Our History and Lineage

The Southern Temple Burns

Wing Chun (詠春) was invented in the early days of the Qing Dynasty (清朝).
The tales we have state that during the Qing Dynasty, the Southern Shaolin Temple (南少林) hosted a number of revolutionaries determined to restore the Ming Dynasty (明朝) to power. Due to this, the Qing convinced a member of the temple to betray their brothers (stories differ on who), and the temple was burned.

During this time, the 5 Elders (少林五祖) fled to various parts of China. 4 of them are credited with the founding of much of Southern Shaolin Gung Fu.

The Venerable Yi Sin (至善禪師) taught the founders of the Hung Ga (洪家), Choy Ga (蔡家), Lei Ga (李家), and Mok Ga (莫家) styles. Down the road, Choy Ga, Lei Ga, and Fut Ga (佛家) would be combined to form another famous Southern style, Choy Lei Fut (蔡李佛). The Venerable Yi Sin would also later teach the Red Opera Boat practitioner Leung Yi Tai (梁二娣) the 6 and 1/2 Point Pole (六點半棍), which would become an invaluable contribution to Wing Chun.

Ng Mui Dai Si (五梅大師), as the legend goes, founded Wing Chun by distilling her extensive knowledge of Southern Shaolin to rapidly teach a young woman, Yim Wing Chun (嚴詠春), to defend herself against a local bully. Wing Chun was the daughter of Yim Yi, a local tofu seller, who’s cart Ng Mui frequented. Ng Mui is also credited with founding other styles, such as Five Pattern Hung Fist (五形洪拳), Southern Dragon (龍形摩橋), and Ng Mui Paai (五梅派) – often called Wu Mei Pai in Mandarin.

The Red Boat (紅船)

Yim Wing Chun eventually married Leung Bok Chau (梁博儔), a salt merchant, who is credited with naming the style after his wife, calling it Wing Chun Kuen (詠春拳), Wing Chun’s Fist.
The lineage continued through the Red Boat Opera era, where Wong Wah Bo traded his empty-hand expertise with fellow performer Leung Yi Tai in a historic exchange of knowledge. This deep sharing of skill forged the foundation of the system we recognize today: transitioning from a single long form to three empty-hand forms, the wooden dummy, the double knives, and the long pole.
As these techniques were shared among the opera troupes, other performers, such as “Dai Fa Min” Sun Kam, refined their own expressions of the art, eventually founding their own distinct branches. This era of shared experience and cross-pollination among companions accounts for the rich diversity of Wing Chun (詠春) and Weng Chun (永春) methods found throughout the world today.

Fatsaan (佛山市)

The lineage eventually reached the eminent Dr. Leung Jan (梁贊) of Fatsaan. A renowned herbalist and physician, Dr. Leung integrated his profound knowledge of Dit Da (跌打) with his martial skill, passing this dual mastery to his son, Leung Bik (梁璧和), and the currency exchanger Chan Wah-Shun (陳華順).
Both men would become instrumental in the development of the young Yip Man. While Chan Wah-Shun served as Yip Man’s Sifu, providing the foundational stewardship of his training, the Grandmaster’s education continued to evolve long after Chan’s passing. He further refined his craft through the guidance of his senior, Ng Chung So, and eventually reached a sophisticated level of mastery under the tutelage of his Sibaak (martial uncle), Leung Bik. Over time, historical discussions have noted how different regional branches evolved across Guangdong. For instance, the family line in Shunde integrated unique martial developments, most notably through Chan Yiu-Min’s wife, Lai Yuet-Miu, whose expertise in another system enriched that branch’s curriculum. Because of these distinct family extensions, some commentators historically drew comparisons between regional variations, related systems like Weng Chun, the methods of Yuen Kay San, or the Snake Crane methods of the Law family. However, historical documentation, including records preserved through the late Sifu Pan Nam, help clarify the direct transmission of Chan Wah-Shun’s foundational teaching. Today, Leung Jan’s and Chan Wah-Shun’s original methods continue to thrive in Fatsaan, Hong Kong, and worldwide through the legacies of Yip Man, Pan Nam, and others.

Sijo Yip Man (葉問 師祖)

The late Grandmaster Yip Man first began teaching in Fatsaan, sharing his knowledge with a select group of friends, like Kwok Fu and Lun Gai. At this time, he was often visited by his friend, Yuen Kay San, another of the “3 Heroes of Wing Chun”, who preserved a closely related branch also from Wong Wah Bo. During the Chinese Revolution, Yip Man brought Wing Chun to Hong Kong. Upon reaching Hong Kong, Yip Man was destitute. He was eventually approached by Leung Sheung, who witnessed his prowess, and invited to teach the Hong Kong Restaraunt Worker’s Union, marking the return of Wing Chun to being a working-class martial art. Many, though not all, of the Wing Chun practitioners in the world today trace their lineage to the late Grandmaster. His arrival in Hong Kong marked a pivotal era of refinement for the art, and it was during this period that he began taking on the disciples who would define the lineage for generations to come, including Leung Sheung, Lok Yiu, Chu Shong Tin, Wang Kiu, and Wong Shun Leung.
In this new environment, Yip Man deeply refined the system to meet the needs of his Hong Kong students. This era of transition saw significant evolution in the forms and the Wooden Dummy (Muk Yan Jong). Notably, Yip Man is credited with inventing the wall-hanging dummy, adapting the traditional ground-mounted design to suit the compact living spaces of Hong Kong.

