| Yuan Kay-shan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1889 Foshan, China |
| Died | 1956 Foshan, China |
| Residence | Foshan, China |
| Occupation | Martial arts practitioner |
| Children | Yuen Jo-Tong (Grandson) |
| Yuan Kay-shan | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 阮奇山 | ||||||||||
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Yuan Kay-shan (Chinese: 阮奇山; pinyin: Ruǎn Qí Shān; Yale Cantonese: Yun1 Kei4 Saan1;also transliterated "Yuen Kay-san") was a master in the martial art of Wing Chun, who lived from 1889 to 1956. The youngest of five brothers, he became known as "Foshan Yuen Lo Jia" (Yuen the Fifth of Foshan).[1] [2] [3] He was the 5th Child of wealthy firework monopoly owner Yuen Chong Ming, and was known as an undefeated death duel champion in Foshan during the 1920-1950s representing the Wing Chun.[4][5]
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Yuan's family ancestral estate home was named Song Yuen (Mulberry Gardens), and located in Foshan, China.[6] Initially, Kay-shan's father paid for Kay-shan and his older brother Yuen Chai-Wan to become students of Fok Bo-Chuen (霍保全; pinyin: Huò Bǎoquán; Yale Cantonese: Fok3 Bou2 Chyun4; also transliterated "Kwok Bo-Chuen").[1]
Yuen Kay San and his older brother had developed an interest in the martial arts. Yuen Kay San's older brother Yuen Chai Wan was known as "Pock Skin Chai" and later became the founder of Yiu Choi and Vietnamese Branches of Wing Chun. Their father Yuen Chong Ming housed and paid a large sum of money imperial constable Fak Bo Chuen to teach both of the Yuen brothers Wing Chun. From Fok Bo Chuen, Yuen Kay San learned the 3 open hand forms, Sil Lim Tao, Chum Kiu and the Biu Gee. In addition he mastered the knives, 6 and a half point pole and the flying darts. He had also been taught the Wooden Dummy, Bamboo Dummy and several different jong variations, as well as Red Sand Palm.
Later, Ma Bok-Leung, Jiu Gan-Heung, Lo Hao-Po, NgNgau Si, Leung Yan as well as Yuan Kay-san and his brother, invited Fung Siu-Ching to come and teach. Fung stayed at the Yuan ancestral home,[6] where the two brothers combined the teachings of their past and present teacher.[7] From Fung Siu Ching they learned his skills in close body applications which included the kum Na, Fa Kum Na, body wrapping, sweeping, breaking and throwing skills. Fung Siu Chiong was a disciple of red boat master Dai Fai Min Kam. The Yuens cared for Fung Siu Ching until his death in 1936. 1936 also marked the year when Yuen Kay San and Yuen Chai Wan had gone their separate ways. Yuan Kay-Shan's brother eventually was invited to teach in Vietnam,[6] where he founded the Nguyễn Tế-Công branch (Vietnam WingChun 永春) branch of the art. Yuan Kay-Shan remained in Foshan, where he became friends with other Wing Chun notables like Yip Man, Yiu Choi, Yip Chung Hong, Lai Hip Chi, Tong Gai and others.[7] Yuan Kay-Shan became close enough with Yip Man that he taught Yip's son, Yip Chun, the first form of the art.[7] In some accounts, Yuen Chai Wan had to leave Foshan due to duel where he had slain his opponent with his skills in Fok Bo Chuen/Fung Siu Ching Wing Chun. He left for Vietnam while Yuen Kay San remained in Foshan.
In addition to having a high caliber skill in Wing Chun, Yuen Kay San had also been an educated man whom had worked as a part time lawyer. By being an educated individual he was also one of the first Wing Chun masters to document the theories, concepts, philosophies and strategies of the system. He is also considered a major contributor to luk dim boon gwun and had at one point was even challenged by a monk from Jianxi Province. Death waivers had been signed and the duel had taken place in the Palace of 1000 years longevity. Both fighters were armed with iron poles. Yuen Kay San disarmed the monk and spared his life in the duel not only demonstrating his skills in kung fu but also demonstrating his nobility as a martial artist. Yuen Kay Shan never looked for fights, but when challenges could not be avoided, Yuen Kay San took them as learning opportunities. Of hundreds of death duels Yuen Kay San fought in he was never defeated.
