1.詠春地位：廣州詠春之父

1. Wing Chun status: the father of Guangzhou Wing Chun

 

詠春拳創立、發展至今已將近三百年時間，歷經創始人五枚師太，到民間拳師苗順，再到反清義士、洪拳大師嚴二及其女兒嚴詠春，後嚴詠春之夫梁博濤結識粵劇紅船的瓊花會館梨園弟子王華寶、陸錦（大花面錦）、高佬忠、羅晚恭等詠春大師，梁博濤亦隨紅船戲班南下，並將詠春拳技悉數傳於，這幾比特大師日後成為廣佛地區詠春拳傳承者，在王華寶、大花面錦、羅晚恭等大師的精心培育下，打造了一代宗師馮少青、梁贊、霍保全。

Nearly three hundred years has passed since Wing Chun was founded and developed. The art passed from founder Ng Mui to a martial arts master named Miu Seon, to anti-Qing fighter and Hung Kuen master Yim Yi and his daughter Yim Wing Chun, and then on to Leung Bok Tou, Yim Wing Chun’s husband, who later met Cantonese opera red boat Kingfaa Wuigwun (Jade Flower Society Hall) disciples including Wong Waa Bou, Luk Gam (Daaifaa Mingam; “Painted Face” Gam), Gou Lou Jung, and Lo Maan Gung, who eventually went on to master the art. Leung Bok Tou went south with the red boat troupe and passed all the skills of Wing Chun skills to these masters, who in turn went on to transmit Wing Chun in the Guangzhou and Foshan areas. Masters such as Wong Waa Bou, Daaifaa Mingam, and Lo Maan Gung carefully cultivated and trained a generation of masters including Fung Siu Cheng, Leung Jan, and Fok Bou Chun.

 

自此，詠春傳承歷史大致形成了黃華寶、梁贊、陳華順、葉問系，以及（大花面錦、羅恭晚）、（馮少青、霍寶全）、（阮奇山、張保、韋玉笙）、岑能系兩大主要繁榮方向。阮奇山、岑能支系繁衍路線大體為廣州－佛山－廣州－國內外，而陳華順、葉問支系繁衍路線則為廣州－佛山－香港－國內外。另據姚才弟子稱其為馮少青、阮濟雲、姚才支系也在國內外開枝散葉。當然幾大繁榮支系也不是完全獨立、截然分離，大師及弟子之間仍然相互學習、互動、影響和促進。比如，梁贊、馮少青、霍寶全紅船學藝過程中，梨園宗師都將其所長傳於後輩。

From this point onward, Wing Chun was broadly transmitted in two directions: a lineage through Wong Waa Bou, Leung Jan, Chan Waa Shun, then to Yip Man, as well as a lineage through (1) Daaifaa Mingam; “Painted Face” Gam and Lo Maan Gung, (2) Fung Siu Cheng and Fok Bou Chun, (3) Yuen Kei San, Cheung Bou, and Wai Yuk Saang, then to Sum Nung. The Yuen Kei San and Sum Nung branch’s lineage has generally been transmitted from Guangzhou->Foshan->Guangzhou-> throughout China and abroad, while the Chan Waa Shun and Yip Man branch’s lineage has been transmitted from Guangzhou->Foshan->Hong Kong->throughout China and abroad. According to Yiu Choi’s disciples, the Fung Siu Cheng, Yuen Chai Wan, then Yiu Choi branch has also blossomed within China and abroad. The major prosperous branches are naturally not completely respectively independent or completely separated. Masters and disciples continue to learn, interact, influence and promote each other. For example, while Leung Jan, Fung Siu Cheng, and Fok Bou Chun learnt the art on the red boats, they also passed on their skills to younger generations.

 

在此漫長的歷程當中，詠春拳有起源及傳揚路線的不同傳說，門派支系的爭議，套路演繹進化，重要人物及傳奇故事，與洪拳、粤劇、名伶相關的傳記，朝代更替的歷史印迹，拳術技巧和理念差异等等各種可圈點、可評述之題材。

Throughout this long process of history, Wing Chun has had different legends about its origins and promulgation, controversies between branches, the evolution of sets/forms, important figures and legends, stories about interrelations with Hung Kuen, the Cantonese opera, and famous actors, the reverberations of changes in historic dynasties, as well as differences in skills and concepts, etc., which are all remarkable and noteworthy.

 

著名詩人郭沫若詩曰：“昔有名伶攤手五，佛山鎮上立戲班，至今革命唱傳統，少林武藝傳紅船。”據孟瑤《中國戲曲史》和麥嘯霞1929年版《廣東戲劇史略》，對“攤手五”因反清潜藏於佛山粵劇戲班傳授武功均有記載，這裡所說的“攤手”是詠春拳特有的招式。

The famous poet Guo Moruo said in his poem: "In the past, there was a famous actor named Tan Sao Ng, who established an opera troupe in Foshan town, and transmitted the tradition of singing until the revolution, and passed on the Shaolin martial arts on the red boats." According to Meng Yao's "Chinese Opera Song History" and Mai Xiaoxia's 1929 version of "Guangdong Opera History," there are records of Tan Sao Ng teaching the martial arts to Cantonese opera troupes when in hiding in Foshan due to his anti-Qing activity. The "Tan Sao" mentioned here is a unique move in Wing Chun.

