Yuen Kay Shan

Yuen Kay Shan (Chinese: 阮奇山; pinyin: Ruǎn Qí Shān; Cantonese Yale: Yun2 Kei4 Saan1; 1889–1956) nicknamed Yuen Low Zha (阮老揸) ^[1] was a master in the martial art of Wing Chun. The youngest of five brothers, he became known as "Foshan Yuen Lo Jia" (Yuen the Fifth of Foshan).^{[2] [3] [4]} 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.^[5][6]

Wing Chun studies

Yuen's family ancestral estate home was named Song Yuen (Mulberry Gardens), and located in Foshan, China.^[7] Initially, Kay Shan's father paid for him and his older brother Yuen Chai-Wan to become students of Fok Bo-Chuen (Chinese: 霍保全; pinyin: Huò Bǎoquán; Cantonese Yale: Fok3 Bou2 Chyun4; also transliterated "Kwok Bo-Chuen").^[2]

Yuen Kay Shan and his older brother Yuen Chai Wan had developed an interest in the martial arts. Yuen Kay Shan'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 to imperial constable Fok Bo Chuen to teach both of the Yuen brothers Wing Chun. From Fok Bo Chuen, Yuen Kay Shan learned the 3 open hand forms, Siu Lien Tau, Chum Kiu and the Biu Jee. 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, Ng Ngau Si, Leung Yan as well as Yuen Kay Shan and his brother, invited Fung Siu-Ching to come and teach. Fung stayed at the Yuen ancestral home,^[7] where the two brothers combined the teachings of their past and present teacher.^[8] 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 Shan and Yuen Chai Wan had gone their separate ways. Yuen Kay Shan's brother eventually was invited to teach in Vietnam,^[7] where he founded the Nguyễn Tế-Công branch (Vietnam WingChun 永春) branch of the art. Yuen 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.^[9] Yuen Kay Shan became close enough with Yip Man that he taught Yip's son, Yip Chun, the first form of the art.^[10] 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 Shan remained in Foshan.

In addition to having a high caliber skill in Wing Chun, Yuen Kay Shan had also been an educated man who 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 Shan 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 Shan took them as learning opportunities. Of hundreds of death duels Yuen Kay Shan fought in he was never defeated.

Students

Sum Nung

Yuen Kay Shan's first student and only disciple was Sum Nung (岑能) (also transliterated as "Shum Lung"), 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 Sum Nung to Yuen at a young age to further his training after Yuen was impressed with the young boy's dedication. Over the years, Yuen Kay Shan and Sum Nung spent much time together, and under Yuen Kay Shan's guidance, Sum Nung continued to refine and polish his Wing Chun by passing all of his knowledge of the Wing Chun Kuen. With Yuen Kay Shan's passing in 1956, Sum Nung named the style Yuen Kay Shan Wing Chun Kuen, in honor and memory of his teacher. ^[11] Sum Nung appointed a few of his indoor students as overseas chief instructors and chairmen of branches outside of China. Many Wing Chun practitioners in Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States descend from Sum Nung. More notably Felix Loeng Cheok Son is a direct student^[12] of Sum Nung who is still teaching Wing Chun today in Adelaide, Australia at the same location for 30 years however in September 2015 the Academy was nearly closed down due to a large fire.^{[13] [3]}

Leung Ngaw

Leung Ngaw (梁牛) born 1924 is a relative and is also a student of Yuen Kay Shan, in the tradition as a relative Leung Ngaw did not pay learning fee plus he did not go through traditional kowtow ceremony to be a student of Yuen Kay Shan, Leung Ngaw learn from his sifu until 1956.^[1] Yuen Jo Tong (阮祖棠), grandson of Yuen Kay Shan is student of Leung Ngaw ^[14]

Wong Jing

Yuen Kay Shan also taught material to Wong Jing (黄祯), a friend who had helped him in a time of need.^[15][16] Yuen Kay San generously taught Wong Jing for his friendship, kindness and assistance.

Yip Man

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 Shan 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 Shan taught him Chi Sao. But regardless of Yuen Kay Shan's 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 Shan, Yip Man and later Yiu Choi/Yao Choy (studied under Yuen Chai Wan first and then Ng Chong So).

Ip Man movie controversy

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 misrepresenting his grandfather Yuen Kay Shan's reputation and status in Wing Chun history. (In the movie, Yuen Kay Shan was portrayed as Yip Man’s younger kung fu brother, not as skillful as Yip Man).^[5] This had the Yuen and Yiu families voice their displeasure in interviews about the movie.^[17]

After the Yuen and Yiu families voiced their displeasure in interviews about Yuen Kay Shan's portrayal in the movie on Yip Man,^[17] 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 Shan.^[5]

Three Heroes of Wing Chun

Yao Wing Ken (Yoa Choy’s grandson) explains that, "in the old days of Foshan, his grandfather Yao Choy, Yip Man and Yuen Kay Shan were called the "Three Heroes of Wing Chun" and often mentioned together. Yuen Kay Shan's disciple Leung Jan Sing also provided an ancestral document indicating that Yuen Kay Shan 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 Shan ranked at the first level, with Yip Man being last. It would be normal for Yip Man to ask Yuen Kay Shan 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。.^[18]

Lineage

References

External links

• Yuen Kay Shan/Sum Nung memorial page
• http://www.wingchunkuen.com