Our Lineage

Our lineage can directly be traced back to Ip Man.

The Early Days

You’ve heard of Wing Chun? Then you’ve probably heard of the legendary Ip Man! He was responsible for bringing Wing Chun to Hong Kong in 1949. Our School has a direct connection to Ip Man through Grandmaster Chu Shong Tin. He started training under Ip Man on January 1, 1951, and was his third student in Hong Kong.

At the time, Ip Man was living and teaching in the Hong Kong Restaurant Workers Union’s headquarters. Both men came to Hong Kong (from mainland China) alone, and kept each other company. For the convenience of training, Chu moved to the Union too.  They both lived there for five years and needless to say they became very close.

Chu Shong Tin trained in Ip’s school for 14 years and was the main teacher there. Teaching for up to 12 hours on some days! The major focus in the early years of his training was the practice of “Siu Nim Tao” (meaning “Tiny Idea”). This is the first empty-hand form and the essence of Wing Chun. Ip Man used to say: “When well-versed in Siu Nim Tao, the other parts of Wing Chun training will all be well grasped and performed too.” In the mid-1950s Ip Man, acknowledging Chu’s deep and solid foundation in Wing Chun, named Master Chu Shong Tin “The King of Siu Nim Tao”.

Master Chu

1964, Chu Shong Tin officially opened his own school in Hong Kong. He continued teaching full-time until he passed away at the age of 82. In his own words, published in his book: “Wing Chun has become my unceasing study for decades; my interest in it has not diminished even until now. I have been bound by Wing Chun my whole life, but I have no regrets.”

Sifu Nima

The head instructor of our school, Nima King, started learning Wing Chun at Master Jim Fung’s Academy in Sydney, 1998. At that time, Jim Fung was the most senior student of Chu Shong Tin in Australia. Nima met Master Chu at a seminar in Sydney in 2004, and after experiencing the unbelievable power, he migrated to Hong Kong, 2005. Nima then trained under Master Chu intensively. Sometimes for up to six hours a day for nine years, until Master Chu passed away in 2014.

Master Chu teaching Nima how to guide the student to relax his spine. (left)

Photo taken in July 2009. Master Chu and wife with Sebastian Soza, Nima King, Enrico Gilli and Tom Allison at his birthday celebrations in 2013. (middle)

Nima King practising Chi Sau with Ada and Sigung. (right)