Wing Chun's Grandmaster Wan Kam Leung Nestled in the heart of the bustling Yau Ma lei district of Kowloon, is the headquarters of one of Hong Kong's most respected Wing Chun Masters, Grandmaster (Sigung) Wan Kam Leung. One of the earliest students of the late Sigung Wong Shun Leung, he is the former Wing Chun instructor to the Royal Hong Kong Police G4 (VIP Protection Unit), a Master of qi gong and the founder of his own system, which he calls Practical Wing Chun. In this exclusive interview, Sigung Wan gave Blitz an inside look at his early days of training with such legendary figures as Sigung Wong Shun Leung and Bruce Lee, and explained the evolution of his Practical Wing Chun system. Wing Chun. In 1959, I emigrated to approach Leung cuts an impressive from China to Hong Kong. My Shun Leung opened his own developing figure. At 64 years old, he older brother introduced me to school, that's when I was able Bruce's first movie came out, he only looks to be in his late Wing Chun. My first sifu was Leung to get to know him. Wong Shun rang Wong Shun Leung and asked, Sheung, Yip Man's first student. Leung emphasised "Did you see my movie?" Wong person, n Sigung Wan Kam I 40s. Fit and agile, he moves with him. In 1960, Wong horse-stance doing pure Wing Chun, he was his own style. When the energy of a man half his age. Later on, when Wong Shun Leung and using the waist to increase Shun Leung said, "No:' So Bruce Those who have locked hands opened his own school, I was in the the power of the punch. He also bought tickets and took us to the with him in training can attest that first group of students at the new emphasised movies. Bruce asked Wong Shun he's possessed of a skill that some schoo!' In the beginning I didn't for maximum might call extraordinary. like Wing Chun; it didn't seem very punch. I trained with Sigung Wong style?" Wong Shun Leung said, while he has been called Dai Si exciting or attractive. But my brother Shun Leung for 20 years. "Your kicking is very good, but (Great Grandmaster) explained the difference between We have all heard many stories of Bruce Lee when he was young. Situ, can you give us your recollections of training with him and tell us about the time Sigung Wong and Bruce fought? you are pulling your punches back However, he prefers the more humble title, Sifu. his style in an effort to make the techniques of Wing Chun, widely touted for its effectiveness at close range, even Have you studied any other styles besides Wing Chun? I have touched different on a lot of martial arts but I have more practical in the modern age. not studied them seriously. By that I mean, in Chinese culture, was younger, he would go out when a master takes on a student and challenge the top people from seriously, they undergo a tea every other style, and sometimes ceremony. The master accepts the he would win, and sometimes student and the student accepts he would not. When he did not, he the master. I underwent would examine the technique that ceremony with Sigung Wong failed him - usually a technique Shun Leung, but not with any that always worked against a fellow other teacher. That's what I mean by touching beginning of Practical Wing Chun. studied them, but not seriously. I has the style that Sifus and students from all around the world are travelling to Hong Kong to experience it for themselves. on different the tea Wing Chun man. This was the so improved Leung, "What do you think of my then I could see the value in it. Sifu Wan explained that when he This constant evolution power behind the application and appearance, and A genuine innovator, Sifu Wan has carefully modified keeping the elbow in styles: I only studied Wing Chun seriously. What is your opinion of other styles? Is there one you particularly like more than others? When I was young I liked all faster than you throw them:' Bruce said, "Yes, but only for the movies. In real life the punch has more power going out:' We then went back to Bruce's house in Kowloon Tong. He had He wasn't there very long This has resulted in branch different styles of kung fu but before he left for America, so I a special room set up for training. schools now in Australia, Germany, when I discovered how effective didn't train with him a lot but There was a floor-to-ceiling Denmark, Holland and France. Wing Chun was, I didn't like the whenever - a very small ball, at about nose- Sifu Wan, thank you for talking to Blitz. First. can you tell us how and when you became interested in martial arts, and why you chose Wing Chun? others anymore. Kong he would contact Wong height. Bruce could kick it three When did you meet Sigung Wong Shun Leung and what was it like training with him? What aspects of training did he emphasise and how many years did you train? Shun Leung, so then we got to times even though it was bouncing When I was young in China, around 13 years old, I witnessed lots of different styles of martial art. At that time, I did not know of I knew Wong Shun Leung socially, but I did not know how he returned to Hong ball train together. His inside fighting, around. Then he picked up his his chi-sao, was not very fast. But towel with his foot and wiped he had developed his method of fighting at long range, which is not his face with it. Ha, Bruce liked to show off. Wong Shun Leung and pure Wing Chun, and then he was Bruce then fought. Bruce was very very fast at closing the distance. fast in his movements At this time, Bruce was no longer forth, but when he kick~d, Wong back and
Left: Wan works out on the wooden dummy Shun Leung stepped inside him movie called The Life and Death another time he went to Japan. beautifully with tan-da (palm-up of Bruce Lee. A challenge block and punch) and controlled his centreline. If you ask me to Bruce once said, when asked about his speed, UI have known match is conducted this way: the two fighters sign an agreement saying that if one Sifu Wan, when did you start teaching full-time? I had given my word to my Sifu Wong Shun Leung that I woula compare them, I have to say they many people faster than me:' of them is seriously injured, not open my own school while he had their own strengths. They Situ Wan, do you know who he they can't hold the other one was alive. So I used to teach part were both about the same size but was referring too? responsible. There are three ways time at the Ving Tsun Association a challenge match can end: by Bruce had a very well developed Bruce probably wasn't just body. When it came to kicking, I referring to Wing Chun. There a fighter being knocked would say Bruce was better. But are all different styles of kung fu surrendering, when it came to fighting at close and they all have their strengths badly injured to go on. range, Wong Shun Leung's skill and weaknesses. When