The History of Wing Chun Kung Fu

Wing Chun Kung Fu is a traditional Southern Chinese martial arts and considered one of the only known martial arts in the world that has originated by a woman. It was founded in the Qing Dynasty by a Buddhist Nun called Ng Mui, who was one of five martial arts Masters, in the early 1700's, that were residing at the Shaolin Temple. 

As the legend has been recorded, the five Masters gathered at the Shaolin Temple to come up with a martial arts system that would be more deadly than any of those existing. The purpose was to train many people in a short time to overthrow the oppressive army. Before the system could be taught, the temple was invaded by the army so all the Masters fled to escape in exile. 

Ng Mui continued to perfect this system, with records indicating that she observed a crane and snake fighting on her travels which was translated into human movement; to create techniques such as Bong Sau and Fok Sau. Ng Mui resided in the White Crane Temple in exile, which is where she befriended a man called Yim Mee in the small village at the bottom of the mountain. Ng Mui heard from her new friend that their daughter Yim Wing Chun was being bullied by a local man to marry her. When Ng Mui heard of this, she told Yim Wing Chun to tell the man if he can defeat her in a fight she will marry him. Ng Mui took Yim Wing Chun to the temple and spent every day for the next 6 months teaching her fighting system. When Yim Wing Chun returned to the village she confronted the bully and easily defeated him. Ng Mui decided to name this new system Wing Chun, which translates as eternal springtime. Ng Mui taught Yim Wing Chun for another year and a half, until she left the the White Crane Temple. 

Yim Wing Chun continued to train and passed on this system to her husband Leung Bok Chua, who was already a martial artist. Leung Bok Chua taught Herbalist Leung Lan Kwai and his nephew Wong Wah Bo who was an actor in the 'Red Junk Opera', a travelling group of performers  that sailed along the coastline. Wong Wah Bo taught sailor Leung Yee Tei who was already a master of the long pole, having been taught by another one of the five elders of the Shaolin Temple, Master Chi Chin. This is where Wing Chun incorporated the long pole in to it's system. 

Back on land in Foshan, Leung Yee Tei took in a student, Leung Jan who was also a Herbalist. Chan Wah Shun was a neighbour of Leung Jan and spied on him teaching Wing Chun to his two sons , Leung Bik and Leung Chun. With determination Chan Wah Shun was eventually accepted as a student of Leung Jan. Chan Wah Shun went on to teach Wing Chun for 30 years producing a select 16 disciples to pass on the system, one of which became the most famous known kung fu martial artist, Yip (Ip) Man. Leung Bik (son of Leung Yee Tei) also taught Yip (Ip) Man. Bruce Lee became a student of Yip (Ip) Man.

Great Grandmaster Yip (Ip) Man taught Grandmaster William Cheung, who was also training alongside Bruce Lee at the time. Grandmaster William Cheung brought Wing Chun to Australia where Master Protheroe started his journey in the early 70's. Later in his career Master Protheroe went on to complete further training with Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin in Hong Kong. The Wing Chun system has been passed on to Sifu Rhi Gibson who is now training the next generation of students. 

Sifu Rhi pays their respect to the traditional Masters of Chinese martial arts and honours the unique Wing Chun matriarchal lineage.