Yip Man

Yip was born to Yip Oi-dor and Ng Shui, and was the third of four children. He grew up in a wealthy family
in Foshan, Guangdong, and received a traditional Chinese education. His elder brother was Yip Kai-gak,
his elder sister was Yip Wan-mei and his younger sister was Yip Wan-hum.
Yip started learning Wing Chun from Chan Wah-shun when he was 13. Since Chan was 70 at the time,
Yip was Chan's last student. Due to his teacher's age, Yip learned most of his skills and techniques from
Chan's second eldest disciple, Ng Chung-sok. Chan died three years after Yip's training started and one
of his dying wishes was to have Ng continue teaching Yip.
At the age of 16, Yip moved to Hong Kong with help from his relative Leung Fut-ting. One year later, he
attended school at St. Stephen's College a secondary school for wealthy families and foreigners living
in Hong Kong. During Yip's time at St. Stephen's, he saw a foreign police officer beating a woman and he

intervened. The officer attempted to attack Yip, but Yip struck him down and ran to school with his
classmate. Yip's classmate later told an older man who lived in his apartment block. The man met with Yip
and asked what martial art Yip practised. The man told Yip that his forms were "not too great". The man
challenged Yip's Wing Chun against the man in chi sao (a form of training that involves controlled attack
and defence). Yip saw this as an opportunity to prove that his abilities were good, but was defeated by the
man after a few strikes. Yip's opponent revealed himself to be Leung Bik, Chan Wah-shun's senior and
the son of Chan's teacher, Leung Jan. After that encounter, Yip continued learning from Leung Bik.
Yip returned to Foshan when he was 24 and became a policeman.

Confucius

Confucius (551479 BC) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and
Autumn period of Chinese history. The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and governmental
morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. His followers competed successfully
with many other schools during the Hundred Schools of Thought era only to be suppressed in favor of
the Legalists during theQin Dynasty. Following the victory of Han over Chu after the collapse of Qin,
Confucius's thoughts received official sanction and were further developed into a system known
as Confucianism.
Confucius is traditionally credited with having authored or edited many of the Chinese classic
texts including all of the Five Classics, but modern scholars are cautious of attributing specific assertions
to Confucius himself. Aphorisms concerning his teachings were compiled in the Analects, but only many
years after his death.
Confucius's principles had a basis in common Chinese tradition and belief. He championed strong family
loyalty, ancestor worship, respect of elders by their children (and in traditional interpretations) of husbands
by their wives. He also recommended family as a basis for ideal government. He espoused the wellknown principle "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself", an early version of
the Golden Rule.