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A tale of Yuen Kay San

As told to Sifu Sum Nung by Yuen Kay San thence to Yun Hoi

Like Sigung Yuen Kay San before him, sifu did not like to mention the names of those he defeated in

his many challenge matches so as to save the defeated sifus face and allow them to continue earningtheir living from teaching gung fu. However, this match stirred up a considerable amount of

controversy so the name of the challenger became widely know. Yu Lok Gong was a very famous

Northern Mantis boxer. It was said that he could have nine fifty kilo bags of rice stacked one on top

of another and kick any designated bag clean out of the stack without toppling the stack. Or, if

bystanders asked, he could kick and pierce any bag, driving his kick into the bag halfway, again

without tumbling the stack. In this way he demonstrated the incredible control, power and speed of

his kicks.

Law Kwan Yuk was Yu Lok Gongs teacher. He was renowned throughout China. He sent Yu Lok

Gong to Futsan to take control of the Futsan branch of the eclectic Jing Mo Martial Arts Association.On his arrival, regional competitiveness flared. Yu Lok Gong was told that the South had better

boxers than the North and that Yuen Kay Sans Wing Chun was invincible. Southerners and visiting

Northerners got into debates as to who would win if Yu Lok Gong and Yuen Kay San fought. Some

tempers flared and a number of scuffles broke out at inns and on the streets.

Yu Lok Gong decided to seek out Yuen Kay San, challenge him, and settle the manner once and for

all. He was given a brief description of Yuen and set out to Yuen Kay Sans hangouts. Eventually he

arrived at a smoke house and on entering spotted someone whom he thought was Yuen Kay San. He

asked the proprietor if the person was a Wing Chun practitioner. (It was actually Yip Man). The

proprietor replied that the person whom Yu Lok Gong pointed to was indeed a Wing Chunpractitioner. Thus, Yu Lok Gong, mistaking Yip Man for Yuen Kay San, then challenged him, Yip

agreed, setting a time and place, some say a nearby local inn courtyard, others a temple, and left.

In the interim, Yip Man decided that facing Yu Lok Gong might not be such a wise move, as he had

never had any challenge matches. So, he informed Yuen Kay San that someone wished to discuss a

legal matter with him. He offered the designated time and place of the duel and asked Yuen Kay San

to attend and announce himself on entering. However, he failed to mention anything about a

challenge.

Yuen Kay San did as requested. On the day of the fight, Yuen Kay San, arrived at the designated

place, announced to others present he had arrived and was waiting to be contacted. As he waited,

time passed so he had perched on a high bench with his shoes dangling from his feet.

He was surprised when Yu Lok Gong entered and announced that he had arrived to fight the Wing

Chun school and meet the challenger, Yuen Kay San, whom he said had accepted the challenge. Yuen

Kay San was intrigued as the senior Wing Chun master in Futsan that he had heard nothing of this

challenge and obviously had not agreed! He spoke up and said he was Yuen Kay San but had heard

nothing of such a challengelet alone accept it but, if there was a challenge to the Wing Chun

school, he was the one to decide whether to accept it and who would fight. Yu Lok Gong noted that

this was all very strange as Yuen Kay San was not the person he had challenged but said he would

fight any representative of Wing Chun. At this time for the duel, Yip Man was nowhere to be found.

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Locals who had overheard the conversation and gathered, asked Yu Lok Gong where he had met the

challenger and about his appearance and concluded it must have been Yip Man he had spoken to.

People who knew Yip added that he had actually departed that morning for Hong Kong. (Sum Nung

stated several reasons as to why Yip had left for Hong Kong which I wont repeat here).

The crowd gathered to watch noted that Yuen Kay San, was the most senior Wing Chun master in

Futsan and that Yu might challenge him instead. Yu Lok Gong turned towards Yuen Kay San and

challenged him. Yuen Kay San, who, although he had triumphed in numerous challenges, was not

interested in such contests, and declined politely. Yu Lok Gong however, insisted and, without

warning, launched an attack at Yuen Kay San. As he was forced to defend himself, Yuen Kay San

quickly sprang to his feet, without time to even put his shoes fully on. Yuen Kay San pressed Yu Lok

Gong back, sticking to his footwork, jamming his famous legs. Yuen Kay San continued to press until

Yu Lok Gong was backed into a barred door and he could no longer retreat. Yuen Kay San seized and

trapped Yu Lok Gong, taking the centre such that he couldnt move. Pressed against the door and

unable to move, knowing Yuen Kay San, holding both his arms with one hand, was free to strike, Yu

was forced to give in. Yu Lok Gong was very impressed by Yuen Kay San's superb technique and said

that Wing Chun arms and Mantis legs would make a powerful system. Yuen laughed and said he had

no need of other footwork and that his art should not be combined with any other. Yu asked Yuen

Kay San to teach him but Yuen Kay San politely refused. Then he placed several demands on Yu Lok

Gong: that he would not practise his art in Futsan; not open a gwoon in the South; and, that he

would return home. Sum Nung stated that Yuen Kay San wasnt vengeful and when Yu Lok Gong

remained living in the South but complied with the other two conditions, Yuen Kay San let things lie.

(I believe that in noting this, the story has an added credibility. If it was told simply to glorify Yuen

Kay San it would surely have concluded without this detail and possibly had Yuen Kay San knocking

out, injuring or killing a challenger).