詠春之路七十年

【核心賣點】

 香港武壇秘辛：從市井江湖到國際殿堂——以親歷者視角披露60年代香港武林生態：拳館踢館文化、李小龍學武逸事、底層市民在制水期堅持練武的生存智慧。更揭密葉問堂創立、證書系統改革等歷史節點，再現詠春從街頭技藝昇華為文化遺產的荊棘之路。

Hong Kong Martial Arts Secrets: From Back-Alley Brawls to Global Legacy

Witness 1960s Hong Kong's gritty martial arts scene through an insider's lens: Challenge culture at kung fu schools, Bruce Lee's untold training anecdotes, and the resilience of ordinary citizens practicing Ving Tsun during severe water rationing. Reveals pivotal moments like the founding of the Ip Man Hall and certificate system reforms, chronicling Ving Tsun's evolution from streetcraft to cultural heritage.

 葉問嫡傳親授，揭秘詠春正統心法——作者蕭煜民為葉問早期入室弟子，親述利達街拳館的黃金歲月，揭露葉問日常教學、私家課秘辛，及“寸勁”科學原理。書中詳載“小念頭”“黐手”“八斬刀”等核心技法要訣，輔以動作分解圖示，是迄今最貼近葉問原貌的技術實錄，為習武者提供不可複得的正統參考。

Authentic Ving Tsun: Grandmaster Ip Man's Direct Lineage Revealed

Author Siu Yuk Men—Ip Man's early closed-door disciple—unlocks the golden era of Lee Tat Street training hall. Exposes Ip Man's daily teachings, private lesson secrets, and the neuroscience behind the "inch punch." Features illustrated breakdowns of core techniques (Siu Nim Tau, Chi Sau, Bart Cham Dao), presenting the most authentic technical record of Ip Man's Ving Tsun ever published.

 硬核技術解析：從理論到實戰科學拆解——神經科學解釋寸勁等跨學科分析，破除玄學迷霧。完整小念頭等訓練體系，搭配步驟圖解，並解答“能否兼學其他武術”“截拳道與詠春關係”等爭議議題，兼具學術深度與實用價值。

Science Meets Combat: Decoding Ving Tsun's Battlefield Logic

Demystifies Ving Tsun through cross-disciplinary analysis like neuroscientific studies of the inch punch. Complete training systems (Siu Nim Tau, wooden dummy) with step-by-step diagrams. Addresses burning controversies: "Can you learn other martial arts?" "Jeet Kune Do vs. Ving Tsun"—blending academic rigor with street-ready practicality.

 多國武林名家作序，見證詠春全球化傳奇——罕見集結美、意、印尼等多國詠春領軍人物序言（如Chad Williams、意大利三巨頭Piero Conti等），通過海外高徒視角，重現蕭煜民歐洲講學、跨國比試、文化碰撞的歷程。見證詠春如何打破文化壁壘，成為連接東西方的武學紐帶。

Global Masters' Forewords: Ving Tsun's Worldwide Odyssey

Unprecedented collection of prefaces from 1nations' top Ving Tsun pioneers (Chad Williams, Italy's Piero Conti trio, etc.). Through their eyes, relive Siu's European seminars, cross-border sparring, and cultural clashes. Documents how Ving Tsun shattered barriers to become a global bridge between East and West.

 一招一式，雙語解構——中英精准對照，嚴謹傳遞技術精髓，杜絕文化誤讀，打造權威訓練指南；完整記錄作者從香港水務職員到國際詠春導師的傳奇人生，以雙語優勢打破文化壁壘。

One Move, Two Languages: Bilingual Technique Deconstruction

Chinese/English mirror-pages eliminate translation errors. Chinese preserves Hong Kong's martial vernacular; English delivers technical precision. Traces the author's journey from water bureau clerk to global sifu—a bilingual manifesto breaking cultural boundaries for Ving Tsun transmission.

【一句話推介】

葉問嫡傳弟子首度公開江湖密碼，中英雙語破譯詠春全球傳播的基因圖譜。

Ip Man's direct disciple decodes the martial arts underworld for the first time, using Chinese-English bilingualism to crack Ving Tsun's genetic blueprint for global domination.

