"Dark" Palm of the Vagabond

From that day on Leung Bok-Lao stayed with Leung Jan and taught him Wing Chun martial arts. During the day, when he had nothing to do, he would sit in the shop. One day a young man came into the shop to buy medicine. He was only in his 20's and his clothing was not of great quality. He entered the Jan Sang Tong and gave his prescription. When he sat down to wait, he coughed a lot and Bok-Lao noticed that his face was yellowish green and quite pale. The man's leg was also shaking slightly. Bok-Lao suspected something was amiss, and since he was sitting close by, he peered over at the man's prescription and noted that it was medication for a chest cold.

Leung Bok-Lao had gained great knowledge of Dit Da (Iron Hitting) Medicine while learning martial arts, and he knew the prescription the man had would be of little real use to him. Bok-Lao decided to try and help and asked the young man if he was ailing from a chest cold. The young man replied that he was. Bok-Lao requested to know when it began and the man responded that he didn't know, but it had persisted for at least half a month. The young man had seen a doctor who had told him the problem was in his lungs. He had been taking the prescribed medicine every day, but so far he had not recovered. Bok-Lao asked if he could take the young man's pulse. The young man agreed. After checking the pulse Bok-Lao asked the young man if he had been in any fights recently. The young man said no, he was a businessman and stayed out of trouble. Bok-Lao then checked his nails by pressing down and timing how long it took for the color to return. He waited for several moments, and the color did not come back. Bok-Lao told the young man this result indicated that his circulation was not good. Bok-Lao informed the young man he thought he had been deliberately harmed internally by someone. Bok-Lao reported that the young man's circulation was not good, but that if someone did not know Dit Da medicine, they might misjudge the condition. He told the young man he must take Dit Da medicine and that his previous prescription was no good. Bok-Lao pointed out that the medicine should have cured the ailment a long time ago. Bok-Lao pointed out what he was saying was not polite about the other doctor, but when he had seen the young man's condition it had been very bad - close to death - and he thought he must intervene. Bok-Lao gave the young man a new prescription, told him to purchase the herbs and eat them. He said if he felt better the next day, he should come back and see him.

The young man was grateful and asked Leung Bok-Lao how much he owed him for the treatment. Bok-Lao said he should consider this treatment as a favor and there would be no charge. Since Bok-Lao was not charging him, the young man thought he must be a decent man and so believed his diagnosis.

The young man's name was Lai Keung, and he worked at a cigarette shop. He purchased the herbs for the prescription at the shop. When he got home, he took the medicine. Lai Keung was careful not to tell anyone, so the other doctor would not get a bad reputation.

The next day, Lai Keung returned and told Leung Bok-Lao that he had been right. Keung had taken the medicine the day before. Shortly thereafter, he had had to go to the bathroom. There had been a lot of blood in his stool but, afterward, he felt much better. He was now convinced Bok-Lao had been right, that his ailment required Dit Da. Bok-Lao asked Keung if he knew of anybody who hated him, or who would do him harm. Keung couldn't think of anyone, he simply worked at the cigarette shop and never got into fights. He did remember, however, that one day a vagabond from another province had come by the shop. The man spoke Mandarin (Beijing language). He had a cord tied around a bottle of water and he would spin it and do tricks with it. He did this in front of all the shops and then asked for money from the owners. The vagabond made the water bottle turn very fast and rise up and sink down, and never did any water spill out. The vagabond demanded a copper from each shop, if anyone tried to give him a smaller amount, he did not accept it. All the shop-keepers hated him, but they all felt they had to pay to avoid trouble. A little while ago, he came again and Keung's boss had been busy. The boss told Keung not to give him anything that day. When Keung refused him the man only smiled, called him brother, told him not to get angry and that he would leave, and then patted him on the shoulder with his right hand. Keung said he felt no pain at the time, but from what Bok-Lao had told him, he began to think that may be the cause. He asked Bok-Lao if it could be possible.

Leung Bok-Lao told Lai Keung that he thought that was it. Bok-Lao said it must be a very bad man. Refusing to pay him did not warrant death; it was no reason to kill someone. Bok-Lao told Keung that he would make him a poultice to speed his recovery and asked him to remove his shirt. When Keung did, Bok-Lao noticed a small black mark where the vagabond had struck him. Bok-Lao told the man it was from Yum Cheung (Yin or "Dark" Palm) a form of Dit Sa Cheung (Iron Sand Palm) and very deadly.

