黃淳樑 | 詠春拳學宗師
Short English comments below
力求搏鬥技術的極致，詠春拳學的始祖，多番與人比試武藝，講手稱王，葉問詠春的拓展功臣，李小龍的詠春授業師兄，將詠春由香港推廣至全世界，孕育了不少的武術教練一生醉心推廣詠春，曾受北京國家體育總局邀請北上將最優秀的技藝推廣到全國各地以至全世界，在針對實用性為主的技擊武術作出重大貢獻，於武林中有著重大的影響力，他是本會＂詠春譚 武學文化中心＂的創辦人，譚煜林師父的恩師，一代宗師＂黃淳樑＂。
下文轉載自最近一般坊間其他的網頁
“講手王”黃淳樑武術生涯四十年
為著追溯東方格鬥術的演進，探索實戰搏擊的要訣，也為著解惑－－為什麼詠春拳能在中西文化交匯、東西方格鬥術碰撞的香港地區崛起，而後又廣傳歐美亞非，筆者翻閱了香港幾家涉足武壇的報刊，下面幾段文字，引起了我們的興趣：
“1957年，九龍地面，忽然產生了一個‘講手大王’，就是詠春派掌門人葉問之弟子黃淳樑矣，此時之黃淳樑，不過是22歲……為著他是個實用拳師，所以有很多青年都投到他門下，就是現在震動影壇的李小龍，雖然說是葉問的門徒，但所學的詠春拳，是多數得黃淳樑指點的。”(引自香港《新武俠》第54期《黃淳樑替詠春派打開門戶》)。
“黃淳樑是詠春在港打開門戶的功臣。年青有為，允文允武，早年在葉宗師教導下，勤學苦練，自己憑著一身肝膽，闖蕩江湖，與武林各路英雄相會，亦就此使詠春揚名”(引自香港《當代武壇》第17期《誰繼承詠春掌門之位》)。“黃淳樑的徒弟更遍布歐美加港，人數逾萬。當年李小龍拜投葉問門下，可能因為性情相近，是由師兄黃淳樑直接指導。黃未習詠春前，曾到葉問的武館與他講手，先後擊倒其弟子及外甥，最後敗在葉問手下，才拜他為師，習詠春後他又到百多間武館與人切磋武藝，師兄弟間遂稱之為‘講手王’(引自香港《壹周刊》第43期《香港十大教父》)。
這幾段文字給我們的興趣，不僅是告知了我們截拳道宗師李小龍，原本是詠春傳人；李小龍的詠春拳多得自師兄黃淳樑。它還吸引我們去了解繼葉問之後連任香港詠春體育會主席至今的黃淳樑先生的武功、武曆和貢獻。
一、截拳道源自詠春拳 李小龍得益黃淳樑
距今整整40年前，座落在香港油麻地利達街的詠春武館，引起了香港武壇和新聞界的普遍關注，只身來到香港闖蕩的佛山人葉問，僅用數年時間，就使當時鮮為人知的詠春拳在香港立足，並建起了這家初具規模的武館。葉問的得力弟子黃淳樑經過百餘次實戰切磋，獲得了“講手王”的譽稱。就在這個時候，在港地電影圈中已頗有名聲的童星李小龍走進了葉問武館。
那是一個傍晚時分。正在代師授徒的黃淳樑，看到師弟張卓慶帶著一個十五六歲的小夥子走進武館，此人身著時髦的牛仔褲、花襯衫，頭發梳得挺滑溜，雖時已黃昏，仍戴著太陽鏡。這就是李小龍。黃淳樑瞟了他一眼，覺得滿不是味道，仍舊專心授課。幾天後，李小龍經張卓慶介紹正式拜葉問為師，並正式向黃淳樑致禮，認了師兄。開始學練詠春拳。
李小龍原以為練上三五天，學得兩三招，就能防身攻敵了。沒想到初開拳時，師兄既不解析拳法要點，也不講實戰運用，加上每天總是練慢吞吞的攤手、伏手、馬步，特別是站二字拑羊馬時，兩腿酸痛得要命，難以忍愛。沒幾天，心高氣傲的小龍，離開了他感到無味難耐的詠春武館。大約一個多月後，李小龍又回到武館，要求學習。黃淳樑感到奇怪！一般十多歲學童離開武館後，很少回來重新學習。在黃淳樑的反複詢問下，李小龍說出了真情。原來是在幾天前，小龍在青年會與一個人言語沖突，打了起來。那人個頭高大，而且學過武術。剛一動手，小龍就挨了幾下，吃了不少虧。小龍突然想到在詠春館見過的“日字沖拳”，就用這種拳法向對方面部密集連擊，果然反敗為勝了。他覺得這種拳術很有用，才重新回館練習。
沒有多久，黃淳樑和李小龍都相互有了了解，逐漸熟悉了。黃認為李小龍率直、敏銳、膽識在同齡孩子之上，是個可造之材。小龍也感到黃淳樑的構思和技藝，正符合他的學習要求。於是，小龍成天纏著黃淳樑，要求到黃家練習。淳樑答應了。此後，小龍每天放學後，就到黃家與幾個師弟一起學拳。有一天，小龍突然對黃說：“可不可以只教我一人，不要教他們．因為我已報名參加校際西洋拳賽”。黃答道：“我很難答應你這個要求，你們都是同門師兄弟，我不能厚此薄彼”。小龍見黃拒絕，無可奈何。怎料他竟想出了一個別出心裁的計策。次日放學後，他先跑到黃家，坐在樓梯上。待他的同學來時，他跑到樓下迎上去，對他們說：“樑哥不在家，沒法練了，我們回去罷”。於是，大家一道離去。等到別人都上車走了，小龍又獨自回來，接受黃淳樑督教。如此數次，同練的的夥伴漸漸都不來了，李小龍達到了黃淳樑在家給他“吃小灶”的心願。
