Lee Shing - Tribute to the Unknown Master

Master Lee Shing

When Grandmaster Lee Shing passed away in 1991 he was European and U.K President of the Yip Man Martial Arts Association and founder of the International Lee Shing Wing Chun Martial Arts Association. He was also a member of the Hong Kong Kowloon Chinese Medical Association and was a qualified Chinese doctor. These positions are testimony to a lifetime's dedication to Wing Chun and his impact on the development of Wing Chun in Europe has been very significant and yet it is a largely untold story. Outside of the Chinese martial arts community and the top circles of other martial arts styles, few know of his great achievements.

In most books on Wing Chun, Grandmaster Lee Shing receives barely a mention yet, as shall be seen, his contribution was very important. This article is intended as a tribute to the great ability and skill of the Late Grandmaster Lee Shing as a Wing Chun practitioner and teacher. It provides a brief outline of his career and his students and is designed to honour his memory.
Grandmaster Lee Shing was born in 1923 in Hoxan in Southern China. He first studied Gulao (Pien San) Wing Chun at an early age in mainland China under his first teacher Fong Yee Ming, who himself had learnt from Wong Wah Sam who had learnt from Leung Jan. Lee Shing was a keen disciple and was inspired to research the different styles of Wing Chun, He therefore, in his research, went on to study under Fung Sang who was one of the central points of Pien San Wing Chun, having studied under his father Fung Lim and his uncle Koo Siu-Lung (both students of Wong Wah Sam). He then went on to learn from the famous Kung Fu Master Ng Jung So.
After the Second World War, Lee Shing moved to Hong Kong where he met and became friends and eventually the business partner of two Wing Chun experts, Lok Yiu and Jiu Wan. They were two of the four leading practicioners of Wing Chun in Hong Kong who became known in Wing Chun circles as the four 'Kings of Wing Chun'. The other two were Leung Sheung and Tsui Shan Tin. It was not long before an exchange of ideas and comparison of styles took place between Lee Shing, Lok Yiu and Jiu Wan.


While working in their offices, an older gentleman entered wearing the traditional Chinese dress. Lee Shing noticed that the others greeted the man very respectfully, so much so that he was curious to know who he was. Later they all sat to play Mah Jog (a traditional Chinese gambling game). It was then that the stranger was revealed to be none other than Grandmaster Yip Man, the teacher of the 'four kings' of Wing Chun; In-fact Lok Yiu, a former master of another kung fu style, was Grandmaster Yip Man's first student in Hong Kong. Lee Shing was formally introduced by Jiu Wan to Grandmaster Yip Man. At the time Grandmaster Yip Man was teaching Wing Chun in Hong Kong's Restaurant Workers' Union. Lee Shing was fortunate enough to be accepted by Grandmaster Yip Man as a student and received instruction privately from him on a one-to-one basis. He was known only to Grandmaster Yip Man's senior students and later to Grandmaster Yip Man's eldest son Yip Chun.

Over the years, Grandmaster Yip Man taught Lee Shing the complete Wing Chun system. He had mastered the three hand forms, the wooden dummy form, the six-and-a-half point pole form and most importantly of all Grandmaster Yip Man had taught Lee Shing the complete butterfly knife form and its applications. This last form was of particular importance as it represented the highest point of learning in Wing Chun. At the time Grandmaster Yip Man had taught only three people the complete knife form. He was allowed to open up a school on Hong Kong Island in the early 50s - with the opening ceremony being conducted by Grandmaster Yip Man himself. It was at this time that Lee Shing met Yip Chun who had resumed his studies in Wing Chun. The two became firm friends and henceforth when Yip Chun came to England, he would always stay at Lee Shing's home.

Grandmaster Lee Shing with his student Joseph Cheng was a key figure in promoting the art of Wing Chun at this time. He had begun studying under Grandmaster Lee Shing in 1965 and was the first person to teach Wing Chun openly in the U.K., opening the first Wing Chun School in Europe in 1970. In 1976, with Grandmaster Lee Shing's blessing, Joseph Cheng wrote the first book ever published on the hitherto secret techniques of the wooden dummy form of Wing Chun called 'Chong Woo Kwan Wing Chun' - The Art of Simultaneous Defence and Attack'.
Other students of Grandmaster Lee Shing had begun to teach and open schools. Eddie Yeoh has a Wing Chun school run by some of his senior students. He currently runs an actors agency in the U.K. Nigel Fan, (who passed away recently) was the first and only Chinese qualified stuntman in the U.K. also studied under Grandmaster Lee Shing. He had established many Wing Chun instructors and had a Wing Chun school in London.

