A Policeman's Challenge

In Foshan, Wing Chun became very famous and quite popular due to the efforts of Leung Jan. Because of two incidents, defeating the vagabond and defeating Choy Biu, everyone thought Jan's skills were very good. In Foshan, another popular style was Hung Sing Pai, but it used strong bridges and strong stances and was a very noisy style. Its practitioners were all working class. The gentlemen and businessmen did not like the style. They heard that Wing Chun was soft and hard, and did not require lots of space to practice. After Leung Bok-Lao had defeated Choy Biu, many people had asked him to open a school, but he had always refused. Bok-Lao had decided to let Leung Jan spread the style in Foshan, while he took it to other places. When he taught Jan, Bok-Lao always told him it was his wish that he spread the style.

Because businessmen wanted to learn Wing Chun, they kept asking Leung Jan. Jan decided to expand his pharmacy and buy some weapons. He was always very careful when choosing students; he would only teach honest men. His first class had thirty students, and was very full after only a few days. After this he refused to take on more for a time, saying when these thirty graduated, they could help him teach more.

All Leung Jan's students came to practice at night. After work, they would go to Leung Jan's place. Leung Jan's schedule was split between his daily medical practice and his nightime teaching of Wing Chun. Jan was a gentleman, and he always dressed well during working hours with a cap and long robe. If one did not know better, one would be hard pressed to guess the man had any martial skills. This is why he was called Jan Sin-Sang (Mr. Jan) instead of Jan Sifu (Teacher Jan). Jan was very famous, but he did not call his place Wing Chun Gwoon (Wing Chun Gymnasium), only Jan Sang Tong (Mr. Jan's Office). Every year, during the Buddhist Festivals, other schools would would do Lion Dancing and play music. This was the typical method for attaining fame, but Jan did not like it and so he and his students never did lion dancing or demonstations. Jan thought such things were too noisy and were only an excuse for trouble makers to challenge and cause problems. His shop was in the middle of a very busy area, however, and so every day it would get very noisy. Jan maintained that his school was different, however, he was only concerned about teaching quality, not just superficial skills.

Leung Jan and his students practiced every night, but were so quiet even his neighbors did not hear a sound. Jan did not want to show off or be famous, but his quality was such that he became famous anyway. Many people were attracted to the quiet, gentle Wing Chun style. If gentlemen wanted to learn the martial arts, they knew they must go to Jan. All of Jan's students were business managers, who liked the refined nature of the style. Because the bosses of the local companies liked it and said it was good, everyone came to think highly of Leung Jan's school.

Go Hao-Chi worked as head of police for the Foshan government, and it was his job to make sure people were safe. Hao-Chi fought a lot, and so liked the martial arts and always kept an eye out for other martial artists in Foshan. All of his deputies knew martial arts as well. Hao-Chi heard about Leung Jan's Wing Chun and people told him it was very good, using soft to overcome hard. Foshan had many martial art schools, but it was said none could compare to Leung Jan's. Hao-Chi wanted to test it.

Because Go Hao-Chi was a policeman, he could not go around challenging people. He knew, however, that Leung Jan did Dit Da (Iron Hitting) medicine, and was very famous for it. This gave Hao-Chi an idea, and a reason to visit Jan.

Since police always fought with criminals, they would often get injured and require medical attention. Go Hao-Chi thought he would invite Leung Jan to be the official doctor for the police force. Hao-Chi went to Jan and asked him, and Jan agreed, thinking it was a doctor's job to help the injured. Hao-Chi showered Jan with money and gifts, showing his respect for the doctor and invited him back to the government offices.

Leung Jan accompanied Go Hao-Chi back to the offices, where Hao-Chi had arranged for a large meal to be prepared. After eating together, Jan thought Hao-Chi must really respect him. Hao-Chi asked Jan to retire with him to the living room so they might talk. The policemen's quarters had walls covered with weapons, and many people practiced their martial arts inside. Hao-Chi firmly believed in the martial arts, and wanted his team of policemen to be strong and have quality skills.

Go Hao-Chi, wanting to test Leung Jan, invited Jan to watch his deputies demonstrate. All of Hao-Chi's deputies were very strong, and they lined up before him and bowed. Hao-Chi introduced Jan to them, telling them Jan's Wing Chun boxing was very good, and that he was an excellent doctor. Hao-Chi said it was the job of the police to catch robbers, but that it was a sometimes dangerous job. He then informed them that from that day on, Jan would be their doctor and would fix their injuries. All the deputies bowed to Jan, and Jan bowed back.

