Master of Chinese martial arts Yip Man: biography, interesting facts and achievements

Yip Man is a famous wushu master who contributed to the spread of Chinese martial arts around the globe. He gained worldwide fame thanks to his student Bruce Lee. This charismatic actor was the first who brought Chinese martial arts to the Western world. His compact techniques and amazing speed very soon made wushu incredibly popular. Naturally, many wanted to know who taught the great actor. It turned out that Bruce Lee's favorite martial art was Wing Chun, who was taught by Master Yip Man.

Yip Man. Biography

The future master of style Wing Chun was born in 1893 in Foshan City, which is located in Guangdong (China). Ip Man was from a wealthy aristocratic family, which left a mark on him. From early childhood, he was engaged in martial arts. At the age of six Yip Man became a disciple of Chan Vaseni, a renowned master of Wing Chun style. It was this man who was the first teacher of one who in the future will glorify this minimalist Wushu style, making it a worldwide heritage. For six years, little Yip Man was working with the master of Wing Chun, until his death. However, the training did not end there, because before the death Chan Vashyan asked one of his students to continue training the young fighter. Thus, Ng Tsungsu became the second teacher of the future legend.

In addition to martial arts, his hometown gave Ip Manu a decent classical education. In general, education, politeness and a lively, flexible mind became the constant companions of the Wing Chun adept. At the age of 15, the young master of martial arts left for Hong Kong to continue his studies at St. Stephen's College. There he studied the art of Wing Chun from the master Len Bika, who had excellent fighting skills.

Return to Foshan

After Yip Man finished his studies in Hong Kong, he returned to his native Foshan. At that time he was 24 years old, and he was quite a master Wing Chun master. Upon arrival, the legendary fighter entered the service in the police, but he still continued his martial arts classes. Yip Man often entered into a confrontation with other wushu masters, and also conducted joint training.

At home, the master Wing Chun married and started the children. He had two daughters and two sons. During this period of his life, Yip Man did not have his own Wushu school. He did not have permanent students, but he taught his art to relatives and friends, which allowed him to sharpen his skills and understanding of martial art. The life of the master at that time was simple and happy. He lived in abundance, there were a loving family and friends. Problems with money bypassed Ip Mana side, but this state of affairs could not last forever.

The Japanese occupation

From 1937 to 1941, an outstanding master of wushu served in the ranks of the Chinese army. However, after his country suffered a crushing defeat in the war with Japan, he returned to his native land. The Japanese occupation did its job - Yip Man's farm was completely plundered, as everything around. At the same time the wife of the great master fell ill. Heavy times did not break the stubborn warrior Wing Chun - he did not contact the Japanese administration, so he was left without means of livelihood. Despite the help of friends, in his native Foshan Yip Mana only poverty and hunger were expected, which forced him to move to Hong Kong.

Only in 1945, after the war, the legendary teacher returned to his hometown. There he again went to the police and even was able to restore the material well-being of his family. However, this did not save his wife, after many years of illness she died. The civil war raging in China was finally over, but the Communists won it, making Yip Man's position shaky. After all, he supported the conservative government, moreover, was a policeman working for the losing side. Therefore, to avoid a certain death, the master was forced to again go to Hong Kong.

New life

In a jiffy, a man who had a high social status and decent condition, became a beggar beggar, dragging a miserable existence in the streets of Hong Kong. The loss of his beloved wife, family and friends shook the master's spirit, but fate smiled at him. It was picked up by people engaged in martial arts. Yip Man, whose biography is today known to all Wushu fans, settled in the Union of Restaurant Workers, where at first no one knew of his amazing abilities. However, over time, people learned about his outstanding skills, and the 56-year-old master Wing Chun began teaching Wushu in Hong Kong.

According to a true biography, Yip Man initially taught only a few people. They quickly progressed in mastering Wing Chun, since they were already masters in another Wushu style. A few months later the master began to train other people. That categorically violated the traditions of Wing Chun, as earlier this skill was transmitted only within the clans. Yip Man did not just teach the Wing Chun broad masses, but also took money from them for it.