Grandmaster Lee Shing brought Wing Chun to Europe and was a major influence on the development of Wing Chun in the western world, for many years Grandmaster Lee Shing had a close friendship with Grandmaster Yip Chun, eldest son of Yip Man. There was great mutual respect on both sides. After Grandmaster Yip Chun's arrival in Hong Kong from China they were introduced in the famous Yang's restaurant by Grandmaster Yip Man. Whenever he visited the U.K. Grandmaster Yip Chun would visit Grandmaster Lee Shing and stay in his house as an honoured guest to discuss amongst other things the further promotion of Wing Chun in U.K. and Europe.

When Grandmaster Lee Shing decided to emigrate to Canada, he presented the butterfly knives that he had received from Grandmaster Yip Man to one of his students, Joseph Lee, to continue his association - the International Lee Shing Wing Chun Martial Arts Association. He asked Joseph Lee to look after the organisation in the U.K. in his absence and to take the knives as a symbol of his authority. Sadly Grandmaster Lee Shing passed away in 1991 and since that time Joseph Lee has begun to follow in his Master's footsteps and teach openly the art of Wing Chun.
This article is dedicated to honour the memory of Grandmaster Lee Shing, the Wing Chun Family especially of the Lee Shing lineage. He lives on through the spirit and practise of all of his students and their teachings. It is hoped that his great skill and learning will be better understood. He taught not simply how to be skilful in the art of Wing Chun but how to develop the respect and discipline that is essential for all those who practice martial arts. His place in the history of Wing Chun is secure.

Though he was always one to shun the spotlight, the late Grandmaster Lee Shing should be given full credit for bringing the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun to United Kingdom. Thanks to him, a whole new generation of kung fu instructors have spread the art far and wide. Those who trained under the grandmaster are many and varied. They include Hau Bin Sum, Chan Man Kune, Joseph Cheng, Eddie Yeoh, Samuel Kwok, Simon Lau, Nigel Fan, Austin Goh, Joseph Man, Kenny Chan and

Yip Bo Ching - The Forgotten Disciple

Yip Bo Ching

No-one mentions the legacy that is Yip Bo Ching, he was one of the First batch if Ip Man's students and was aprently very skilled in Wing Chun with a knack of picking things up quickly.
The following information was collected from interviews with Wong Shun Leung (deceased), Choy Shung Tin, Wong Chock (deceased), and Yip Bo Ching's nephew Wong Ping Kwan.- - - - - - -

Yip Bo Ching was a well to do businessman with a decent education. He made much of his wealth in the construction industry in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Yip Bo Ching was among the first group of Hong Kong students under Yip Man. Yip Bo Ching had many advantages - money, connections, a strong martial arts mind, and was a physically big and strong man.

Most important, Yip Bo Ching admired the useful combative mechanics found within the Wing Chun Gung-fu system. He became Yip Man's favored student....some would say "most favored" student. Yip Bo Ching's had the means to pay for long term private lessons. He often sent his car (or drove himself) to transport Yip Man to and from the many private practice sessions lasting a handful of years.

It was Yip Bo Ching who rough up the young (non-WC) Wong Shun Leung. In 1997, master Wong Shun Leung recounted that "Although I do not believe that I lost that fight, I do believe most people there would say that he (Yip Bo Ching) won." Wong himself soon joined the group and became Yip Man's most famous fighter and longest follower.Yip Bo Ching was reputed to be the first to learn all three open hand sets, the Dummy, and the Kwan.

He was also one of only two people to learn the twelve section version of Yip Man's "Eight Chop Broadswords" and was among the selected few allowed to copy the three Dr. Leung Jon medicine books held by Yip Man. There is some belief that Yip Bo Ching was well on his way to become Yip Man's most cherished protege.

Fate, however, would not be kind to Yip Bo Ching and he contracted what was believed to be hepatitis and quickly died while still in his early 30's (his true age is unknown). Today is name is faded and few of the old timers remember much of the man who might well have been the keeper of Yip Man's WC art.

