The story that led to the rise of modern martial arts …

Wing Tsun Kung Fu was made famous in the 1960’s by the charismatic martial artist Bruce Lee, student of Grandmaster Yip Man. His arrival as a movie star heralded the global rise of martial arts and created a whole new movement, igniting a passion for the physical combat arts.

However, little is publicly known of the art before this period. Or the background that made his famous quote “Become like water my friend” possible. Indeed, did you know that Wing Tsun’s history stretches all the way back to the founding of the Shaolin Temple in 495AD? This History of Wing Tsun course will share with you it's astonishing background and how you and I were able to learn martial arts today.

500 years older than Oxford University

By the time it got to the modern era, Wing Tsun had beaten almost impossible odds to have an unbroken heritage for 1,500 years. Nearly 50 generations of top masters preserved and refined the art. Each managed to pass the art onto a successor who did the same. It would just take one master to not find a successor and then the art would have disappeared without a trace – like so many other wisdoms traditions have in human history. To put this in perspective Oxford University only started teaching in 1096.

What makes this history even more remarkable is that the ancient masters faced many of the same challenges we face today. They had to find, train, retain and engage the top talent for a lifetime despite the continuing challenging circumstances of war, plagues and changing regimes. And, all of this, without any of the advantages of the modern communication age. To give a comparison of how remarkable this is, in todays’ world the average job tenure is 2-4 years. To have their followers last not only a lifetime, but unbroken for 1,500 years give you an insight into how powerful and profound a message Wing Tsun contains. You will learn about this and so much more in this History of Wing Tsun series.

1,300 years older than Judo

Wing Tsun has a heritage to be envious off – as a comparison, Karate and Judo were founded in the 1880’s, Aikido in the 1920’s, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1925, Krav Maga in 1948 and Taekwondo in 1956. And to put this art into a wider perspective, it predates the oldest running business in the world (Kongo Gumi 578).

Not only that but it was the forerunner of true equality and diversity. Wing Tsun was created in a multi-disciplinary temple (monks from different arts trained together) that was practising acceptance (different religions and nationalities were welcome) and sharing of knowledge and wisdom. Unheard of in its time male and female monks even learned together – far beyond what had ever been seen before. This teaching of universal humanity has remained strong still today. In a period where there was war, famine and low education the Shaolin temple became the benchmark for creating empowered peace.

One of the greatest stories in human history

The Wing Tsun story is one of the greatest odysseys of human history. Learn about how hundreds of monks sacrificed themselves so that 5 master’s could escape and save the knowledge. Tenacity, determination, and resilience against the odds was combined with the quest for a greatest form on enlightenment.

And that’s with a history so secret that for the first generation the art had no name - and then for nearly 200 years only close family members were taught. Even up until the 1940’s there was no English translations for the name Wing Tsun.

The original mixed martial art

Did you know that Wing Tsun was the original Mixed Martial Art?

Before Bruce Lee famously started a movement with his proclamation “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own” Wing Tsun had already done that. Indeed, you could safely say what was his ‘secret sauce’, inspired millions, and set the path for explosion of the UFC was the power behind Wing Tsun.

In this course you will learn how Wing Tsun was the only martial art created by experts, for experts – putting the very best of over 1,000 years of teaching, techniques and philosophies into one very special art. It had never been done before – or since..

About your Teacher 

This course is delivered by Si-Fu Julian Hitch, an internationally acclaimed Wing Tsun Kung Fu master. He has degrees in History and Law, and has taught across the world from China, Japan and Middle East to US and Europe. He is a best-selling co-author of Winning not Fighting: Why you need to rethink success and how you achieve it with the ancient art of Wing Tsun Kung Fu.

Julian has worked with global celebrities, UHNW individuals, CEOs and Special Forces units as well as universities such as Oxford and LSE. His career includes setting Guinness World Records and being the youngest person in the world to achieve 4th Technician (equivalent to 5th degree Blackbelt), aged only 24. His has continually invested in personal growth, dedicating over 40,000 hours into his training.

Julian has appeared in numerous TV programmes including Ancient Black Ops: The Kung Fu Nun for The History Channel – where he provided the historical research, recruitment, training, choreography and commentary about the founding of Wing Tsun Kung Fu.

Access this World First Now

This History of Wing Tsun course is a World first, in giving you a unique insight and format into the history, culture and people that make up the art of Wing Tsun – and made Bruce Lee’s meteoritic rise possible.

Be part of the tradition

Add to your knowledge, experience once of the greatest stories – and be part of the ancient tradition in keeping this great art alive.