The History of WingTsun

WingTsun, "Radiant Spring" – the history of a fascinating martial art

Few martial arts possess origins and events as fascinating as WingTsun Kung Fu.

And it's no surprise, as this discipline is one of the very few attributed to a female origin.

However, in-depth research, particularly that conducted by Grand Grandmaster Leung Ting, has shown that the stories about the style's founder, Ng Mui, and her student Yim Wing Tsun, do not correspond to documented historical facts.

Real-life figures and verifiable events are intertwined with traditional tales, political turmoil, and Asian symbolism.

All of this, however, does not in any way diminish the unique charm of this legend: the power of myths never depends on their historical authenticity.

The Shaolin Monastery

Over two hundred and fifty years ago, during the reign of Yongzheng (1723–1736) of the Qing dynasty, it is said that the Siu Lam monastery was set on fire while under siege by soldiers of the Manchu government.

The episode gave rise to two different traditions, handed down by different groups in China:

One version, widespread among secret societies (such as the Triads), tells that the siege of Siu Lam monastery was led by high-ranking Manchu officials, including Chan Man Yiu, Wong Chun May, and Cheung King Chow, with the help of traitors from the monastery itself. One of them, Ma Ning Yee, allegedly started the fire from within for revenge after being expelled. According to this version, only five monks managed to escape: they went into hiding and founded secret societies with the aim of overthrowing the Qing dynasty.

The other version, handed down in the martial arts circles of Southern China, differs in details, while maintaining the reference to the fire. It states that there were more than five survivors, and that their names were different from those mentioned by the secret societies.

It is said that during the fire, caused by betrayal, most of the monks and disciples of the monastery – many of whom were martial arts experts – were killed or burned alive. However, several fighters managed to escape.

Among these were the so-called Five Ancestors, masters of the five main Siu Lam systems: the Buddhist nun Ng Mui, Master Chi Shin, Pak Mei, Fung To Tak, and Miu Hin, along with their most famous disciples, including Hung Hay Kwun, Fong Sai Yuk, and Luk Ah Choy, who dispersed and went into hiding.

One of the Five Ancestors, Abbot Chi Shin, who had taken in the largest number of disciples before the fire, led his students in the fight against the Manchus. For this reason, he was sought by the government, along with his favorite students Hung Hay Kwun, Tung Chin Kun, and Tse Ah Fook. To escape capture, he ordered his disciples to disperse and disguised himself as a cook on a "Red Junk."

Others, like Miu Hin and his daughter Miu Tsui Fa, took refuge for a period among the Miao and Yao tribes, in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. They later traveled extensively, further fueling the legend with extraordinary adventures, including the most famous:

Fong Sai Yuk's challenge against a tournament champion and Ng Mui killing Lee Pa Shan on the Plum-blossom-Piles.

Ng Mui creates a new combat system

The Buddhist Master Ng Mui was the only woman in the Siu Lam monastery and the eldest among the Five Ancestors. More tolerant of the Manchu government than her "kung-fu brothers" and their fiery disciples, she nevertheless did not hesitate to resort to force when necessary to restore justice.

After the destruction of the Siu Lam monastery, Ng Mui decided to travel the country, determined not to get involved in worldly affairs anymore.

Initially, she settled in the White Crane Temple, on Mount Tai Leung (also called Chai Ha), a sparsely populated mountain on the border between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

Here, far from disturbances, she dedicated herself to the study of Zen Buddhism – the school founded by Bodhidharma during the Northern and Southern Dynasties – and to martial arts, her greatest passion.

Like her kung-fu brothers, scattered after the fire, she never forgot the bitter experience at Siu Lam and the betrayal of those who had sided with the Manchus.

Moreover, she had a great concern: how to defend herself from future attacks by traitors and the government?

She knew well that these defectors, over the years, had mastered most of the Siu Lam Kung Fu techniques. At that moment, she was superior to them only in technical skill, but not in theoretical knowledge.

She feared that, over time, her strength would no longer be enough to counter younger and more powerful opponents.