這一階段，李小龍練習甚勤，功力日進。黃跟他對練，也愈來愈吃力。因為同門同路，竅門漸漸被摸熟，自然壓力也愈來愈大。就好比對弈，你天天跟同一對手下棋，漸漸也會付出更多思考。若棋力逐漸接近，自然還是強手勝，但強者心裏知道壓力在逐漸增大，敗手卻很難知道自己進步了多少。黃這時除了繼續指導小龍作條件反射的黐手練習外，還針對小龍將參加西洋拳賽的要求，讓小龍川詠春招法，自己用西洋拳法，練習對搏。小龍出現不敵吋，黃及時進行糾正和解析。大約練了一個來月，小龍在喬治五校出賽了。與小龍對抗的對手，是個外國學生，曾獲兩屆校際拳擊賽的冠軍。開始時，小龍擺出詠春拳獨特的樁式，引起了滿場倒彩聲。一交手，小龍就壓住對方，一拳比一拳重，打得對手只有招架之功，沒有還手之力。在全場屏息的靜觀後，突然爆發出一陣雷鳴般的掌聲和歡呼聲，李小龍勝了！這次勝利，更加激發了小龍的勤練意識，同時也確立了黃淳樑在他心目中的偶像地位。無論練什麼，體會到什麼，他都要征求黃的意見。
幾個月後的一天，小龍對黃說，他已邀約一位北少林的鐘助教比試，希望黃擔任賽場教練。屆時，黃、李二人來到賽場－－九龍城聯合道一幢天臺上。雙方議定：比賽時，一方先擺樁，另一方先進攻。經第一接觸後，雙方均可搶攻。經擲毫，小龍先擺樁。一聲開始口令後，小龍擺起了樁，鐘摟步左右遊走，伺機進攻。鐘突大吼一聲，拳自上而下打向小龍臉龐，被小龍轉馬避過。接著，雙方拳來拳往，互有攻防，小龍見招拆招，打得瀟灑自如。漸漸地，小龍顯出了被動。這是因為鐘較小龍身高、步闊、臂長，多次擊中小龍，連眼角也受擊略有破損。第一回合結束時，小龍對黃說：“我想就此結束。假如面部受傷嚴重，影響拍電影就麻煩了”。黃說：“你本來可以贏，只是因為守多於攻，久守必失。第二回合，你不要求招式好看，盡量搶攻。他比你高大，你反常規而用，多攻擊他的面部。你拳搶中線，他雙拳自然在外。你的拳正好形成一個三角形，既攻擊對方，雙臂又防護住了自己的面部……”第二回合一開始，小龍果真搶步急拳向鐘面部打去，這一拳剛好打個正著。得勢不饒人，小龍連環直拳出擊，拳拳擊中鐘面部，至鐘整個人倒臥在牆角上，比賽宣告終止。小龍畢竟年輕，難免興高采烈，態度輕佻忘形，引起對方不滿，招出不少相互抵辱的話，自然種下了恨根。
此後，小龍每天放學回家，都有人聚集想找他的麻煩。小龍無奈，只有求助於師兄，請黃淳樑每天到學校門前接他，小龍總算避過了一些麻煩……怎料有一天，幾名警察到學校搜查小龍的書包，於是驚動了學校和小龍的父親。他父親為了不讓小龍在港出現不測，決定送小龍去美國念書。1958年11月，李小龍赴美讀書，攻讀哲學專業。隨後，在美創設泳拳館，主拍武術功夫片，開創截拳道，成了影壇矚目、武壇關注的新星。
1973年，年僅32歲的李小龍不幸長辭人世，比他年長5歲的師兄黃淳樑，以其曾是李小龍追隨的拳搏實踐家，曾為李小龍的成功指點過迷律，拋灑過汗水的經曆，成了人們探索李小龍武術思想，了解李小龍拳道技藝的中心人物。由李小龍的崇拜者們組成的香港“李小龍會”，聘請黃淳樑擔任顧問。
1996年春，筆者就李小龍與截拳道專題，走訪了年滿花甲的黃淳樑先生。黃先生首先拿出一疊李小龍赴美後與他的通信，其中有向黃傾吐在美生活狀況的，有記述傳授詠春拳況的，還有一些是征詢拳學疑難的信。1970年11月，李小龍給黃淳樑的信中，寫著如下幾段：
“淳樑兄：……
“至於武道方面，我仍然是日日修習，與一般徒弟和朋友每星期會兩次，無所謂是西洋拳、跆拳道或摔角……
“自從66年開始認真去練習後(護具手套etc)，覺得以前的偏見是錯了。因此改叫我的心得練出的為截拳道。截拳道只是名稱矣……
“我是感謝你和師父在港時多多指導我詠春門徑，其實是多得你，使我多去走現實路……”
在談到李小龍截拳道的的基本構成時，黃淳樑概括說，李小龍自言截拳道是他根據個人的體會練出來的拳技，我看，他賴以萌生這種體會的基礎，主要有三。一是詠春門徑的拳理和拳技；二是走實踐的路，與不同國家和地區的多種格鬥研習者進行切磋交流，再就是他的個性和攻讀哲學所得。
黃淳樑認為，截拳道的理論，不過是套取詠春拳理論再另行演繹。詠春拳理認為格鬥時絕無時間去考慮使用什麼招法，一個好拳手從不執著於怎樣攻擊對手，而強調根據對手的攻擊，做出純屬條件反射的攻防應答。這就是所謂以無招勝有招，以無法勝有法。截拳道自稱“無型之型，無式之式”，純看對方來勢如何，便怎樣回敬，同詠春理論並無分別。李小龍於此的成功，在於他運用大學修讀的哲學，將詠春拳理論演繹成含有道家味道的截拳道理論。而今，陪伴在美國西雅圖李小龍墓上的那本翻開的石質黑色書上，銘刻著一個金色太極圖，及漢英兩種文字的銘言“以無限為有限，以無法為有法”，昭示了李小龍的拳學境界和截拳道的最高理念。
