Students of GM Yip Man

[mario bava]

Hello There

I have recently heard that Grandmaster Yip Man taught two differing versions of Wing Chun - a hard version, and an internal version. GM Yip Man had many wonderful students - however, from many sources both on the internet and through meeting people, I have heard that out of GM Yip Man's students, Chu Shong Tin is the only direct student who teaches the internal version.
I would just like to ask the community in general what they think about the above ideas, and my question makes no assertion that there was two versions, nor does it suggest one being better than the other - I have just heard these things on many occasions and I am curious.

Cheerio, Gary

www.hungfayiireland.com

[M.K.]

Hi,
sounds strange to me.
Internal, external, what does this means?
I don't believe in such things.
Greetings
Michael

[sihing]

Originally posted by mario bava
Hello There

I have recently heard that Grandmaster Yip Man taught two differing versions of Wing Chun - a hard version, and an internal version. GM Yip Man had many wonderful students - however, from many sources both on the internet and through meeting people, I have heard that out of GM Yip Man's students, Chu Shong Tin is the only direct student who teaches the internal version.
I would just like to ask the community in general what they think about the above ideas, and my question makes no assertion that there was two versions, nor does it suggest one being better than the other - I have just heard these things on many occasions and I am curious.

Cheerio, Gary

www.hungfayiireland.com

Well in my lineage, we call the "Popular Wing Chun" Hard Style WC. The TWC from GM Cheung, we call Soft Style WC. Both can be interpreted as external or internal, depending on how you define these terms in this Martial context.

I do beleive that Yip learned some different things from his two main instructors, Chan Wah Shun(or one of his seniors), and then later on with Leung Bik. What he choose to teach the students is debateable as this teaching changed throughtout the years and now we hear he participated in meetings with other MA masters in the Weng Chun club. So whatever happened there also may have influenced his teachings and understanding of WC in general.

James

[mario bava]

Hello MK

Welcome to the forum.

One of my old Sihing's trains with him in person, and he has also met a lot of people who train under other Yip Man direct students. He has said through his experience that only Chu Shong Tin has the ability to generate large amounts of force with very little effort, such as being able to hold off two guys pushing Chu Shong Tin while Chu Shong Tin stands on only one leg - while every other Sifu he's seen cannot produce the same results in similar circumstances. Even without believing in external/internal, have you ever heard of anything like this ability of Chu Shong Tin's, and do you believe he may be the only Yip Man student with the abiltity? Thanks for the answer MK, let me know what you think.

Hello Sihing

How are you? I agree with you - different people seem to interpret what is internal/external based on their own preferences and experiences. Thanks for the reply.

Cheerio, Gary

www.hungfayiireland.com

[M.K.]

Hi Gary,
yes, I heard about this, also know that Chu Chong Tin is called the 'King of SLT'.
But in my opinion that's not the point.
Hold off two pushing guys-what for???
Far more important is that the system enable us (with its concepts and principles) to defeat an opponent.
And the ideas Wong thaught to his students, seems to be/are very functional.
No need to think about soft or hard elements.
Greetings
Michael

[mario bava]

Hello MK

No doubt about it, Master Wong Sheung Long could fight, so I agree with you there. My friend told me that if Chu Shong Tin has the ability to hold off two people while standing on one leg, then if he actually is moving on two legs and punches/laps/jabs/twists then the power he can generate will be massive, that is the point of the drill according to my friend.
Thanks very much for the post MK - good points and interesting to know the perspectives.

Cheerio, Gary

www.hungfayiireland.com