ip Chun, 95, son of the legendary Ip Man.
What Ip lacks in glamour and folklore surrounding his father, renowned because of the master of kung fu superstar Bruce Lee, he extra than makes up for with his power – his weekly schedule, eight classes totaling 15 hours, on top of ordinary trips to Foshan and Shenzhen for training, is traumatic for most of the people his age.
How Ip Man helped turn a rebellious young Hongkonger into a Wing Chun master “The principle of using softness to subdue strength is something that you can practice in life. It’s a spirit you could use at paintings and in other elements,” Ip says. “I feel that the exceptional students are the ones from the mainland. They respect their teachers, and they’re so from the coronary heart.”
The essence Ip expounds and his father – who is nearly synonymous with Wing Chun way to a series of biographical movies starring Donnie Yen Ji-dan – are captured within the documentary The Legacy of Ving Tsun.
Dr. Lee Ka-man from Hong Kong Shue Yan University, who produced the forty-five-minute film with HK$one hundred ten,000 (US$14,000) from The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust, exhibits more historical nuggets: “When he was younger, Ip Chun becomes not inquisitive about learning Wing Chun from his father. And Ip Man did not force him.”
Lee, who is from the college’s journalism and communication branch, spent 4 years on the documentary, primarily based on extensive interviews with Ip Chun after shadowing him in training within the city and on the mainland. Parts of the movie could be shown at the college this Saturday, while complete screenings for the general public will occur later this yr.
Bruce Lee became a fighter, Ip Man taught him to be a gentleman.
Lee delivered of Ip Chun: “He later felt that, as the eldest son of Ip Man, he had an obligation to learn Wing Chun and bypass it down. He also had to learn how to later teach it to make a residing.” She gives greater perception into the good deal-hyped courting between Ip Man and Bruce Lee. The elder Ip moved to Hong Kong from Foshan in 1949 and started teaching Wing Chun the subsequent year. Bruce Lee changed into just a youngster whilst he came below the tutelage of Ip.
Dr. Lee says that while it’s miles well known that Bruce Lee discovered Wing Chun from Ip Man and later evolved his personal style – Jeet Kune Do – it certainly became Wong Shun-Leung, another grasp who turned into an apprentice of Ip Man, who spent the most time teaching Lee. When Lee left Hong Kong in 1959 for his birthplace in the US, he had not absolutely mastered Wing Chun. While in America, Lee wrote many letters to Wong, thanking him for the training. One of the letters is displayed at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin.
According to Dr. Lee, Bruce Lee is provided to buy Ip Man a property if the antique grasp becomes inclined to film some Wing Chun movements to research and send to him. But Ip’s response turned into a firm “no .”“Only Ip Man himself knows why [he rejected Lee],” she says. “But you need to understand Ip turned into also a rich character and now not a person who would do something while requested.”