 

拋開歷史迷霧，源流紛爭，我們不難看出，幾大支系繁榮對詠春的發展各有千秋。兩大支系都有較大的海內外影響趨勢，不同之處在於，馮少青系經由岑能之手，立足本土，依據廣州詠春大師的一脈相傳，以其精湛的科技，傳揚海內外，而梁贊系則主要源於借力影星李小龍之影響，溯及其師傅葉問及上代宗師，得以名揚四海。

Putting aside the perplexity of the art’s history and disputes over its origins, it is not difficult to see that the flourishing of several major branches has assisted the development of Wing Chun. Two branches have had a comparatively strong influence in China and abroad. On one hand the Fung Siu Cheng lineage has flourished based on the efforts and technique of Sum Nung locally through those associated with this master of Guangzhou Wing Chun, both in China and abroad, and on the other hand, the Leung Jan lineage has flourished greatly influenced by the internationally renowned movie star Bruce Lee and his master, Yip Man, and the masters of previous generations to all corners of the globe.

 

岑能先生於1948年在廣州大德路開設醫武館，授拳行醫數十年，1984年代表省體委參加全國民間武術匯演表演詠春木人椿，名揚京華，飲譽神州，國內外前來求學者盛極一時。1989年創立了《廣州市武術協會咏春拳會》，成為詠春武學交流與發展的重要平臺。岑能先生自上世紀40年代由佛山來穗推廣詠春拳，培養出一批又一批詠春拳名師：四十年代弟子有全钜、岑禧、岑貫州；五十年代彭鴻秋（彭秋）、岑枝、霍俊勳、嘛指滿、劉威（盲威）等；六、七十年代張七、梁景釗（大釗）、郭運平（郭仔）、黃滬芳（米機王）、歐陽泰源、沈景蘇（肥佬蘇）李志耀（大李）、董全錦、敖磊奇、林石岩、張煥、李志河（小李）林毅成、葉沛林、岑兆偉、岑迪斯、黃順昌、呂釗洪、韓炳祥、範國進、謝錦源、張勇……（這裡不再一一盡錄，見諒）等；及此後岑宗師培育出來的一批弟子，均成為推動廣州詠春拳蓬勃發展、走向世界的中流柢柱，現廣州詠春拳研習者八成以上出自岑能師尊門下“廣州詠春之父”由此傳聞。

 

Sum Nung opened a medical and martial arts center on Daaiduk Road, Guangzhou in 1948. He taught Wing Chun and practiced medicine there for decades. In 1984, he represented the Provincial Sports Commission by participating in the National Public Citizen’s Martial Arts Demonstrations, performing Wing Chun’s wooden man form. He won great acclaim and renown, becoming much sought after by people across China and abroad at the time. In 1989, he established the "Guangzhou City Wushu Association Wing Chun Society", which became an important platform for Wing Chun learning, exchange, and development. Sum Nung came from Foshan to promote Wing Chun in Guangzhou in the 1940s, and cultivated batch after batch of famous Wing Chun masters. In the 1940s, his disciples were Chun Geoi, Sum Hei, and Sum Gun Jau; in the 1950s, Paang Hung Chau (Paang Chaau) , Sum Jee, Fok Jeon Fan, Maa Ji Maan, Lau Wai (Blind Wai), etc.; in the 1960s and 1970s, Cheung Chut, Leung Ging Chiu (Daai Chiu), Kwok Wan Ping (Kwok-jai; Young Kwok), Wong Wu Fong (Mai Gei Wong), Au Yeung Taai Yun, Sam Ging Sou (Feilou Sou; Fatty Sou), Lei Yiu (Dai Lei; Big Lei), Dung Chun Gam, Ngou Leoi Kei, Lam Sek Ngaam, Cheung Wun, Lei Ji Ho (Siu Lei; Little Lei), Lam Ngai Sing, Yip Pui Lam, Sum Siu Wai, Sum Dik Si, Wong Shun Cheung, Leoi Chiu Hung, Hon Bing Cheung, Faan Gwok Jun, Ze Gam Yuen, Cheung Yung ... (not all listed here); with a group of disciples cultivated by Master Sum since then becoming the pillars of Guangzhou Wing Chun flourishing and spreading globally, with more than 80% of Wing Chun practitioners in Guangzhou from the lineage of Master Sum Nung, the "Father of Guangzhou Wing Chun".

 

2.詠春拳技：鐵臂能

2. Wing Chun Technique: Iron Arm Nung

 

“鐵臂能”，這一稱號，是對岑能武藝高超，鐵肩道義，公正不阿，德藝雙馨秉承中華傳統武術文化和精神的真實寫照。

"Iron Arm Nung", was a moniker given to Sum Nung to portray his sublime martial arts mastery, steadfast ethics and sense of justice, and his embodiment of Chinese martial arts/culture and virtue/spirit.

