Lee Shing Wing Chun was introduced to schools in London during the 1970s after GM Lee Shing arrived in London in 1955 and opened a successful restaurant in London China Town called Canton.
Lee Shing was traditional in his approach and preserved the traditional teachings of GM Yip Man , with -
1. Emphasis on authentic teachings from Ip Man:
Lee Shing was one of Ip Man's senior students who brought Wing Chun to Europe. He aimed to promote the art loyally based on Ip Man's methods, suggesting his schools likely followed a traditional curriculum and teaching approach.
This approach has continued through his students to the present generation including Sifu Joseph Leeand others.
2. Preservation of core techniques:
In 1976, with Lee Shing's blessing, his student Joseph Cheng wrote the first book on the previously secret Wing Chun wooden dummy form. This indicates Lee Shing's schools focused on preserving and transmitting core Wing Chun techniques like the wooden dummy form. This publication represents even today possibly the only true and accurate representation of the Wing Chun 108 Dummy form.
3. The Unique approach by some students:
students of Joseph Lee and others followed a unique method of learning Chinese terminology and applications from the plethora of wing chun forms.
This were some variation in teaching approaches among Lee Shing's different students and some only had part of the system.
4. Private lessons and small schools:
Lee Shing himself taught Wing Chun not for money but out of passion, implying smaller class sizes or private lessons. His students like Eddie Yeoh and Sam Kwok also ran their own small schools - Joseph Lee remained loyal to GM Lee Shing training with him longer than any other student and completing the system including the controversial Gulau Wing Chun handed down by Lee Shing from Dr Leung Jaan.
Whilst much of this information has been lost and not recorded accurately in literature ., Joseph Lee is a living testament to the teachings of Lee Shing and has kept these teachings accurate and consistent throughout the years and is continuing to pass on the legacy today.
Nevertheless, the available information suggests Lee Shing's schools in 1960s-70s London emphasized preserving Ip Man's authentic teachings, core techniques like forms and the wooden dummy, with some variations among different students' approaches. Private or small group lessons were likely common given the humble beginnings of these early schools.
Unfortunately this approach means that the Lee Shing lineage is not as well spread or commercially successful as many who simply jumped on the wing chun band wagon.
Others have actively tried to promote themselves and disregard Lee Shings massive contribution to the development of wing chun in Europe - money and fame has meant that his name has been eroded from the history books.
Sifu Paul Finn at 108 Wing chun continues in his teacher’s footsteps and follows the tradition of sifu Joseph Lee and the legacy of yip Man wing chun.
This is despite the vast majority of nonsense and misinformation about the Chinese system and amidst the growing fame and popularity of a largely distilled and diluted version that lacks any true historical understanding and knowledge.
Such remarks may prove controversial to many however they are accurate.
indeed the photo that is attached above is taken from an early 1980’s edition of Combat Magazine as edited by Bey Logan and even then Lee Shing was acknowledged and considered to be the best of all Sifu and the founder and introducer of Yip Man Wing Chun in Europe particularly London.
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