【內容簡介】

本書是首部以全書中英雙軌排版呈現的跨越時空的武術史詩，由葉問親傳弟子蕭煜民親述，揭開詠春拳的秘傳心法與江湖往事。本書以第一視角回溯作者從香港水務局職員到國際詠春宗師的傳奇人生：童年拜師葉問的武學啟蒙、動盪年代在制水困境中堅持練武的堅韌、遠赴歐洲傳播詠春的文化碰撞，乃至與李小龍師兄弟的珍貴交集。書中更收錄 15篇全球武術名家序言（包括意大利、美國、印尼等頂尖詠春教練），見證詠春的全球化足跡。

透過科學拆解詳述“小念頭”“木人樁”等核心技法，本書既是武術教程，更是一部文化傳承實錄。蕭煜民以七十載習武心得，闡釋“武德高於武功”的哲學，直面“何為正宗詠春”的爭議，並首度公開葉問私家授課秘聞。無論你是武術修習者、歷史研究者，或單純被東方武學魅力吸引——本書將帶你沉浸於那個以拳會友的黃金年代，見證一門武學如何從香港小巷走向世界殿堂。

This groundbreaking bilingual (Chinese-English parallel text) martial arts epic, narrated by Ip Man's direct disciple Siu Yuk Men, unveils Ving Tsun's secret combat wisdom and underworld sagas. Through firsthand accounts, trace Siu's legendary journey—from a Hong Kong water supply clerk to a global grandmaster:

Childhood apprenticeship under Ip Man amidst 1960s political turmoil

Training resilience during catastrophic water rationing

Culture-clash adventures teaching Ving Tsun across Europe

Rare Bruce Lee brotherhood moments

Featuring 15 forewords from combat masters worldwide (Italy, USA, Indonesia, etc.), this book maps Ving Tsun's globalization through eyewitness testimony.

Beyond technical deep dives into core skills (Siu Nim Tau, wooden dummy) with scientific analysis, it stands as a living cultural archive. Siu distills 70 years of combat philosophy—"ethics over technique"—confronting debates like "What is authentic Ving Tsun?" while exposing Ip Man's private teaching secrets.

For practitioners, historians, or anyone captivated by kung fu's allure: This immersive journey transports you to Ving Tsun's golden age, revealing how a Hong Kong alley-fighting system conquered the world.

蕭煜民

生於1938 年，自幼熱愛武術，17 歲時拜入詠春葉問宗師門下，習武逾七十載。他歷任詠春體育會董事、秘書、主席等要職。並先後到中國內地、印尼、德國、英國、意大利、美國等地講授並示範詠春拳術，令世界各地人士可以認識詠春的精妙之處。蕭師父雖早登杖朝之年，仍風雨不改，在體育會內授徒，並積極參與詠春相關的推廣活動。

自序

蕭煜民

詠春的傳承，猶如一條奔流不息的河流，承載着歷史的智慧與文化的精髓，我蕭煜民追隨詠春拳術之道，已走過七十載的光陰，不僅是大半生的旅程，更是對詠春武術深厚情感的見證。自1955 年拜師葉問宗師門下，學習詠春拳術，從油麻地利達街拳館開始，到李鄭屋邨、青山道興業大廈、旺角愉輝大廈，再到詠春體育會，這些地方都記錄了我與恩師1 及同門相處的逸事，滿載了恩師的教誨與師兄弟的情誼。恩師教導如春風化雨，不僅教授

我詠春技藝，更教會我武術背後的哲學。

師父於1972 年逝世後，幸得同門師兄弟彼此激勵，讓我在武術的世界中感受到深厚的友情與團結的力量。我和葉正、韓澤銓等師兄弟數人每週最少一次在葉正家中練習，每一次的交流都讓我對詠春的理解更加深入。與此同時在1975 年，我和葉正二人每逢星期二晚七時到伊利沙伯醫院物理治療部接教馮漢所辦的詠春班，這亦是我正式開始踏入教授詠春之路，把繼承自宗師的詠春精髓及哲學承傳下去。

本人於1996 年退休後，正式在牛頭角明愛中心開辦詠春班，及後於1997 年轉到旺角水渠道詠春體育會教授詠春至今。明愛中心的詠春班則由幼子子亮接教了一段時期，他亦到詠春體育會做我助教。這段期間，我門下超過三百人，徒兒分佈世界各地，他們亦持續把詠春傳承開去！

歲月如梭，詠春之路我已走了七十年，即將踏入八十七歲高齡，我的詠春之路何時完結？就需要問天與地！但可以肯定的是，我對詠春的熱愛及傳承責任依然不減。

近年應中國香港和內地、美洲、歐洲及亞洲各國徒弟的要求，為了記錄葉問宗師在香港傳授詠春歷史及傳承詠春正宗，徒兒們主動提出支持及贊助，籌備這本自傳。不僅是對過去的回顧，也是對未來的展望，我期望將恩師無私地傳授我的全套詠春拳，包括心法、經驗、各樣手法細節等，加上本人苦練的成果及經驗，寫在書中傳承給我門下弟子及喜歡詠春的人士作參考，更希望此書流傳後世，令世界更加瞭解詠春拳術的博大精深。

2024 年12 月11 日

（蕭煜民師父手稿，林祖輝謄抄）

Author’s foreword

Siu Yuk Men

The transmission of Ving Tsun is like an unceasing river, carrying the wisdom of history and the essence of culture. I, Siu Yuk Men, have followed the path of Ving Tsun martial arts for over seventy years. This journey is not only a significant part of my life but also a testament to my profound affection for Ving Tsun.

