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Lo Man Kam Narrative
[by Lo Man Kam]
Yip Man's real name was Ki Man. He was a native of Fo Shan
in Kwangtung. He was the second child born in the family, living
on Fook Yin Road in the Mulberry Gardens of Fo Shan. His is a
well-known family in that area. Next door to his house is a
famous tea room of Fo Shan, Tou Yun Gue. Also next door is a
famous bakery, Gow Hing Long. The houses of Mulberry
Gardens are very big, and Mulberry Gardens itself is very large
and well known in Fo Shan.
I was born in Hong Kong and grew up there. My mother was
Yip Man sister. During World War II and the Japanese occupa-tion
of Hong Kong, I went to Fo Shan to live with my uncle in
Mulberry Gardens. At that time, I met and studied with my uncle
every day. My mother regularly told me stories of Uncle Yip's
great boxing accomplishments. As a youth, this inspired me,
especially in view of the difficult time in which we were living.
At the age of seven, my uncle became one of the students of
Master Chan Wah Shun. Master Chan was old at the time and
rarely taught students himself. Yip Man was his last. Since Yip
became Master Chan closed door disciple, Master Chan devel-oped
a great liking for him. Yip Man's elder fellow students, Ng
Choun Su, Lar Ru Chi, and Chan Ru Man, all took care of the
young Yip Man.
The tuition of Master Chan was very high: each student had
to pay a few ounces of silver. The common man at the time could
not afford such a cost, so Master Chan students only numbered
in the teens. This is also why Wing Chun is known as the rich
person kung fu.
Six years later, Master Chan was near death. Before he died,
he ordered his student Ng Choun Su to teach his younger
students. Master Yip Man followed the elder fellow-student for
three years. At the age of sixteen, Master Yip went to Hong Kong to study
English at St. Steven's College. There he was introduced
by a classmate to the second son of Mr. Leong Jan, Leung Bik. The
two studied together for three years and perfected the art of
Wing Chun.
Among his fellow students, Yip Man got along best with Mr.
Yun Ke Shan, who is the student of Mr. Ng Choun Su. Both Yip
and Yun are the same age and often spent time together. While
at Yip Man's house, Mr. Yun met Yip?s son, Yip Chun. Mr. Yun
was very impressed by Yip Chun, so he taught him the first form
of Wing Chun, "Shaolin Tao."
During the early years of the Chinese Republic, Fo Shan had
a yearly festival called "Autumn Scenes." One year Yip Man and
his wife went to see the festival. While there, an officer of the
military tried to take advantage of Mrs. Yip. At the time, Yip was
wearing a long gown with cloth shoes. His stature was not tall,
and he looked more like a gentleman than a fighter. The officer
figured he was weak and helpless, so he became more daring and
offensive. My uncle immediately resorted to the "simultaneous
attack and defense" technique of Wing Chun, and the officer was
knocked to the floor immediately. The officer then took out his
revolver, but uncle grabbed its barrel and used the strength of his
thumb to break the trigger, rendering it useless.
When the Japanese occupied Fo Shan, the military police
caught wind of Yip Man's reputation and invited him to become
their coach. But he refused from the standpoint of righteousness.
That angered the Japanese greatly, to the point that they ordered
another kung fu master, surnamed Leung, to challenge Master
Yip Man. Yip Man accepted only after being asked many times.
Master Leung thought his punch very powerful and used it
against Master Yip. Yip Man
immediately executed the Wing Chun "Horse Stance and Kwan
Sao" to defend himself, and then turned around and kicked
Master Leung to the ground.
After this occurrence, Yip Man left Fo Shan due to the
increased pressure the Japanese placed on him. However, he still
continued helping the Chinese government suppress the Japa-nese.
After the Japanese resistance, Uncle Yip did not teach Wing
Chun, but worked at the police department. In order to rid the
area of evil and protect the people, Master Yip solved many
crimes, including the Fo Shan Sar Ton Fon Street Robbery, and
caught the robber in Sing Ping Theater. Master Yip Man contin-ued
his position as leader of the military patrol of south Kwang
Chow until the collapse of Mainland China.
