Dynamic Defense Wing Chun Academy, best Kung Fu in Victoria

The History of Wing Chun Kung Fu

Before Kung Fu, 18 Hands of Lohan On right: Bodhidharma's actual cave.
Shaolin kung fu is the older root of many other martial arts in the world today (including Karate and Taekwondo), but kung fu itself originated elsewhere. Bodhidharma (also known as Pu Tai Ta Mo in Sanskrit) was a Buddhist Master in India around 482 AD. In his travels, Bodhidharma came to China & climbed Bear's Ear Mountain near the Shaolin Temple. He meditated in a cave there for nine years and took pity on the Shaolin monks who were in terrible physical condition, similar to the extreme asceticism Siddhartha Buddha endured before finding the Middle Way. Bodhidharma not only brought Zen Buddhism to China, he created an exercise and meditation program for the monks which involved physical techniques that were efficient, strengthened the body and could be used for practical self-defense.

His goal was to make the monks stronger to be capable of better meditation, but the techniques also formed an efficient fighting system known as the 18 Hands of the Lohan or Yi Gin Ching (Changing Muscle/Tendon Classic). Martial arts helped the monks defend themselves against warlords and bandits, but Bodhidharma taught that it could be used only in self defense. One of the oldest axioms being "One who initiates combat has already lost the battle".

5 Animal Styles of Kung Fu
After Bodhidharma died, the Shaolin monks gradually evolved their own martial arts style out the the 18 Hands of the Lohan by observing fighting moves used by animals, creating the 5 Animal Styles of Kung Fu. The animal styles each had unique moves that emphasized the style of movement inherent to each animal, creating flowing and beautiful techniques that express the Chinese esthetic as well as the fundamental ideas in what Bodhidharma had taught the Shaolin. The Kung Fu (or Gung Fu) was excellent physical training and effective defense for the monks after many years of training.

Origin of Wing Chun - Sil Lum Temple
The Wing Chun style originated 250 years ago. Wing Chun was created in the Sil Lum Shaolin Buddhist Temple of Mt. Sung, in Honan Province in China as a reaction to the repressive Manchu government during the Ching Dynasty.

Opinions differ on some details in the lineage, but according to late Grand Master Yip Man, Wing Chun was created by 5 Shaolin Grand Masters at Sil Lum as a new fighting style that would dominate other fighting arts and require much less training time to master. The problem with the Animal Styles of Kung Fu was that they required great speed, dexterity and long years of training to attain effective proficiency. The 5 masters were Abbot Chi Shin, Abbot Pak Mei, Master Fung To Tak, Master Miu Hin & aged nun Ng Mui. The new system took only the best from the Animal Styles, carefully cutting out all inefficiencies in movement and form, it's moves based on scientific efficiency and effectiveness in real combat, not on esthetic or cultural appeal. Kung Fu became very strong at Sil Lum, arousing the fear of the Manchu government [a non-Chinese people from Manchuria in the North, who ruled China at that time], which attacked the Temple. Although they were unsuccessful, a civil servant seeking government favor named Chan Man Wai, devised a treacherous plan to burn Sil Lum temple to the ground.

After Sil Lum was burned down, the monks and disciples scattered, forming a secret society of Wing Chun. The masters escaped and went their separate ways. Ng Mui took refuge in the White Crane Temple on Mt. Tai Leung. Ng Mui met Yim Yee and his daughter Yim Wing Chun from whom she often bought bean curd. Miss Yim Wing Chun was a native of Canton Province in China. She was an intelligent and athletic young girl, upstanding and forthright. At fifteen, Wing Chun's beauty attracted the attention of a local warlord who tried to force Wing Chun to marry him (on threat of killing her father). Ng Mui learned of this and agreed to teach Wing Chun fighting techniques for self defense. Wing Chun trained night and day until she mastered the techniques. Then she challenged the bully to a fight and beat him soundly. Ng Mui charged Wing Chun to develop and honor the kung fu after she later married.

Yim Wing Chun -> Yip Man
Wing Chun translates as "hope for the future" or "beautiful spring". She taught her husband Leung Bok Chau who taught Leung Lan Kwai. Leung Lan Kwai passed it on to Wong Wah Bo, a member of an opera troupe on board a junk, known as the Red Junk. Wong worked on the Red Junk with Leung Yee Tei. Abbot Chi Shin, who fled from Sil Lum, was in hiding as a cook working on the Red Junk. Chi Shin taught the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole to Leung Yee Tei. Wong Wah Bo & Leung Yee Tei shared & improved their techniques. Thus the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole was incorporated into Wing Chun Kung Fu. Leung Yee Tei taught Leung Jan, an herbal Doctor in Fat Shan who attained the highest level of proficiency (chronicled in comedy movie The Prodigal Son). Leung Jan became very famous. Later he passed his Kung Fu on to Chan Wah Soon, who took Yip Man as his student. On right: Bruce Lee and Yip Man practice Wing Chun Sticking Hands (Chi Sao) drill.

It can thus be said that the Wing Chun System was passed on to Yip Man in a direct line of succession from its origin. Although the details of Ng Mui and Yim Wing Chun are debatable, the direct lineage is unquestionable.

William Cheung, Bruce Lee & Brian Lewadny

Yip Man taught current world Grand Master William Cheung in Hong Kong where William Cheung was senior student. After Yip Man passed away, William Cheung opened Traditional Wing Chun to the world, teaching the once-private style widely across the world. William Cheung's two most exceptional students were Bruce Lee and Brian Lewadny.
On left: William Cheung. On right: Bruce Lee.