在攻防技法方面，黃淳樑追憶說，成名後的李小龍與人切磋拳藝時，仍以詠春門的黐手為主，不輕易起腿(所謂“李三腿”，是李小龍在電影中扮演的一個角色。)。他最常用的前手直拳，始終沿用詠春的中線攻擊、日字握拳和寸勁爆發技術……李小龍在攻防技法方面的成功，在於他根據自己的性格和特長，修改了詠春打法。詠春打法認為，與人對搏的最佳距離，是伸手可及。對搏時，逼近對手，連環出拳，速戰速決。李小龍則以半步加伸展一臂可及為對打的最佳距離。對搏時，可進可退，靈活自如。
李小龍在世時，他拍的功夫片相繼打破香港全港電影票房記錄，一時之間，李小龍和他的截拳道成了街頭巷尾的熱門話題。但是，截拳道究為何形，差不多每個人都不甚了了。很多記者從李小龍口中采訪得到的，也僅是只鱗片爪。實在說，在當時，截拳道既沒有固定的套路和系統，也談不上有什麼曆史傳統。別說他人搞不清楚，就是李小龍自己，對此也缺乏足夠的信心。李小龍曾多次尋機，征詢黃淳樑對截拳道的想法。
1973年的一個周末，李小龍撥電話給黃淳樑。邀黃星期天到他家吃飯。以便“整日長談”。翌日，黃淳樑偕同妻兒到九龍塘金巴倫李小龍新居。見面時，小龍將黃擁抱得緊緊的，來了個西方密友闊別重逢的禮儀。隨後，小龍帶著淳樑一家參觀他的新居，介紹哪個是工作室，哪個是練功廳，哪個是臥室，哪個是兒子的房，哪個是女兒的房。在走向花園的路上，小龍突然向黃胸腹發拳打去，這樣兩人便黐上手了。你來我往，較試幾招。這種突然襲擊，原是黃以前用來鍛煉小龍反應能力的方法，不料，小龍今日用它來驗證自己的功力。只是剛一交手，小龍滿懷信心的臉上，就露出了驚訝。黃的手克制了小龍的下壓力。從下而上，反守為攻。小龍的力度遠遜當年(當時不知小龍已有病)。小龍回手捏著黃肩膊的肌肉問：“你那麼愛好拳術．怎麼讓身體胖起來了？”黃笑答：“以前是為了興趣，現在是為了生活，練是基於興趣，教是基於責任。所以，現在是教多而練少了。”
這一天，他們談得很廣，也談得很深。就連哪位武打影星有可能威脅小龍的地位，小龍也請黃幫助分析。小龍摟著淳樑上臥室時，順手關上門，劈頭一句問：“我想知道，你對我的截拳道怎樣看法。”淳樑與小龍素無拘促，見他如此，知是小龍約見的主題開始了。便也開門見山，實話實說：“截拳道只不過是一個名字，詠春也是一個名字。重要的不是名字，而是它的實質。李小龍換了別的名字，會變成另一個人嗎？詠春其實是一種武術構想和要求。不論采用什麼方法及形式，只要能達到這種構想和要求，就可以。至於名字，管它叫什麼”。小龍略微一愕，隨即笑道：“原來我們所想的，還是如此相近。你總說出我想要說的。詠春拳就像水一般。不管怎樣形狀的瓶子，它准會注滿的。”淳樑接著問道。“自從你教截拳道以來，究竟有多少弟子令你覺得滿意?”小龍呆了呆，竟答不上來。黃接著說：“假如有百分之六十，那就非常成功，有百分之十，也算很不錯，如果一個也沒有，那麼，不論這種拳術叫什麼名字，都只屬於你自己”。
黃見小龍不答，又接著自問自答地說：“這個問題的症結何在，你想過嗎？你大概沒有察覺，你曾經做過長期的條件反應鍛煉，你的身體各部遇到某種情形，都能自動反應，做出應答。但你的弟子空白了這個階段，就像上階梯一樣，缺少幾個腳踏，又怎能登攀上去呢？”小龍不斷苦笑，最後舒了口氣說道：“假如我能收回截拳道的話，我希望收回它”。他們的談話，就好像說佛偈般。淳樑沒有想到，他與小龍的這次長談，竟是與小龍生前的最後一次見面。
二、斥狂語 倔童初試拳 遊武場 淳樑師葉問
1935年，香港一戶祖籍廣東順德的中醫世家中降生了一個男孩。這個男孩，就是本文的主人公－黃淳樑。當時的香港，不像今天這麼繁榮，人口僅約50萬。街道兩旁都是三四層高的平頂建築。樓頂天臺連通成片，成為老人納涼，孩子嬉戲的消閑地方。當時在香港的中國人，足踏祖國的土壤，操作祖輩傳留的技藝，卻得處處謹慎，小心度日，海外漂來的洋人，反倒傲氣十足，不可一世。甚至連印藉雇員也常常踢中國人的屁股。中醫世家的熏陶，養成了黃淳樑自幼鐘愛國學的嗜好和崇尚民族氣節的意識。殖民地環境的壓抑，刺激黃淳樑從小卑視空談，卑視不武，逐漸養成了頑強的性格和尚武精神。