The only solution was to create a new combat system, capable of surpassing existing Siu Lam techniques.

But which one? And how? These were the questions that tormented her.

The answer came one day, when she witnessed a clash between a fox and a wild crane:

• The fox ran in circles, looking for the right moment to deliver a deadly blow.
• The crane remained in the center, constantly turning to face its opponent.
• Each time the fox tried to strike with its paw, the crane parried with a wing and, simultaneously, counterattacked with its beak.
• The fox used its speed to attempt sudden blows, but the crane managed to defend itself and retaliate.

The duel continued for a long time under Ng Mui's watchful eyes.

Who won is not the crucial point. What mattered was the insight she gained: the inspiration to create a new combat system.

The Shaolin nun and her student

The young Yim Wing Tsun, originally from Guangdong province, lived with her father Yim Yee, a disciple of the Siu Lam monastery, after her mother's death.

Since childhood, she had been betrothed to Leung Bok Chau, a salt merchant from Fukien province.

Yim Yee, who had learned some Siu Lam system techniques, used to defend justice when the opportunity arose. For this reason, he became involved in a lawsuit and, to avoid arrest, fled, taking his daughter Wing Tsun with him.

They settled on the border between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, at the foot of Mount Tai Leung, making a living with a small tofu stall.

As time passed, Wing Tsun grew into a lively, intelligent, and very attractive girl. However, her beauty soon brought her problems.

A local bully, known by the surname Wong and feared for his misconduct and martial arts skills, became infatuated with her.

Taking advantage of the weak judicial authority in the area, he sent an intermediary to ask for her hand, threatening that, if she refused, he would force her to marry him.

Wing Tsun and her father, now old and ill, were desperate and did not know how to free themselves from that threat.

During that period, the Buddhist Master Ng Mui, who resided at the White Crane Temple on Mount Tai Leung, often went down to the village market to procure basic necessities.

Each time, she stopped at Yim Yee's stall to buy tofu, thus getting to know him.

One day, she noticed a worried look on the faces of father and daughter. After insisting, she was told their problems.

Their words reawakened her sense of justice.

She decided to help Wing Tsun, not by directly confronting the bully – an act that would have revealed her identity and would have been unfair for a famous Master to fight a common delinquent – but by teaching the girl a combat art that could defend her on her own.

For Wing Tsun, daughter of an amateur boxer, martial arts were not entirely unknown, but until then she had never felt the need for them.

Under Ng Mui's expert guidance and with great commitment, she developed remarkable skills in just three years.

One day, Ng Mui told her that she had mastered the new system and could return to her father, ready to face her persecutor.

As soon as she returned to the village, the bully bothered her again.

This time, however, Wing Tsun challenged him to a fight.

Confident in his physical strength, the man eagerly accepted, convinced he would defeat her and force her into marriage.

But the reality was quite different: Wing Tsun easily knocked him down, and from that day on, he never dared to bother her again.

After that victory, Wing Tsun continued to practice the art she had learned.

Meanwhile, Ng Mui, finding life on Mount Tai Leung too monotonous, decided to resume traveling, but reminded her student to always respect the commandments of the Siu Lam system and to transmit the art only to worthy people.

From Yim Wing Tsun to Wong Wah Bo

Wing Tsun eventually married her fiancé, Leung Bok Chau, and managed to pass on to him the art of the new system she had learned from Ng Mui.

It is said that Leung Bok Chau was already a boxer before marriage, and that he enjoyed practicing combat arts in his free time.

After the wedding, Wing Tsun often discussed martial arts theories with him.

At first, her husband paid little attention, convinced that, being a man and already skilled in combat, he had nothing to learn from a woman.

But Wing Tsun seized several opportunities to train with him and defeated him repeatedly.

It was then that Leung Bok Chau understood that his wife was not at all a fragile woman, but an expert master in the art of combat.

From that moment, he began to admire her techniques and often practiced with her.

It was he who named this new system "Wing Tsun Kuen," in honor of his wife.