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在岑能潜心習武的最重要時期，中華名族正經歷戰亂。1937年（民國26年）12月，中華民國首都南京淪陷，發生了“南京大屠殺”的悲劇，12歲的岑能眼見家國難，民族恨，社會動盪，弱肉强食的社會現狀。張保師傅對聰明好學的岑能，關愛有加，有如子侄，盡數悉心教導，岑能亦不負厚望，功力進步超出張保的想像，一天五功，更有把天海樓天臺的地磚磨出深坑印證！

During the crucial formative period when Sum Nung devoted himself to studying the martial arts, Chinese was in the midst of war. In December 1937, Nanjing, the capital of the Republic of China at that time, fell, and the tragic "Nanjing Massacre" occurred. 12-year-old Sum Nung witnessed both his nation and community face misfortune, the people’s hatred for their attackers, social turbulence, and a decline into a dog-eat-dog status quo. Master Cheung Bou cared for the intelligent and studious Sum Nung, just like a nephew, and taught him painstakingly. Sum Nung exceeded his high expectations, developing skill greater than Cheung Bou had imagined, training five times a day, with the fact he wore down the tiles on the rooftop of the Tin Hoi Restaurant where he and Cheung Bo worked a testament to his training!

 

民國30年、香港淪陷，岑能時年16歲的，已經具有相當功力，但其認為詠春不僅要用於強身健體，還應該更好繼承發揚詠春武學精神，保家衛國，張保師傅向詠春奇俠阮奇山，時年54歲的阮奇山師傅把岑能當做詠春衣缽的傳承者，將畢生真傳係數交予岑能，兩年後，正當岑能在武術醫學相結合研究遇上瓶頸的時候，張保大師、阮奇山大師推薦另一比特以醫術見長的詠春大師韋玉笙，從此、韋公亦盡數教授詠春經絡正骨術！三位特師傅成就了一個廣為傳頌的勵志故事，岑能強身健體、保家衛國、懸壺濟世的夢想得以實現，這也是鐵壁能得以成就的堅實基礎。

In 1941, when Hong Kong fell, Sum Nung was 16 years old and already had considerable skill. He believed that he should use Wing Chun not only to develop and maintain a strong and healthy body, but also intended to better inherit and carry forward the spirit of Wing Chun martial arts to protect country and community. Master Cheung Bou then introduced him to exceptional Wing Chun master Yuen Kei San, 54-year-old at the time, who knew Sum Nung would go on to inherit the art of Wing Chun, and shared the true teachings he had spent a lifetime achieving with Sum Nung. Two years later, Sum Nung was doing research into the correlation between martial arts and medicine. When he encountered a bottleneck, Master Cheung Bou and Master Yuen Kei San introduced him to another Wing Chun master named Wai Yuk Saang who was also a medical specialist. From this point on, Wai Yuk Saang painstakingly taught him Wing Chun meridian therapy and Jinggwat (traditional chiropractic treatment), thus enabling the three masters’ traditions to be carried forward. Sum also realized his dream of developing a strong and healthy body, protecting the nation and community, and helping those in need, a solid foundation that in turn caused him to be known as “Iron Arm Nung.”

 

岑能先後師從詠春拳師張保、阮奇山、韋玉笙，吸收了三位特宗師的武術醫學之精華，綜合了詠春文化的武術和醫學精華，其修為融武術醫學於一體，被譽為百年一遇武學奇才，是當代詠春拳層級、造詣和境界的最高代表之一。岑能的詠春拳功技登峰造極，出手置敵於凶，其“寸勁”爆發功力能將對手拋離一丈之外並遭重創，被譽為“鐵臂能”。

Sum Nung successively studied under Wing Chun masters Cheung Bou, Yuen Kei San, and Wai Yuk Saang, and absorbed the essence of the three masters’ martial arts and medicine, in turn integrating this as the essence of Wing Chun’s martial arts and medicine.

A once-in-a-century martial arts prodigy, and at the peak of achievement and attainment in Wing Chun at his time, Sum Nung achieved the pinnacle of Wing Chun skill with devastating efficacy, and explosive "inch power", earning him the moniker "Iron Arm Nung."

 

3.為人處世：靜坐當思己過，閒談莫涉人非

3. Conduct: Reflect quietly on oneself, speak little of others.

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岑能先生為人低調，不事張揚，岑氏醫術精湛，為人向來謙和，同道中有困難，往往竭力相助，患者所贈錦旗甚多，但他從不懸掛。曾經師從岑能宗師的弟子與宗師有著父子一般的感情。

Sum Nung was low-key and unassuming. He possessed exquisite medical skills, and acted humbly and modestly in life. He suffered difficulties in life, so made great efforts to help those in need. Patients often offered sizable gratuities, which he did not accept. He also treated the disciples who studied under him in the same way a father would treat their own sons.