With the mainland lost, my uncle left Fo Shan for Hong Kong.
There he was introduced to Mr. Lee Min, who later helped Yip establish a
Wing Chun school at the Mess Union in Da Nan Street,
Kowloon. At the beginning, the followers were Lee Min, Leung
Chan, Lou Yue, and myself. We had no more than ten students.
Mr. Lee is not only a student but also a good friend with my uncle.
Later on, Shu Sun Tin and Yip Bue Shing also followed uncle.
The students kept increasing to the point that in 1954 Master
Yip Man left the Mess Union to establish a kung fu institute at Hia
Ten Street, Deep Water Bay, Kowloon. The other students and I
followed as usual. At that time, uncle had to leave two or three
times a week in order to teach the students of a union at Holly-wood
Road and Tai Wong Temple at Queen's Road, East Wanchai.
The students kept increasing, so uncle moved the institute from
Hia Ten Street to Lee Da Street to Lee Jenwou Village to Hing Yip
Building. But he did not openly advertise for students. One
would have to be introduced or know a follower. Bruce Lee was
introduced by Mr. Cheung Jwo Hing to learn Wing Chun when
the institute was at Lee Da Street.
The way of Yip Man's instruction depended on every student?s
degree of knowledge, natural ability, personal habits, and inter-ests.
Yip Man's great innovation was to personalize instruction
by making each student?s progress dependent on his own habits
and will to succeed.
The strength of Yip Man at over seventy was no less than that
of a young man. About nine years ago, robberies occurred
frequently in Hong Kong. One night when Yip Man was taking
a walk, two thugs with knives tried to rob him. It only took Yip
Man a few kicks to knock them out of the way.
My uncle encouraged me in 1956 to travel to Taiwan and
establish a Wing Chun clan there. Also, I received sponsorship
from President Chiang Kai-shek in this regard. I was then
representing the young people of Hong Kong.
I began to miss my home in Hong Kong and tried to return,
but my uncle scolded me for coming back. Yip Man thought it
was too great a chance to pass by. In 1960, my uncle commanded
me to make my permanent home in Taiwan, and I have remained
here ever since then. I returned to Taiwan to serve my country
by enrolling in a military school and learning the art of war as a
field commander.
I am the only licensed Wing Chun sifu in Taiwan, and have as
one of my students President Chiang Kai-shek's grandson.
Now that I think about it, I realize Yip Man's intention in
sending me back to Taiwan was that I should devote myself to
this country and keep Wing Chun kung fu prospering here. His
wish is today being fulfilled, for there are French, American,
English, South African, Australian, East African, and West German
students learning here.
During the Asian and World Kung
Fu contests, the members of the Wing Chun sport team have
received the high honors, thus helping the Wing Chun style to
prosper around the world.
Because of my obligations in Taiwan, I was unable to attend
my uncle's funeral. What the people outside our area have never
learned is that the authentic disciples of Yip Man, such as myself,
were the only ones entitled to wear the black band of mourning
around their waists. Indirect students, such as Leung Ting, were
entitled only to wear black bands around their arms.
Since the death of Yip Man, confusion has continued to
expand related to all matters associated with Wing Chun.
I have chosen to respect the traditional Chinese ethic and my
uncle's memory by avoiding argument and conflict with all
those people who claim to be the new head of Wing Chun Clan.
My uncle taught that Wing Chun is not for sale. Students may
apply for lessons, and each student can make his own decision
about which exponent teaches the boxing most suited for him.
Kai Sai earned a full teacher's license from me, the first I ever
issued. I have relied upon him since he left Taiwan to teach the
Wing Chun that I learned from my uncle.
I welcome serious students who desire to come to Taipei,
Taiwan, and study Wing Chun. They may contact me at:
Wing Chun Kung-Fu, Sifu Lo Man Kam
Sec. 3 Pa Te Road, Alley 51, Lane 12, Number 3, 4th Floor
Taipei, Taiwan
Republic of China
Tel: 011-86-6-7522405
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