Later, Leung Bok Chau passed on the techniques of Wing Tsun Kuen to Leung Lan Kwai, a doctor specialized in osteology and herbal remedies.

Leung Lan Kwai never spoke to anyone about his martial skills, so much so that even his family and acquaintances were unaware of his knowledge of Wing Tsun.

The secret was only revealed when, one day, he intervened to defend a boxer attacked by several opponents.

Despite this, he always remained reserved, faithful to the predecessors' commandment: "do not make the skills of Wing Tsun Kuen public."

Wong Wah Bo and Leung Yee Tei

The history of Wing Tsun Kuen could have ended there, had it not been for the fortuitous event that led Leung Lan Kwai to transmit his art to Wong Wah Bo, an actor who played heroic roles in an opera company.

At the time, actors in these troupes were called "Red Junk followers."

Wong Wah Bo met Leung Lan Kwai, who was impressed by his upright character and sense of justice. He thus decided to accept him as a disciple, even though he initially had no intention of teaching.

Many of the Red Junk followers already knew the art of combat. In their performances, they wore heavy theatrical make-up that made them unrecognizable: a ploy that allowed several former Siu Lam disciples to hide and blend in with them, thus protecting their identity from the Manchu government.

An example was Master Chi Shin himself, one of the Five Ancestors of the Siu Lam monastery, who fled disguised as a cook on the Red Junk.

His true identity was discovered by some members of the company, righteous men who decided to protect him instead of reporting him to the authorities.

He thus became their hero and began to teach them the martial arts of Siu Lam, preparing the disciples to fight the Manchus when the opportunity arose.

Among his students was Leung Yee Tei, a Red Junk sailor who maneuvered the boat with a long pole.

Leung Yee Tei was fascinated by one of Chi Shin's specialties: the techniques of the long pole with six-and-a-half strikes.

Having judged him worthy, Chi Shin decided to instruct him in this discipline.

Wong Wah Bo was also on the same boat.

The two ended up exchanging knowledge:

• Wong passed on the techniques of Wing Tsun Kuen to Leung Yee Tei.
• Leung Yee Tei shared his skills with the long pole with Wong.

From this mutual exchange came an enrichment of the Wing Tsun system, which from that moment included not only bare-hand techniques and the eight-chopping knives (Bart Cham Dao), but also long pole techniques.

Furthermore, by combining the principles of Wing Tsun with pole exercises, they developed a new training method called Chi-Kwun ("Pole-Adhering Exercises").

To make its use even more practical, they modified the width of the hand grip and adapted the footwork of the pole stance to those of the bare-hand combat stances.

Leung Jan, the "King of Wing Tsun"

In his old age, Leung Yee Tei passed on the art of Wing Tsun Kuen – boxing techniques, long pole use, and more – to Leung Jan, a renowned physician from Fatshan, one of the four most important cities in Kwangtung province, Southern China.

Fatshan, located at the crossroads of numerous trade routes near the Pearl River, was a lively and populated center: government officials, wealthy merchants, artisans, and common people met there.

Leung Jan, owner of the Jan Sang pharmacy in "Chopstick Street", came from a good family and was known as an educated, kind, and courteous man.

In addition to managing his pharmacy, he also offered medical services to the local population, and was highly respected for his professional skills.

In his free time, he loved literature and, surprisingly, also martial arts.

However, he was very selective in choosing the master and the system to follow:

• he did not appreciate schools that relied on wide stances and flashy movements that focused only on physical strength and brutality,
• he was not attracted to styles that were beautiful to look at but lacked real effectiveness.

What he sought was a practical, essential, and intelligent system, which hid profound effectiveness behind apparent simplicity.

After years of waiting, fate led him to meet Leung Yee Tei, from whom he learned the Wing Tsun system.

Soon his skills became legendary and earned him the nickname "King of Wing Tsun". His fame attracted numerous challengers, eager to compete with him for prestige. But all were quickly defeated. Whenever Leung Jan's name was mentioned, he was remembered by his title "King of Wing Tsun", and the episodes of his victories are still enthusiastically recounted by older generations today.

