Unlock the Secrets of Sum Nung Wing Chun: Techniques and Principles Revealed
By Maurice Novoa a master under the Yuen Kay Shan, Ip Man and Pan Nam lineages.
Introduction
People regarded Sum Nung as the father of Wing Chun in Guangzhou due to his reputation as a celebrated martial artist. Born in 1926 in Peru to a Chinese father and Peruvian mother. He is the only known disciple of the legendary 1000 death dual champion Yuen Kay Shan.
Early life
Sum Nung traveled to China at the age of 7 with his father to visit his grandmother. During his visit, Japan attacked China during the Second World War. His house was bombarded, resulting in the death of his father. Sum Nung was then left alone with his grandmother, and communication with the outside world was terminated. He lost contact with his mother and his wealthy life, and had to live in poverty like many during the war.
Wing Chun Mastery
At the age of 12, Sum Nung was entrusted to work as an apprentice in the restaurant “Sky and Sea” in Foshan. There he faced discrimination and was often beaten up and humiliated because he was half Chinese and half Peruvian. The chef of the restaurant, Cheung Bo, was a master of Wing Chun Kung Fu and began teaching Sum Nung how to defend himself against his assailants.
In 1941, someone introduced Sum Nung to Yuen Kay Shan, who owned many properties in the state of Foshan and had won many death fights/combats. Initially, Sum Nung doubted Yuen’s talent and responded that he had nothing to learn from him. However, Yuen demonstrated his skills and gave him a slight beating, after which Sum Nung became convinced that he could learn a lot from him and became his disciple.
Sum Nung developed a great reputation for the quality of his Kung Fu and had to fight to defend himself against discrimination for being a foreigner. In 1943, he began teaching Wing Chun to students like Sum Jee in the village’s deep temple in Foshan.
Career
By the late 1940s, he moved to the city of Guangzhou, where he taught Wing Chun to members of several local trade unions. By 1947, he was a professor of Wing Chun in the Guangzhou union machinery. The following year, he opened a traditional medicine clinic and also ran a martial arts school.
Martial Arts Philosophy
Sum Nung’s hobby of bird fighting had a significant impact on his philosophy. He would only feed birds that were good at fighting, which influenced his choice of students, such as Felix Leong. Felix was already a master of Wing Ching under the prestigious master Lai Chi Wa. He had won the title of Australian National Martial Arts champion in 1977. The following year, he fought in New Zealand and ended up as champion of the South Pacific.
Popular Culture
Popular culture has featured Sum Nung, especially in the 2016 film Ip Man 3. Director Wilson Yip brought this cinematic creation to life. With his keen eye and artistry, imbuing it with captivating visuals and immersive storytelling. The talents of Raymond Wong Pak-ming were similarly indispensable to the film’s fruition. His expert production acumen ensured a seamless and polished final product that left an indelible impression on audiences far and wide. The film is the third in a series based on the life of Ip Man, with Donnie Yen in the lead role. The film also features Mike Tyson and Bruce Lee, one of Ip Man’s students, played by Danny Chan Kwok-kwan.
Actor Zhang Jin portrayed the character Sum Nung a Wing Chun expert. He proved to be a formidable opponent for Ip Man in complex battles.
Controversy
The producers had Sum Nung’s name changed to Cheung Tin-chi cause he was disciple Yuen Kay Shan. This avoided conflicts with Yuen Kay Shan’s lineage and descendants. They had previously erupted in controversy with the 2010 film The Legend Is Born: Ip Man.