.
First of all, because Wing Chun is an evolving art, it is difficult to draw the line as to when changes and evolutions have modified the art so much that it can be considered an actual branch or offshoot of Wing Chun kung fu rather than just a Wing Chun style with a slightly different lineage, or when there is a new art which is so different that it can no longer be considered to be Wing Chun at all. Techniques such as self-defense applications, combat movements, and specific offensive strategies like kicks, blocks, and trapping have been developed differently across various styles, including ancient practices like chi sao or energy hand exercises, which emphasize sensitivity and tactile reflexes. The influence of Shaolin Kung Fu cannot be overlooked here, as it has traditionally laid the groundwork for many aspects of martial arts development.
I recognize that in addition to lineages derived from Yip Man, there are other much lesser-known lineages that were developed and practiced only in mainland China, and never got to Hong Kong. I know almost nothing about these, and thus I didn’t consider them. These styles include the Buddha Hand style, the pan nam or “side facing” style, and even Weng Chun, which is a very old style, believed by some to be the predecessor of Wing Chun, which is only seen in mainland China. Practitioners often integrate sparring drills to hone their combat skills, capitalizing on both offense and defense. Parenthetically, there is some evidence that Yip Man practiced a very different Wing Chun when he lived in Fashan than when he moved to Hong Kong. Furthermore, the lineage of Leung Jan and his student Yim Wing Chun contributed to the refinement and dissemination of techniques such as chum kiu, which focus on bridging hands and achieving equilibrium in combat.
Ip Man Offshoots
Additionally, practically all of the direct students of Grand Master Yip Man who became teachers and eventually heads of their own lineages, made some type of modifications to the Wing Chun they learned from him. The most traditional of all the famous direct students of Ip Man was undoubtedly Moy Yat, who, like Yip Man, preferred to dress in the traditional Chinese costumes, rather than western clothes. Most of the other famous masters considered their modifications to be more like interpretations, and not changes. These include adjustments in key aspects of the martial art, whether it involves redefining offensive maneuvers such as kicks, or refining defensive tactics like blocks and trapping techniques, while consistently preserving the underlying principles taught by Shaolin Kung Fu.
Ip Man Wing Chun branches which I don’t consider as offshoots
I considered the Leung Ting version as a possible offshoot, but upon further consideration, even though Leung Ting made some significant changes to the footwork, stance, and pivoting, and changed the delivery of the basic front kick, he still kept all of the fundamental principles and concepts, and his Wing Tsun is still similar enough to other lineages that it is hard to tell them apart, unless you have actually studied his lineage. His lineage maintains the essence of Wing Chun, including practices such as chi sao, which is integral for practitioners to effectively perform trapping and other intricate movements. Moreover, the influence of earlier masters like Leung Jan and the transmissions of teachings from Yim Wing Chun are prevalent throughout his teachings.
A stronger case could be made for the European version of Leung Ting’s Wing Tsun, which is led by head instructor Sifu Keith Kernspecht. While the European version uses the same forms and sections of the Hong Kong version, some training methods are very different and Kernspecht himself, in recent years, has added upper body evasive movements which do not look like Wing Chun at all. But for the most part, I do not see his students incorporating these movements.
Another of Yip Man’s most famous students, Chu Shong Ting, taught Wing Chun very differently from all other masters. He placed an extremely heavy emphasis on the siu nim tao form for the purpose of developing internal energy. His methodology, although distinct, shares similarities with the foundational elements taught by Leung Jan and the ideals shared by Yim Wing Chun, focusing heavily on the inner harmony of hands and body coordination through practices from traditions like chum kiu.However, the actual movements and techniques are very traditional, focusing on both combat preparedness and self-defense through the disciplined flow of chi sao and precision trapping. These practices are deeply rooted in the rich legend and traditions of martial arts, where strength and structure are integral to mastering the art form.
I also considered whether or not Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do could be considered to be an offshoot. However, Jeet Kune Do was created from only one-third Wing Chun, with one-third western boxing, and one-third from the principles, concepts, and some of the footwork of fencing, along with some kicking techniques he borrowed from Northern Shaolin and taekwondo. Jeet Kune Do integrates dynamic offense and defense, blending various martial arts elements to enhance its combat efficacy beyond traditional barriers. The force and adaptability of Jeet Kune Do demonstrate a unique structure that challenges conventional approaches.
Furthermore, at the end of his life, Bruce Lee de-emphasized and greatly simplified the Wing Chun portion of Jeet Kune Do, which started to resemble kickboxing more and more. I would consider Jeet Kune Do to be essentially a very different art than Wing Chun.
Finally, there are some Wing Chun teachers who incorporate a handful of techniques or movements from other martial arts, such as boxing, judo, karate, jiu-jitsu, taekwondo, tai chi, aikido, or other Chinese martial arts styles such as Choy li fut or Northern Shaolin. I do not consider the mere addition of a few techniques to be creating a new branch or offshoot. Rather, it demonstrates the natural evolution within the art, embracing diverse self-defense techniques, integrated sparring methods, and varied approaches to combat, keeping Wing Chun both relevant and adaptable. This flexibility is often seen as a testament to the strength and enduring force of its foundational traditions.
Within the Yip Man lineage, I know that most of the teachers from different generations had differences in the forms. These differences often included the cadence of self-defense maneuvers, details in combat strategies, such as specific kicks and blocks, and refinements in the trapping techniques, showcasing Wing Chun’s capacity to both honor tradition and adapt across generations. The differences were least pronounced in the first form, Siu Nim Tau, or “little idea,” and became more pronounced in the more advanced forms like Biu Tze and the Muk Yan Jong (wooden dummy). Throughout the history of Wing Chun, these forms have exemplified the balance, speed, and power that practitioners strive to master, supported by the structured precision of its techniques.