"Wah the Wooden Arm", Leung Tsun and "Wah the Money Changer"

Leung Jan did not consider teaching Wing Tsun Kung Fu as a profession.
However, his great passion for the art of combat led him to accept some disciples, including his two sons, Leung Tsun and Leung Bik.

Every day, after work at the pharmacy, he taught them Wing Tsun.

Among his students was a man nicknamed "Wah the Wooden Arm", so called because he had arms as strong and hard as wood, to the point of often breaking the sturdy arms of the dummy during training.

Every evening, after the Jan Sang pharmacy closed, he practiced with his companions under the guidance of Master Leung Jan. Next to the pharmacy was a money changer's stall, owned by Chan Wah Shun, whom people commonly called "Wah the Money Changer".

For a long time, he had nurtured the desire to learn kung fu under the guidance of a great master.
Deeply admiring Leung Jan's skills and conduct, he had long dreamed of becoming his student. However, due to the social difference – Leung Jan was a respected gentleman from a good family and a wealthy pharmacist – Wah the Money Changer felt uncomfortable making such a request. He also did not know if he would ever be accepted. Nevertheless, his determination and respect for Leung Jan gave him hope.

So, every evening, when the city quieted down, he tiptoed to the door of Leung Jan's pharmacy and peeked through the cracks to watch the lessons. Every gesture of the master – hands, feet, movements – was studied carefully and imprinted in his memory. Day after day, the desire to learn grew more and more within him.

The opportunity and the challenge with Leung Tsun

One day he found the courage to expose himself and asked Leung Jan to accept him as a disciple.
As he feared, the answer was negative, albeit with kind words. He was disappointed, but did not lose hope, determined to find another way.

An opportunity arose when Wah the Wooden Arm, taking advantage of Leung Jan's absence, brought a sturdy man to the pharmacy, while only the eldest son, Leung Tsun, was there. The stranger was none other than Wah the Money Changer, who had been training alone for a long time, secretly copying the observed techniques.

Leung Tsun, convinced of his own superiority, challenged him to a fight to test what he had learned. But he had never practiced with the same consistency as his rival. At the first contact of their arms, Wah the Money Changer immediately felt his opponent's weakness. He mistakenly delivered such a powerful palm strike that Leung Tsun fell heavily onto his father's precious armchair, breaking one of its legs. Frightened, those present immediately tried to hide the damage, fearing Leung Jan's reaction.

The adoption of Wah the Money Changer

That evening, upon his return, Leung Jan sat down as usual in his beloved armchair, which suddenly collapsed, almost causing him to fall to the ground. After asking for an explanation, his eldest son told him the whole story.

After hearing the story, Leung Jan summoned Wah the Wooden Arm and questioned him specifically about how his friend had learned kung fu. When he learned that the "money changer" spied through the cracks in the door every evening to steal lessons, Leung Jan immediately ordered him to be brought to him.

Wah the Wooden Arm, misunderstanding the master's intentions and fearing punishment for teaching without permission, told his friend to flee to the city rather than present himself. When he returned empty-handed and explained the reason, Leung Jan clarified the misunderstanding:
he did not want to punish anyone, but only to evaluate the young man's talent and preparation. Filled with joy, Wah the Wooden Arm ran to retrieve his friend.

After observing him carefully, Leung Jan immediately recognized his value and adopted him as an official disciple.

Chan Wah Shun, Yip Man's first master

Although Wah the Money Changer was uneducated, he progressed rapidly in learning Wing Tsun Kung Fu from his master Leung Jan, thanks to his perseverance and determination. He was a market man, constantly in contact with ordinary people, often prone to brawls, and this offered him many opportunities to refine his combat skills. Soon his fame spread, reaching the ears of Manchu government officials.

Historical context

At that time, the Manchus had ruled China for over two centuries and were gradually being assimilated into Chinese culture.

