The aims of this federation are to promote and strengthen the art and spirit of Wing Chun Gung-Fu and to facilitate and encourage sharing of knowledge amongst Wing Chun practitioners in the USA and throughout the world. Through membership in this federation you become connected to the Wing Chun Gung Fu tradition as handed down in an unbroken lineage through Grandmaster Yip Man Si-Gung Ho Kam Ming Si-Fu Chi Wing (Augustine) Fong
The history of Wing Chun (詠春) is not recorded in writing before our generation. It is only passed down to us orally. This version is what was passed down to us through Late Grand Master YIP-MAN (葉問). He stated that NG-MUI (伍枚)was a nun and was generally credited as the teacher of YIM-WING-CHUN (嚴詠春) the founder of the Wing Chun system of Gung Fu. NG-MUI (伍枚) was one of the five elders (五老) of the SIU-LUM-TEMPLE (少林寺).
The legend of NG-MUI (伍枚): NG-MUI (伍梅) was known as LUI-SAI-LEUNG (呂四娘) at the time of the end period of the second Emperor of the Ching Dynasty HONG-HAI (康熙)(1662-1722). She was the Grand daughter of (LUI-LOU-LEUNG)(呂留良) who was a famous martial art hero. His nick name is HO-KOU-LO-YAN (何求老人). Her father was one of the eight Generals that helped YEUNG-JING-WONG (雍正皇) to ascend to the throne. YEUNG-JING-WONG (雍正皇) was the third emperor of the Ching Dynasty (1723-1735). After he became Emperor, YEUNG-JING-WONG (雍正皇) had his own father and his eight Generals killed. This was to reduce the threat to his own power. To revenge her father’s death, she had spent 30 some years of time to train hard in martial arts. Finally in 1735, she had beheaded the Emperor and went into hiding at the Sil Lum Temple where she took the name of NG-MUI (伍枚).
Already an accomplished martial artist, NG-MUI (伍枚) became the number one elder at the temple. She had continued to study martial arts under her Si-Fu (GUM-FUNG-CHI) (甘鳳池) and her grand father. The other elders at the temple were GEE-SIM (至禪), FUNG-DO-DUC (馮道德), BAK-MEI (白眉) and MAAU-HIN (苗顯). These were the five elders of martial art teachers from the SIU-LUM-TEMPLE (少林寺).
At the SIU-LUM-TEMPLE (少林寺), NG-MUI (伍枚) developed a style of martial arts called Plum Flower Eight Step (MUI-FA-BAK-BO) (梅花八步). After further research, development, and the observation of a snake and crane, NG-MUI (伍枚) improved the style which became known as Snake and Crane Eight Step (SEI-HAW-BAK-BO) (蛇鶴八步). After observing a mouse walking, she refined the style further and it became known as Mouse Step Plum Flower Fist (SHU-BO-MUI-FAR-KUEN) (鼠步梅花拳). These three styles are the predecessors of Wing Chun.
According to Wing Chun history that was passed down from the late grand master YIP-MAN (葉問) during the end period of the second Emperor of the Ching Dynasty HONG-HAI (康熙) (1662-1722) was when the legend of NG-MUI (伍枚) began. During NG-MUI (伍枚)’s time, a Cantonese person from CANTON FON-KIN province (廣東福建人) named YIM-YE-GUNG (嚴二公)(nick name YIM-SAM-SOK (嚴三叔)) was living with his 15 year old daughter YIM-WING-CHUN (嚴詠春). They earned their livelihood by making and selling bean cakes at GOU-LIN-SAAN (九連山). She had earned her nick name as QUEEN of BEAN CAKES (DOU-FU-SAI-SEE) (豆腐西施). Yim Wing Chun’s popularity in the area and news of her beauty attracted the attention of a malevolent landlord named Wong. Although such matters were often customarily prearranged between two families before the birth of the children, and YIM-WING-CHUN (嚴詠春) was already promised to LEUNG-BOK-CHAU (梁博儔), Wong decided he would marry her anyway. Upon presenting himself to ask for her hand in marriage, Wong was flatly rejected by both Yim Wing Chun and her father, so he plotted to take her by force. NG-MUI (伍枚) was able to teach YIM-WING-CHUN (嚴詠春) to defend herself in a short time. When Wong returned with his men, a confrontation ensued during which Wong was seriously injured by YIM-WING-CHUN (嚴詠春).
YIM-WING-CHUN (嚴詠春): continued to study under NG-MUI (伍枚), and later married LEUNG-BOK-CHAU (梁博儔). During the years to come, she used the principles of the style that she had learned from NG-MUI (伍枚) and started to improve and simplify the art. After refining the art significantly, Yim Wing Chun began to teach it to her husband LEUNG-BOK-CHAU (梁博儔) who was already studying in other styles of the martial arts. Impressed by YIM-WING-CHUN (嚴詠春)’s knowledge and ability, he studied her style diligently and learned it quickly. Thus, although NG-MUI(伍枚) founded the art, it bares Yim Wing Chun’s name owing to her improvements.