Chris Crudelli Seminar - Finally Confirmed

If you don't already know, Chris is famous for many hit TV Series such as

'Mind Body Kick Ass Moves'
'Kick Ass Miracles'
'Kick Ass in a Crisis'

And best selling author of 'The Way of the Warrior', not to mention being one of the most prolific Martial Arts Master in the country.

Chris will be covering close quarter practical elements of ‘JUI FA MEN’ and his Unique ABC Combat System.

This is a great way to meet and train with the man himself in a one off seminar for Warrior Wing Chun.

An opportunity not to be missed.

The seminar is suitable for all levels, Beginners and advanced.

Ticket Price: £40
Places Are Strictly Limited
£20 deposit required to secure Place

Part of the Proceeds go to Priory Park ABC

Contact: Warrior.WingChun@blueyonder.co.uk or 07816 947 841
Or Christina Yi - Email: booking@crudelli.com Mobile: 075 434 15743

Warrior Presents - Chris Crudelli

Breaking News. Chris Crudelli will be doing a seminar on 12th September 2009 at Priory Park ABC, Dudley. The Home of Warrior Wing Chun.

For Tickets contact:

Warrior.WingChun@blueyonder.co.uk

or goto www.crudelli.com (contact us).

BREAKING NEWS - MAF UK and Martial Games 2010

Martial Arts Festival UK will be held over three days on the 9 - 10 & 11th April 2010 atThe Telford International Centre. http://www.southwatereventgroup.com/

We have hired the entire site which incorporates 3 main halls & suites totaling 15.000m2There are 2 Hotels onsite and ample parking for our visitors.Please check our website on www.maf-uk.co.uk for further details over the next couple of days.

MAF-UK will be three great days of family fun and entertainment which will incorporate:Exhibitors Hall (The very best in martial arts equipment, billing, enrolling, supplement stores plus much, much more) FREE Workshops in Martial Arts, Self Defence, Anti Bullying, Movie Stunts plus more...

Demonstartions by the TOP Martial Artists

Family Fun Activities (Including Rides and Interactive stands)
Celebrities (Including GOK WAN)

The Martial Games; A new era of tournament in the UK and dubbed as the Olympics for martial artists. (FREESTYLE, TRADITIONAL, CHINESE, FILIPINO, BJJ & GRAPPLING Divisions)

Xth Legion MMA Cage Show on Saturday Night.
Business to Business Suite

The list goes on and on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please contact Kwoklyn to get your school, club or business involvedemail: info@maf-uk.co.uk

http://www.maf-uk.co.uk/

Way of The Warrior By Chris Crudelli

Do you know your ashiwaza from your elbow strike?

Find out with "The Way of the Warrior", which features every major style of martial art in existence, bringing ancient and modern arts together in one complete work of reference.

This comprehensive, fully illustrated encyclopedia covers a huge range of martial arts, from the ancient and renowned styles of China's Shaolin Temple to the lesser-known styles of Africa's indigenous tribes.

It looks at the history, philosophy, guiding principles, key moves, weaponry, founding members, and famous exponents of individual arts, as well as highlighting unbelievable feats, such as drilling wood with a finger or deflecting swords with the abdomen.

Specially commissioned photo-narrative and first-person features trace the daily training schedules of key exponents, providing human-level insights into ways of life and often complex and mystical disciplines.

PS You will find Warrior Wing Chun on Page 253!!!

Full Overview and sample pages here:Available to buy from Here

Joseph Lee DVD

Wing Chun: Attack and Counter Attack

Drawing on more than twenty years experience, Sifu Joseph Lee reveals the attacking and countering
potential of Wing Chun. Covering basic techniques, Chi Sau, Drills, Locks, Takedowns and legwork,
Sifu Lee shows the principles and application of attacking and countering within every aspect of
Wing Chun.

Sifu Gary Lam European Seminar Dates.....

September 1 to 30th Dachau, Germany. Complete level 1 & level 2 course. For further details, contact sifu Ulrich Stauner: Web page www.vingtsun-kuen.de

October 4 – 6th Sweden For further details, contact: www.garylamwingchun.com

October 10 – 11th London, England.

Sifu Gary Lam has spent over 15-years’ to refine his wing chun curriculum, in order for his students to learn wing chun & accumulate the necessary attributes in the shortest time possible. For further details, contact Choi: Email: sifu@chisau.com Tel: 07836 600832.

Well Done Guys!!!!