黃淳樑這種倔強的性格在他七八歲時，已顯露出來。一個仲夏的晚上，小淳樑與一群孩子在天臺上聊天。他們談星星，談神物，天真怪誕。其中一個體格高大，約十一二歲的男孩，藐視眾小，誇口自己是神靈轉世，非池中物，淳樑脫口回話說：“誰敢說蕃薯是池中物呢？”逗得旁邊的成年人捧腹大笑。大孩惱羞成怒，撲向淳樑。挨了幾拳的淳樑，面對比自己年紀大、個子高的對手，不畏懼、不服輸。一陣亂拳對歐後，兩人摔倒在地，抱成一團滾來滾去，最終被成人給分開了。這種性格逐漸發展成了黃淳樑從不自誇、嘲弄吹牛的品質，也養成了他與人比武，必鬥到底的作風。
黃淳樑的個性，在學校中也有獨特的表現。他抗拒學英語和殖民教育。因此，除中文秀出於眾外，其他各科都很一般，英文成績極差。課餘時間獨好習武，常常將該交學校的學費，拿去學武術和西洋拳。這類事一被母親知道，免不了一頓訓斥。父親對此倒很寬松，還悄悄拿錢給淳樑支付習武費用。黃淳樑少小時，先後在志賢小學、導群中學和南華中學就讀。在校中練習西洋拳。放學後，習練中國武術。
他的舅父喜好吳式太極拳，能走走架。小淳樑天天纏著舅父。舅父雖啟蒙了他幾招基本動作。但根本無法應付他的求知欲。於是，將淳樑送到一位頗有名氣的拳師處習練。這位師傅懂得很多，你想學什麼，他都能教。似乎南拳北腿、刀劍槍棍等等，他沒有不懂的。淳樑認真地學著，刻苦地練著，用心地思考著。漸漸地，他發現這位師傅頗像個武術的零售商人，沒有一點宗師的風範。有一天晚上，淳樑和幾個學員正在練習時，師傅接待了幾位客人。話匣子打開後，你一節，我一段，談的盡是武功奇技，把學員都吸引過去了。這時，師傅談了一段故事。他說，幾年前，他去成都，在一條斜坡路上，看見一輛貨車從上急馳而下，剛有一小孩跌倒路中，汽車來不及煞住，觀者驚呼。突然，有一老翁抬起兩臂，手掌對著汽車，放出外氣，汽車嗄然而止，停住了。淳樑聽到這裏，起身穿衣，揚長而去。他失望了。他不相信吹牛了人，也會有真功夫。
此後，黃淳樑開始遊曆武場，東走走，西看看。在切磋武術的地方，比試格鬥的場合，總有他的身影，他希望通過自己的反複觀察，認識武術，訪尋名師。
一次，淳樑之兄的朋友羅炳與一位複姓歐陽的年青人相約在九龍青山道一個大露臺上交手較技。淳樑前往觀戰。羅炳30出頭，練南螳螂拳七八年時間。歐陽年約21歲，習練詠春拳僅年餘。競技開始時，歐陽擺開詠春的樁手，羅炳擺開南螳螂的包樁手。幾個照面後，羅炳以驚彈勁搶攻，著著進逼。歐陽將前鋒手變為膀手，左右變換，有條不紊。大概進退50餘尺。羅雖占贏勢，終未擊中歐陽。歐陽年紀輕、拳齡短，體力和經驗都不如羅炳，雖較技中贏不了對方，但終未漏招。淳樑感到，詠春拳是值得一學的自衛術。
又一次，黃淳樑得知在嘉道理山，被人稱為“寨主”的林某，將與詠春傳人切磋。這位林寨主，擅長快太極，兼習北螳螂拳。所謂“寨主”，是他推手技術了得而得的美稱。切磋那天，黃淳樑逃學跑到現場。詠春拳出場切磋者名駱耀。林駱二人商定，進行詠春拳黐手與太極推手的切磋。動手之際，駱占盡上風，揮灑自如，將林玩弄於指掌之中，煞是好看。詠春拳給黃淳樑留下的印象更為深刻了。
這一年的農曆十二月二十八日，學校放年假。黃淳樑邀堂兄一道，到九龍深水埗海壇街，參觀葉問的詠春拳館。接近年關，來拳館練習的人不多，只有幾個年輕小夥子在練習單黐手，這是詠春拳入門的基本功夫。淳樑看著，不明優劣，湊興想與他們試試。這一下，犯了武館的禁忌－－未經預約，不能到武館較技，否則，會被認為是來“踢場子”的。在武館一方，有人來較，是必須應付的，否則，失去了威名，只有關門了事。練習單黐手的小夥子與淳樑交起手來，沒幾個照面，淳樑就將葉問的弟子推倒在地。
葉問冷眼旁觀，慢條斯理地說：“你要試試，該找個學拳時間長點的”。隨即，用手指指旁邊一個普通身材，年約20出頭的門徒，淳樑也不答話，上前就交手。
黃用西洋拳打法，對手竟招架不住，三兩下子就將對手打得東歪西倒。葉問看著很氣惱，卻不失宗師的風範，說：“我跟你玩玩罷。”黃雖初生牛犢，也感受寵若驚。一開始，黃以探拳虛攻，葉不反擊，只略略迫前，封住黃前手，令黃無法施展。黃忙抽回前手，葉乘黃抽回之勢再度封迫。黃想從橋底偷襲，但前手受制，後手也動彈不得；轉念來了個小後跳步，以求擺脫封迫。豈料葉如影隨形，步步封迫。不幾個照面，將黃迫封到牆邊，全身受制。葉突然快攻兩拳打向黃的胸口及鼻部，卻全不用力。黃淳樑如獲大赦，佩服得五體投地，要求即刻拜師學拳。葉笑著說：用不著那麼心急，今天已是年二十八，正月初四開館。你還是年初四來吧。淳樑佩服葉問。葉問也愛上了淳樑。正月初四。黃淳樑約羅炳陪同，來到葉問的拳館。恭恭敬敬地給葉問叩了三個響頭，開始了習練詠春拳，為誅春拳打開門戶的曆程。這一年是1954年。
三、求真知譽冠講手王 究拳理推演詠春學