it comes with his hands was better. to speed, it depends on the Is there anything in particular environment out, by or if a fighter is too school until he passed away. That was in 1997. Is this when you started to develop Practical Wing Chun? - who moves first. in Prince Edward. Out of respect for my sifu, I did not open my own No, that came later. After three can you explain the main differences between you learned from watching To answer your question about years of training, Wong Shun SigUllg Wong and Bruce fighting? someone faster than Bruce, I would Leung matched me with a boxer I learned a lot from watching say no, but Wong Shun Leung was and I realised there was a lot I still just as fast with his hands. had to learn. At the time, I did not centrelines, have much experience only one. them fighting, like defence and offence, distance, timing and Sigung Wong Shun Leung of fighting, Practical Wing Chun and the other styles of Wing Chun? The main differences are: 1) Practical Wing Chun uses five other styles use rhythm and how to apply Wing reputedly fought between 50 and so I thought there was more I Chun technically 60 challenge matches. Sifu Wan, had to learn about Wing Chun. I can you tell us how a challenge was always thinking match is conducted and if you I could be better. I was only trying line with the outside of the have fought them yourself? to improve myself. shoulders; toes not pointed to real fighting. Can you tell us about the photo of you and Bruce? One day Bruce came to Wong Shun Leung's school to invite him to screen-test happened for his next movie. I to be there so he said, What was the most difficult No, Wong didn't fight that many. After Wong Shun Leung started teaching, he didn't of ways that accept style you came up against? Every style of martial art has its 2) The Practical Wing Chun stance is a more natural, balanced one: the inside of the feet in in as much; legs bent at 135 degrees; weight distributed 50/50 on each leg; and the back kept straight. "Bring Wan along:' So we went to challenges He would own speciality; it's how you deal Golden Harvest Studios and Wong get myself or one of the other with it. For instance, you know a Shun Leung tested first. Then it sihings (senior students) Wing Chun man will come straight a 135-degree angle to the arms. was my turn. We did chi-sao and Wh'en Wong Shun Leung was a on with chain-punches, This ensures maximum control fought in front of the camera. student anymore. to fight. of Yip Man's, whenever That's when the photo was taken. Wing Chun was challenged, Shortly after that, Bruce died. would Later on I did appear in one once went to Taiwan to fight and fight the challenger. he He a Choy Lay 3) Practical Wing Chun maintains Fut man will use circular punches, in all techniques and covers four a taekwondo of the five centrelines. man will use kicks. So there is not one that is more difficult than another. 4) The Practical Wing Chun punch is also different. It is thrown
with the elbow in and the fist Denmark. Holland, Germany and withdraw angled at 45 degrees. This the UK. How did that go? bank. As we were getting into Because I showed confidence the car, we were attacked by and remained show them the true application of three men with long knives. I panicked and ran away. Wing Chun. They were adding a lot was jumped of different styles to their Wing Chun struck on the head with one of you give to a new student on choosing an instructor? ensures maximum It went very well. I was able to power behind the punch. 5) In some other Wing Chun schools you do what your some money from a from behind and training and experience of fighting. calm, the attackers In closing, what advice would because they didn't understand how the knives. I spun around and to apply it properly. They especially used doing, or how to apply it in liked my method of punching with against the next knife and grabbed important a real situation. And you are the elbow in and the fist turned in his arm. Then they got scared and that sifu. When you ask a question, sifu says, sometimes explanation with no of what you are bong-sao (wing-arm block) When choosing a sifu, it's to know the lineage of only taught one use for each at 45 degrees. They had only seen ran away. Their mistake was in if the answer is not logical or he technique. the straight punch with the elbow attacking one at a time; if they had cannot answer it, you should be Chun, it's not so much about out. They liked my Wing Chun and attacked together, it might have wary. Kung fu is not a father-to- changing everything, were very supportive of it. been different. improving In Practical Wing it's about to explain the application every technique mean the son is. It's about the of effort the person has put in to from the three forms, so that the student knows exactly what they are doing, and that every technique has many different uses. What did Sigung Wong think of the changes you've made? In some Wing chun schools you do what your sifu says. sometimes w~th no explanation of what you are doang. or how to apply it..." - Situ Wan Sifu Wan, all martial artists Having survived a life-or-death Chun must change, because you train for that one time when encounter, what advice would know more, you understand more:' they may have to fight for their you give to someone facing a History is for the past. You should life. Thankfully most of us will similar situation? learn from the past but not live in it. never have to experience that, When they come from the You should always move forward. but you have. Can you tell us front, you have time to escape if about the incident that left you you can. But when attacked from You've just returned from a series of seminars for your students in France, Sweden, sifu is good or not, so they have to go by reputation. good reputation, If a sifu has with the scar on your arm? A long time ago, back in the '70s, I was helping a friend behind, you just have to react. There is no time to think. What saved me was my Wing Chun a then you should be alright. Remember, it's better completely, "When you have done Wing Chun Europe, where you conducted learn it properly. A new student does not know how to tell if a to learn and understand Wong Shun Leung always said, for a long time, then your Wing son thing; just because the father was good at kung fu, doesn't it and being able one style than to learn bits and pieces of lots of styles. About the author: Graeme Green has been a martial artist for 33 years, having trained in judo, tai chi, karate, Muay Thai and boxing. He has been a Wing Chun exponent for 22 years and currently trains under Sifu Alan Graham in Practical Wing Chun. fj/ljnjc.
D;~Jlli~~YJ!'!J:3~~J 1~!I~ J.WJ-J;) " Fight tips with Brazilian 6th Dan Prof. ~!JrgePerei~a.