Well Done to Dave and Ben (Below) on passing their Level 2 Siu Lim Tao Grading,



And Also to Nick and Ian for Passing Level 4 Chum Kiu Grading,



All did well and did the club proud. WELL DONE!!!

Wooden Dummy Tips

The Muk Yan Jong is Wing Chun prominent training tool but it is replacement for a good fighting opponent. It never executes a defensive manoeuver, or evades your attacks. It won't hit back. Basically, it just stands there!

There is only one way to lose a “fight” against the wooden dummy, and that is to not employ Wing Chun technique while you are using it.

The five basic guidelines for Wing Chun structure are:

Press the hips and knees together
Sink the horse stance
Hold the spine straight
Raise the crown of the head
Draw the elbows inward and forward

The relevance to the dummy form and training:

Do not stare at your own hands.
Do not lean on, or into the dummy.
Do not stand on tiptoe to hit the dummy’s “head” or upper section.
Do not forget your stance, footwork and whole-body unity while striking the dummy.

Following these points will not guarantee that you win every fight. It will guarantee you avoid using incorrect structure and stance while employing Wing Chun Forms and Technique on the Dummy. Although the muk yan jong is just a fancy wooden log, it somehow manages to outsmart some practitioners. Some people “straight blast” their dummies with maximum strength and speed, and the dummy responds by shaking violently, the consequence of this is in the feedback to the practitioner. Because of this, the dummy will offer no lessons in relaxation, alignment or flow—all important points when battling something other than a fancy log.

Robert Downey Jr Knows Wing Chun

I was bit miffed at Robert Downey Jr's description of Wing Chun as 'Hong Kong Street Fighting' as that's not the way I'd know. The description gives it a thug persona! I was very surprised to see he was a dedicated practioner.

He credits it with helping him get over his past addictions and from the clips I have seen of 'Sherlock Holmes' it is used in that film. Second 'Nice One' to Guy Richie (the first being divorcing Madonna!!). Have a look at the interview it is quite interesting.

Reearching the Roots of Wing Chun by Danny Connor

Note: This is an interesting passage found In Wing Chun by Yip Chun\Danny Connor. This particular passasge was written by the late Danny Connor. I am sure you will find it an interesting Read.


Researching the history of Chinese Kung Fu is very difficult. This is due to a general lack of written records. For every Kung Fu clan, clan history was passed down orally from teacher to disciple. History was thus passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. This process involved some who were poorly educated, or had poor memories. There were also those who were not interested in history, and were half-hearted in passing it down. Much was lost here. Some people borrowed from heroic characters in popular Chinese novels. They invented and exaggerated, and gave an air of myth and mystery to their founding fathers. After several generations, the facts of history will be lost to hearsay and legend. Look at Southern Kung Fu clans. They padded their founders with fable, so all the founders either came from SIU LAM monastery (= SHAO LIN monastery) or Mo Dong. They were all Buddhist monks or nuns, or Taoist priests. So, suddenly, the glamour and hype of martial arts history was forced upon these peaceful places and nice people. It became a joke.

There are legends about Wing Chun Kung Fu clan, retracing the period from Grandmaster Leung Jan. These are legends because there are no comprehensive written records. The general story goes like this: Wing Chun was founded by Yim Wing Chun. She studied under Ng Mui of SIU LAM. This means that Wing Chun originated in Siu Lam monastery. Yim Wing Chun married Leung Bok Chau, and she followed him back to his home town in Siu Hing, Canton. Wing Chun Kung Fu was passed down to Leung Jan through Leung Bok Chau.

There are two different stories here. One says that Leung Bok Chau taught the techniques to Leung Lan Kwai, Wong Wah Bo, Leung Yee Tei and others. Wong Wah Bo and Leung Yee Tei then passed them on to Leung Jan. The other story says that Leung Jan and the others studied together under Leung Bok Chau. These stories about the origin of Wing Chun are consistent with an article by the late Grandmaster Yip Man on the origin of Wing Chun and also with a 1972 article I wrote for the 'Hong Kong Contemporary Martial Arts Circle'. They are also broadly in line with the general story on the origin of Wing Chun.