In 1955, I began my studies under the esteemed Grandmaster Ip Man, learning Ving Tsun in various locations, from Lee Tat Street (Yau Ma Tei) to Lei Cheng Uk Estate, and then to different places such as the Hing Ip Building in Sham Shui Po, Yu Fai Building in Mongkok and the Ving Tsun Athletic Association. Each of these locations holds memories of my interactions with my Sifu1 and fellow disciples, filled with the teachings of Sifu Ip Man and the camaraderie among brothers. The guidance from Sifu Ip Man imparting not just the techniques of Ving Tsun but also the philosophy behind martial arts. After the passing of Sifu Ip Man in 1972, I was fortunate to have the encouragement of my fellow disciples, which allowed me to experience deep friendship and unity within the world of martial arts. Along with Ip Ching and Hon Chak Chuen, we practiced together at least once a week at Ip Ching’s home. Each session deepened my understanding of Ving Tsun. In 1975, Ip Ching and I began teaching Ving Tsun classes at the phys

In 1996, after my retirement, I officially opened a Ving Tsun class at the Caritas Centre in Ngau Tau Kok. In 1997, I moved to teach at the Ving Tsun Athletic Association in Mong Kok, where I continue to teach today. My son, Tsz Leung who took over teaching at the Caritas Centre for a time, also served as my assistant at the Ving Tsun Athletic Association. During this period, I have taught over three hundred students, who are now spread across the globe, continuing to pass on Ving Tsun. Time flies, and my journey in Ving Tsun has spanned seventy years. Next year (2025), I will reach the age of eighty-seven. When will my journey in Ving Tsun come to an end? I don’t know the answer. However, it is certain that my love for Ving Tsun and my sense of responsibility for its transmission remain unwavering. In recent years, many of my students from Hong Kong, mainland China, America,

Europe, and various Asian countries have expressed their desire to support and sponsor the documentation of Grandmaster Ip Man’s history of teaching Ving Tsun in Hong Kong. This autobiography is not only a reflection on the past but also a vision for the future. I hope to share the complete set of Ving Tsun techniques imparted to me by my Sifu Ip Man, including the principles, experiences, and various techniques, along with my own diligent practice and insights. I aim to pass this knowledge down to my disciples and those who appreciate Ving Tsun, and I hope this book will be a reference for future generations, allowing the world to better understand the profound depth of Ving Tsun martial arts.

December 11, 2024

(Handwritten Manuscript by Siu Yuk Men,

transcribed by Lam Cho Fai, Thomas)

自 序 蕭煜民....................................................................................................................... 1

Author’s Foreword by Siu Yuk Men......................................................................................3

執筆者序 林祖輝.................................................................................................................. 5

As-Told-To Foreword by Lam Cho Fai, Thomas..............................................................6

序 二 江覺靜....................................................................................................................... 7

Foreword by Kong Kwok Ching............................................................................................9

序 三 趙思......................................................................................................................... 12

Foreword by Chiu Mary .....................................................................................................15

序 四 梁挺......................................................................................................................... 17

Foreword by Leung Ting.....................................................................................................18

序 五 陳嶺暉..................................................................................................................... 19

Foreword by Chan Ling Fai, Levin......................................................................................21

序 六 李健魁..................................................................................................................... 23

Foreword by Li Jian Kui......................................................................................................25

序 七 張德官..................................................................................................................... 27

Foreword by Cheung Tec Goon, Bill...................................................................................29

序 八 張永成..................................................................................................................... 31

Foreword by Cheung Wing Shing, Peter.............................................................................33

序 九 蕭子亮.................................................................................................................... 35

Foreword by Siu Tsz Leung.................................................................................................37

序 十 許安安（印尼）....................................................................................................... 39

Foreword by Martin Kusuma (Indonesia).............................................................................42

序十一 Chad Wiliams（美國）........................................................................................... 45

Foreword by Chad Wiliams (US)........................................................................................48

序十二 Mitchel Mayberry（美國）..................................................................................... 51

Foreword by Mitchel Mayberry (US)...................................................................................53

序十三 Sergio Vommaro（意大利）................................................................................... 55

Foreword by Sergio Vommaro (Italy)...................................................................................56

序十四 Piero Conti（意大利）........................................................................................... 58

Foreword by Piero Conti (Italy)...........................................................................................59

序十五 Stefano Zambianchi（意大利）............................................................................. 60

Foreword by Stefano Zambianchi (Italy)..............................................................................62

第一部分 個人生活

PART 1 PERSONAL LIFE

一 童年 My Childhood.................................................................................................... 64/103

學業Academic Journey................................................................................................... 66/105

拜師學武 Apprenticeship............................................................................................... 68/107

