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Yong
Chun
Originating
from Fushan. The development of Yong Chun (Weng Chun) kung fu may
not be as flourishing as the other Wing Chun kung fu, however there
are still a number of highly-skilled Yong Chun practitioners in
Hong Kong such as Zhu Songmin (Chu Chung Man), Luo Chaohuan (Law
Chiu Woon), Deng Yi (Tang Yick), whom are left as the direct Yong
Chun successors. Since Zhu Songmin is now working as a doctor and
Luo Chaohuan is a businessman, they do not openly teach Yong Chun
to the public. As for Deng Yi, he taught Yong Chun at Da Dei Poultry
Market (Dai Duk Lan) in YauMaTai (Yau Ma Tei) and Lin Xiangrong's
(Lam Heung Wing) place on Nathan Road years ago. However since Lin's
building was rebuilt, the classes had to be suspended for years.
In the end Deng Yi simply gave up teaching Yong Chun altogether.
Feng Xiaoqing (Fung Siu Ching), The Master of Yong Chun.
Yong Chun was first passed on by Feng Xiaoqing in Fushan. Feng was
born in Shunde in China. When Feng was a boy, he was an apprentice
in Long Feng (Lung Fung) Tailor Shop at Zhuang Yuan Fang in Guangzhou.
His duty was basically ironing and folding actors' costumes properly
before putting them into boxes once the costumes were made. Feng
was quite a rough chap, so he was not apt for doing intricate tasks
such as stitching and sewing. As such, the tailor masters at the
shop could not train Feng to do detailed jobs like needlework or
edging. They could only ask him to do crude duties such as ironing
and folding costumes of which he was really good at.
The customers of Long Feng Tailor Shop were mostly theatre actors
and the shop was frequently visited by famous actors. Xinjin (Sun
Kam) was a popular leading kung fu actor in san ban tou at that
time. As a famous actor, he often had his costumes made at Long
Feng Tailor Shop. Since Xinjin was such a frequent customer, most
men at the shop recognized him. One day, Xinjin was visiting the
shop and started talking with Feng's master. The master told Xinjin
that Feng Xiaoqing was doing an apprenticeship at the shop, but
since Feng was not very skilled at doing fine jobs, he could not
ask him to do dainty task like needlework. And this convinced him
that Feng would probably not make much progress in the tailor field.
When Xinjin learnt about this, he was really pleased as it was just
what he wanted to hear. Every time Xinjin walked into Long Feng
Tailor Shop, he would notice Feng's strong body and his fine skills
of folding the costumes properly thinking
about getting a boy to help him fold his costumes, and since Feng
was good at it, he was the right candidate for the job. Learning
that the tailor master was not being too positive about Feng's future
in the costume-making business, Xinjin talked to the master and
asked for his permission to let Feng to work for him instead. Given
that Feng might not have much prospects in the business, keeping
him at the shop would only waste his time more. The fact that Feng
was skilled at folding up actors' costumes made him seem the right
person for the job. Xinjin would also try to teach Feng the skills
he had and train him to be a capable, professional individual.
When the tailor master heard Xinjin's proposal, he was really happy
as it was all he could wish for. The master then went to talk to
Feng immediately and asked him if he was willing to have Xinjin
as his new master. Deep inside, Feng was prepared to change his
profession as he always heard his master saying he was not suitable
for any tailor jobs and that had made him give up hopes a long time
ago. But due to the contract with his tailor master, Feng just could
not simply leave. And now with the new proposal, which specified
Xinjin as his new master, Feng agreed without hesitation; for he
was too glad to be a student of Xinjin whom he had admired as the
only qualified kung fu actor at that time. The master spoke to the
boss about Xinjin's plan and with the boss' approval, his contract
with Feng was called off. Since then, Feng Xiaoqing became Xinjin's
apprentice and he followed Xinjin to the red boat. Feng's main duty
was to fold the master's private theatre costumes. Besides, Feng
was also trained with Xinjin's kung fu skills and his on-stage skills
as well.
In fact, Xinjin's kung fu was handed down by Huang HuaBao (Wong
Wah Bo) in person. The Yong Chun kung fu move, liu dian ban gun
(Luk Dim Boon Kwun, and other Yong Chun kung fu techniques, were
all taught to Xinjin on the red boat. Duan qiao Duan ma (short Kiu
and Short stance) and shuang tou gun (this stated as double head
pole should be corrected as long single head pole), are both authentic
Yong Chun kung fu moves. Thus, it made perfect sense that Xinjin
was the leading kung fu actor at that time.
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