Teaching methods

He taught the legendary master Wing Chun in his own unique manner. Few of the pupils of his school could boast that they were taught by Yip Man himself. The biography of the personality of the great fighter says that he taught only the very first students. Then they passed on his astounding knowledge to the new arrivals. That is, the entire training was conducted by the senior students of Ip Man, while the master himself just sat on the sidelines and looked at the lessons. Only occasionally did he come up to fix one of his favorites.

This method of training was not liked by everyone, so some Wushu fans, out of those richer, decided to take individual lessons from the great master. However, even so, it was difficult to get Yip Man's undivided attention. In most cases, he showed the form or exercise only once, after which one of his students followed the correctness of the performance. The fact is that the unusual Wing Chun fighter did not particularly want to become a teacher. Who knows, he would have discovered his amazing Wushu school, if he had not been forced to. It is known that he did not like to deal with beginners, because slow implementation of movements could spoil the technique. As his biography tells us, Man Yip was not an ideal teacher. But despite this, many students loved him and were devoted to the art of Wing Chun his whole life.

Yip Man is the only teacher of Bruce Lee

It was the style of Wing Chun that formed the unique battle pattern that distinguished Bruce Lee from the many other movie actors of the time. His compact and swift blows looked surprisingly fast and efficiently. If before in the Western world Wushu was considered harmless dances, now the attitude to this art has radically changed. If it were not for Bruce Lee's contribution to the popularization of Wing Chun, this martial art would remain a little-known Chinese style. Despite the fact that the talented actor used techniques from different martial arts, the principles of his movements were taken from Wing Chun.

Teacher and pupil

Unfortunately, the great master died long ago (in 1972), so the only way to understand what Yip Man was was the biography. Bruce Lee did not have a special talent, but he was a diligent student and constantly joked around others, having fun with his old teacher. Master Wing Chun not only taught his students to fight, but also instilled in them high moral qualities. He taught people modesty and kindness, for he was well aware that martial art should not be given to bad hands.

Another interesting feature of Yip Man is his habit of giving his students nicknames. For example, Bruce Lee received from him the nickname "Upstart", which he subsequently fully justified. The famous actor studied at Wing Chun School for only 4 years. His training was never finished, but he understood the principles of this unique art, embodying them in his own style - Jeet Koon Do.

Features of Wing Chun

What distinguishes the style of Wushu, promoted by Yip Man, from other schools, hundreds of which are still struggling for a place under the sun in the Celestial Empire. One of the main differences is the compactness of movements and their practicality. Many Wushu styles are completely detached from reality. They diligently study the most complicated stylized movements, which have absolutely no practical value.

Wing Chun's teaching methods were not at all the same as in other traditional Wushu schools. In it there were no long complexes of movements, depicting a duel with the invisible enemy. Only three laconic complexes, corresponding to different levels of training, in which all the technique of style was laid. Thus, most of the training was spent on paired workouts, the practice of "sticky hands" and loose fights. Yip Man himself also taught the students. The biography of this man is significant in that he streamlined and structured the learning process in order to achieve maximum efficiency.

Effectiveness of Wing Chun

Simplicity and naturalness of the movements made Wing Chun one of the most practical styles of Chinese Wushu. This style quickly gained popularity in China, as it had a number of advantages over other schools. While the adherents of other traditional trends were beaten by the air for decades, the students of Wing Chun practiced their skills in pairs, which gave them an unquestionable advantage in the duel. This martial art gave quick and lasting results, not beautiful promises. The embodiment of the strength of Wing Chun was Yip Man himself, whose biography is rich in numerous fights with representatives of other schools. A huge benefit is the Chi Sao exercise, or "sticky hands". With its help, the soldiers learn to feel the enemy with their hands, in order to maximize the response to his attack.

World Glory

It would be foolish to think that everything that Yip Man left us is a biography. The children of the great master continue his difficult business, and his ideas are relevant to this day. If it were not for this person, then it's unlikely that we would have learned that there is such a martial art as Wing Chun. The legacy of Yip Man is thousands of wushu schools all over the planet, in which millions of students comprehend his fine art. Every year, those who want to join Wing Chun become more and more. This is due to the films, which show Grandmaster Yip Man (Ip Man in English). Photos of this extraordinary person hang in every room where his Wing Chun line is practiced. Let's hope that the great wushu master will not be forgotten, and his remarkable art will take his place in the modern world.