二 水務工作 Water Supply Service: A Personal Journey.................................. 70/108

我的家庭 My Family...................................................................................................... 73/111

制水的經歷Water Rationing in 1960s......................................................................... 75/113

練習詠春的時光My Ving Tsun Training Journey...................................................... 76/113

我跟上司理論Standing Up to My Supervisor............................................................ 77/115

三 海外講座Overseas Lectures.................................................................................. 79/116

歐洲之行My Trip to Europe........................................................................................ 81/118

歐洲詠春講學Teaching in Europe............................................................................... 82/118

與學員的比試Match with students............................................................................. 82/119

學生的學習經歷Learning Experiences of Students Worldwide................................. 84/120

‹ Chadwick Williams ...............................................................................................84/120

‹ Mitchel Mayberry ..................................................................................................85/120

‹ Terry Pinkston ........................................................................................................86/121

‹ 日本動作片演員 Japanese Action Star.............................................................86/122

‹ 印尼學生 Indonesian Student Martin Kusuma................................................86/122

‹ 天津徒弟李健魁 Tianjin Li Jian Kui....................................................................88/123

海外教學與旅行經歷 Travel and Teaching................................................................. 88/123

學功夫的心態Learning Martial Arts........................................................................... 88/123

四 師兄弟的交誼Brotherhood Among Disciples................................................... 90/125

五 開班授徒Formal Entry into Teaching................................................................. 92/126

六 回歸體育會Returning to the Athletic Association.......................................... 93/127

會務管理Organizational Management......................................................................... 93/127

證書與電腦化管理Certificates Management.............................................................. 94/128

葉問堂的建立Ip Man Hall........................................................................................... 95/128

七 全職教學 Teaching Ving Tsun after Retirement.............................................. 96/129

練習心得與武功境界的提升 Progress in Martial Arts.............................................. 96/129

八 詠春拳的發展 Development of Ving Tsun......................................................... 99/131

對未來的展望Future Outlook..................................................................................... 99/131

對後輩的寄語Wisdom for Future Generations........................................................ 100/132

武功與年齡Martial Skills and Aging......................................................................... 100/132

武德與實戰Martial Ethics.......................................................................................... 101/133

「不打不相識」”No fight, no acquaintance”.............................................................. 101/133

第二部分 葉問師父

PART 2 SIFU IP MAN

一 早年生活Early life.................................................................................................... 136/158

利達街拳館Lee Tat Street.......................................................................................... 136/158

五十年代的社會百態The Social Landscape............................................................. 137/159

二 師父的教學理念Teaching Philosophy of Sifu Ip Man................................ 139/161

茗茶日常Tea House Routine...................................................................................... 141/163

偶有踢館Challenge the School................................................................................... 143/165

教私家拳 Private Lessons............................................................................................. 143/165

傳承葉問The legacy of Sifu Ip Man.......................................................................... 145/167

三 師兄弟逸事Early Days of Training..................................................................... 148/169

李小龍的獨特旅程Bruce Lee’s Unique Journey....................................................... 149/170

四 科學解釋寸勁Scientific Explanation of ‘inch punch’.

............................... 151/172

神經科學解釋Neuroscientific Study of‘inch punch’............................................. 152/173

詠春拳的科學基礎 The Scientific Basis of Ving Tsun............................................. 152/173

五 葉問宗師心法Sifu Ip Man’s Principles of Ving Tsun.................................. 153/174

第三部分 有關詠春

PART 3 ABOUT VING TSUN

一 基本概念The Essence of Ving Tsun................................................................ 184/240

「小念頭」Siu Nim Tau................................................................................................ 187/243

「小念頭」動作示範Demonstration of the ‘Siu Nim Tau’ Movement........................ 191

‹ 第一節（第一動作）First Set -First Movement......................................................191

‹ 第一節（第二動作）First Set -Second Movement...............................................192

‹ 第一節（第三動作）First Set -Third Movement....................................................193

‹ 第二節 Second Set......................................................................................................197

‹ 第三節 Third Set..........................................................................................................200

‹ 第四節 Forth Set..........................................................................................................202

‹ 第五節 Fifth Set............................................................................................................204

‹ 第六節 Sixth Set...........................................................................................................206

「黐手」Chi Sau............................................................................................................. 209/246

「馬步」Stance................................................................................................................ 211/248

「梅花步」Plum Blossom Step...................................................................................... 213/249

「尋橋」Chum Kiu ....................................................................................................... 213/250

「標指」Biu Chi............................................................................................................. 214/251

「木人樁」Wooden Dummy......................................................................................... 216/252

棍法Pole Set................................................................................................................. 217/252

‹ 「 六點半棍法」Six-and-a-half-point Pole........................................................218/253

「八斬刀」Bart Cham Dao........................................................................................... 219/255

