Wing Chun Kung-fu (Ip Man Lineage).

Bruce Lee was the most famous martial artist of recent history, yet his style of martial arts taught to him by Master Ip Man, “Wing Chun,” remains a rare and obscure form of kung-fu.  Wing Chun was created by a nun at the Shaolin Temple in China named Ng Mui.  Ng Mui was one of five Shaolin masters who escaped the burning of the temple and an attack by the Manchu soldiers.  Ng Mui, inspired by the combative contest between a crane and a snake, developed a new style of kung-fu.  Her first pupil was a beautiful young girl name Yim Wing Chun. Wing Chun was being forced to marry the local town “gang” leader.  She of course did not love him, but knew if she refused him that she and her family would be threatened.  

Ng Mui convinced Wing Chun to have the marriage postponed for one year while she learned kung-fu.  Then, if the local “gang” leader could defeat her in a match, she would marry him.  He agreed to the contest and Ng Mui prepared her pupil.  Ng Mui trained Wing Chun to use the line to defeat the circle; the soft to overcome the hard; timing to defeat power.  Wing Chun won her freedom and in honor of her skill, Ng Mui named the style after her first pupil.

The Wing Chun system is well known for its unique training exercise called “chi sau” which means “sticky hands”.  In this exercise, students learn to move and react by touch alone and develops incredible reflexes and self-defense skills.  A good wing chun student can literally fight blind folded.  Traditional training equipment such as the wooden dummy also reinforce the structure and balance of the student.  

The depth of skill possible in training in Chinese kung fu far exceeds anything you may have seen in generic sport based martial arts.  We are proud to offer this treasure of Chinese martial arts at Dojo Chattanooga and invite you to come and see for yourself the benefits of health, personal safety, and self achievement that kung-fu training offers -- even if you are not trying to escape a bad relationship!

Dojo Chattanooga: Copyright 2010