1954年拜入葉問門下的黃淳樑，有如幼芽逢春雨，如饑似渴地吸收著詠春的營養，他感到學詠春比看詠春更有趣。一天早晨，黃淳樑經過林“寨主”拳場時，正逢林一邊與人推手，一邊高淡年前與詠春駱耀推手較技的情節。僅習練詠春拳十多天的黃淳樑，掄開雙拳就與林寨主較量起來。畢竟習武多年，加上被淳樑舉動激起的怒氣，幾招連擊。打得淳樑眼角掛采，口角瘀血。
此一劫，使黃淳樑幾天睡不好，吃不香。詠春拳為何沒有發揮威力？幾位師兄得心應手的招法。他為什麼竟用不上？思前想後，他得出了兩個結論：其一，泳春拳雖好，沒有功夫不行。其二，詠春拳是否真好，只有靠自己去實踐，去印證。此後，黃淳樑既加緊練招術，更加緊練沙包。練木人樁。沙包上、木人樁上，留下了淳樑的斑斑血跡。葉問看在眼裏，實在喜愛。大約5個月後，黃淳樑開始“去實踐，去印證”了。凡有人約他“講手”砌磋，他一概應允，還四處尋找對手。研究武術，追求真知。他曾對人說：所謂武無第二，是須與入較量去證實的。
香港工務局有位督察王喬，跟南螳螂派盧遠江先生習拳。王喬不僅拳藝老辣，而且膽識過人，仗義琉財，大有武林遺風。他聽說葉問在港傳習的詠春拳，較港地舊有拳種頗多特色，很想見識一下。經友人轉邀，黃淳樑來到了王先生的客廳。黃落坐後，打量了一下王喬。王約30歲，體形魁梧，皮膚黑紅，肌肉結實，行動輕捷，一眼就能看出是位經常運動的行家。幾句客套話後，王喬提議“講手”切磋，交流交流。並建議因地制宜，就在客廳中，對座交手。
剛交手時，王喬體壯臂長，加之螳螂手法敏捷，連招直逼淳樑。沒過幾招，淳樑就適應過來了。他發揮出詠春“黐手”的特長。拳拳擊向王的胸面部。卻不打實，手手攔住王的勁路，卻不截死，只將王弄得東歪西傾。王喬功力也算了得。每次歪斜，都能擰扭掙轉，重新坐直。直到有一次傾斜得露出了屁股，被黃順勢拍之，切磋才停下來。王喬雖有受辱之感，倒也賞識黃淳樑身手不凡。此後，王喬為著進一步了解詠春的技法和黃淳樑的功夫，多次邀人與淳樑較技。
一周後，王喬派人邀黃淳樑晚八時到又一村會堂與他的同門拳友鄧生比試。鄧聳背收胸，擺開包樁手。黃攤手在前，護手在後。雙方拉架對峙。突然，鄧大喝一聲，雙拳連發，直攻黃中路。黃不慌不忙，前手轉為膀手，後手變為攤手。將鄧兩手格向左邊。並進擊鄧頸部。鄧受擊連退數步，黃緊步進逼。鄧急呼“停”。鄧感到黃招法淩厲，功力深厚，幾乎沒有占絲毫便宜的可能。雖經王喬再三激勵，鄧也不願再繼續比試。就這樣，黃淳樑一面與人“講手”印證，一面在葉問嚴教下加緊訓練。師兄們對他也刮目相看了。
一天，師兄潘海邀淳樑去他店鋪與一位武友認識。潘的那位武友姓顧，膀大腰圓，滿身殺氣，自稱是練“車輪拳”的。顧邀黃比試，黃本就想與不同門派的武友切磋拳技，哪能放過這種機會。可是，剛一交手，就發現顧某發拳狠毒，招招進攻黃的要害，全不似講手研究。黃突然想起，這位師兄是黑幫中人，聽說他與這位顧某為爭地盤，產生過節。此時，顧以為潘約黃來制他，對黃毫不手軟。黃為著自己的名義和印證詠春，也不便罷手。於是，黃奮起進攻，剛見顧由攻變防，即將前拳化為枕手，以一伏二，後手同時發拳向顧面部打去。立時命中，血流披面。黃得勢不饒人，連環發拳，打得顧手忙腳亂，仰跌在木炭堆上。黃撲身壓下，一手捉住顧手，一手拳擊顧某面部。顧還算識相，借有人勸解，說了聲“老弟好功夫”，拂衣走了。
經此一較，黃聲名雀起。工務局王喬對觀賞淳樑講手的興趣大增，四出找高手與黃較技，先後有七八位拳手，都不是淳樑的對手，統統敗下陣來。一天，王喬又約黃至旺角上海街餐廳見面，介紹一位名叫楊華的高手與黃認識。王喬盛贊楊華精通數派武術，是不可多得的武壇奇人，誇得黃淳樑對楊的武功也有幾分佩服。
萬沒想到，楊一開口，就擺出老前輩教訓後輩的模樣，罵起人來。他傲慢地對黃說：“你能受得住我用指頭敲十下嗎？”黃答道：“我不能。”楊說：“既不能，還敢與人講手。”黃說：“我們的功夫是用來打人的，不是用來挨人打的。”言來語去，本想教訓黃一頓的楊華，滿面怒氣地說：“如此厲害，我們當眾比比。”
在公務局貨倉空場，王喬一聲開始，黃淳樑伸出兩手，一前一後，面對楊華。楊華腳踏麒麟步，手掐鳳眼拳，勢頗沉穩。黃不知楊功夫究有多深，放松兩臂，柔若柳條，待楊進攻。楊不明淳樑路數，也不敢冒進，只以虛招攻擊黃的前臂，並不深入。黃偶爾出拳，楊急速後躍，閃避頗快。彼此相峙有時，黃突然急步猛攻，快拳連擊，楊忙繞場閃躲，左右化解，黃竟無一拳能擊實對手。黃再度煞住攻勢，讓楊試探虛實。楊突然以左手抓搭黃的左前臂。黃乘勢轉腕反拿楊腕，雙方互拉，身體接近，右拳互歐，均因身體轉動，互不能中，黃突然不拉反進，楊退步不及，一個踉蹌一膝跪地。黃右拳乘勢下擊，楊因左手仍被黃抓住，自然抬頭上看。剛巧拳與眼撞個正著。楊慘叫一聲，雙膝跪地。此一役，黃雖勝了。但心中一直因傷了對方的眼感到內疚，差不多有兩個月拒絕與人講手。
