(989) 745-6253
OUR LINEAGE
Mission & Values
Mr. Morgan is very proud of his lineage in all the arts that he teaches. He comes from a long line of talented martial artists where he continues to carry out and passes down their teachings, insights and skills through the academy.
TEAKWONDO
American Taekwondo Academy, West Frankfort, IL
WING CHUN
IP MAN
IP CHING
CHRIS DAMIANO
DENNIS MORELAND
MATTHEW MORGAN
HISTORY OF WING CHUN
The founder of the Wing Chun Kung Fu System, Miss Yim Wing Chun, was a native of Canton [Kwangtung Province] in China. She was an intelligent and athletic young girl, upstanding and forthright. Her mother died soon after her betrothal to Leung Bok Chau, a salt merchant of Fukien. Her father, Yim Yee, was wrongfully accused of a crime and, rather than risk jail, they slipped away and finally settled down at the foot of Tai Leung Mountain near the border between Yunan and Szechuan provinces. There they earned a living by running a shop that sold bean curd.
During the reign of Emperor K'anghsi of the Ching Dynasty (1662-1722) Kung Fu became very strong in the Siu Lam [Shaolin] Monastery of Mt. Sung, in Honan Province. This aroused the ear of the Manchu government [a non-Chinese people from Manchuria in the North, who ruled China at that time], which sent troops to attack the Monastery. Although they were unsuccessful, a man named Chan Man Wai, a recently appointed civil servant seeking favor with the government, suggested a plan.
He plotted with Siu Lam monk Ma Ning Yee and others who were persuaded to betray their companions by setting fire to the monastery while soldiers attacked it from the outside. Siu Lam was burned down, and the monks and disciples scattered. Buddhist Abbess Ng Mui, Abbot Chi Shin, Abbot Pak Mei, Master Fung To Tak and Master Miu Hin escaped and went their separate ways.
Ng Mui took refuge in the White Crane Temple on Mt. Tai Leung [also known as Mt. Chai Har]. It was there she met Yim Yee and his daughter Wing Chun from whom she often bought bean curd on her way home from the market. At fifteen, with her hair bound up in the custom of those days to show she was of an age to marry, Wing Chun's beauty attracted the attention of a local bully. He tried to force Wing Chun to marry him, and his continuous threats became a source of worry to her and her father. Ng Mui learned of this and took pity on Wing Chun. She agreed to teach Wing Chun fighting techniques so she could protect herself. Wing Chun followed Ng Mui into the mountains, and began to learn Kung Fu. She trained night and day, until she mastered the techniques. Then she challenged the bully to a fight and beat him.
Ng Mui later traveled around the country, but before she left she told Wing Chun to strictly honor the Kung Fu traditions, to develop her Kung Fu after her marriage, and to help the people working to overthrow the Manchu government and restore the Ming Dynasty.
After her marriage Wing Chun taught Kung Fu to her husband Leung Bok Chau. He in turn passed these techniques on to Leung Lan Kwai. Leung Lan Kwai then passed them on to Wong Wah Bo. Wong Wah Bo was a member of an opera troupe on board a junk, known to Chinese as the Red Junk. Wong worked on the Red Junk with Leung Yee Tei. It so happened that Abbot Chi Shin, who fled from Siu Lam, had disguised himself as a cook and was then working on the Red Junk. Chi Shin taught the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole techniques to Leung Yee Tei. Wong Wah Bo was close to Leung Yee Tei, and they shared what they knew about Kung Fu. Together they shared and improved their techniques, and thus the Six-and-a-half-point Long Pole was incorporated into Wing Chun Kung Fu. Leung Yee Tei passed his Kung Fu on to Leung Jan, a well known herbal Doctor in Fat Shan. Leung Jan grasped the innermost secrets of Wing Chun, attaining the highest level of proficiency. Many Kung Fu masters came to challenge him, but all were defeated. Leung Jan became very famous. Later he passed his Kung Fu on to Chan Wah Shan, who took me and my elder Kung Fu brothers, such as Ng Siu Lo, Ng Chung So, Chan Yu Min and Lui Yu Jai, as his students many decades ago.
It can thus be said that the Wing Chun System was passed on to us in a direct line of succession from its origin. I write this history of the Wing Chun System in respectful memory of my forerunners. I am eternally grateful to them for passing to me the skills I now possess. A man should always think of the source of the water as he drinks it; it is this shared feeling that keeps our Kung Fu brothers together.
Is this not the way to promote Kung Fu, and to project the image of our country?
-Ip Man
JUN FAN GUNG FU / JEET KUNE DO
SI TAI GUNG YIP MAN
SIJU BRUCE LEE
SIFU / GURU DAN INOSANTO
SIFU DAVID AND SIMU LYNDA HATCH
SIFU MATTHEW MORGAN
HISTORY OF JUN FAN GUNG FU / JEET KUNE DO
The Jeet Kune Do History started when it was created by the late Bruce Lee. Lee felt discontented with the traditional martial arts. He felt that the traditional styles were unrealistic and more ornate than pragmatic. One story has it that Bruce Lee was challenged by a member of the Chinese martial arts community because Lee was openly teaching caucasions his unique brand of Wing Chun, Jun Fan. Lee accepted the challenge under the conditions that if he lost he would stop teaching caucasions martial arts, and if he won, he would teach whomever he pleased.
Lee eventually won the fight, but he felt the fight took too long. It was at this point that Lee decided to revolutionize the martial arts world and make history. Lee began investigating and researching, and eventually he developed many principles and techniques based upon these principles. In the end, Lee blended the footwork and combinations of western boxing with the principles of fencing, Wing Chun and Jun Fan Gung Fu, and Northern Style kicking. What he developed he later coined, “Jeet Kune Do,” or “Way of the Intercepting Fist,” translated from its native cantonese.
The Most Important Principle in Jeet Kune Do is Simplicity! If you train in Jeet Kune Do, you will learn a core set of techniques, and the rest of your training will be spent in a “daily decrease.” Jeet Kune Do practitioners refine and remove excesses. Hack away the inessentials! Efficiency is the calling card of the Jeet Kune Do artist.
An unusual, but scientificly grounded principle, is that of putting your power side forward. This means that right-handed individuals will lead with their right foot and right hand, unlike traditional orthodox boxing. Yes, it is possible to hit incredibly hard with your power hand without a wind-up! Put your closest weapon to use on the opponents closest target. “Intercept them!”
Foot work is essential! Mobility is of the utmost importance. A great example is that of the foot soldier: he is constantly in motion, never staying static. A static target is always easier to hit than a moving one. Without foot work, techniques are worthless. A martial artist without footwork is a car with no wheels. The car may be powerful, fast, or even beautiful; however, it won’t take you to your destination.
Jeet Kune Do bends to fit you, you do not bend to fit the art. Learn a core set of principles, and then use what works best for you. Use what is most effective and suits your unique characteristics the best.
Jeet Kune Do was developed to fight in all three ranges of fighting:close, medium, and far. Its principles apply equally well in any range.
Jeet Kune Do was developed for the street! Jeet Kune Do is not a ring or tournament art. It is brutal, it is lethal, it is efficient. You do not just practice against your own art. We have street confrontations in mind. We train against everything from the “haymaker and biscuit cutter,” to traditional karate, softer kung fu, and even western boxing. and that is the short Jeet Kune Do History.
References and Sources