Canadian Wing Chun Kung Fu Association
The Canadian Wing Chun Kung Fu Association headed by Grand Master Lewadny has been successfully training students across Canada since 1987. Sigung Brian Lewadny has 37 years of Kung-fu training and has traveled the world to learn only the most effective techniques to teach to his students here in Canada. He mastered the publicly known modified Wing Chun system as well as the different Traditional Wing Chun system and teaches a complete version we simply call Wing Chun. The Canadian Wing Chun Association has academies in Calgary, Kelowna, Penticton, Thunder Bay, Ottawa and Victoria, as well as other satellite locations. Click here for more information. Association web site is www.wingchun-canada.com

Dynamic Defense Wing Chun Academy (Victoria)
Instruction at the Victoria Wing Chun Academy is supervised by Sihing Bill Stewart. We offer beginner, intermediate and advanced Wing Chun, Women's Self Defense and Little Dragons and PowerKids kung fu for various ages. Adult classes include chi sao, weapons, grappling and multiple attacker training. Grandmaster Brian Lewadny is the head of our system, a complete version of Wing Chun that embraces the best in both Modified and Traditional Wing Chun. Dynamic Defense Wing Chun is part of the Canadian Wing Chun Kung Fu Association.

* Beginner Classes

* Contact Us

Sihing Bill Stewart - Instructor Profile

Sihing Bill is the senior instructor of Dynamic Defense Wing Chun Academy in Victoria BC, accredited by the Canadian Wing Chun Kung Fu Association and a member of the National Association of Professional Martial Artists. With 12 years of Wing Chun experience, he teaches Wing Chun classes every day, combining self defense with fitness, stretching & wellness. Previous to Wing Chun, he trained in karate, jujitsu and kung fu but only began serious training when coming to Wing Chun, learning under Canadian Grandmaster Brian Lewadny and serving as an apprentice instructor in Calgary before coming to Victoria.

How I Came to Wing Chun
People come to martial arts for different reasons. I was always intrigued by martial arts, particularly kung fu because practitioners always seemed so gracefully athletic, totally in control of themselves and peaceful in the face of adversity. Like most people, I had known moments of anxiety and stress, thinking "What if someone attacked me or my friends or my family? Would I know what to do?", so I definitely wanted something that really worked. Like a lot of people, I had the idea for a long time before actually committing myself to getting off the couch and doing it. I tried other martial arts but was not satisfied until I began Wing Chun Kung Fu.

I was surprised to find it was better than I expected. The experience, including breathing, stretching, conditioning and realistic defenses against any sort of attack raised my energy level a lot. As an analytical person, I liked the logic and science behind Wing Chun. Practice and corrections made techniques easier, faster and stronger and we never had to go outside Wing Chun to defend in close contact or on the ground or with weapons. It was a positive encouraging atmosphere. Even when I didn't feel good, if I dragged myself to class, I'd feel great coming out. Some people are naturally talented. I wasn't one of them, but lots of practice and paying attention to my instructors allowed me to progress quickly. Learning to handle things you couldn't do before is empowering for confidence.

Teaching Wing Chun
After years and a lot of work, I was honored when asked to start teaching classes at the Calgary Academy (Wing Chun Association HQ) and knew I wanted to share this powerfully effective martial art and positive experience with others. When I came to Victoria after many years in Calgary, I opened the Dynamic Defense Wing Chun Academy. It has been an excellent experience as student and instructor over the years. I do my best to impart not only the full range of Wing Chun techniques and defenses, but to keep everyone's focus on the body and mind experience, the joy and fun of perfecting the art of Wing Chun as handed down to me by Grandmaster Lewadny. I now get the joy of introducing my own kids to kung fu and teaching them useful, empowering skills.

Improve Yourself and You Improve Everything
There are many materialistic things people do to try to make their lives better, but the best thing you can possibly do is improve yourself. A better house or car won't make you a better person, but consistently committing some time to kung fu could do just that. Our classes teach empowering lessons and realistic kung fu, but beyond that, our classes raise students' energy and confidence, the two most important factors to success in life. I've had students who could barely do the warmup and were afraid of combat when they started and after a few months, they've lost weight, they sleep better, they enjoy self defense and have a lot of physical and mental energy. When students commit to what they're doing, positive change is unmistakable.

Sometimes people think they don't have the time. It comes down to "what do you want?" Having more energy and confidence should not be put off until you aren't busy. You'll always be busy, that isn't the point, you must make time for what's important to you. The question to ask yourself is this: Is my well-being, my self-esteem, my personal safety important to me or not? If it is, then make the time to do empowering activities such as learning Wing Chun. If you have free time, that's great, but if you're stressed or don't feel so good, you *need* a class like this to boost you up, get rid of that stress and recharge for tackling life. The most important thing I try to impart to students is to commit to improving themselves, and do activities in line with that goal. When they do that, they attend as regularly as they can, learn quickly and find the power lurking within each of us.

Wing Chun - Effective Kung Fu
Wing Chun is the world's most effective martial art because it does not require great strength, speed or a long period of practice to get results. Wing Chun is a simple, direct and complete system of martial arts for men and women of varying fitness levels.

Wing Chun is sought out for its simplicity and effectiveness around the world for defense against any size of opponent.

Want More Information? Call Us
For more info, see our Frequently Asked Questions page. To contact us, see the Contact page.