History of Wing Chun

Like many other kung fu systems, the Wing Chun style traces its origin to the Shaolin Temple. About 300 years ago a nun named Ng Mui studied at the temple where she had the opportunity of studying with the highest authorities in both Buddhist scriptures and Martial Arts.

However Ng Mui felt that the existing Shaolin kung fu systems which emphasized ridged long range punches and blocks with big wide stances where to complicated and impractical in real application.

As she did not have the strength of her male colleagues at her disposal, Ng Mui found it difficult to overcome their more powerful attacks. So after learning what she could, she devised a system of her own which would in particular suit the female or average sized male physique.

After a chance meeting with Yim Wing Chun who told her about her abusive husband Leung Bok, Ng Mui decided to teach Yim Wing Chun her self defense system so as she could better protect herself. It wasn’t long before Yim Wing Chun put her abusive husband in his place.

He was so impressed by her new skills that he named this new self defense style Yim Wing Chun in honor of his wife. After a period of time she taught him what she had learned and the system progressed from there to the present day.

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