The largest influence on Bruce Lee's martial arts development was his study of Wing Chun. Lee began training in Wing Chun when he was yet 16 years old under the Wing Chun master Yip Man in 1957. Yip Man's regular classes generally consisted of forms practice, chi sao (sticking hands) drills, wooden dummy techniques, and free-sparring.
After a year into his Wing Chun training, most of Yip Man's other students refused to train with Bruce Lee after they learned of his mixed ancestry, as the Chinese were generally against teaching their martial arts techniques to non-Asians. Lee's sparring partner, Hawkins Cheung states, "Probably fewer than six people were personally taught, or even partly taught, by Yip Man". However, Bruce Lee showed a keen interest in Wing Chun, and continued to train privately with Yip Man and Wong Shun Leung in 1955. Lee continued to train with Wong Shun Leung after later returning to Hong Kong from America.
via The Dragon Institute | Orange County | Wing Chun Kung Fu's Facebook Wall http://www.facebook.com/orangecountywingchunkungfu/photos/a.134728236558399.17854.133724726658750/843683015662914/?type=1
After a year into his Wing Chun training, most of Yip Man's other students refused to train with Bruce Lee after they learned of his mixed ancestry, as the Chinese were generally against teaching their martial arts techniques to non-Asians. Lee's sparring partner, Hawkins Cheung states, "Probably fewer than six people were personally taught, or even partly taught, by Yip Man". However, Bruce Lee showed a keen interest in Wing Chun, and continued to train privately with Yip Man and Wong Shun Leung in 1955. Lee continued to train with Wong Shun Leung after later returning to Hong Kong from America.
via The Dragon Institute | Orange County | Wing Chun Kung Fu's Facebook Wall http://www.facebook.com/orangecountywingchunkungfu/photos/a.134728236558399.17854.133724726658750/843683015662914/?type=1
