SIFU GARRYS WING CHN BLOG

LEUNG BIK WING CHUN

In Southern China, the Leung Bik / Yip Man Wing Chun System is classified as:
the attack fighting system of wing chun.
All other wing chun systems are classified as:
the self defence fighting system of wing chun.
The Leung Bik Yip Man wing chun system is very unique. It has 4 forms, where all other
wing chun styles have 3 forms. I might state, that some systems have only 1 form, which
is known to include the 3 forms in one.
The Leung Bik system has the advanced Sil Lim Tao form unique to this wing chun
style.
Chum Kiu and Biu Jee forms are totally different than the main stream wing chun.
Dragon pole and Butterfly sword forms are also very different in structure and dynamics.
Also, the wooden dummy set has more footwork, different sequences and so on.
Why is this so?
Leung Jan king of wing chun would not initially teach wing chun to his Son, Leung
Bik. Leung Jan thought his Son would use wing chun for illegal activity. Leung Bik was
always getting in trouble, mainly for fighting in the streets and accepting challenge
matches.
His martial skill was very good, consisting of southern kung fu and a little bit of wing
chun, from what he picked up from his friends.
Leung Bik realized that the wing chun of the day had many limitations in a fighting
environment and decided to use everything that worked, meaning, he experimented
with a variety of techniques from other systems.
Leung Bik eventually met up with one of his Fathers teachers and learnt wing chun from
him for a couple of years. Eventually, his father, Leung Jan found out and decided to
adopt his Son as one of his disciples.
Leung Jan taught his Son everything he knew about wing chun, even passing down some
traditional wing chun manuscripts which are still in circulation, today, in Foshan.
When Leung Bik decided to develop his own wing chun system, he incorporated all his
martial knowledge and skill to create a very dynamic and unique form of wing chun.
Leung Biks wing chun system included many more kicks kicks as well as straight line
wing chun attacking kicks. He also decided to develop kicks that covered all gates form
high to low. Obviously, from his many street fights, Leung Bik realized the limitations of
the wing chun at the time, therefore, incorporated many extra techniques not seen in wing
chun styles at the time.
After Leung Jan retired from teaching in Foshan, he returned to his native village of
Gulao, where he taught a synthesised version of wing chun, due to his age. He called this
a 72 point system and named it Pien Sun Wing Chun. (side on wing chun).

The principles of side on wing chun share many core concepts and principles with his
Sons wing chun system.
Leung Bik Yip Man Wing Chun system and Leung Jans Gulao Pien Sun Wing Chun
share many core principles and concepts, being, Central Line theory, Centre Line theory,
Parallel Leg fighting, Circular footwork, Attack and defend simultaneously and the side
on neutral stance.
Martial Arts circles suggest that Gulao wing chun is the purest in the World due to its
isolation from the commercial world.
Considering the 2 systems share many core principles, one can assume the 2 systems
have the same origins from Yim Wing Chun and her husband, Leung Bok Chao.
Today, there is much negative publicity concerning the authenticity of Leung Bik and his
wing chun system. A lot of people in the wing chun fraternity state that Leung Bik never
existed.
Due to my recent roots of wing chun china trips, I have come to the conclusion that he
did exist and that Leung Bik did in fact create a unique wing chun system and passed it
down to Yip Man, whom in turn taught it to William Cheung.
My wife and I have been fortunate enough to learn the much sought after Gulao Pien Sun
Wing Chun from a leading wing chun master from Gulao village. His name is Grand
Master Fung Keun, the son of the late legendary Fung Chun.
In Foshan, the wing chun Masters acknowledge Leung Bik with much respect and
honour. They call his system the true attack fighting system of wing chun.
There are literal extracts of Leung Jan and Leung Biks existence in the Foshan Museum.
Yip Mans son stated to me that his father had 3 teachers but only one Sifu, Leung Bik
being one of the teachers. I have photos of Leung Biks manuscripts that were given to
Yip Man.
Yip Mans nephew, Lo Man Kam also talks about Leung Bik, during his stay with Yip
Man.
Categoric proof that Leung Bik did exist! And that the Traditional concepts of wing chun
are still being adhered to, today.