The barriers between the Han and Manchu populations were diminishing, as evidenced by the increasing number of Han Chinese holding official positions in the Qing government. At the same time, however, the Manchu administration, after centuries of enjoying Chinese privileges and an easy life, was becoming increasingly corrupt and weak. The increase in foreign invasions, territorial concessions, and war indemnities paid in silver to foreign powers further undermined the country.

To strengthen the nation, efforts were made to enhance the so-called "Eight Banner Soldiers", the elite military corps of the Manchus.

The rejected proposal

It was for this reason that Wah the Money Changer was invited to take on the role of Chief Instructor of the Eight Banner Soldiers, a position of great prestige. However, faithful to his master Leung Jan's vision, Wah did not consider that offer an honor. For him, teaching kung fu remained an amateur activity, not a profession.

Teaching style

He never had a stable location for his teaching: he preferred to rent spaces as needed. In his thirty-six-year career, he adopted a total of sixteen students. Among these was also his son, Chan Yu Min, a rebellious and spoiled young man who often got into fights with neighborhood peers, much to his father's disappointment.

Precisely for this reason, Wah hesitated to pass on the most advanced Wing Tsun techniques to him, preferring to teach them to his daughter-in-law. Thus it happened that Chan Yu Min's wife was much more skilled than him, so much so that she became his teacher.

Despite this, Chan Yu Min excelled in one specific discipline:
the Six-and-a-Half Point Long Pole Techniques. His skill in this art earned him the title of "King of the Seven Provinces' Pole", conferred upon him at regional martial arts tournaments, where he also received a commemorative pole engraved with that title, which he later displayed at the entrance of his school to attract new students.

Ng Chung So and the last disciple

Among Wah the Money Changer's students, the most significant was Ng Chung So, his second disciple, who learned all the techniques from him and became his main assistant until his death. In the last years of his life, already seventy years old, Wah rented the ancestral temple of the Yip clan from a wealthy merchant to use it as a teaching center for Wing Tsun.

It was there that he adopted his sixteenth and last disciple, a boy of only thirteen years destined to change the history of martial arts: that young man would become the heir of the Wing Tsun system and would spread it from a small village to the entire world.

Wah himself could not imagine it, but before he died, he entrusted his faithful Ng Chung So with taking care of that young kung fu junior brother.

Decline and rebirth

After the death of Wah the Money Changer, Wing Tsun experienced a period of decline. The instability of China and the personal difficulties of his students meant that none of them committed to decisively passing on the system to subsequent generations. The responsibility then fell on the shoulders of the last adopted disciple, surnamed Yip. Only when he reached fifty-six years old did Wing Tsun experience a rebirth. He brought it back to glory, ushering in its golden age.

That young man became the undisputed Grandmaster of Wing Tsun, the most famous of all his predecessors. His fame was the result of tireless commitment and the support of his disciples. His name, known throughout the world today, was:
Yip Man – The Grandmaster of Wing Tsun.

The last Grandmaster of all WingTsun styles

In Wing Tsun, the late Yip Man was a recognized Grandmaster in the kung fu world of his time. Endowed with a peculiar temperament and a strong sense of self-respect, Grandmaster Yip paid little attention to the vanities of life — fame and wealth — and never had the rude or arrogant attitude of some martial arts practitioners. Meeting him, one perceived no ostentation. He had the gift of making everyone feel at ease. His sincerity, warmth, and hospitality were evident in many ways. A true gentleman and scholar, he embodied serenity and refinement. His speeches, delivered in the Fatshan dialect, revealed a carefree yet friendly character.

A gentleman with a passion for kung fu

Born into a respectable family, owners of a large farm and numerous houses along an entire street, he could have led a comfortable and protected life, never "getting his hands dirty." Yet, to everyone's surprise, he showed a particular interest in the art of combat.

At thirteen, he began practicing kung fu under the guidance of Chan Wah Shun, nicknamed "Wah the Money Changer," one of the favored disciples of Grandmaster Leung Jan of Fatshan (Kwangtung Province). Since Wah did not have a stable gym, he was forced to rent premises to teach. Yip Man's father generously granted him the use of the Yip clan's Ancestral Temple.