‹ 「八斬刀」要訣 The Key Points..........................................................................221/256

‹ 刀具選擇 Tools Selection....................................................................................221/256

六合八法Liuhebafa Quan (Six-Harmonies, Eight-Methods)................................... 222/257

跌打Dit Da................................................................................................................... 223/259

二 甚麼是正宗？ What is Authenticity?.................................................................. 227/261

三 甚麼是留拳？What are ‘Hidden’ Tricks......................................................... 229/263

四 教學的變革Teaching Foreign Students........................................................... 230/264

傳統與現代 “Teaching without Discrimination”...................................................... 230/264

詠春的學習與進步Learning and Progressing in Ving Tsun.................................... 231/265

拳館的教學Teaching in the Martial Arts School..................................................... 232/266

詠春走向世界Ving Tsun’s Journey to the World.................................................... 233/267

五 傳授與實踐Teaching and Practice.................................................................... 234/268

可以學其他功夫嗎？ Can I Learn Other Kinds of Kung Fu?............................... 234/268

截拳道的啟示The Inspiration of Jeet Kune Do....................................................... 236/269

重新認識詠春Relearning Ving Tsun......................................................................... 236/270

詠春行不行？Does Ving Tsun Work?...................................................................... 237/270

六 詠春祖訓The Ving Tsun: Code of Conduct................................................... 238/272

贊助名單 List of Sponsors.................................................................................................274

翻譯對照表 Terminology Translation Glossary...............................................................275

童年

1938 年，我在香港出生，不久後便回了鄉下。我的家鄉在廣東省寶安龍崗四方埔坪地村，是一條很平凡、很貧窮的村落。

中日戰爭剛開始，有段時間父親在香港，媽媽帶着我和姐姐留在寶安。記得有一次，媽媽一手拖着姐姐，另一手托着躲在竹籮內的我，一路逃難。當時中日軍隊正在激烈交火，我們老百姓夾在兩軍之間，子彈橫飛，形勢非常危險。電光火石之間，母親帶着我們兩姊弟，幸運地避過一劫。那個年代生命就是那麼脆弱和偶然，母親在槍林彈雨中將我們帶離險境，感覺就像給了我多一條生命。

到了我六、七歲的時候，雖然戰爭剛結束，百廢待興，物資非常缺乏，窮到幾乎沒褲子穿。我唯一的印象是每天都要幫家裏趕鴨，雖是苦差，但能擁有少量家禽，家庭環境已經算不錯了。抗戰勝利不久，我們舉家搬到香港。

我的姐姐，由於年齡差距較大，她經常幫忙照顧我。可能因為年齡相差七歲，姐弟的感覺不太強烈，反而像是面對長輩一樣。我爺爺是江西竹林寺的弟子，他的功夫練得不錯，並曾在鄉下教拳。

據我父親講，我爺爺與黃毓光（江西竹林寺螳螂拳傳人）是同輩；我爸也有習武，他的師兄是廖國棟。爸爸常在家中說：「唔窮唔教拳，十個師父九個窮。」所以他一直不允許我學功夫，擔心我會以教拳為生，經濟上會很困苦。爸爸經歷過二戰艱苦的歲月，他認為好好讀書才是唯一的出路，讀好書才能養妻活兒，過着像樣的生活。

日佔時期，媽媽為幫補生計，有時會帶着一大堆舊衣服和雜物帶回龍崗變賣。當時交通不便，母親也捨不得多花錢坐車，於是挑着大堆貨物從深水埗出發攀過大帽山，前後要一天多時間，中間還要在深圳南投過一晚，才能回到鄉下。一個女人，挑着大堆衣服雜物，攀山涉水步行三天，只為幫補家計，實在太偉大。在那個年頭，婦女的無盡體力和刻苦耐勞實在令人敬佩。我的偉大母親，令我感到非常驕傲。

戰後，我們一家人來到香港，住在深水埗鴨寮街，租住半邊騎樓，連電力都沒有。母親也在大行塑膠廠做油鞋工作，幫補家計。後來父親由舅父介紹，加入水務署，當上工人。在那個朝不保夕的年代，有一份較安穩的工作，就像上天賞賜的大禮。當時九龍只有兩個水塘，分別是石梨貝水塘和城門水塘。記得父親要到四咪半（現大埔道）濾水廠上班，供水不是二十四小時，一早一晚要開關水掣。父親有段時間負責在街上開水掣，但水掣的開關既大又重，他一個人扭動非常吃力。當時也沒有現在那麼體貼，不會考慮一個人能否勝任？這是父親的責任，扭不動是他個人的問題，需要自己解決。於是他有時候會找我去深水埗廣成街幫忙開關水掣。我已有十一、二歲，有一定力氣可以幫忙，當時沒有保障童工的法規，而我當然沒有拿到半分工資的機會。其實能夠幫到家裏，已覺得非常滿足感，甚至有成就感。同時這些經驗間接為我鋪下了加入水務署的道路。