這時，有人挑說，黃淳樑東勝西贏，終不是林寨主的對手。說得黃心癢。於是經幾次相商，定在嘉道理山林寨主拳場與林比試。比試中，林寨主左右走動，伸拳舒腿。黃既不擺架，也不動步，只漫不經心地看著林。林多方探試，黃終無反應。林經不住黃的冷漠，突然一個小躍步，右拳直擊黃面部。黃也不招架，待林拳將要打實，黃突然閃身進步，將林拳峰讓於肩後，林的前臂正好被扛在黃肩上。黃乘此機，左右直拳直擊林面部。林一時防守不及，兩眼受擊，心慌步搖。黃不待林穩步定神。接連左右開弓，打得林左倒右歪，癱倒在地。
香港所謂“講手”，實際就是比武。只是為了減少火藥味，突出研究氣氛，才慣稱之為講手。當時彼此之講手，雖然不是公開，但是有許多圈內人皆知道，而且每次參與戰役，例有一兩個記者相隨一一事後便在一部份報章上面，發表戰情，因此，這些事遂為人知。當時有幾間報館，對於此種講手事實，特別注重。每一次講手完畢之後，便將過程用大字標題，連篇累牘刊出，加以渲染，不厭求詳。因此，黃淳樑的名字，便為一般人認識。其名頭越來越大，當時武術界有一句成語，便是“煞星降九龍”，所謂煞星，即指黃淳樑也。一般記者，則將黃淳樑譽為“講手王”(見香港《新武俠》總第54期《黃淳樑替詠春派打開門戶》)。
黃淳樑不斷實踐，不斷印證。同時也不斷加深了對詠春的認識。他深感詠春不僅是一門格鬥藝術，更是一門學問。他坐下來，靜心總結，撰寫《講手四十回》，對每一次比試，進行徹底的檢討，通過對實踐的總結，重新去領會葉問師父的教誨，參悟詠春的拳理。黃淳樑隊為，詠春派前人積累了豐富的實戰經驗，提煉出以手為主的近身打法。詠春獨有的黐手，填補了近戰中最常遇到的一手可及距離，施展攻守技巧的空白點，總結出了中線攻擊和最短距離理論等等。黃淳樑還運用現代科學方法和原理，剖析自己的講手心得，研究誅春的基本技術，他曾在《新武俠》雜志上開設專欄，運用力學和幾何概念，闡述“小念頭”技法。他總結出了多人進攻解圍法、被逼近牆邊解圍法，被騎在地上解圍法等等。
據悉，近年來黃淳樑對詠春拳學的研究日益精深、日益體系化．他的這些獨到見解，將在今年十月赴京授課時，傳授諸生，作為他回大陸普及詠春拳的獻禮。
四、承師志出掌詠春會 揚國粹傳藝五大洲
香港詠春拳發展到本世紀60年代間，葉問的幾大弟子相繼自立武館，收徒傳藝。黃淳樑也開設了“黃淳樑詠春國術會”。黃淳樑由於有指導李小龍的教學經驗，又在與多家拳手較技中，藝高一籌，譽冠“講手王”。一時間，慕名來訪者眾，求學者眾。詠春繁衍日盛，分支愈多，黃淳樑擔心拳技偏離正軌。師資易失水准。建議組織詠春體育會。1967年，經香港當局體育主管部門批准。“香港詠春體育會”正式成立，成為香港武術團體中第一個注冊的社團。會址油麻地彌敦道438號二樓。1970年遷入自置新址旺角水渠道3號長寧大廈3樓C座，號稱擁有十數萬眾弟子的詠春派，形成了自己的領導核心，也有了同仁溝通、聚會活動的會所。葉問先生，作為興盛香港泳春拳的宗師，出任該會永遠會長，親自處理各項會務。
1972年，葉問先生病危，黃淳樑至病榻看護師父，葉問基於黃淳樑拜門後，處事公允。從不計個人私利，希望他能出面維持會務。葉問次子葉正要求黃向師父保證搞好諑春體育會，以安慰師父。但黃淳樑既盼師父早日康複，又對自己能否搞好沒有把握，未敢答應。當年12月初，葉問仙逝。黃淳樑悲痛萬千，自撰挽聯一對，拜掛師父靈堂。聯雲：“寒風損勁葉，地慘天愁，應是有情同此痛；軟雨株幼芽，豪懷寄我，奈何無力遂師心。”道出了黃淳樑在師父臨危時“無力遂師心”的內疚。詠春體育會辦完葉問喪禮後，漸漸失去了凝聚力，會務一蹶不振。人們感慨，興盛的詠春，至此失卻了方向，不知下一步怎麼走，走向那裏，各大弟子各自為政，交往稀少，間有紛爭。感歎者以為，之所以如此，都是因為沒有一個能令眾人唯馬首是瞻的掌門人所致。
當時，《當代武壇》第十七期登載了何天《誰可繼承詠春掌門之位》的文章，文章認為詠春門中人材濟濟，該文對有能力繼任詠春掌門的多位名手，進行了一一評價。謹將這些評介抄錄如下，以便了解當時的詠春人物和本文主人公的份量：“繼承詠春掌門之位，先提葉宗師長子葉准。葉先生出自武林世家，多年來雖未公開教拳，唯仍堅持練武不綴，自葉宗師逝世後，始承父意旨，設立“葉問國術總會”，葉先生且為人敦厚穩重，尤是對朋友之間，熱誠非常。
