Yip Man: The Legacy of a Martial Arts Master
Who Was Yip Man? Yip Man, also known as Ip Man, was born on October 1, 1893, in Foshan, China. A revered martial arts master, he studied Wing Chun and became one of its most respected practitioners. Among his many students, the most famous was Bruce Lee. Yip Man passed away on December 2, 1972, in Hong Kong. His life story was so impactful that in 2013, two films, The Grandmaster and Ip Man: The Final Fight, were released to honor his legacy.
Early Life Yip Man, born Ip Kai Man, was the third of four children in a wealthy family. His parents, Ip Oi Dor and Ng Shui, provided him with a traditional education. Amidst political turmoil, Yip Man began his martial arts training at the age of 12 under Chan Wah Shun. Despite the high fees intended to dissuade him, Yip Man proved his dedication and learned extensively from his master during their three years together before Chan Wah Shun’s passing.
Career At 15, Yip Man moved to Hong Kong, where he attended St. Stephen’s College and continued his Wing Chun training. By the age of 24, he returned to Foshan and worked as a police officer while giving private martial arts lessons. In 1949, following the rise of the Chinese Communist Party, Yip Man fled to Hong Kong and established a Wing Chun school, becoming the first master to publicly teach the art. Among his students was the young Bruce Lee, who began training under him at 13 and developed a close bond with his master, returning to visit Yip Man in later years.
Personal Life, Later Years, and Legacy Yip Man was married to Cheung Wing Sing, and they had two sons, Ip Chun and Ip Ching, who both followed in their father’s footsteps as martial arts specialists. Details about his daughters, Yip Ar Sum and Yip Ar Woon, remain scarce. Yip Man succumbed to cancer on December 2, 1972, in Hong Kong at the age of 79. His legacy continues through numerous works about his life, including the 2001 book Ip Man: Portrait of a Kung Fu Master by Ip Ching and Ron Heimberger, and several films such as The Legend is Born: Ip Man (2010) and the 2013 films The Grandmaster and Ip Man: The Final Fight.
Quick Facts
- Name: Yip Man
- Birth Year: 1893
- Birth Date: October 1, 1893
- Birth City: Foshan
- Birth Country: China
- Gender: Male
- Best Known For: Teaching the Wing Chun form and mentoring Bruce Lee
- Industries: Sports
- Astrological Sign: Libra
- Nationality: Chinese
- Death Year: 1972
- Death Date: December 2, 1972
- Death City: Hong Kong
- Death Country: China