For more information, feel free to visit the Ving Tsun Athletic Association 詠春體育會

Grandmaster Leung Sheung (梁相 宗師)

Leung Sheung holds a singular place in history as the senior-most disciple and the first student of Grandmaster Yip Man in Hong Kong. Renowned among his peers for his extraordinary talent, he earned the title “King of Biu Zi” for his mastery of the system’s third form and knife set.
Despite his prowess, Leung Sheung was a man of profound humility. He consistently chose to promote the abilities of his teacher rather than his own, operating his school with such a low profile that he never once advertised. He believed in a quiet, destined connection between teacher and student, often stating: “If you find me, you are lucky.”
Leung Sheung viewed prospective students as driftwood washed up on a riverbank; he would observe them patiently, waiting to see which pieces possessed the integrity to be shaped. He understood that while some wood was fit for refinement, others held hidden flaws that could not withstand the carving. However, once Leung Sheung determined a student was worthy of training, his instruction became uncompromisingly demanding, ensuring the art was preserved with absolute precision.

For more information, please visit:
Worldwide Leung Sheung Tong Wing Chun Confederation 《世界梁相堂 詠春同學總會》

Sitaigung Kenneth Chung Maan Nin (鐘萬年 師太公)

Sifu Ken, as he prefers to be called, began his martial arts journey in Hong Kong around 1964 at the age of sixteen. He first learned the foundational Siu Nim Tau set under Winston Wan, a student of Lok Yiu. Following Wan’s immigration to Canada, Chung transitioned to the tutelage of Grandmaster Yip Man’s foremost disciple, Leung Sheung, in 1965. Immersing himself entirely in the art, Chung prioritized his training over his studies, dedicating his days to attending morning, afternoon, and night classes. This relentless commitment allowed him to absorb the system’s core concepts with exceptional clarity, prompting Leung Sheung to accelerate his training before his departure from Hong Kong in 1968.

Arriving in San Francisco in late August 1968, Chung’s remarkable skill was quickly recognized after meeting Sifu Ben Der, launching him into an early teaching career. Instructing from a compact space on Bush Street, he successfully navigated volatile local gang rivalries by strictly mandating that all outside disputes be left at the door. His instruction soon expanded across Northern California to Union City and Sacramento. Throughout this era, Chung regularly pressure-tested his Wing Chun against larger practitioners from boxing, judo, and karate backgrounds, though he still relied heavily on the raw speed and shoulder strength of his youth, which he regularly speaks of critically today.

A pivotal turning point altered Chung’s martial trajectory in the spring of 1974, after moving back to Hong Kong. While training with Leung Sheung using his aggressive, power-centric style, Chung was completely overwhelmed and physically benched, sent flying over a piece of furniture by his Sifu. This dramatic wake-up call prompted him to abandon muscular force and completely relearn Wing Chun’s effortless internal mechanics under Leung Sheung’s eye. Settling in Los Altos upon his permanent return to the United States in 1978, Sifu Ken spent the ensuing decades evolving away from his early, strength-oriented methods. Today, his teaching methodology focuses deeply on profound relaxation and a highly precise, concept-driven approach. Rejecting force-on-force confrontation, Chung views the softness of Wing Chun as a supreme tactical asset; he utilizes light skin traction and fractional elbow positioning to harmlessly contain and constrain an opponent’s incoming power.

Sifu Ken still teaches today in San Jose, CA.

For more information please visit Stanford Wing Chun Students Association

Sigung Ben Der Wing Yan (謝永恩 師公)

Sifu Ben Der’s Wing Chun journey began in December 1958 while attending St. Francis Xavier College in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Alongside his close friends and schoolmates like Bruce Lee and Hawkins Cheung, Ben briefly trained at Grandmaster Yip Man’s school. Prioritizing genuine skill over empty titles, Ben openly notes that he only spent a few months there, developing his foundation through rigorous after-school sessions at his home with senior students. He actively refuses to ever claim Yip Man as his Sifu, believing that honor is reserved for those who trained significantly longer and more diligently under the Grandmaster. In his own words, “I never dare to consider Yip Man is my real, real teacher. Even though I pay him, you know, to me that does not mean anything. Who you really learn from is the real thing. A lot of people never learn from him and say ‘hey he’s my Sifu’, but I’m not that type of guy.”