In 1982, I was in Fatshan, and paid a visit to Pang Nam (Blackface Nam). He can be said to be a very senior member in the Fatshan Wing Chun Kung Fu clan. Pang Nam was a senior in years, rather than in the hierarchy. He was already eighty. Our discussion turned to the origin of Wing Chun , and Pang said, 'Wing Chun was brought to Fatshan from the north by a person called Tan-Sau Ng (Palm-up Arm Ng - a nickname). Yim Wing Chun is only a storybook character.' He sounded very sure. Later, I unexpectedly found some information about Tan-Sau Ng, recorded in old literature on the history of Chinese opera. This information is closely connected to the origin of Wing Chun.

There was a book by one Mak Siu Har - A study on the history of Cantonese Operas (now kept in the Hong Kong City Hall Library). In it there was one paragraph, roughly as follows: Before the reign of Yung Cheng (Manchu emperor, 1723-1736), the development of Cantonese opera was very limited. This was due to defective organization and unclear division of labor. In the years of Yung Cheng, Cheung Ng of Wu Pak, also known as Tan-Sau Ng, brought his skills to Fatshan and organized the Hung Fa Wui Koon ( now the Chinese Artist Association). From there, Cantonese opera made great progress.

The book also records: Besides being very accomplished in Chinese opera, Cheung Ng was especially proficient in the martial arts world.

Another piece of information appears on page 631, Volume three of the book A history of Chinese Opera, by Mang Yiu, first published by Chuen KayLiterature Publishers in 1968
For some reason, Cheung Ng could not stay on in the capital, so he fled and took refuge in Fatshan. This was during the reign of Yung Cheng. This man, nicknamed Tan-Sau Ng, was a character 'unsurpassed in literary and military skills, and excellent in music and drama'. He was especially proficient in the techniques of Siu Lim. After settling down in Fatshan, he passed on his knowledge in traditional opera and martial arts to the Hung Suen (Red Boat) followers, and established the Hung Fa Wui Koon in Fatshan. Today, Cantonese opera groups revere him as Jo-Si (Founding Master), and refer to him as Master Cheung.

From the two passages above we learned: Cheung Ng, also known as Tan-Sau Ng, not only excelled in martial arts, but actually taught the techniques himself. He was called 'Tan-Sau Ng' because of his 'tan sau……..peerless throughout the martial arts world'.

Comparing the legend of Yim Wing Chun with the information on Tan-Sau Ng, I consider the latter more acceptable in our examination of Wing Chun's origins. The reasons are as follows: 1) Cheung Ng brought his skills in Fatshan during the reign of Yung Cheng. This was forty to fifty years before the great fire of Siu Lam during the reign of Kin Lung (1736-1795). It was almost a hundred years before the legend of Yim Wing Chun, which fell within the Ham Fung (1851-1861) and Dao Kwong (1821-1850) years. 2) Tan Sau is a technique unique to Wing Chun. Cheung Ng was famous for his tan sau. He actually taught martial arts in Fatshan Hung Suen (Red Boat). And Fatshan was the breeding ground of Wing Chun. 3) Some years ago, my Kung Fu clansman Pang Kam Fat told me that the Wing Chun stance is best used on boats for stability. Looking further, the various sets of martial arts strokes and practice areas are closely related to practice on narrow boats. 4) Before the skills were handed down to Leung Jan, the people connected, including Leung Lan Kwai, 'Painted Face Kam', Wong Wah Bo and Leung Yee Tei, all belonged to the Hung Suen (Red Boat).

Yet it is still very difficult to verify the origin of Wing Chun with so little material about Cheung Ng. So, before we find more information and proof, we can perhaps make following assumptions: During the reign of Yung Cheng, Wu Pak actor Cheung Ng, also known as Tan-Sau Ng, for some reason fled the capital and went to Fatshan. He organized the Hung Fa Wui Koon at Tai Kay Mei, Fatshan. Apart from teaching traditional operas, he also taught the techniques of martial arts, and was called Master Cheung. The martial arts skills he taught already had the principles and techniques of Wing Chun martial arts. Perhaps they can be called incomplete or inadequately practiced Wing Chun martial arts. A hundred years passed in dissemination (mainly in Hung Suen) and development. Much effort was made by Yim Wing Chun, Leung Bok Chau, Wong Wah Bo, Leung Yee Tei and others. Wing Chun became a complete and mature set of martial arts, which spread and flourished under Leung Jan.

The above assumption eliminates the mythical padding towing Chun, and presents an orderly progress of events. It also provides a trail which can be followed by people interested in the history of Wing Chun Kung Fu.