Ip Man students who created offshoot branches
Interestingly, while the beginning sections of the dummy look fairly similar between schools of the same lineage, the later sections generally do not. When it comes to the long pole and butterfly knives, the forms of different schools are often quite different, reflecting the diverse systems within the Wing Chun world.
Victor Gutierrez (as seen in the video above) was a Leung Ting master who was put in charge of all the Wing Tsun schools in Spain. He was quite successful in growing the schools. However, he taught a version of Wing Chun that emphasized circular strikes, including hook punches, hammer fists, and circular elbow strikes, even though Wing Chun emphasizes straight-line punches and strikes. By doing so, Gutierrez introduced a unique system of techniques that blended traditional Wing Chun with new dimensions of striking balance and power. His approach demonstrates the strength and discipline inherent in maintaining yet evolving the style’s structure.
However, as far as I can see, in all other respects, he stuck to the Leung Ting version of Wing Chun. Eventually, Sifu Gutierrez quit Leung Ting’s association and formed his own school, continuing to leave his mark on the Wing Chun history.
His style seems quite legit to me, although Gutierrez is a very powerfully built man who has trained many years in the Leung Ting lineage, and perhaps he “makes the style look good.” The force with which he executes the traditional movements speaks to the strength of the foundations on which he has built his martial arts journey.His formidable presence certainly adds to the reputation of his Wing Chun system, a system revered for its precision in position and dynamic moves, much like the teachings of grandmaster Yip Man himself.
His former schools seem to have been taken over by senior student Salvador Sanchez, who is no longer affiliated with the EWTO or Leung Ting organizations. His wing tsun is heavily influenced by Gutierrez, continuing the legacy of his unique adaptations and the strategic moves he has developed over time.
Heinrich Pfaff was another Leung Ting master who was extremely talented and athletic. After many years in the Leung Ting organization, he created his own art, which he called “Wing Tai”. It appears to be mostly a mixture of wing chun with all of the elbow strikes of Muay Thai, as well as some other movements which look, to my eye, somewhat peculiar. This innovative blend reflects the speed and power found in different martial arts systems across the world and mirrors the pioneering spirit of grandmaster Yip Man’s approach towards adapting positions and moves.
He partnered with another long-time Leung Ting instructor, Mark Stas, who demonstrates, in the video above, how to use wing chun sensitivity to counter an opponent who is trying to use the Muay Thai clinch against him. Stas eventually broke away from Wing Tai and is teaching “wing flow”, which to me looks pretty much identical to Wing Tai, maintaining the essence of position and fluid moves.
Finally, Wan Kam Leung (shown in the video directly above, as well as in the first video on the page) who was the first student of the famous grandmaster Wong Shun Leung, created “Practical Wing Chun”. He does not call it a separate style or offshoot, instead just claiming that he made some minor changes to make his wing chun more practical. His changes aim to enhance the balance between practicality and the traditional forms, all the while paying homage to the methodologies of grandmaster Yip Man.
However, his interpretation actually made radical changes to the basic stance, the punch, and even the bong sao technique. He changed the signature pigeon toe stance to a parallel stance, the basic vertical punch to a 45 degree punch that looks a little like an uppercut, and does his bong sao without raising his elbow. I feel that these changes are so significant that his art is best considered as an offshoot, illustrating his contribution to the living history of Wing Chun, reminiscent of grandmaster Yip Man’s own revolutionary moves.
There was also a rumor (unconfirmed), that master Wan Kam Leung, modified his wing chun to include techniques from Southern Mantis. However, he has denied this.
By the way, I do not consider his offshoot, or for that matter the other two offshoot styles discussed here, to be inferior to the main lineages of Wing Chun. Wan Kam Leung, in particular, I consider him to be one of the most skilled and innovative Wing Chun masters alive today. His understanding of balance, speed, and power is unparalleled, and he has also created an incredibly detailed teaching program. As a result, he has attracted many of the best practitioners from other Wing Chun schools and lineages, seeking to emulate the disciplined positions and strategic moves reminiscent of grandmaster Yip Man.
If you are a Wing Chun practitioner who is looking to improve his art, you can get a lot of tips just by studying his video, posted above. Notice how he always punches over his partner’s bridge arm, allowing him to control it, and how he times his partner’s attacks, so that he can redirect them away, illustrating the effectiveness of his system. Additionally, the story of Ng Mui, the legendary creator of Wing Chun, serves as an inspirational reminder of how martial arts can evolve and adapt through innovation and practice, much like the legacy left by grandmaster Yip Man, with strategic positions and adept moves.
There was also a rumor (unconfirmed), that master Wan Kam Leung, modified his wing chun to include techniques from Southern Mantis. However, he has denied this.
By the way, I do not consider his offshoot, or for that matter the other two offshoot styles discussed here, to be inferior to the main lineages of Wing Chun. Wan Kam Leung, in particular, I consider him to be one of the most skilled and innovative Wing Chun masters alive today. His understanding of balance, speed, and power is unparalleled, and he has also created an incredibly detailed teaching program. As a result, he has attracted many of the best practitioners from other Wing Chun schools and lineages.
If you are a Wing Chun practitioner who is looking to improve his art, you can get a lot of tips just by studying his video, posted above. Notice how he always punches over his partner’s bridge arm, allowing him to control it, and how he times his partner’s attacks, so that he can redirect them away, illustrating the effectiveness of his system. Additionally, the story of Ng Mui, the legendary creator of Wing Chun, serves as an inspirational reminder of how martial arts can evolve and adapt through innovation and practice.