Yuan Kay-Shan's first student and only disciple was Shum Lung (also transliterated as "Sum Nung"), whose family had recently returned to China from South America. Initially a student of Wing Chun instructor Cheung Bo at the Tin Hoi restaurant, Cheung introduced Shum to Yuan at a young age to further his training after Yuen was inpressed with the young boy's dedication. Over the years, Yuan Kay-Shan and Shum Lung spent much time together, and under Yuan Kay-Shan's guidance, Shum Lung continued to refine and polish his Wing Chun by passing all of his knowledge of the Wing Chun Kuen. With Yuan Kay-Shan's passing in 1956, Shum Nung named the style Yuen Kay San Wing Chun Kuen, in honor and memory of his teacher. [8]
Yuan Kay-Shan also taught material to Wong Jing, a friend who had helped him in a time of need.[9][10] Yuen Kay San generously taught Wong Jing for his friendship, kindness and assistance.
The Yip family estate was burnt by some locals angry of Yip Man's grandfather who smuggled opium as an opium boat captain. (In those days, opium was not an illegal substance). Yuen Chong Ming was a neighbor, a friend and a fellow merchant with Yip Man's father and had the Yip family live in the Yuen Mansion. During this time, Yuen Chong Ming had asked his youngest son Yuen Kay San to teach the younger Yip Man some Chi Sao (Sticky hands) exercise as Yip Man has not learnt this from his teacher Ng Chung So. Against the idea initially as Yip was Ng's student and does a different Wing Chun Style. However with persistence of his father, Yuen Kay San taught him Chi Sao. But regardless of Yuen Kay Sans request to keep the Chi Sao knowledge to himself, Yip Man openly used the skills to defeat the Si Hings (elder Kung Fu brothers) of his gwoon. However this began the start of the friendly contemporary relationship of the "Three Heroes of Wing Chun" between Yuen Kay San, Yip Man and later Yiu Choi/Yao Choy (studied under Yuen Chai Wan first and then Ng Chong So).
Mr. Xi Kwok Lam (Yip Man’s son’s student and movie producer of The Legend is Born - Ip Man) apologized and served tea to Yuen Jo Tong for misreprensenting his grandfather Yuen Kay San’s reputation and status in Wing Chun history. (In the movie, Yuen Kay San was portrayed as Yip Man’s younger Kung Fu brother, not as skillfull as Yip Man).[4] This had the Yuen and Yiu families voice their displeasure in interviews about the movie.[11]
After the Yuen and Yiu families voiced their displeasure in interviews about Yuen Kay-San's portrayal in the movie on Yip Man,[11] movie producer Si Kwok Lam and co-producer Yip Chun apologized six times and "served tea" to Yuen Kay San's grandson, Yuen Jo Tong, for misrepresenting, and being disrespectful to, the legendary death duel champion during the 1920-1950s, Yuen Kay San.[4] During a news conference in China, Si Kwok Lam and Yip Chun admitted in front of witnesses and acknowledged documents that showed that Yuen Kay San, not Yip Man, had represented the Wing Chun family and answered all the public death duel challenges in Futsan in those years, and admitted that he is senior to Yip Man in the Wing Chun family tree. (In the movie, Yuen Kay San was portrayed as Yip Man’s younger Kung Fu brother, not as skillfull as Yip Man).[5]
Yao Wing Ken (Yoa Choy’s grandson) explains that, "in the old days of Foshan, his grandfather Yao Choy, Yip Man and Yuen Kay San were called the "Three Heroes of Wing Chun" and often mentioned together. Yuen Kay San's disciple Leung Jan Sing also provided an ancestral document indicating that Yuen Kay San studied with Fung Siu Ching, while Yip Man and others studied under Yuen. This record was passed down in the 70's of last century. Although Yip Man is not necessarily Yuen’s official student, in the order of seniority on the family tree, Yuen Kay San ranked at the first level, with Yip Man being last. It would be normal for Yip Man to ask Yuen Kay San for instruction.
Below is the original Chinese quoted from the original article in the Dayoo Newspaper of Guangzhou:
还原历史： “咏春三雄”齐名 姚永强介绍，当年在佛山，他的爷爷姚才与叶问、阮奇山并称“咏春三雄”，三人齐名，武功不相上下。阮奇山的徒孙梁湛声还提供了祖传的记录，记录上写明， 阮奇山师从冯少青，而叶问与其他多个咏春武者一同在阮奇山的门下。“这本记录是上世纪70年代留下的， 这也不能说叶问是他的徒弟，但论资历，阮奇山排第 一，叶问最后，叶问向他请教很正常。.[12]
| Lineage in Wing Chun | |
| sifus | Fok Bo-Chuen (霍保全), Fung Siu-Ching |
| Yuan Kay-shan (阮奇山) | |
| students | Shum Lung (岑能), Wong Jing |