Yuen Kay Shan Lineage

Ng Mui (White crane soft boxing) + Miu Shin (Internal snake boxing)

and:

In historical Foshan City China, can be found the history and tradition, of the great Wing Chun Kuen Master, Yuen Kay Shan. Not as well known in the west, as Yip Man, but through the gradual, long term efforts of his grandson Yuen Jo Tong and inheritor Sum Num, grandstudents like Kwok Wah Ping, Pan Chao, Leung Dai Chiu?, and Ngo Lo Kay, as well as great grandstudents such as Rene Ritchie?, the name of Yuen kay Shan, is finaly being heard, outside of China.

Yuen Chong Ming, owner of "Jui Yuen" of Chun Bak Street, wanted the best kung fu, for both of his sons Yuen Kay Shan and Yuen Chai Wan, to learn. Being a rich buisiness owner, he was able to afford the best. Yuen Chong was friends with famous Wing Chun Kuen Master Leung Jan's family, as they were from the same social circle, in Foshan. Mr.Leung made Mr.Yuen aware of the Opera actor Wing Chun Kuen that his son Leung Jan practised and that off shoots, and watered down public versions, had already started to exist at that point. Mr. Yuen was suggested to seek out a fellow classmate of Leung Jan's named Fok Bo Chun, who was approaching retirment.

Fok Bo Chun was a "Ngao Moon Bo Tau" or "Imperial Constable" and was a very deadly fighter. He first learned Wing Chun Kuen from Wong Wah Bo, one of Leung Jan's teachers. Later Fok Bo continued his studies along side Fung Siu Ching, from Dai Fa Min Kam. He was feared for his skill with the Yee Jee Dao? - (Character "2" Swords), and was said to place great focus on the "Sai Ying Sau?" - (Snake Shape Hand) aspect of Wing Chun Kuen. Nearing retirment, Mr. Yuen arranged for Fok Bo to move into the Yuen estate, in Mullbery gardins, as was customary, and teach the Yuen brothers, in exchange for the Yuen's support.

Fok Bo Chun's Wing Chun Kuen system: The system that Fok Bo Chun passed down to the Yuens included the 3 hand forms, Several Jong methods, including Muk Yan Jong- (Wooden Man Post)and Juk Jong - (Bamboo Post), Look Dim Boon Gwun? - (6.5 Pole), Yee Jee Dao? - (Character "2" Knives), and Fei Biu - (Flying darts). Its also said that his curiculum included various San Sik. The art of Fok Bo Chun had very obvious Crane and Snake influences. But his personal approach was said to have stressed the soft spiraling force of the Snake. Some legend states that Fok Bo Chun's personal interpretation used a longer bridge approach. Fok Bo was known to have stressed theJuk Jong as he felt it developed Soft Force needed for the Snake Shape Fist boxing methods.

Later Yuen Chong Meng wanted to make sure his son's, learned all there was to learn, about the Wing Chun Kuen system. He asked Fok Bo Chun, if he could recommend anyone else for the Yuen Brothers to learn from. Fok Bo suggested his classmate, Fung Siu Ching, one of the most feared bouty hunters in all of the south of China. Fung Siu Ching had also been a body guard, for a Sichuan province overnor. Nearing time of retirment he was approached by the Mr.Yuen, and was convinced to retire to the Yuen estate, and pass on his Wing Chun Kuen art, just like his classmate Fok Bo Chun did.

Fung Siu Ching was strickly a student of Dai Fa Min Kam, and preserved a slightly differant method of preserving his system, to that of the hand forms that Wong Wah Bo passed down to Fok Bo Chun and Leung Jan. Fung Siu's system was the same system that Fok Bo Chun practised, but the method of preserving the system was sligthly differant. Fung Siu Ching learned his Wing Chun Kuen in one Single form and San Sik, which is thought my most researchers to be the older method of passing on the system.

Fung Siu Ching's Wing Chun Kuen system: There is alot of misinformation spread on Fung Siu Ching's Wing Chun Kuen system. Several branchs of Wing Chun Kuen, have created stories of a rare super secret shaolin Martial art,called "Weng Chun", that supposedly Abbot Chi Sim taught to Wong Wah Bo, who taught Dai Fa Min Kam, who than passed it down to Fung Siu Ching. But according to Fungs last Disciple, who's family supported him for the last 3 years of his life and officiated at his funeral, Fung Siu Chings art is simply Wing Chun.

The Wing Chun KuenSystem that Fung Siu Ching passed down to Yuen Kay Shan was set up in the older San Sik format. San Sik, focus on only a few motions at once, with movement, that can be linked into a 2 man training drill, used on the jong or performed with Knives. The small San Sik forms are also Jing Patterns or Methods of producing force from the body with a concept attached, so it can be liberaly applied, within the context of wing chun which is layed out by the principles and physical structures.

How many San sik, that comprised Fung siu Ching's method, is currently not known. But many of the San Sik were linked into a Form, with specific progresions, for ease of passing on the information. According to Several decendents of Fung Siu Ching, his curiculum is only comprised of:

Sam Pai Fut form, Look Dim Boon Gwun?, Muk Yan Jong,Gwun Jong? and Various San Sik and application sets.

Fung siu ching was known to have mastered Close Body applications, Kum Na, Sot Gow, and was what he used daily, as a bounty hunter. He is was also known for his Pole work, and is even considered one of the founders, that helped refine the Look Dim Boon Gwun methods. One tradition places Fung Siu Ching and Leung Jan exchanging Pole techniques in a local smoke house in Foshan.

Yuen Kay Shan was the first person to document the Wing Chun Kuen system, preserving what he learned from both teachers. He kept copious notes on the various concepts and principles, and History.

Sources:

  • AWKCRI
  • Oral and written tradition Yuen Kay Shan
  • Oral and written tradition Sum Num
  • Oral and Written tradition Yuen Jo Tong
  • New Martial Hero
  • Yuen Kay San:History and development by Ritchie, Rene
  • Foshan Jing Mo association