History Wing Chun Kung Fu

Wing Chun Kung Fu is a traditional Southern Chinese martial art, believed to be one of the only known systems created by a woman. It was founded during the Qing Dynasty in the early 1700s by Ng Mui, a Buddhist nun and one of the legendary Five Elders who resided at the Shaolin Temple.

According to tradition, the Five Elders sought to develop a new martial arts system that would be highly effective in combat and allow practitioners to become skilled fighters in a short amount of time. Their goal was to overthrow the ruling army, but before they could put their teachings into practice, the Shaolin Temple was invaded. Ng Mui managed to escape and continued to refine her system in exile at the White Crane Temple.

During her travels, Ng Mui is said to have observed a fight between a crane and a snake, drawing inspiration from their movements. She adapted these natural principles into human techniques, creating key elements of Wing Chun, such as Bong Sau and Fok Sau. It was at this time that she encountered Yim Wing Chun, a young woman being harassed and pressured into marriage by a local bully. Taking Yim Wing Chun under her wing, Ng Mui trained her intensively for six months. When Yim Wing Chun returned to her village, she easily defeated her tormentor in combat. In honour of her first student’s perseverance, Ng Mui named the system Wing Chun, meaning eternal springtime.

Yim Wing Chun continued to train and later passed her knowledge to her husband, Leung Bok Chua, a martial artist. The system was further refined and transmitted through generations, reaching Wong Wah Bo, an actor in the Red Junk Opera. Wong Wah Bo trained Leung Yee Tei, a sailor skilled in the long pole (Luk Dim Boon Kwun), which was introduced into the Wing Chun system.

Leung Yee Tei’s teachings were inherited by Leung Jan, a herbalist, who later accepted Chan Wah Shun as a student. Chan Wah Shun dedicated over 30 years to teaching Wing Chun and produced a select group of 16 disciples—one of whom was Yip (Ip) Man, the most widely recognized master of modern Wing Chun. Leung Bik, the son of Leung Jan, also contributed to Yip (Ip) Man’s training.

Yip (Ip) Man is credited with spreading Wing Chun beyond China, and among his most famous students was Bruce Lee, who later developed his own martial arts philosophy, Jeet Kune Do. Another notable student, Grandmaster William Cheung, trained alongside Bruce Lee and went on to bring Wing Chun to Australia in the 1970s.

Master Ian Protheroe, who began his training in this lineage under Grandmaster William Cheung, later deepened his studies under Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin in Hong Kong. 

Continuing this tradition, Sifu Rhi Gibson is now passing on Wing Chun to the next generation of students. With over 30 years of martial arts experience, Sifu Rhi is dedicated to honouring the rich matriarchal origins of Wing Chun and preserving its traditional teachings.