185 Front Street North Issaquah, WA 98027 425-392-4712 History of Wing Chun The Wing Chun style of Kung Fu originated several hundred years ago. The actual events that led to the creation of this system are shrouded in time, but most Martial Arts Historians are familiar with the following "historical legend"... The 5 Grand masters of the Shaolin Temple wanted to develop a fighting method more effective than those already in existence. Their desire was to help overthrow the Manchurian government that was ruling China. A new fighting method was needed because much of the present day boxing had already fallen into the hands of the conqueror Manchu. The Grand masters began work on developing a superior fighting method. Before they could use it in their planned revolt against the Manchurians, they were betrayed by an informer. The Manchu soldiers burnt the temple to the ground and killed most of the monks. One of the Grand masters that escaped the slaughter, was a Buddhist nun. Her name was Ng Mui. (pronounced N Mew) Eventually Ng Mui adopted an orphan girl and named her Wing Chun or "Hope for the Future". Another translation for Wing Chun is "Beautiful Springtime". Ng Mui shared her fighting art with Wing Chun. She mastered the art and defeated many challengers. Wing Chun eventually married Leung Bok Sau, a master of some other types of Kung Fu. After besting him in a demonstration of her skill, she taught him her special fighting method. The art was passed on to only a few chosen individuals for the next century. It was now called Wing Chun Kuen, in honor of Wing Chun the woman. (The word "kuen", is Chinese for "fist" and indicates that this is a style of boxing). Wing Chun remained a hidden style for several hundred years. In China, the land where all the styles of Chinese boxing originated, most Chinese had never heard of Wing Chun Kuen! Modern History of Wing Chun Yip Man, a Wing Chun master, fled China at the time of the communist take over. He eventually opened a school in Hong Kong. It was probably the first Wing Chun school anywhere. One of his most serious and dedicated students would eventually become quite famous. His name was Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee moved from Hong Kong as a young man and settled in Seattle, Washington. He taught and trained a special group of people, his first students. He used them to develop, test and refine his skills. During this time he modified the traditional Wing Chun moves to make them more effective and for dealing with the larger sized opponents he found in America. Bruce moved to California and became quite famous for the speed and dynamic intensity that he brought to the movie screen. Tragically, he died at a very early age. Bruce Lee's first student was Jesse Glover, a Judo champion. Another early student was James DeMile. Previously a heavy weight boxing champion in the US. Air Force. He met Bruce Lee at Edison Technical School, which they both attended. He was impressed with Bruce's incredible skill and although already an excellent fighter, he studied with Bruce and Jesse to learn this superior fighting method. Another of Bruce Lee's original Seattle students was Ed Hart. A life long student of martial art, Ed boxed as an amateur and professionally, studied Judo and other forms of empty handed fighting and was an expert at Kung Fu and grappling, par excellence. History of Tsun Jo Wing ChunŽ The method of Wing Chun taught at the Greenlake Martial Arts School and the Kung Fu Club of Issaquah/Fu Shan Guan is known as Tsun Jo Wing ChunŽ This style of Wing Chun differs in many great and small ways from the other Wing Chun taught in the U.S.A and in the Orient. The application of the moves, training methods and conceptual underpinnings are from the Classical Kung Fu as well as from modern improvements that have occurred within the last 30 years. SiJo John N. Beall is the Founder and Director of the style. From the earliest days of his study of martial arts, he considered efficiency and practical application results an absolute priority. He has continually refined his individual fighting style, as well as methods of teaching students. He was trained in a variety of fighting methods including Karate, Boxing, and Judo. Circumstances of environment also provided him with a background in street fighting. Two of the most influential teachers he was to have in developing his skills were James DeMile and Ed Hart. In the early 1980s he realized that the structure, training methods and application of what he was teaching qualified as a distinct style. Acknowledging the direct link with the older versions of Wing Chun, as well as the advantages afforded by his study with his teachers, he named the new style, "Tsun Jo" Wing Chun. Tsun Jo translates as "Faithful Descendent". The name recognizes the positive intentions and benefits of what has gone before. Respect for the contributions of past teachers is within the very name of Tsun Jo Wing Chun The style is now legally trademarked and the materials used and taught are copyrighted. Only Certified Instructors are permitted to use the name of Tsun Jo Wing Chun tm. Sijo John Beall continues teaching today. A Masters Level Instructor, with over 27 years in martial art, he also serves as the Director of the Tsun Jo Wing ChunŽ Instructors Association. Primarily occupied with teaching students of the his school as well as Instructor training, he is also involved in writing numerous books on Tsun Jo Wing ChunŽ. Instructional video tapes are available and new tapes are also planned. He is also a successful inventor with several U.S. patents. He believes strongly that people should not just be "takers" but should be "givers", as well and make a contribution toward improving their community whenever possible. SiJo Beall lives in the Greater Puget Sound Area.