學業

我在崇正義學就讀小學，這是一家客家商會資助的學校，學生不用付學費，記得當時著名商人胡文虎先生是校董之一。家長們都知道，知識能改變命運，學歷是脫貧向上游的最佳甚至唯一途徑。但戰後的香港大家都一窮二白，沒有餘錢供子女上學。當時的富人捐錢經營學校，的確改變了不少家庭的將來和命運。

學校在南昌街，我住鴨寮街，所以步行回校。每天上學，媽媽會給我一毛錢用來吃早餐，我會花五仙買一碗白粥做早餐。課餘的時候，我特別喜歡玩康樂棋和乒乓球。

我到小三才開始讀英文ABC，可以入小學都是親戚介紹。由於戰亂，不少人錯過了上課機會。戰後小學一班同學的年齡非常參差，大幾年、少幾年都有。我有兩位小學同學，直到今天仍然經常聯絡和見面，轉眼已是七十多年的友誼。

我們沒有獨立校舍，只是在唐樓中佔了三層，還記得校舍內掛起校訓「禮義廉恥」四個大字。大家雖然很窮，但都很安分，也很重視個人道德標準，「禮義廉恥」不單是口號，而是每個人對自己的基本要求。年少時的記憶特別好，當時校長（江紹淹）和主任（曾育琦）的名字，現在仍然清楚記得。很多老師都一人身兼幾個不同的科目。其中一位中文老師張老師和他的太太李老師給我印象特別深。張老師手寫的中文字很工整，像印刷一樣，還教我們如何裝字。後來我在體育會內寫證書，字體寫得比較工整，其實張老師的功勞很大。據說他曾參加過1919 年在北京的五四運動，當時是滿腔熱血的大學生，但經過數十年的時間沉澱，見到不同參與人士的際遇後，他勸我們還是少談政治，多多學習。

每到學期末，他會分批邀請同學到他家吃飯，藉以瞭解同學的情況，問問計劃繼續升學，還是出來就業？我還記得到老師家吃飯的時候，他煮了一條很大的黃花魚給我們吃，雖然我不喜歡吃魚，但我知道黃花魚在當時是一道很貴重的食物。用這樣貴重的食物招待學生，可見他對學生的重視和尊重。

記得學校最特別的是：如果有學校校董離世，學校會安排學生到九龍殯儀館鞠躬。我們跟這些校董幾乎從沒接觸，對他們的離開實在沒有特別的感覺。但去鞠躬會有飲品供應，還有一元利是，在當時來講是一大數目，等於我們十天的零用錢，所以同學們都很「珍惜」這樣的機會。

大家的家庭環境不同，到十三、四歲才小學畢業，沒有算早還是遲，只有畢業還是沒有畢業。小學六年班，會派十個成績好的同學去參加升中考試，成績好的會被派去官立學校，因為學費全免，所以獲派官立學校是大家的夢想。但我當時剛患了黃疸病，一個多月沒有上學，無奈錯過了公開試。派不到官立學校，要繼續升學就只能讀私立學校，私立學校的學費每月要七十多元，這不是一般貧苦家庭可以負擔，所以不少人只讀到小學程度。幸好我的家庭環境尚可，父母有工作，姐姐也已出身當工廠妹，一家人有三份工資，收入已算不錯。但好景不常，我在旺角大華英文書院讀到中二，因弟弟患病，醫療費用非常昂貴，家裏經濟出現問題，更傷心的是弟弟最終還是返魂乏術。家裏再也負擔不起學費，我只好轉到培新書院讀夜校。這個轉變當然很可惜，但我不覺得自己可憐，身邊很多人都有類似情況，能在私立中學讀到中二，已經比不少人更幸運。

拜師學武

離開日校後，我並沒有呆在家中。我在尖沙咀的西青會YMCA 找到了一份在茶吧的工作。今天的年輕人可能不太熟悉「茶吧」，那時候白天一般不會喝酒，找朋友見面通常會去茶吧喝下午茶。我加入的茶吧是輪班制，通常下午三、四點才開始上班，因此早上有大量空閒時間。年輕人精力旺盛，自然要想辦法消磨時間。

1955 年，十七歲的我，有位同事陳志文曾跟隨葉問宗師學習詠春，他介紹我去拜葉問師父為師。當時的武館位於利達街，在油麻地警署對面的唐樓，即現在駿發花園的位置。我從那天起，便開始了七十年的詠春之路。那個年代的年輕人，沒有太多特別的娛樂活動，踢足球或打乒乓球是最經濟的娛樂方式，我亦經常去長沙灣踢球。之前我也曾去過佐敦想學其他門派，但去到拳館裏面，看到很多人赤膊練習，環境比較複雜，所以我也沒有再去。記得學詠春，第一次去到武館就要封利是給師父，然後倒杯茶給師父喝，這樣就完成了拜師的過程，我們沒有特別的制服，只要方便運動即可。武館永遠沒有鎖門，一方面方便師兄弟出入，另一方面師父在館內，沒有鼠竊狗偷敢來找麻煩。

我學了詠春差不多兩、三年後，父親才知道。他讓我展示幾招，看到我打得有模有樣，而且動作和他的螳螂拳很接近，便不再反對我繼續練習詠春。

My Childhood

I was born in Hong Kong in 1938 and soon returned to my hometown in Longgang, Bao ‘an, Guangdong Province. It was a very poor village.