LEUNG-BOK-CHAU (梁博儔): taught the style to LEUNG-LAN-GUAI (梁蘭桂). Later, LEUNG-LAN-GUAI (梁蘭桂) introduced WONG-WAH-BO (黃華寶) to LEUNG-BOK-CHAU (梁博儔) to start his Wing Chun training as a good friendship. During that time, WONG-WAH-BO (黃華寶)was working on the RED BOAT (紅船)(The Chinese Opera group). He was a rower on the boat and did other labors. He was very muscular. He had a very good friend LEUNG-YE-TAI (梁二娣) who was also a Chinese Opera member, a male actor who played female roles in the Opera. Since both of them were so into martial art training, they adopted the Lok Dim Bun Guan (the six-and-a-half point pole)(六點半棍), and the Bak Jam Do (the butterfly knives)(八斬刀) into the Wing Chun system. It is during the so-called Red Boat Years that the Wing Chun system was organized and evolved into another level. Later on this system was passed down to LEUNG-JAN(梁贊).
LEUNG-JAN(梁贊): His full name was LEUNG-DAK-WING(梁德榮)(1826-1901). He was born in Canton, Hawsaan, Gulo province (廣東鶴山古勞). He died at age of 75. He was a famous herbal doctor. His Doctor office and Herbal shop was located at FACK-SAAN-FI-GE-KAI(佛山筷子街). It was named JON-SUNG-TON (贊生堂).
When he was 18 years of age he had studied a style of gung-fu called YUM-JOU-SAI-YING-HUNG-KUEN (欽州蛇形洪拳) under LEUNG-YE-TAI (梁二娣). Later on LEUNG-YE-TAI (梁二娣) introduced him to WONG-WAH-BO (黃華寶) to study SAI-CHEUN-MUI-FA-KUEN-WING-CHUN (四川梅花拳詠春). WONG-WAH-BO (黃華寶)’s nationality was same as LEUNG-JAN(梁贊). So, from this, WONG-WAH-BO (黃華寶) had taught LEUNG-JAN(梁贊) the whole system of Wing Chun Kuen.
About 1870 to 1890 LEUNG-JAN(梁贊) had taught Wing Chun Kuen at his Herbal shop JON-SOUN-TON (贊生堂) and began to organize and to refine all he had learned in the Wing Chun system in a simple way to pass down to the younger generation. This Wing Chun system had evolved to another level and was beginning to be passed on to the public world. In 1950, there were a series of books written about him in Hong-Kong which was called “FUT-SAAN-KUEN-WONG-JON-SIN-SOUN”(佛山拳王贊先生). One of his best students was CHAN-WAH-SHUN (陳華順).
CHAN-WAH-SHUN (陳華順)(1849-1913): was born in SOON-DUC (順德) province, and lived in FUT-SAAN(佛山). His nationality is SOON-DUC-HUNG-TUAN-DONG-MA-LING(順德杏壇東馬寧人). He was a tall and strong muscular person. He worked as a Money exchanger. So people called him by the nick name “money exchanger (JOU-CHEN-WAH)(找錢華).” He was practicing Wing Chun by himself through secretly watching LEUNG-JAN(梁贊) teach. Finally at the age of 39, he became a true student of LEUNG-JAN(梁贊). After LEUNG-JAN(梁贊) passed away in 1901, CHAN-WAH-SHUN (陳華順) began his Wing-Chun teaching to the public from 1901 to 1907. He had passed Wing Chun down to 16 students total. Such students as NG-JONG-SO (吳仲素), NG-SIU-LO (吳小魯), HO-HON-LUI (何漢侶), LUI-YUE-CHAI (雷汝濟), CHAN-YUE-KAM (陳汝錦), and YIP-MAN (葉問).
