According to Chinese opera books, the earliest documented practicioner of Wing Chun is Tan Sau Ng. It was said that Tan Sau Ng's tan sau technique was "peerless throughout the land." Sadly, little else is known of him.

     Wong Wa Bo, an actor in an opera, knew Wing Chun. (Some say he learned it from Leung Lan Kwai). During Wong Wah Bo's operaetic "Red Boat" tours he made the acquaintance of Leung Ye Tay, a boatman who used a long pole to push boats in the waterways. Leung Lan Kwai was also a student of Wing Chun and had learned the Lok Dim Boon Kwan (six and a half pole) form Gee Shin. Gee Shin was reputed to be one of the five elder monks who escaped the burning of the Shaolin Monastery. Wang Wa Bo and Leung Ye Tay exchanged techniques, together, they refined the pole techniques by applying Wing Chun principles: centerline theory, economy of motion, chew Ying (facing) and the like. For more details of the Wing Chun history, see Master's Chan's Wing Chun History dvd.

      Leung Ye Tai eventually taught the Wing Chun system to Dr. Leung Jan of Fatsan, located in Southern China. Leung Jan was a pharmacist by occupation and enjoyed a good, cultured life. Leung Jan became an accomplished Wing Chun fighter and brought public attention to the art of Wing Chun. Leung Jan passed his knowledge onto his two sons, Leung Chun and Leung Bik, and to a street vendor by the name of Chan Wa Shun. Chan was reported to be a man of the streets and not well educated, and had numerous opportunities to use his Wing Chun skills. Chan Wa Shun took on 16 disciples with the last one being the 13 year old Ip Man.

     Ip Man, who grew up to become a police officer in Fatsan, studied with Chan Wa Shun until Chan’s death. Ip Man initially did not teach his Wing Chun to the public, only to his two sons, Ip Chun and Ip Ching. During World War II the Japanese invaded China and plundered the Ip family estate. In 1949 Ip Man moved to Hong Kong and began to teach Wing Chun for a living. In addition to his two sons, Ip Man had many famous students, including Bruce Lee (Lee Jun Fan), Wong Shun Leung, Hawkins Cheung, Tsui Sheung Tin, Moy Yat, etc. Around 1970 Ip Man retired from actively teaching. Grand Master Ip Man passed away in 1972 at the age of 72. The Hong Kong Ving Tsun (Wing Chun) Athletic Association, founded by Ip Man in 1968, honors his memory and carries on his teaching to this day.

Ip Man

     Master Sam Hing Fai Chan studied Wing Chun under both Grand Masters Ip Chun and Ip Ching, however, the bulk of his study was under Grand Master Ip Ching. A member and certified instructor through the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Association, Master Chan was also a founding member and former director of the United States Ip Ching Ving Tsun Athletic Association, and has served as an interpreter on numerous occasions for Ip Ching’s visits to the United States. Sifu Chan is also founding member and current director of the International Wing Chun Martial Art Association and is much sought after for his knowledge of Wing Chun. Master Chan has taught Wing Chun at his Kwoon (Martial Art School) in Grand Rapids, Michigan since 1976. Master Chan's is one of the largest Wing Chun schools in the United States.