Go Hao-Chi then asked the deputies to demonstrate their martial arts. They all used tense bridges and tense stances. They used leg techniques like Mok Ga Kuen (Mok Family Boxing), but were not as flexible, as if the Mok Ga had been altered. When the deputies finished, they bowed again.

After the demonstration, Go Hao-Chi returned to Leung Jan's side and they drank together. When the conversation drifted to martial arts, Hao-Chi asked Jan what he thought of the demonstration, and inquired if he knew which system they had demonstrated. Jan responded that it resembled Dong Gwoon style. Hao-Chi responded that it was Mok Ga style. Jan countered, saying that Mok Ga did not use the same long bridge and big stance, but that the kicking techniques were similar. In the end, Jan thought it was Dong Gwoon and Mok Ga mixed together. Hao Chi asked if the kicking techniques were the same as Mok Ga. Jan explained that though the motions were similar, they were not as flexible as Mok Ga and he saw many problems in the execution.

Go Hao-Chi had had a lot to drink and retorted Leung Jan's assessment, saying he had not been telling lies, and had taught his deputies his Dong Gwoon boxing. If Jan saw problems in the techniques, he was not aware of them, and then asked Jan if he would care to show him. Jan knew he had misspoken, but also knew that now he must reply. Jan responded that he must have been mistaken, and that Hao-Chi's technique was very famous while his own skills were not very good, and so he dare not offer any corrections. Hao-Chi informed Jan he should not be modest. Wing Chun was very famous and very good. Hao-Chi told Jan that now he wanted to test his skills.

Go Hao-Chi told Leung Jan that if he refused, his deputies would not be happy. Hao-Chi stood up and went to the center of the room. Leung Jan knew there was no getting out of it, so he stood up and joined Hao-Chi in the room's center. Jan began the test by punching down the center at Hao-Chi. The punch fell short, however, and Hao-Chi caught it with Scissors arms, one arm on each side. Jan felt that Hao-Chi's arms were strong like iron. Hao-Chi had learned from many famous teachers, and this technique was one of his specialties. Hao-Chi's technique was flexible and adaptable, he had competed with many before and they had all failed before him. Now he was testing himself against Jan's Wing Chun, and took the situation very seriously. Jan's testing arm had been well scissored, and he could not advance or retreat. It was as if it had been tied in place with an iron cord.

Leung Jan was startled. He knew that the situation was dire. If he failed, his reputation would be ruined. He knew he must succeed. Worried, he knew he must continue and fight. Jan drew his hand back and stepped into Go Hao-Chi's stance, knocking the inside of Hao-Chi's leg while using two hands to push his chest. This was Jan's secret Inside/Outside Hooking 3-Star Leg. Hao-Chi rushed to bring his arm back to defend, but was not fast enough. Jan closed off everything and Hao-Chi was too late to stop him. Hao-Chi wobbled and began to fall, but at the last second Jan caught him.

Go Hao-Chi knew Leung Jan had high good quality skills, and told Jan he had become a believer. Jan responded that Hao-Chi's Scissors Arms were very good, and said he was lucky to have been able to draw his arm back after that. They returned to the table and took some more wine. Jan had had a lot to drink and told Hao-Chi that his technique was good because his arm was strong like iron and he had practiced a long time. Hao-Chi responded that while his arm was strong, he had not been able to cut Jan with it, so they could say Jan's technique was of a higher level.

Leung Jan informed Go Hao-Chi that his quality was also good but his style was known by many and not all of them had learned the theory and reasons - they had only stressed hardness and strength. In Jan's opinion, training like that made them lose adaptability and if done for a long time, it became tense. This was why soft overcame hard. When Jan punched, Hao-Chi had used his arm to cut it. That was using cross to block straight. But since he had been so eager to win, he had forgotten his stance. Even though Hao-Chi had caught Jan's arm, and Jan could not move it, Hao-Chi had been straightened and forgot his stance. Jan kicked Hao-Chi's stance and pulled back his arm, and discovered that Hao-Chi was not solid and used his leg to enter Hao-Chi's stance.

Go Hao-Chi, hearing Leung Jan's explanation, knew Jan's skills were of the highest quality and asked where they had come from. Jan explained Wing Chun's origins. Jan also said Wing Chun was famous because it uses soft to overcome hard and so it can be used. Other systems use long bridges and big stances. Hao-Chi said he understood. The two spoke until late at night and when Jan finally had to leave, Hao-Chi invited him to come back soon.

Go Hao-Chi was a proud man, but he greatly respected Leung Jan's skills and told that to others when he spoke to them. It was not often that Hao-Chi said another's skills were good. Because of this, and because Hao-Chi always took the chance to go to Jan's pharmacy, many people came to believe in Jan's skills and his reputation continued to grow.

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.