In an era where many claim private discipleship or transmission of secret teachings, Sifu Ben’s radical honesty stands in stark contrast. Rather than claiming direct tutelage under Yip Man, Sifu Ben chooses integrity over the famous name of his first Sifu. Not many would willingly humble themselves, stepping down 2 generations in the lineage tree, but to Sifu Ben, real skill and honesty matter most.

In April 1959, Ben immigrated to San Francisco, arriving a few weeks before Bruce, making him one of the earliest (if not the first ever) Wing Chun practitioners in the United States. The two lived near each other on Jackson Street and regularly practiced Chi Sao together. After a temporary move to Tampa, Florida to live with his father, Ben returned to San Francisco in 1961 to attend City College. Reconnecting with the local martial arts community, he worked out with Felix Ho in a bakery basement, learning the system’s third set (Biu Zi).

By the late 1960s, Ben was working at the Double Happiness restaurant on Jackson Street, co-teaching a dedicated group of students alongside his partner, John Eng. A defining turning point occurred in 1968 when Ben was introduced to Kenneth Chung, a direct disciple of Yip Man’s top student, Leung Sheung. Though Ben was older and technically Chung’s sisuk (gung fu uncle) due to his earlier timeline under Yip Man, he approached their meeting with total openness and curiosity. Gathering at a Chinatown tailor shop to test their skills, Chung’s superior structure and momentum repeatedly sent Ben backward into the fabric-rolled walls. Demonstrating an extraordinary lack of ego or jealousy, Ben was thrilled by Chung’s proficiency, enthusiastically telling Eng, “You’ve got to feel it,” and instantly inviting Chung to share his Wing Chun knowledge with their group, handing over his school completely and becoming a student once again.

This fateful encounter laid the groundwork for a lifelong brotherhood and an enduring martial legacy. When Kenneth Chung relocated to Hong Kong in 1973, he asked Ben to take over the reins of the San Jose school. Ben officially adopted his first disciples, Steve and Sandy Wong, in 1974, and was introduced directly to Grandmaster Leung Sheung in 1976, sparking a close personal friendship that lasted until Leung Sheung’s passing. Having celebrated the 50th anniversary of San Jose Wing Chun in August 2022, Sifu Ben Der remains an active, deeply revered cornerstone of the lineage, continuing to train and teach his students to this day.

For more information, please visit San Jose Wing Chun

Rain (謝詠雨)

Rain serves as the coach at Fort Collins Wing Chun, operating under the direct guidance and mentorship of Sifu Ben Der. Their martial arts journey began at age 17 with boxing under the tutelage of the legendary “Gentleman” Gerry Cooney, which laid the foundation for a diverse background in combatives. Over the years, Rain earned various ranks in other styles, training Krav Maga under their late instructor Kevin Beard, studying Japanese Jujutsu and Karate, and gaining exposure to alternative lineages of Wing Chun. While these disciplines offered a broad combat perspective, a chance encounter with Sifu Ben Der and Sifu Sherwin Gott in the Summer of 2017 completely redefined Rain’s path. Struck by the profound structural efficiency and depth of the Leung Sheung system, Rain chose to set aside all other practices to dedicate themselves exclusively to its preservation and practice, officially becoming a student of Sifu Ben in the Spring of 2018.

Even a relocation to Colorado later that year could not disrupt this pursuit. Rather than allowing the distance to halt their progress, Rain chose to deepen their commitment to Sifu Ben, establishing a rigorous routine of traveling back to San Jose for intensive, hands-on training trips, spending many hours in class at San Jose Wing Chun, in private lessons at Sifu Ben’s home, and training with their Sihing (Elder Classmates) Sifus Steve and Sandy Wong, Sifu Sherwin Gott, Sifu Francis Der, and Sifu Mark Leong.

Today, Wing Chun remains one of Rain’s foremost passions, and they began teaching a small private group in 2021 with Sifu Ben’s encouragement. Rain actively eschews titles like “Sifu”, telling students “just call me Rain, we’re all students here”. Their only goal is to honor the high standards of discipline and humility set by Sifu Ben Der, sharing this highly sophisticated, effective, and historically rich martial art with those ready to begin their own journey. Fort Collins Wing Chun finally opened to the public in the spring of 2026 with Sifu Ben’s blessing, making the traditional Leung Sheung lineage accessible to the Front Range communities for the first time, and joining the rich tapestry of Wing Chun expressions in Colorado.

You

Come join us, and be a part of the next generation of this beautiful and effective martial art. Wing Chun is for everyone, no matter your age, your gender, or past experience in martial arts! As Sifu Ben says, “there is more than enough depth in our 3 sets to fulfill you for a lifetime. Wing Chun can be your lifelong hobby.” Having trained for over 60 years every single day, he’s done exactly that.

We invite you to start that same journey here, and look forward to meeting you!