YIP-MAN (葉問)(1900-1972):CHAN-WAH-SHUN (陳華順) was YIP-MAN (葉問)’s first teacher. Unfortunately CHAN-WAH-SHUN (陳華順) died at a young age and YIP-MAN (葉問) did not finish his instruction from him. YIP-MAN (葉問) kept on training with his Si-Hing NG-JONG-SO (吳仲素). At the age of 16, Yip Man studied English at the St. Steven’s Catholic School in Hong Kong. It was during this time that Yip Man met LEUNG-BIK (梁碧) through his schoolmate who was the son of LEUNG-JAN(梁贊). He started to train under LEUNG-BIK (梁碧) for some years to complete the system of Wing Chun. LEUNG-BIK (梁碧) was a small man and a scholar. His style was not as hard as that of CHAN-WAH-SHUN (陳華順) so, therefor, Yip Man was able to learn both the hard and soft elements. After Yip Man’s schooling in Hong Kong, he went back to China, his home town, and worked as a Police Man and trained Officers in China. After the second world war, about 1949, he moved to Hong-Kong and lost all his possessions. When he got to Hong Kong he only had his skills in Wing Chun with which to make a living. In Hong Kong, Yip Man met his old time best friend GO-DA-CHEUNG(高大張), who was a CHOY-LEE-FUT (蔡李佛) teacher and taught through the Chinese Restaurant Association in Kowloon, Hong-Kong east and west. Teaching at both locations was too much for GO-DA-CHEUNG(高大張) and he gave one to Yip Man so he could teach Wing Chun to make his living. LEUNG-SHEUNG (梁相) was an assistant teacher for GO-DA-CHEUNG(高大張). LEUNG-SHEUNG (梁相) challenged YIP-MAN (葉問) and was defeated. LEUNG-SHEUNG (梁相) there upon became YIP-MAN (葉問)’s first student.
YIP-MAN (葉問) was known as the person who brought Wing Chun out of China and into Hong Kong, however, there were certain types of students that YIP-MAN (葉問) did not want to teach. YIP-MAN (葉問) felt that relatives would not show him the respect that he deserved. Even though Wing Chun was developed by a woman, YIP-MAN (葉問) felt that having women in a gung-fu school would be too disruptive. YIP-MAN (葉問) did not want the art to be taught to non-Chinese. He also felt that children would not have the discipline to learn Wing Chun and he felt that poor people had to work too hard to earn a living and would be too tired to practice.
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YIP-MAN (葉問)’s students can be divided into three generations. The first generation was taught how to use Wing Chun for fighting. During this time YIP-MAN (葉問) was seeking to establish the name of Wing Chun and to increase its renown. The art was not emphasized. Once the name of Wing Chun was established, YIP-MAN (葉問) was able to focus on teaching the art of Wing Chun. This is the second generation. The last or third generation of students never touched hands with YIP-MAN (葉問). Even though they were members of YIP-MAN (葉問)’s school, he was no longer teaching directly. Only the Si-Hings (older student)(師兄) taught their younger brothers. Some of the most famous students and teachers from YIP-MAN (葉問) are LEUNG-SHEUNG (梁相), LOR-EAL (駱耀), YUEN-GOU-WUI(袁九會), CHU-SHONG-TIN(徐尚田), GU-SUNG (古生), JEEW-WUN (招允),WONG-SHUN-LEUNG (黃淳樑),HO-KAM-MING (何金銘), BRUCE-LEE (李小龍), MOY-YAT (梅逸), YIP-CHUN (葉準) and YIP-CHING (葉正).
HO-KAM-MING (何金銘): was the second generation of YIP-MAN (葉問)’s students. He spent all his life to study Wing Chun and was one of the few men to complete the entire system under YIP-MAN (葉問). HO-KAM-MING (何金銘) was held in high regard by YIP-MAN (葉問). When YIP-MAN (葉問) became ill and had to go to the hospital, he asked HO-KAM-MING (何金銘) to take him there. HO-KAM-MING (何金銘) often visited YIP-MAN (葉問) in the hospital and took care of him in both the hospital and at home like his own father. YIP-MAN (葉問) revealed many of the finer points of Wing Chun to HO-KAM-MING (何金銘). YIP-MAN (葉問) also appointed Ho Kam Ming to assume the responsibility of instructing his private students after he was gone. By this time, Ho Kam Ming had already opened his first school in Macao and another in Hong Kong. He also organized the Ho Kam Ming Wing Chun Association which is authorized by the Yip Man Wing Chun Association. Today, HO-KAM-MING (何金銘) is well known in both Hong Kong and Macao. His full contact Wing Chun team has fought in martial arts tournaments throughout Southeast Asia and has achieved considerable recognition.
It is through HO-KAM-MING (何金銘) that the Wing Chun school of Augustine Fong (方致榮) in Tucson, Arizona traces its line.
Augustine Fong was born on the island of Macao, off the coast of southern China. Since his early childhood, he has had a special interest in the Chinese martial arts. In 1960, he was fortunate enough to begin training in a traditional gung fu style. His instructor was the honorable Wing Chun master, Ho Kam Ming. Master Ho, a top student of the late grand master Yip Man, had, at that time, introduced the style to the Macao area. Augustine Fong, without a second thought, became one of his first students.
By 1964, master Ho’s school had grown considerably. The school had gained a reputation, so good, in fact, that a famous gung-fu school from Hong Kong decided to send a formal challenge. Challenges, back then, were very serious business. The challenging school, in this case, had also obtained an impressive name and reputation. It was understood that they had fought and won over a hundred contests in this manner, and as a result, defeated a number of top schools in Hong Kong. Accepting the written challenge, master Ho decided that Fong would fight the match. Fong was master Ho’s best student and toughest fighter. On the appointed day, the challenger appeared along with his instructor and ten fellow students.
