Yip Chun QUOTES

Yip Chun
Bio

Ip Chun, also known as Yip Chun or Yip Jun, is a distinguished Chinese martial artist and actor, renowned for his mastery and promotion of the Wing Chun style. Born on July 10, 1924, in Foshan, Guangdong, China, he is the eldest son of the legendary Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man, who famously taught Bruce Lee. ​

Early Life and Education

Ip Chun's early education encompassed Chinese history, philosophy, poetry, traditional music, and Buddhism. In 1950, he completed his studies and pursued a career in teaching, focusing on Chinese history, music, and science. Additionally, he contributed to the Chinese Foshan Entertainment Department by organizing opera plays and was recognized with "The Person with the Most Potential in Chinese Art" award for his research in music.

Martial Arts Journey

Although Ip Chun began practicing Wing Chun during his childhood, his training was interrupted during his teenage years due to academic commitments. It wasn't until 1962, at the age of 38, that he resumed intensive training under his father's guidance after relocating to Hong Kong. By 1965, he started teaching Wing Chun, and in 1967, he began offering classes independently.

Contributions and Teaching

In 1968, Ip Chun played a pivotal role in establishing the Ving Tsun Athletic Association in Hong Kong, serving as its treasurer and later as chairman. His dedication to the art has led him to teach and conduct seminars worldwide, including in Australia, England, and the United States. Among his notable students is actor Donnie Yen.

Authorship

Ip Chun has authored several works on Wing Chun, aiming to preserve and disseminate his father's teachings. One of his notable publications is "Wing Chun Martial Arts: Principles & Techniques," co-authored with Danny Connor. This book delves into the fundamental principles and techniques of Wing Chun, emphasizing the importance of the teacher-student relationship and Confucian theory.

Film Contributions

Beyond his teaching and writing, Ip Chun has contributed to the film industry, serving as a consultant for the 2008 movie "Ip Man," which portrays his father's life. He also portrayed Leung Bik, son of Leung Jan, in the 2010 film "The Legend Is Born: Ip Man," and made a cameo appearance in the 2013 film "Ip Man: The Final Fight."

Legacy

As of July 2024, Ip Chun celebrated his 100th birthday, marking a century of significant contributions to martial arts. His unwavering dedication to teaching, preserving, and promoting Wing Chun has solidified his status as a revered figure in the martial arts community, ensuring the legacy of his father, Ip Man, continues to inspire practitioners worldwide.

In other forms of Kung Fu or in Karate and other martial arts, you tend to use force all the time and it limits your development of control. In Wing Chun knowing the right moment to use force is critical.
Another Chung Yung tenet is, do something in order to achieve and then stop; that is enough, never push too far. Go to the point but do not overreach.
In combat, those who have a lot of experience will deliberately make you waste your energy until you have not much left, and then they can take their time to hit you back. So the first lesson is: conserve your energy.
It is always an advantage to be big and strong, possessing strength even when relaxed. However, people with a smaller build should be even more clever in their use of energy and focus on becoming more agile.