During the Second World War, my father was in Kong Kong, while my mother stayed with my sister and me in Bao’an. I remember one time when my mother was holding my sister with one hand and carrying me in a bamboo basket with the other as we fled. The Chinese and Japanese armies were engaged in fierce fighting, and we, as civilians, were caught between the two forces, with bullets flying everywhere. The situation was extremely dangerous. In a flash, my mother led my sister and me out of

danger, narrowly escaping disaster. Life in those days was so fragile. My mother brought us out of harm’s way amid a hail of gunfire, which felt like being given another chance at life. By the time I was six or seven years old, although the war had just ended, everything was in ruins, and there was a severe shortage of supplies. We were so poor that I barely had any pants to wear. My only memory from that time is having to herd ducks for the family every day. Although it was hard work, owning a small number of poultry meant that our family was relatively better off. Not long after the victory in the war, our family moved to Hong Kong.

My sister often helped take care of me, likely due to the age difference. With a seven year gap between us, our sibling relationship didn’t feel very strong; instead, it felt more like interacting with an elder family member. My grandfather was a disciple at Chuk Lam Tsz ( 竹林寺) in Jiangxi Province. It is said that his martial arts skills were quite good, and he even taught martial arts in his village. According to my father, my grandfather was of the same generation as Wong Yuk Gong, a renowned practitioner of Chuk Lam Tsz Mantis Boxing. My father also practiced martial arts, and his SiHing was Liu Kwok Tung. My father often said: “If you do not want to be poor, don’t teach Kung Fu. Nine out of ten martial arts masters are poor.” Because of this, he never allowed me to learn martial arts, fearing that I might make a living by teaching it and end up struggling financially. Having experienced the difficult years of World War II, my father believed that studying was the only way out for a good life. He thought

During the Japanese occupation, to reduce our financial burden, my mother would occasionally bring old clothes and sundries back to the hometown to sell. Transportation was inconvenient at that time, and my mother was reluctant to spend extra money on transportation.

So she would carry the heavy load from Sham Shui Po, climb over Tai Mo Shan, and the entire trip would take over a day. Along the way, she would stay overnight in Nantou, Shenzhen, before finally reaching our village. A woman, carrying such a large load of clothes and items, trekked for days just to support the family—this was truly remarkable.

In those times, the endless stamina and hard work of women were truly admirable. My great mother fills me with immense pride.

After the war, our family moved to Hong Kong and lived on Ap Liu Street in Sham Shui Po, renting half of a verandah, and we didn’t even have electricity. My mother also worked at a large plastic factory to help support the family. Later, through an introduction from my uncle, my father managed to join the Water Supplies Department as a laborer. In those uncertain times, having a more stable job was

like a gift from above. At that time, there were only two reservoirs in Kowloon: Shek Lei Pui Reservoir

and Shing Mun Reservoir. I remember my father had to go to the water treatment plant at Four and a Half Milestone (now Tai Po Road) for work. Water supply was not available 24 hours a day, so he had to open the water valves early in the morning and closed in the evening.

For a period, my father was responsible for operating the water valves, but the valves were large and heavy, and it was very difficult for him to turn by himself. Back then, there wasn’t the same level of consideration for individual capabilities as there is now. Whether or not one person could handle the task wasn’t taken into account. It was simply my father’s responsibility, and if he couldn’t do it, it was his problem. As a result, he would occasionally ask me to go to Kwong Shing Street in Sham Shui

Po to help him open and close the valves. At that time, I was already 11 or 12 years old and had enough strength to assist him. There were no child labor protection laws back then, and of course, I didn’t earn a penny for my work. But being able to help the family gave me a great sense of satisfaction, even a sense of accomplishment. In fact, these experiences indirectly paved the way for me to join the Water Supplies Department.