Out of courtesy, the challenger’s sifu was appointed the referee. The match was to consist of three rounds, with the only rule being you could not step out of the fighting area. During the fight, Fong dominated his opponent. In the second round, he became very aggressive, driving the challenger into a mok jeong (wooden dummy). In the third and final round, Fong continued his advantage, chasing and punching his opponent into a wall. Reeling off the wall, the challenger fell into a well-timed punch and was knocked unconscious. Without a word, his sifu and si dai picked him up and carried him out. Master Ho’s school, through Fong’s victory, had upheld its reputation. Fong, because of the encounter, became quite well known throughout Hong Kong and Macao. In Macao he is still known as Wing Chun’s “Gum-Pai Da-Sau” or “Golden Ribbon Boxer.”
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Following this incident, many new students, hearing of the school’s reputation, decided to enroll. To help with the increasing number of students, Fong was asked to assist master Ho in teaching. This was quite an honor for the young Fong. But instead of passing on the good news to his family, he chose to keep it to himself. His mother, during this time, was a very strict woman. Her opinion of the arts was not altogether high. She felt that skill in gung fu would only get one into trouble. So, instead of worrying his mother, Fong had decided from the beginning, to keep his skill a secret. And did he ever! For thirteen years, his mother never new that he was practicing the art of Wing Chun!
During this period, sifu Fong began studying under the Chinese herbalist, sifu Wong Bing Gong. Sifu Wong had learned his art from a monk and was well known for his healing ability. During World War II, he used his knowledge to cure a great many people. Sifu Wong taught Fong how to use “Dit Da” massage to heal broken bones and to treat bruises, strains, and sprains. Sifu Wong also taught him how to prepare herbs, and their medicinal remedies, all of which was valuable knowledge for a practitioner of the martial art.
In 1967, due to civil disturbances in Macao, Augustine Fong moved to Kowloon, Hong Kong. There, his instructor, master Ho, opened a Wing Chun school, where Fong practiced and taught for two years. Then, in 1969, following his father’s footsteps, sifu Fong immigrated to America. Moving to Nogales, Arizona, and then settling in Tucson, sifu Fong soon began to teach and promote the Wing Chun style. In Tucson, he accepted a position teaching self-defense for the city. The program worked out so well, that in 1973, prompted by his students and friends, he opened his own school. This was the first public Wing Chun school in the southwestern United States!
Today, with over thirty-seven years of experience in the art, Master Fong is considered by the Ho KamMing Wing Chun Association in Hong Kong to be among the most skillful Wing Chun masters in the world. Furthermore, in addition to the two traditional Wing Chun weapons,the Lok Dim Bun Quan (Six and one-half Point Long Staff) and the Bat Jaam Do (Butterfly Knives), he is adept in a wide variety of other martial arts weapons and also specializes in the southern Lion Dance. Master Fong learned the latter from Master Chan Gin Man of the Hung Sing Choi Lee Fut Kuen in Hong Kong. Because of his knowledge, a number of poeple have come from other parts of the United States and from Mexico to study under Master Fong.
In 1989, Master Fong sponsored a visit of his teacher Master Ho to the United States to promote the art of Wing Chun. During this visit a Wing Chun Seminar was held at the Fong’s Wing Chun Gung-Fu Federation headquarters. In 1990, Master Fong was appointed the head judge of the Wing Chun committee of the United States. In this capacity, he was responsible for setting up the rules of the Wing Chun Sticky Hands tournament organized by the United States National Chinese Martial Arts Competitions. To promote the Wing Chun system, Master Fong has given martial arts demonstrations, performed lion dances throughout Arizona, U.S.A. and Sonara, Mexico, and has organized very successful martial arts exhibitions in Arizona. He has appeared on numerous local television and radio shows as well as in articles published by “Black Belt” and “Inside Kung-Fu” magazines and several local newspapers. He also had taught many seminars throughout the country. Master Fong had written eight volumes of books about the complete system of Wing Chun Gung-Fu. With the help of The Panther Production Company, he had produced 8 volumes of video cassettes for the Wing Chun System. For many years of hard work, the Fong’s Wing Chun Gung-Fu Academy of Tucson is recognized by the Martial Art Society as one of the top Wing Chun Gung-Fu Schools in the nation.
Master Fong currently operates his own federation headquatered in Tucson, Arizona Arizona where he founded his own Wing Chun Academy and established the headquarters for “Fong’s Wing Chun Gung-Fu Federation”. This association remains devoted to the exact principles of the complete system of Wing Chun Gung-Fu.and currently has affiliated schools throughout the United States and Canada.
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