As a young boy Yun Kei Saan loved martial arts and with his father, knowing that there were a few branches of Wing Chun, hired the famous Wing Chun master Fok Bo Chyun to teach both Yun Kei Saan and Yun Zai Wan (Kei Saan's Older brother) the original Red Boat Wing Chun. Yun Jong Ming heard of Constable Fok Bo Chuen’s Wing Chun skill from the Leung (Leung Jan) Family, as Fok Bo Chyun had learnt along side Leung Jan from Wong Wah Bo. Fok Bo Chuen was also was a classmate of Fung Syu Ching, having learnt from Dai Fa Min Kam at a later period in his life.
The Yun family had Fok Bo Chyun move in to the Yun Family estate (Mulberry Garden’s - today it is the City Bureau on Foshan's Fo Yin Road). This followed the tradition of learning from a master, by supporting the master. Giving him shelter, food, and a stipend for his passing on his entire kung fu system to you and your family. Fok Bo Chyun in his day was a feared Constable and had a comprehensive understanding of the Wing Chun system, due to using it on a day to day basis. Yun Kei Saan also learnt the “Red Sand Palm”, a skill that Fok Bo Chyun was famous for. After Yun Kei Saan's Passing the story emerged that he could spear his hand into a bag of rice with one blow to retrieve a copper coin placed in the bag. Under Fok Bou Chyun's tutorage, Yun Kei Shan and his brother Yun Zai Wan learnt the Hand Forms, several different Jong Forms including a Muk Yan Jong, Gwun Jong, and Juk Jong, Gwun Fat, Yee Jee Dao Fat, and Fei Byu (Flying Nail Darts) receiving a very well rounded understanding of the Wing Chun Kyun System.
Yun Kei Saan never had the need to work for a living, and after qualifing as a lawyer he chose to work just part time in the city of Foshan. Due the family's high level of education, Yun Kei Saan was the first to take systematic notes on the Wing Chun Kyun System, Concepts, and Principles. He also meticulously documented the system’s history as transmitted by his 2 teachers. Yun Passed his had written notes to his only disciple and successor, Sum Lung. Which in modern times were stolen. As far as I know, some of these notes are in the hand's of current Wing Chun Masters in Guangzhou, but a lot have been lost.
When Yun Kei Saan’s Wing Chun techniques reached a very high level both he and Yun Zai Wan wanted to learn more and Fok Bo Chuen suggested that they learn from his classmate Fung Siu Ching, as Fung had mastered some different methods like close body locks and throws. Fung was a famous Imperial Marshal (Bo-Tao) during the Ching dynasty. In those days Marshals hunted down criminals and brought them to justice. because of this you had to be able to capture without killing the most dangerous criminals in China. Fung Siu Ching became one of the most feared marshals in all of southern China earning the nickname Dai Yaat Da Zai (Number 1 fighter)
In the oral tradition as passed down by Sum Lung, it is said that Yun Jong Ming invited Fung Siu Ching to visit the Yun house in Mulberry Gardens, to meet his 2 sons. Yun Jong Ming told Fung that Yun Kei Saan and Yun Zai Wan had both mastered Wing Chun under Fok Bo Chuen. According to Yun Kei Saan, both Fok Bo Chyun and Fung Siu Ching had both learnt on the Red Boats and both had the same Wing Chun. The only real difference was Fok Bo Chyun passed down the 3 Hand Forms from Wong Wah Bo, while Fung Siu Ching passed down the San Sik method of Dai Fa Min Kam.
It is said that Fung Siu Ching doubted whether he had anything to teach Yun Kei Saan and his brother. Yun Kei Saan felt that Fung at his age and experience would have to have skills above and beyond, what he had mastered. At his beckoning he had Fung engage him in a friendly contest of skill. Three times they engaged, Yuen Kay San told Sum Num, the first two times it seemed both were evenly matched and neither could prevail. Fung reportedly praised Yun Kei Saan and was about to leave but Yun’s father insisted there be one final encounter. The two engaged. Yun apparently drove the old Marshal back to a wall and it looked like he had overrun him - in the exact words Sum Lung, Yun Kei Saan described it as “something strange happened” and all of a sudden Yuan was thrown back to the center of the room due to a shoulder strike. Fung agreed he still had something he could teach the Yun brothers and agreed with Yun Jong Ming to accept gratuity for life, in exchange for imparting his skills to the 2 brothers. From Fung Siu Ching Yun Kei Ssan’s education included close body skills like Throwing, Sweeping, Body Wrapping, as well as refined Kum La, Fan Kum La, Jong Fat and Gwun Fat.
Yun Kei Saan was also the last generation master to know the Fei byu (flying darts), which were apparently like six inch nails with ribbons attached to them. Yun Kei Saan was reported to be extremely accurate with these and over time stories have become legends.
As Fung Siu Ching and Fok Bo Chyun were both famous for their use of the Wu Dip Dou, Yun Kei Saan was also known for his peerless skill, that he learned from his teachers. Oral tradition states Yuen Kay would demonstrate his knives whilst he was wearing white clothing and his would have his friends throw cotton balls soaked with ink at him. He would than cut and deflect the ink soaked balls with his knives managing to not allow even one drop of ink to touch his clothing.
Due to his Skill and his achievement in the Wing Chun style, the local martial artists publicly regarded Yun Kei Saan, along side Leung Jan as one of the leaders of the style. Both Leung Jan and Yun Kei Saan helped refine the Wing Chun system into what we see today. Yun Kei Saan took a humble and reserved approach when facing unfriendly challenge matches. He always emphasized the morality of the martial arts. When he couldn’t avoid these challenges, he took them as ways of exhibiting Chinese martial arts, and the refined aspects of man and his development.
Yun Kei Saan accepted a very limited number of students and only had one disciple, Sum Lung. Yip Kai Man (The man that brought Wing Chun to Hong Kong in 1949 and first taught the system to the public) and his family, were neighbors of the Yun’s. Yip Man’s father was a fellow merchant of Yun Jong Ming. Yip Man’s grandfather had been an opium boat captain and some locals took exception to him gaining wealth in that fashion so burnt down the Yip estate. Yun’s father took the Yip Family in and housed them in his estate for a time. During this time Yun Jong Ming asked Yun Kei Saan to teach young Yip Man some Chi Sau as Young Yip had not learnt this from his Dai Sihing, and Teacher, Ng Chung So. Yun wasn’t to keen on doing this as Yip was Ng’s student and Yun's Elder Kung fu Brother (Yun Kei Saan First Learnt Wing Chun Under Chan Wah Sun). However, at His father’s urging, Yun did teach Yip a little chi sau. Yip was asked not to show this to his elder gwoon brothers but later did so, defeating them. Yun Kei Saan also taught his Friend Wong Jing, who would later pass his art down to his son Mai Gai Wong.
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