A Challenge for a Fight

One day a classmate of Yip man, surnamed Lai, said to him, "There is a kung-fu practitioner in our trading company, a friend of my father, in his fifties. Would you dare to fight a few movements with him?" Yip Man, being an arrogant youngster who had never experienced failure, feared no one at that time, and so he promised to meet this middle-aged man. On the arranged day, Yip man, led by his classmate, went to meet the elderly man in asilk company in Hong Kong's Jervois street. After greeting him Yip Man told him about his intentions. The man, introduced to Yip man as Mr. Leung, replied with a smile, "So you are the disciple of the revered Master Chan Wah Shun of Fatshan. You are young. What have you learned from your Si-fu? Have you learned the Chum-Kiu?" Yip man was then so eager to have a fight that he did not listen to the man and only uttered a few irrelevant words in return, while at the same time taking off his large-lapelled garment, getting himself ready for a fight.

The First Defeat

At this moment the elderly man smilingly told Yip man that he was allowed to attack any part of his body by any means, and that he himself would only discharge these attacks and would not render any counter attacks, nor would he hurt Yip man in any way. This only added fuel to Yip Man's fury. Nevertheless, Yip man managed to fight with care and calmness. He launched fierce attacks on the man, who discharged them with ease and leisure, and finally floored him, not just once, but repeatedly. Every time Yip man lay flat on the floor he rose again and rendered a new attack, only to find he had to leave in the end, defeated. It was later discovered that this elderly man was Mr. Leung Bik, the eldest son of Grand Master Leung Jan of Fatshan, the paternal teacher (si-fu) of Chan Wah Shun, the money-changer who had taught Yip Man. From then on Yip man followed Leung Bik for years and learned all the secrets of Wing Tsun Kuen. At the age of twenty-four, Yip man returned to his native town of Fatshan, having achieved competence in his art.

No Intention of Teaching

During the last few decades, Yip man was highly rated in the art of fighting by the people of Fatshan, but he never had the slightest thought of teaching his skills to anyone, always keeping the commandment of Wing Tsun that OEto spread it is in contrast to the wishes of the founder'. He never intended to pass on his skills to anyone, not even his own son. This is why he never imagined that he would eventually become an instructor of his art.

First Development of Wing Tsun

In 1949, through the help of Lee Man, Yip Man was offered the post of kung-fu instructor of the Association of Restaurant Workers of Hong Kong. After a great deal of persuasion, he accepted. After two years of serving as the instructor Yip Man founded his own gymnasium in the district of Yaumatei in Kowloon and began to accept students other than restaurant workers. Later, when more and more students came to him he had to move his gymnasium to a larger site. Yip Man1s fame and the practical value of Wing Tsun were especially admired by members of the police force, of which more and more attended his gym.

Retired from Teaching

As his last effort towards the promotion of Wing Tsun Kuen before retiring from teaching he founded, in 1967, the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association. In May 1970, when the classes in his gymnasium were firmly established, he decided to retire from teaching to enjoy a quiet life, having first passed all the affairs of his gymnasium and the teaching to his favorite disciple, Leung Ting.

Becoming Yip Mans Closed Door Student

At an opportune occasion, Leung Ting was introduced by one of his elder kung-fu brothers to Yip Man, the Grand Master of Wing Tsun, who had at that time retired from his martial art career for years. It was Yip Man's noble personality and attitude towards life that impressed Leung Ting. On the other hand, Yip Man was pleased with Leung Tinge's dedication to the study of kung-fu. So Yip Man admitted Leung Ting as his disciple, and gavehim personal tuition in advanced Wing Tsun techniques such as those of the Wooden Dummy.

The First WT. Class in College

In the winter of 1968, Leung Ting opened a Wing Tsun class in the Baptist College, which was the first and most well organised Wing Tsun class held in post-secondary colleges in Hong Kong. The class, with well over 60 students at the beginning, was enlarged to accept more then one hundred and twenty classmates. It was then incorporated into the "Wing Tsun Classmates Society of Baptist College".

The First Open Demonstration

In November of 1969 Leung Ting held a "Wing Tsun Kung-fu Demonstration and Tournament" on the campus of the Baptist College. Grand master Yip man and many other famous kung-fu masters were among the honoured guests. This was the first open demonstration and contest in Wing Tsun Kung-fu ever, since Grand master Yip Man began his kung-fu career in Hong Kong. Soon after that Leung Ting was recommended by Yip Man to take the post of chief-instructor of the martial art class in the "Ving Tsun Athletic Association". Under the guidance of Leung Ting, the class developed rapidly, and had produced from the new followers quite a number of reputed practitioners.

The First All Girls Class in College

During 1970 Leung Ting devoted all his energy to giving shows of Wing Tsun kung-fu to a great number of associations and educational institutes, and, at the request of radio and television stations, gave public demonstrations. Besides that, he also set up Wing Tsun classes in the Students Centre of the Chinese Christian Mission, and the secondary Section of the Chu Hai College. He also advocated encouraging girls to receive training in kung-fu, by setting up the first all girls class in his gymnasium. This attracted a lot of female trainees.

Resigned !

In 1972 the classes in his gymnasium expanded rapidly, and Leung Ting became too busy to deal with the affairs of the Ving Tsun Athletic Association. He therefore resigned his post of chief instructor of the Association in order to devote his time to the work in his own gymnasium.

Set Up More Branches

In 1973, the total number of students attending classes in his gymnasium soared to over eight thousand, among which a few dozen had already completed their training in the whole system. The ever-increasing number of students made it necessary for Leung Ting to set up branch gymnasiums. The first branch was opened in the spring of 1973. The site covered an area of about a thousand square feet. Leung Tinge's younger brother Leung Tuen and some of Leung Tinge's graduated disciples were in charge of conducting classes in this gymnasium. In the winter of the same year, a second branch was opened in Kowloon. In the summer of 1974, Leung Tinge's first branch was moved, across the harbour, to facilitate students living on the Island of Hong Kong. From then onwards, students kept flocking to his gymnasium in great numbers.

The Largest Martial Arts Organisation

Since the formation of the Hong Kong Martial Art Association, several open tournaments have been held in which teams from Sifu Leung Ting's gymnasium had taken part, and had gained brilliant results. In recent years, greater efforts are being made by Sifu Leung Ting in promoting Wing Tsun kung-fu, not only in Hong Kong, but also in the United States, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, etc. Up to know Wing Tsun classes have spread to over 60 countries around the world.