葉宗師大弟子梁相，他是香港學習詠春拳的先行者，追隨葉宗師多年，苦心學技。梁師傅對詠春派之發展亦功勞不少，刻下仍有設帳授徒，作育良材。梁師身段魁梧、性情豪邁，一派武林傑士之風範。駱耀亦是葉宗師在港的數大弟子之一。他使一手詠春‘六點半棍’淩厲高明。享譽同門，聞名武林。駱師傅因跟從葉宗師時日相當，和師傅結下深厚情誼。葉宗師逝世之時，駱師傅淚灑靈堂，令人感動。平時駱師傅專心詠春教務，是位虛懷若穀的人物。徐尚田師傅以精擅‘小念頭’而在同門稱著。徐師雖挾強功在身，但從不以此為炫耀，他謙虛隨和，與之相處如沭春風，在詠春之中，徐師傅人緣頗好。葉宗師生前曾以‘詠春正統’4字題贈招允師傅。可見招師傅在詠春派中，技術造詣火候相當。招允師傅早年在佛山已開始習詠春拳，及後來港再從葉宗師深造，亦可謂千錘百煉。且招師為人精明十分，對大小事情往往亦處理得宜。
黃淳樑是詠春在港打開門戶的功臣。年青有為，允文允武，早年在葉宗師教導下，勤學苦練，自己憑著一身肝膽，闖蕩江湖，與武林各路英雄相會，亦就此使詠春揚名。黃師傅對於詠春拳術，無論自練或授徒，都甚講求理論。有說到葉宗師另一親傳弟子李小龍，他亦是早年詠春闖將之一，為人聰穎靈活，以理論結合實際，加上自己能融匯貫通。李小龍這種不墨守陳規、敢於創新的精神，誠是現代武人難得的人才。唯其近年因覺武技已超越詠春範圍，而自封為截拳道宗師了。
另一位詠春幹材鄧生先生，其近年來出錢出力。支持詠春拳術發展，把詠春拳派內事務，當為己任。
詠春今日在港之豐業，鄧先生功勞高大。他為大家做事的熱心，早為同門所贊賞。”人材濟濟的詠春同仁，也深感空懸掌門之位給詠春帶來的損失。曆經半年醞釀，眾舉公認為詠春掌門三元老(駱耀、徐尚田、黃淳樑)中的黃淳樑出掌會務。當時，由葉問宗師之子葉正與黃商量，既談眾望，又重申葉問遺願。希望黃出馬，重整會務，重振詠春。痛懷“內疚”之心的黃淳樑，不得不遵先師遺囑，順同仁所望，擔起了“香港詠春體育會”主席之職。此後，他廣邀同門歸會，整理會務，開展活動，使詠春又現蒸蒸日上的勢頭。在同仁的擁戴下，黃淳樑一直連任四屆主席至今(1996年)。
黃淳樑從設館授拳到出任詠春休育會主席後的一段相當長的時期內，一直執著於葉問遺志，以香港為基地開展教務。1983年時，現今“詠春功夫歐洲總會”創立人(德國)菲臘．拜耳(PHLIPPBAYER)，慕黃淳樑名，親至香港，登門拜師，求學詠春。這才促使黃淳樑將教務擴展到海外。此後，黃先生每年都應邀去設在德國的“詠春功夫歐洲總會”進行指導，他還相繼多次應邀到英國、瑞士、意大利、奧地利、西班牙、荷蘭、克羅地亞、澳洲、加拿大、美國和非洲的一些國家去傳授詠春拳學。據悉，黃淳樑的海外弟子已愈萬人。黃淳樑對筆者說，詠春拳是中國武林中的一株奇葩。她在香港開花結果，又漸漸遠傳海外生根發芽。他認為，詠春拳更應該回到祖國大陸，普及發展，造福民眾。詠春拳也只有回到大陸，才能得到更好的發展，更高更遠的騰飛。鑒此，黃先生欣然答應國家體委武術運動管理中心培訓部的邀請，將於今年(1996年)10月15日赴京執教，傳授詠春拳技，奉獻拳學心得。
我們期待著黃淳樑先生的到來，期待著詠春拳日益普及，期待著第二個李小龍的成長。
(《香港“講手王”詠春拳學家－－黃淳樑武術生涯四十年》原連載於北京《武魂》雜誌1996年第5至9期 )
“講手王”黃淳樑武術生涯四十年
為著追溯東方格鬥術的演進，探索實戰搏擊的要訣，也為著解惑－－為什麼詠春拳能在中西文化交匯、東西方格鬥術碰撞的香港地區崛起，而後又廣傳歐美亞非，筆者翻閱了香港幾家涉足武壇的報刊，下面幾段文字，引起了我們的興趣：
“1957年，九龍地面，忽然產生了一個‘講手大王’，就是詠春派掌門人葉問之弟子黃淳樑矣，此時之黃淳樑，不過是22歲……為著他是個實用拳師，所以有很多青年都投到他門下，就是現在震動影壇的李小龍，雖然說是葉問的門徒，但所學的詠春拳，是多數得黃淳樑指點的。”(引自香港《新武俠》第54期《黃淳樑替詠春派打開門戶》)。
“黃淳樑是詠春在港打開門戶的功臣。年青有為，允文允武，早年在葉宗師教導下，勤學苦練，自己憑著一身肝膽，闖蕩江湖，與武林各路英雄相會，亦就此使詠春揚名”(引自香港《當代武壇》第17期《誰繼承詠春掌門之位》)。“黃淳樑的徒弟更遍布歐美加港，人數逾萬。當年李小龍拜投葉問門下，可能因為性情相近，是由師兄黃淳樑直接指導。黃未習詠春前，曾到葉問的武館與他講手，先後擊倒其弟子及外甥，最後敗在葉問手下，才拜他為師，習詠春後他又到百多間武館與人切磋武藝，師兄弟間遂稱之為‘講手王’(引自香港《壹周刊》第43期《香港十大教父》)。
這幾段文字給我們的興趣，不僅是告知了我們截拳道宗師李小龍，原本是詠春傳人；李小龍的詠春拳多得自師兄黃淳樑。它還吸引我們去了解繼葉問之後連任香港詠春體育會主席至今的黃淳樑先生的武功、武曆和貢獻。
