Victor Kan Wah Chit, in Chinese: began learning Ving Tsun Kung Fu with the late Grandmaster Yip Man in 1954, when he was 13 years old in Hong Kong. He devoted 3-4 hours a day, 7 days a week, learning and practising Ving Tsun under Yip Man's instruction for 7 years; whilst his other kung fu brothers spent most of their time challenging other styles of kung fu or fighting in the streets to have their fun. It was Victor Kan's only interest and hobby at that time as a teenager. With his excellent physical and mind condition, and his parents support, a few years later he became Yip Man's top student. His fellow student's nicknamed him 'King of Chi Sao' or 'The Untouchable'. In the late 1950's he became Yip Man's assistant chief instructor until he left Hong Kong for Europe in 1961.
He is based in London, England where he has been teaching since 1975. He is now the only student of Yip Man teaching in Europe and has branches in Italy, Belgium, Luxemburg and Hong Kong. He keeps the highest standards of authenticity and insists on teaching Ving Tsun in the classical way just as Yip Man taught him. The purity is 99%, no more and no less. So it can be passed on as authentically as possible to the next generation.
The classical way is the best and the only way to learn Ving Tsun properly. The effectiveness is superior compared to the modified and the other imitations of Ving Tsun. Simply because in the old days the practitioners relied completely on their kung fu skills to protect their own lives.
The effectiveness of Classical Ving Tsun kung fu is such that one can even invent a new style of kung fu based on Classical Ving Tsun - just like the late BRUCE LEE.
- * *
At a London seminar that was held by Ip Ching and Ip Chun, the sons of the late G.M. Ip Man, Ip Ching stated publicly to the audience that his father thought G.M. Victor Kan (Kan Wah Chit) was his best student and should be the one with whom they should continue studying after he passed away. On hearing this, G.M. Kan was visibly moved.
- * *
The Late G.M. Wong Sheun Leung (Bruce Lee's primary teacher) also said about G.M. Kan in a 1978 issue of 'Secrets of Kung Fu' Magazine. "When I write this article, I do not expect any money as an author, nor have I received any gift from Mr. Victor Kan. Only I do not want to see a man of true talent left unkown by the people. Any man of true worth should be presented to society so that people who are learning the Ving Tsun style will not kneel to the wrong teacher. It should be good news to those students who wish to learn the Ving Tsun style."
- * *
William Cheung once told his brother in Hong Kong from Austrailia at the end of the 1950's: "If you want to be really good in chi-sao, the only person you can go to practice with is Victor Kan". * YIP Man was semi-retired at that time. Victor Kan was his assistant. *