However, the high cost of fees (up to three taels of silver per month) limited the number of students. Yip Man, son of the temple owner, thus had the opportunity to frequent Wah, fascinated by his techniques. One day, carrying three taels of silver, he asked Wah to accept him as a student.

The master, suspicious, wanted to know where the money came from: he discovered that Yip Man had obtained it by breaking his piggy bank. Impressed by the young man's determination, he accepted him as a disciple, even though he initially considered him too delicate for combat. With commitment, intelligence, and the help of his companions, Yip Man soon dispelled the master's prejudices, who finally dedicated himself seriously to his teaching.

Wah, in his thirty-six years of teaching, had sixteen students: the last and youngest was Yip Man, who remained with him until his death, when Yip was sixteen.

Shortly after, Yip moved to Hong Kong to study at St. Stephen's College.

Blessing or curse?

During his school years in Hong Kong, Yip Man experienced an episode that would change his life: his first defeat. Accustomed to prevailing in duels with European classmates, despite his small stature, Yip developed a certain pride.

Until one day, introduced to a man in his fifties named Leung Bik, he accepted a challenge with him. Convinced he would win, Yip was instead repeatedly knocked down, without the other defending himself with offensive blows.

Only later did he discover that Leung Bik was the son of the great Leung Jan, therefore martial uncle (si-sok) according to tradition. Realizing his ignorance and the potential for learning, Yip seized the opportunity to become his student.

From Leung Bik he learned the most advanced secrets of Wing Tsun Kuen, thus completing his training.

Return to Fatshan

At 24, Yip Man returned to Fatshan, where, thanks to family wealth, he led a comfortable life. He constantly practiced with his martial brother Ng Chung So and with his student Yuen Kay Shan ("Yuen the Fifth").

Soon his skill surpassed that of the older martial brothers, leading to accusations of "betrayal of the system."

Ng Chung So clarified, however, that the difference stemmed from the theoretical training received from Leung Bik, who was educated as well as a master, unlike Chan Wah Shun. From then on, Yip Man's reputation grew rapidly.

Memorable Episodes

• Fingers that detached a gun chamber
  During a fight with a soldier in Fatshan, Yip snatched his gun, breaking its chamber with his fingers.
• Defeated boxer Kam Shan Mao in less than a minute
  He knocked him down in front of an enraged crowd.
• A punch to an opera company's comedian
  He knocked down an actor who boasted about his skills with a single blow.
• A favor for Charlie Wan
  He fought blindfolded against his boxer friend Choy Lee Fut, in a match that ended in a draw to raise funds.
• A kick that broke four fir logs
  During a police operation, he kicked down a reinforced door.
• A stance that saved his life
  During a chase on the rooftops, he maintained his balance despite a door being slammed into him.

No intention to teach

For a long time, Yip Man never wanted to teach.
He considered Wing Tsun a lethal art to be guarded, not divulged.

During the Japanese occupation, he refused the invaders' offer to become their instructor.
After the war, he moved to Hong Kong, where he lived in poverty.

The beginning of teaching

In 1949, thanks to his friend Lee Man, he agreed to teach at the Hong Kong Restaurant Association.
At first, few paid attention to Wing Tsun, which appeared simple and less spectacular compared to other styles.

Two years later, he opened his own gym in Yaumatei, Kowloon, and from there began the great development of Wing Tsun.
Police officers and students increasingly flocked to his classes.

Retirement and final years

In 1967, he founded, with his students, the Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association.
After consolidating the school, he retired in 1970, leaving the leadership to his favorite disciple Leung Ting.

In his later years, he loved spending time in tea houses, joking with his students without ever acting like a master.

In 1972, suffering from throat cancer, he continued to live with dignity until December 2nd, the day of his death.
He left behind an extraordinary style and an immortal legend.

