The origin of Wing Chun Kung Fu can be found in the turbulent, repressive Ching dynasty of over 250 years ago. It was a time when 90% of the Chinese race, the Hons, were ruled by the 10% minority, the Manchus. The Manchus placed a great amount of unjust law on the Hons. For instance, all the female Hon infants were made to bind their feet so that when they grew up they would be dependent upon their parents or husband. The work opportunity of the Hons was also restricted. They were unable to hold office in Government higher than a certain level. Heavy tax burdens were placed on the country so that the Manchus could have economic control of the Hon people. Kung Fu training was also banned for the Hons, however the Manchu Government was adopting the Hon culture. They respected the Shil Lim Temple as a Buddhist sanctuary.
When all weapons were outlawed by the Manchus, the Hons began training a revolutionary army in the secret art of Kung Fu. The Shil Lim Temple became the secret sanctuary for preparatory trainings of a classic style which took 15 to 20 years to master.
To develop a new form, one which would have shorter training time, five of China's grandmasters met to discuss the merits of each of the various forms of Kung Fu. By choosing the most efficient techniques from each style, they developed training programs that would develop an efficient martial artist in 5 to 7 years, one third the original time. However before this new form could be put into practice, the Shil Lim Temple was raided and burned by the Manchus.
Ng Mui, a nun, was the only survivor of the original five grandmasters. She passed her knowledge onto a young orphan girl whom she named Wing Chun. The name represented "hope for the future". In turn Wing Chun passed her knowledge on to her husband. Through the years the style became known as Wing Chun. Its techniques and teachings were passed onto a few, always carefully selected students.
In 1950 Yip Man started to teach Wing Chun in Hong Kong. One of his first students was the new Grandmaster, William Cheung, head of the World Wing Chun Kung Fu Association. (www.cheungswingchun.com)

He has been called the Masters' Master; he was considered by Bruce Lee to be the "ultimate fighter": William Cheuk Hing Cheung was the sole inheritor of the Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu system, and was the person responsible for introducing Bruce Lee to Wing Chun Kung Fu.
In 1951, at the age of ten, Cheung started his training in Wing Chun Kung Fu under the late Grandmaster Yip Man. From 1954 to 1958 Cheung was a live-in student of Grandmaster Yip Man. It was during this time that he inherited the complete system of Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu.
Between 1957 and 1958 Cheung won the Kung Fu elimination contests in Hong Kong, defeating opponents with many more years' experience. In early 1954 Cheung introduced Bruce Lee to Grandmaster Yip Man, and became his personal trainer. Throughout the four and a half years the two men developed a very close friendship, and Cheung passed on to Bruce Lee most of his techniques and helped developed his overall confidence and experience in fights. In later years he was to use these techniques in competitions, and also in his movies.
In 1959, after completing his training under Grandmaster Yip Man, Cheung left Hong Kong to pursue an academic career at the Australian National University in Canberra. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Economics.
After moving to Melbourne to teach Wing Chun professionally in 1973, Cheung began operating a very successful Martial Arts School. In 1976 he was elected the President of the Australian Kung Fu Federation.
Cheung was appointed as Chief Instructor to the U.S. Seventh Fleet based in Yukosuka, Japan, during 1978 to 1980. Throughout this time, he was in charge of the intensive mental and physical development program of close quarter hand to hand combat for the marines.
Many of Cheung's students have achieved international recognition for their martial arts prowess. In 1982 his students won the heavyweight and middleweight divisions respectively in the World Invitation Kung Fu Championships held in Hong Kong. Furthermore, Cheung himself, in 1983, was inducted into the "Black Belt Hall of Fame" as Kung Fu Artist of the Year and again in 1989, into the "Inside Kung Fu Hall of Fame" as Martial Arts Instructor of the Year.
From 1979 Grandmaster Cheung and many of his juniors conducted special programs for special law enforcing officers and special operation groups in the Armed Services in U.S.A. and other countries, teaching unarmed combat, restraining and disarming assailants and a fire arm retention program.
It was at the Harvard University, Boston, in 1984 that Grandmaster Cheung set the world speed punching record of 8.3 punches per second .
To promulgate his ideas and stimulate and enliven the art, Cheung has authored a variety of books for the general public including "Wing Chun Bil Jee", "Wing Chun Butterfly Swords", "Wing Chun Dragon Pole", "Advanced Wing Chun", "How to Develop Chi Power", "Wing Chun Kung Fu" (in French), "A Comparison of Wing Chun and Jeet Kune Do" Volumes I and II. He has also produced a number of videos, including the well-known "The Wing Chun Way", "Tao of Wing Chun" and "PRO-TEKT: A Personal Protection Program".
From his early training in Martial Arts, Grandmaster Cheung has become an expert in Meridian, Pressure Points and Meditation dealing with internal energies. Over the last ten years he has used this knowledge to develop many successful programs treating sports injuries and teaching stress management. As the result of these, Grandmaster Cheung's seminars, workshops and treatments are now much sought after all over the world. (www.cheungswingchun.com)

