The 108 Wing Chun lineage traces its origins back to the Shaolin Temple during the Qing Dynasty over 250 years ago.
During this time, the Manchu government banned the practice of kung fu among the Han Chinese population. However, a group of five Shaolin grandmasters secretly met to develop a new, more efficient style of kung fu that could be learned in 5-7 years rather than the traditional 15-20 years.
This new style became known as Wing Chun, named after one of the grandmaster's top students, Yim Wing Chun.
The system was passed down through a small number of dedicated students, including Leung Jan and his son Leung Bik, who later taught Yip Man.
Yip Man is credited with popularizing and refining Wing Chun after he fled to Hong Kong during the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
We have a distinct view on this and the suggestion of "refinement " but rather a simplification that has watered down to the current generations who were not exposed to the closed door teaching.
Even to this day so much of the original material has been kept secret and undiscovered by those outside this lineage.
The 108 Wing Chun lineage is the direct descendant of this original Wing Chun system.
It emphasizes the traditional "closed door" teaching methods and the unique technical aspects of the style, such as the use of the butterfly swords.
However, the true origins and development of the various Wing Chun lineages remain a matter of debate and of course there are competing narratives.
Nevertheless, Lee Shing brought 108 to the U.K. in the 1950s and it was passed down directly to Sifu Joseph Lee - Sifu Paul Finn has trained closed door with Sifu Joseph for over 20 years and is as qualified and experienced as any in the lineage, family and system.
Why not join now and start your discovery of the true art of wing chun.
What are you waiting for?
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