Academic Journey

I attended primary school at Tsung Tsin School, funded by the Hakka Chamber of Commerce, where tuition fees were not requirement for students. I remember that at the time, one of the school directors was the renowned businessman, Mr. Aw Boon Haw. Parents knew that knowledge could change one’s fate, and education was the best path to rise out of poverty. However, post-war Hong Kong was impoverished—no one had extra money to send their children to school. The wealthy at that time donated money to run schools, which truly changed the futures and destinies of many families. The school was located on Nam Cheong Street, and I lived on Ap Liu Street, so I walked to school. Every day, my mother would give me ten cents for breakfast, and I would spend five cents on a bowl of plain congee. In my spare time, I particularly enjoyed playing checkers and table tennis. It was only in third grade that I started learning the English alphabet (ABC), and I was able to attend primary school thanks to a recommendation from relat

touch and meet regularly to this day—our friendship has lasted over seventy years. At that time, we didn’t have a dedicated school building. We occupied three floors of a tenement building. I still remember the school’s motto, “Propriety, Justice, Integrity, and Honor,” displayed in large characters on the wall. Even though everyone was poor, people not only lived contentedly but also placed great importance on personal moral standards. “Propriety, Justice, Integrity, and Honor” wasn’t just a slogan; it was a basic expectation that everyone held for themselves.

My memory of those early years is particularly sharp. I still clearly remember the names of our principal, Mr. Kong Shiu Yim ( 江紹淹先生), and director, Mr. Tsang Yuk Ki ( 曾育琦先生). Many teachers at the time taught multiple subjects. One teacher, Mr. Tsang, and his wife, Mrs. Li, left a deep impression on me. Mr. Tsang’s handwriting was so neat it looked like it was printed, and he taught us how to arrange Chinese characters properly. Later, when I had to write certificates for the Athletic Association, my neat handwriting was largely due to Mr. Tsang’s influence.It was said that he had participated in the May Fourth Movement in Beijing, 1919 as a passionate university student. However, after decades of reflection and observing the fates of various participants, he advised us to avoid getting involved in politics and to focus on learning.

At the end of each term, Mr. Tsang would invite students to his home for a meal in small groups. He wanted to understand each student’s situation and ask whether they planned to continue their studies or enter the workforce. I still remember during one of these meals, he cooked a large yellow croaker for us. Although I didn’t like fish, I knew that yellow croaker was an expensive dish at the time. Serving such a valuable meal to students showed how much he cared for us. I also remember when a school director passed away, the school would arrange for students to go to Kowloon Funeral Parlor to pay their respects. We hardly ever interacted with these directors, so their passing didn’t evoke any special feelings. However, at these funerals, there would be refreshments and a one-dollar red packet, which was a significant sum at the time—equivalent to ten days’ worth of pocket money—so we

“cherished” these opportunities.

The family situations of students varied widely. At the age of thirteen or fourteen, some of us graduated from primary school, while others didn’t. In sixth grade, the top ten students would be selected to take the Secondary School Entrance Examination. Those who performed well were assigned to government schools, where tuition was free, making these schools the dream of many. Unfortunately, I had just contracted jaundice at the time and missed over a month of school, so I missed the public exam. Because I didn’t get assigned to a government school, the only option to continue my education was to attend a private school. Private school tuition was over seventy dollars a month, which was unaffordable for most poor families. As a result, many students only completed primary school. Fortunately, my family’s financial situation was manageable—both of my parents were employed, and my sister had started working in a factory. With three incomes, we were doing relatively well.

However, our good fortune didn’t last long. I was attending Tai Wah English School in Mong Kok up until Form Two, but my younger brother fell ill, and his medical expenses were extremely high, putting a strain on our family’s finances. Heartbreakingly, my brother eventually passed away. My family could no longer afford my tuition, so I had to transfer to Pui Sun College and attend night school. This change was, of course, unfortunate, but I didn’t feel sorry for myself—many people around me were in similar situations. Being able to attend private school up to Form Two already made me luckier than many others.

Apprenticeship

After leaving day school, I didn’t just stay at home. I ended up finding a job at the YMCA in Tsim Sha Tsui, working at the tea bar. Young people today might not be familiar with the concept of a “tea bar,” but back then, people generally didn’t drink alcohol during the day. When friends wanted to meet up, they usually went to a tea bar for afternoon tea. The tea bar I joined operated on a shift basis, and I typically started work around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. As a result, I had a lot of free time in the mornings. Being young and full of energy, I naturally had to find ways to pass the time. In 1955, when I was seventeen, a colleague of mine named Chan Chi Man, who had studied Ving Tsun under Grandmaster Ip Man, introduced me to become Grandmaster Ip’s disciple. At the time, the martial arts school was located on Lee Tat Street, in a tenement building opposite the Yau Ma Tei Police Station, where Chuen Fat Garden stands today. From that day on, I began my seventy-year journey in Ving Tsun. Young people in

I had been practicing Ving Tsun for about two or three years before my father found out. He asked me to demonstrate a few moves. After seeing that I performed them quite well and that my movements were very similar to his Mantis style, he no longer objected to me continuing with Ving Tsun.