Sifu Dana Wong was born in 1955 in Boston, Massachusetts in the USA. Being slight of build and from the only Asian family in his neighbourhood, he was a constant target for the school bullies. He began his martial arts training like so many in his generation, from watching the great Bruce Lee on television, in The Green Hornet.
Wong began with Okinawan uechi-ryu karate, then moved on to Tiger/Crane kung fu and then Praying Mantis kung fu. Chinese kempo karate and Filipino Modern Arnis were other styles that Sifu Wong trained in. But when he found Wing Chun kung fu, it became his passion for almost half his lifetime.
So much so, that it eventually took him to Australia, where he became the Chief Instructor at Grandmaster William Cheung's World Wing Chun Kung Fu Association's world headquarters in Melbourne; a post he held for over 10 years. During that time, Blitz Magazine, Australia's premier martial arts publication, awarded him its Hall of Fame Kung Fu Instructor of the Year in 1997.
Sifu Wong has been featured in techniques and articles in many international publications for his efforts in Traditional Wing Chun.
But Sifu Wong wanted to reach even further in his martial arts quest, and so left the World Wing Chun Association to form the Qian Li Dao Academy. The objectives and ideals of the Qian Li Dao Academy provided him with an opportunity to continually evolve and improve, and to share his knowledge with those who follow him on a continuing path to self-mastery.
"Qian Li Dao is my contribution to those who follow me in wanting to better themselves through their martial arts training. It is my way of saying thanks to all those great masters and guides who taught and inspired me over the years, and who brought me from a skinny kid with no self-esteem and discipline, to a respected martial artist and contributing member of society. If you are interested and want to know more about this Martial art, clik to the link " (www.qionlidao.com).

I have a clear vision how I involved in Martioal Art and become part of my life, it started by watching my brother, Esku and his friends practicing Karate at home (Ethiopia). They were practicing a "Japanies Karate" at the time and it real hard trainning and deciplenary. Later on, my brother, started teaching me and let me joined the group; I got to Yellow belt in Japanise Karate (Shotokan) before I left home.

My passion for this Art growing with me and when I was in Italy, I joined the club and started practicing Wado-ryu Karate. I particiepated in national computition, that was my frist tournament compitition and lean great deal about it. I completed a Brown belt in Wado-ryu in Italy. Then came a huge change when I came to Australia, a transition from Japanise Karate to Chines Kung fu is not easy, but with a lot of trainning and dedication, I made a right decision. I have reached to Gold sash (Lavel 10) in "Tradition Wing Chung" and certified by Grand Master William Cheung. One has said, that is the starting stage or the begining of Wing Chung. This is not exaggeration, I came to beleive "Wing Chun" - King Fu is more advanced and superiore (in terms of techenices and moveblities) than any martioal Arts I could mention. Be alert, the seginificant of Wing Chun relay on practitioner how well he/she applay the priencipeles. These are my personal opinion. "Wing Chun" is my part of life and alway will be!!!!!!!!!!  

Appreciation: I would like to thank Grand master William Cheung to introduce and teaching " The Traditional Wing Chun - Kung Fu" to Australia as well as a countinues teaching to the rest of the world, so that we could share his wisdom and find the way of life. I'm very glad to have the apportunity to learn this exquisite and superior Art from Grandmaster Chung and Sifu Dana Wong. One of the princepal which I find make great deal or profound than other Martial Art is " You do not fight fource with fource" What a great princepal!

In addition, I thank Sifu Dana Wong for his brilliant teaching and support while I was trainning Wing Chun Acadamy in city.  I'm proud to be one of his student. I wish him all sucusse to his new club "Qionlidao" Thank you Sifu Dana! To learn more about these topics please visit the links above.

If you would like to see more Wing Chung pictures, click on Album and Sport folder. Cheers!!!