The idea of the Ving Tsun Museum was originated by perhaps the most famous of all these ancestors; Grandmaster Yip Guy Man 葉繼問 (yihp gai mahn).
Yip Man was born in Fatshan (faht sàan), China into a wealthy family. In his youth he studied Wing Chun Gung Fu from a gentleman who rented a space from the Yip family. This gentleman was Chan Wah Shun (chahn wàh seuhn). Later on, when Yip Man was sent to attend high school in Hong Kong, he displayed his skills learned from Chun Wah Shun by coming to the aid of a Chinese gentleman who was being beaten for no apparent reason. Yip Man's classmate witnessed this and relayed the event to another Wing Chun teacher named Leung Bik (lèuhng bïk), the eldest son of Leung Jan (lèuhng jaan), the teacher of Chan Wah Shun. Leung Bik then arranged to see Yip Man and later became his second teacher. Yip Man spent several years in Hong Kong studying with Leung Bik and greatly increased his skill. He returned to Fatshan after finishing school and remained there until the Communist takeover of China in 1949. At that time he was forced to flee back to Hong Kong as he had worked in the police force of the Nationalist government and would certainly have been killed had he stayed.
Upon returning to Hong Kong permanently, Yip Man began teaching select students the Wing Chun style and his name quickly spread. Yip Man was a humble teacher of traditional values who's goals were not of fame or fortune. However, as his abilities became known, it was clear that he held profound knowledge of the Wing Chun system and was a very capable teacher. It was only a matter of time before he had produced many famous students including Bruce Lee and the recognition of Wing Chun Gung Fu became widespread, reaching around the world.
One dream that Yip Man had and was not able to realize was that of a place where Wing Chun players and students could call home. This was to be a place for fellowship, a place to learn from, and a place to show respect for those who had come before. This idea was initially conceived in 1968 when Yip Man expressed his desire to establish a Wing Chun Tong (wihng cheùn tòhng). However, due to the staggering cost of real estate in Hong Kong and the taxation levied, there was simply no way at that time of dedicating a place for the Wing Chun Temple. So, instead of the temple, the Ving Tsun Athletic Association was born and still functions today in Hong Kong. One of Yip Man's students never let his Sì Fuh's vision die. Moy Yat (mùih yaht) was very close to Yip Man and spent countless hours discussing and acting upon his Sifu's ideals and dreams, thus achieving fame in his own right; a recognized Grandmaster in all areas of the world. Moy Yat taught in Hong Kong for many years and he moved to New York in 1973 following his Sifu death. He has produced many skillful and famous students. Not only has Moy Yat become famous as a Grandmaster of Wing Chun but also as an artist, known worldwide for his paintings, stone carvings, writing, and other works of art. He passed away in January of 2001.