Leung Jan had observed this exchange and realized that his sifu knew not only martial arts, but also Dit Da medicine. Bok-Lao later told him it was only a small skill. All Dit Da doctors knew that when harmed inside, one must check the nails to see if the blood was circulating properly. Bok-Lao maintained what he had done was not very difficult, nor a high level skill. He stated that the only technique required was good observation skills and that all doctors should work that way.

Leung Jan asked Leung Bok-Lao if he knew what martial arts the vagabond had used to cause such an injury. Bok-Lao responded that it was the Yum Sao, a very high level technique. However, Bok-Lao maintained that since this vagabond had used it to harm someone, he showed no morality and hence the technique was bad. Bok-Lao worried that if the vagabond was not taught a lesson, he would use it to harm many others. Bok-Lao was only sorry that the vagabond had not come by the pharmacy so he personally could have taught him that lesson. Bok-Lao felt one punch would have shown him the error of his ways and ensure that he harm no one else. Jan agreed, saying he hoped the man did come to the pharmacy one day, so his sifu could teach him that lesson.

The next day Leung Bok-Lao was alone in his room of the pharmacy when Leung Jan entered and told him the vagabond was there asking for money. He pointed out to his sifu that this was an excellent opportunity to give the man the lesson he had mentioned earlier. Bok-Lao went out and stood at the door, watching the vagabond performing his tricks with the water bowl. Since Leung Jan and his employees all knew Bok-Lao intended to punch the vagabond, the cashier did not pay him when he approached asking for money. The vagabond began to argue with the cashier. Bok-Lao intervened and pointed out to the vagabond that he had requested money, but had no right to force people to pay him. He told the vagabond he had no reason to get upset and said he knew he had gotten angry before and hurt the worker at the cigarette shop. Bok-Lao lectured that this behavior was not right. With such high quality martial arts should come high level morality. Bok-Lao chided that the man could use the Yum Sao, so his skill was high, but that he had harmed a man who had refused to pay him, so showing his character was low. Bok-Lao then stated he also refused to pay, and that the man had again become angry. Bok-Lao said if he were a different man, he too would have been harmed by the vagabond. Bok-Lao informed him, however, he had no concern over being harmed, and offered the vagabond to test his bridge.

The vagabond was angry and surprised, and began to think. He wondered how Leung Bok-Lao could dare say these words to him. He knew he must accept the test or lose face. Bok-Lao stated they would test internal power by trying to push down the bridge. He stated that if they used fists and kicks, they would harm each other and that would not be good. The vagabond agreed and put down his bowl.

Leung Bok-Lao readied himself, extended his right bridge arm, and told the vagabond to touch it. Bok-Lao used the Character Two Goat Pressing Horse. The vagabond had never seen such a narrow posture before and took his own Gung Ma (Bow Horse). Touching Bok-Lao's bridge, the vagabond tried for a quick start and used all his power to press Bok-Lao's bridge down. Bok-Lao suspected that the vagabond would try to go for a quick start and had remained very calm. Without using power, he ensured his arm would not move. The vagabond used a lot of internal power, but could not move Bok-Lao's bridge. When he realized all his power was not enough, he tried to withdraw his arm but found it firmly stuck to Bok-Lao's bridge. The vagabond tried to trick Bok-Lao by kicking quickly at Bok-Lao's stance and then rapidly withdrawing his arm. His hand did come back, however a great portion of the skin stayed behind, still stuck to Bok-Lao's arm. The vagabond's arm started bleeding. Bok-Lao again lectured the vagabond that they had agreed beforehand not to strike, yet he had tried a kick and hence his injury was his own fault. Bok-Lao gave the vagabond some Dit Da medicine for his injury and told him to fix himself up. The vagabond knew his technique was no match for Bok-Lao's so he took the medicine and left, never again returning to Foshan.

Word of the encounter soon spread, and Wing Chun Kuen became famous in Foshan. Many people came asking Leung Bok-Lao for lessons, but he always refused, saying that in Foshan he would only teach Leung Jan.

These stories were translated by Rene Ritchie, and have been included here with his permission. Visit the Yuen Kay-San Wing Chun home page to see the originals.