Ip Chun
Ip Chun (葉準), born Ip Hok-chun (葉學準), 10 July 1924, also known as Yip Chun or Yip Jun, is a Chinese martial artist and actor in the style of Wing Chun. He is the elder of two sons. Chun's father, Ip Man was the Wing Chun teacher of Bruce Lee.
- Name: Ip Chun (葉準), Yip Chun, Yip Jun.
- Birth name: Ip Hok-chun (葉學準).
- Birth date: 10 July 1924 (aged 99).
- Birth place: Foshan, Kwangtung, Republic of China.
- Residence: Hong Kong.
- Nationality: Chinese.
- Style: Wing Chun.
- Teacher: Ip Man .
- Rank: Grandmaster.
- Years active: 1967–present.
- Occupation: Wing Chun teacher, Actor.
- Children: Ip Kong-chiu (son), Ip Kong-kin (son).
- Relatives: Ip Man (father), Cheung Wing-sing (mother), Ip Ching (younger brother), Ip Nga-sum (sister), Ip Nga-wun (sister), Ip Siu-wah (half-brother).
- Students: Donnie Yen
- School: Wing Chun Ip Chun Academy
- Website: www.ipchun.net – Wing Chun Ip Chun Academy website.
- Traditional Chinese: 葉準.
- Simplified Chinese: 叶准.
Early life[edit]
Ip Chun was born Ip Hok-chun in Foshan, Kwangtung, Republic of China (now Guangdong) on 10 July 1924 to police officer and martial artist Ip Man and his wife Cheung Wing-sing.
In 1949, after the Communists established the People's Republic of China on the Chinese mainland, Chun's father left for Hong Kong and Chun, then 24, remained in Foshan to continue his studies in university. However, due to the Cultural Revolution, Chun and his younger brother, Ip Ching, were forced to leave Foshan and move to Hong Kong to join their father.
Education[edit]
Chun studied Chinese history, philosophy, poetry, traditional music, and Buddhism. In 1950, Chun had completed his studies and he chose teaching as a profession. In addition to teaching Chinese history, music and science, Chun also helped the Chinese Foshan Entertainment Department organise opera plays. During that time, he was awarded "The Person with the Most Potential in Chinese Art" award for his research in music.
Professional career[edit]
In Hong Kong, Chun worked as an accountant and newspaper reporter in the day and practiced Wing Chun in the evening under his father's tutelage. In accordance with his father's wishes, in 1965, Chun participated in the affairs of the Ving Tsun Athletic Association and became one of its founding members when it was formally established in 1968. During the first three years in the association, Chun took on the role of treasurer and was later appointed as chairman.
Teaching accomplishments[edit]
In 1967, Chun began teaching Wing Chun in Hong Kong and some of his first students, such as Leung Chung-wai and Ho Kay, chairman of Wing Chun Ip Chun Academy and a student of Chun for three decades, still train with him at present. Chun's father died in December 1972 and entrusted the film footage of his Siu Nim Tau, Chum Kiu and Muk Yan Jong forms to his sons for posterity. In 2014 Ip Chun was selected as a nominee to represent Wing Chun as the inheritor of the legacy of Wing Chun-style kung fu. Ip Chun has taught and held seminars in many cities, including countries such as Australia, England and the United States.
In film[edit]
Ip Chun had a small role in the 1976 film Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth as Bruce Lee's Wing Chun Sifu (Ip Man). Chun made a special appearance as Ip Man in the 1999 film What You Gonna Do, Sai Fung? (a.k.a. 1959 某日某). Chun served as a consultant for Ip Man, a 2008 Hong Kong film about the life of his father. He also made another special appearance as Leung Bik (son of Leung Jan) in another film, The Legend is Born – Ip Man. In 2013, he made a cameo appearance in another Ip Man film, Ip Man: The Final Fight.
Awards and achievements[edit]
- Ip Chun received a Fellowship (FSMA) from the Society of Martial Arts (U.K.), the only professional and Educational Charity to introduce the first degree program in martial arts in the world, from its Founder and President Prof. Eugene de Silva PhD, FRSA in 2000.
- Received "The Person with the Most Potential in Chinese Art" award for his research in music.
- Winner of the China Movie Channel Media Awards for Best Male Supporting Role at Shanghai International Film Festival 2010.
- Nominated at the China Movie Channel Media Awards for Best New Actor at Shanghai International Film Festival 2010.
Bibliography[edit]
- Ip Chun, Leung Ting, (1981) 116 Wing Tsun Dummy Techniques. Hong Kong: Leung Publications. (PDF)