| An incident which is not common knowledge outside the Wing Chun Clan occurred several years before the unfortunate passing of Great Grandmaster Yip Man. A martial art competition was to be staged in Hong Kong and through an invitation by the tournament organizers, Great Grandmaster Yip Man was requested to register his best students to fight against champion Muay Thai fighters. Great Grandmaster Yip Man wanting to show the depth of the Wing Chun School, requested his top Student-Masters to send their best five fighters to the competition. Unfortunately, all the Wing Chun fighters were defeated. |  Grandmaster Stephen Chan's first trip to Shenchen, China. Photograph taken on 16th April,1985 with Chinese officials and famous movie star Jet, Li Lin Jet (Third from the right, Front Row) Grandmaster Chan(Fourth from the right, Front Row) | |
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Master Tang Sang a trusted friend and student of Great Grandmaster Yip Man decided that if success was to be achieved, a change of tactics had to implemented. Knowing that future tournaments could bring a repeat of the previous competition, Master Tang Sang announced that all Wing Chun Masters recognized by Great Grandmaster Yip Man should send their finest students to participate in an elimination tournament named the 'Yip Man Cup', and that the four best fighters would be selected to represent the Wing Chun Clan in the up and coming South East Asian Kung Fu Championships. Chosen to represent the Wing Chun Clan was Wong Yam Chung who during the course of the South East Asian Kung Fu Championships was placed once more with a champion Muay Thai fighter. This time however the results were different. After three rounds and the implementation of 200 kicking techniques against his opponent, Wong Yam Chung was announced the winner and Grand Champion of the tournament, a deed which renewed the honor of the Wing Chun School and brought joy and respect to a deserved Great Grandmaster Yip Man. | ||
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At the time of the tournament, it was the general belief that Wing Chun Kung Fu was basically a hands on fighting system with few kicking techniques. On completion of the tournament however, this was shown not to be the case, with a whole new light shone over the Wing Chun School. At the celebration feast held after the tournament, the victorious Wong Yam Chung was requested by Great Grandmaster Yip Man to take pride of place by sitting next to him at the Senior's table. This was an immense honor to Wong Yam Chung, his Master-Chow Sze Chuen and Student-Brother, the young Stephen T.K. Chan. | |