Yip Man and Bruce Lee

Among his most famous students was Bruce Lee, who studied Wing Tsun in Hong Kong before moving to the United States.

Yip Man was disappointed when Bruce taught martial arts to foreigners, violating tradition, and refused his offer of money in exchange for private lessons.

Bruce, embittered, created his own style, Jeet Kune Do, based largely on Wing Tsun combined with Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, Judo, and other influences.

Interview with Yip Man

An interview published in New Martial Hero magazine remains one of the few direct testimonies from the Grandmaster.

In it, Yip confirms having started with Chan Wah Shun at eleven years old, having paid very high fees (20 taels of silver just for admission), and recounts his decisive encounter with Leung Bik.

He also clearly reiterated: "Wing Tsun is not the same as Weng Chun."

Leung Ting and the Spread of Wing Tsun

Origins and training

Leung Ting showed a lively character and a certain passion for combat from a young age. Raised in a family context not always favorable to the study of kung fu, he managed to approach the martial art thanks to his maternal uncles, who practiced Wing Tsun.

At 13, he began regular training under a direct student of Yip Man, committing intensely for several years. During his university studies, he began to teach privately to small groups of students, effectively creating his first "gym," initially very modest. This choice marked the beginning of his journey as an instructor.

Relationship with Yip Man

Through a martial brother, Leung Ting was introduced to Grandmaster Yip Man, who, in his later years, gave him some private lessons.
He is often remembered as his last student (“closed-door student”).

Activities in Hong Kong

In 1968, he opened a Wing Tsun course at the Baptist College in Hong Kong, the first ever hosted by a local academic institution.

In a short time, the classes expanded, leading him to found his own school.
In subsequent years, he organized public demonstrations, television events, and promotional activities, contributing to the spread of Wing Tsun to a wider audience.

The "succession controversy"

In the mid-1970s, a media episode incorrectly identified him as the "official successor" of all Wing Tsun.

This news, amplified by newspapers, sparked strong criticism and tensions with other teachers.
Leung Ting himself clarified that it was a misunderstanding, also linked to editorial rivalries and commercial interests.

Experiences in cinema and publications

For a period, he collaborated with the Hong Kong film industry as a consultant for martial arts films. Later, he preferred to concentrate again on teaching and writing. In 1978, he published the book Wing Tsun Kuen, among the first English texts dedicated to this style, which gained wide international distribution.

International expansion

In the 1980s, the association he founded, the International WingTsun Association (IWTA), opened branches in numerous countries (Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, USA, etc.). The international network helped to make Wing Tsun known far beyond the borders of Hong Kong.

Seminars and instructor courses

Starting in the 1990s, Leung Ting introduced specific courses for instructors, aimed at standardizing teaching and correcting technical errors. On several occasions, he emphasized the need to review basic forms (such as the Siu-Nim-Tau) at increasingly deeper levels, to avoid superficial interpretations.

Controversies and criticisms

Leung Ting played a significant role in the global spread of Wing Tsun, especially thanks to his organizational, editorial, and promotional initiatives. Over the years, there were controversies with some former students or instructors who claimed advanced levels or even the title of "successors." Leung Ting often distanced himself from these initiatives, emphasizing that such claims had no real basis.

Kernspecht and the spread in Europe

Beginnings

Keith R. Kernspecht, born in Hamburg in 1945, began practicing martial arts at a young age, exploring numerous styles before arriving at Wing Tsun.
Among the disciplines he studied were Judo, Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Wrestling, and Boxing.

His systematic approach led him to accumulate extensive skills and develop a strong interest in the pedagogy and organization of martial arts.

The encounter with Wing Tsun

In the 1970s, Kernspecht met Leung Ting, who accepted him as a direct student.
This event marked a turning point: Kernspecht immediately understood the scope of the Wing Tsun system and decided to spread it in Europe.

Founding of the EWTO

In 1976, he founded the European WingTsun Organization (EWTO), based in Germany.

Today, WingTsun is practiced by hundreds of thousands of students worldwide.