一、截拳道源自詠春拳 李小龍得益黃淳樑
距今整整40年前，座落在香港油麻地利達街的詠春武館，引起了香港武壇和新聞界的普遍關注，只身來到香港闖蕩的佛山人葉問，僅用數年時間，就使當時鮮為人知的詠春拳在香港立足，並建起了這家初具規模的武館。葉問的得力弟子黃淳樑經過百餘次實戰切磋，獲得了“講手王”的譽稱。就在這個時候，在港地電影圈中已頗有名聲的童星李小龍走進了葉問武館。
那是一個傍晚時分。正在代師授徒的黃淳樑，看到師弟張卓慶帶著一個十五六歲的小夥子走進武館，此人身著時髦的牛仔褲、花襯衫，頭發梳得挺滑溜，雖時已黃昏，仍戴著太陽鏡。這就是李小龍。黃淳樑瞟了他一眼，覺得滿不是味道，仍舊專心授課。幾天後，李小龍經張卓慶介紹正式拜葉問為師，並正式向黃淳樑致禮，認了師兄。開始學練詠春拳。
李小龍原以為練上三五天，學得兩三招，就能防身攻敵了。沒想到初開拳時，師兄既不解析拳法要點，也不講實戰運用，加上每天總是練慢吞吞的攤手、伏手、馬步，特別是站二字拑羊馬時，兩腿酸痛得要命，難以忍愛。沒幾天，心高氣傲的小龍，離開了他感到無味難耐的詠春武館。大約一個多月後，李小龍又回到武館，要求學習。黃淳樑感到奇怪！一般十多歲學童離開武館後，很少回來重新學習。在黃淳樑的反複詢問下，李小龍說出了真情。原來是在幾天前，小龍在青年會與一個人言語沖突，打了起來。那人個頭高大，而且學過武術。剛一動手，小龍就挨了幾下，吃了不少虧。小龍突然想到在詠春館見過的“日字沖拳”，就用這種拳法向對方面部密集連擊，果然反敗為勝了。他覺得這種拳術很有用，才重新回館練習。
沒有多久，黃淳樑和李小龍都相互有了了解，逐漸熟悉了。黃認為李小龍率直、敏銳、膽識在同齡孩子之上，是個可造之材。小龍也感到黃淳樑的構思和技藝，正符合他的學習要求。於是，小龍成天纏著黃淳樑，要求到黃家練習。淳樑答應了。此後，小龍每天放學後，就到黃家與幾個師弟一起學拳。有一天，小龍突然對黃說：“可不可以只教我一人，不要教他們．因為我已報名參加校際西洋拳賽”。黃答道：“我很難答應你這個要求，你們都是同門師兄弟，我不能厚此薄彼”。小龍見黃拒絕，無可奈何。怎料他竟想出了一個別出心裁的計策。次日放學後，他先跑到黃家，坐在樓梯上。待他的同學來時，他跑到樓下迎上去，對他們說：“樑哥不在家，沒法練了，我們回去罷”。於是，大家一道離去。等到別人都上車走了，小龍又獨自回來，接受黃淳樑督教。如此數次，同練的的夥伴漸漸都不來了，李小龍達到了黃淳樑在家給他“吃小灶”的心願。
這一階段，李小龍練習甚勤，功力日進。黃跟他對練，也愈來愈吃力。因為同門同路，竅門漸漸被摸熟，自然壓力也愈來愈大。就好比對弈，你天天跟同一對手下棋，漸漸也會付出更多思考。若棋力逐漸接近，自然還是強手勝，但強者心裏知道壓力在逐漸增大，敗手卻很難知道自己進步了多少。黃這時除了繼續指導小龍作條件反射的黐手練習外，還針對小龍將參加西洋拳賽的要求，讓小龍川詠春招法，自己用西洋拳法，練習對搏。小龍出現不敵吋，黃及時進行糾正和解析。大約練了一個來月，小龍在喬治五校出賽了。與小龍對抗的對手，是個外國學生，曾獲兩屆校際拳擊賽的冠軍。開始時，小龍擺出詠春拳獨特的樁式，引起了滿場倒彩聲。一交手，小龍就壓住對方，一拳比一拳重，打得對手只有招架之功，沒有還手之力。在全場屏息的靜觀後，突然爆發出一陣雷鳴般的掌聲和歡呼聲，李小龍勝了！這次勝利，更加激發了小龍的勤練意識，同時也確立了黃淳樑在他心目中的偶像地位。無論練什麼，體會到什麼，他都要征求黃的意見。
幾個月後的一天，小龍對黃說，他已邀約一位北少林的鐘助教比試，希望黃擔任賽場教練。屆時，黃、李二人來到賽場－－九龍城聯合道一幢天臺上。雙方議定：比賽時，一方先擺樁，另一方先進攻。經第一接觸後，雙方均可搶攻。經擲毫，小龍先擺樁。一聲開始口令後，小龍擺起了樁，鐘摟步左右遊走，伺機進攻。鐘突大吼一聲，拳自上而下打向小龍臉龐，被小龍轉馬避過。接著，雙方拳來拳往，互有攻防，小龍見招拆招，打得瀟灑自如。漸漸地，小龍顯出了被動。這是因為鐘較小龍身高、步闊、臂長，多次擊中小龍，連眼角也受擊略有破損。第一回合結束時，小龍對黃說：“我想就此結束。假如面部受傷嚴重，影響拍電影就麻煩了”。黃說：“你本來可以贏，只是因為守多於攻，久守必失。第二回合，你不要求招式好看，盡量搶攻。他比你高大，你反常規而用，多攻擊他的面部。你拳搶中線，他雙拳自然在外。你的拳正好形成一個三角形，既攻擊對方，雙臂又防護住了自己的面部……”第二回合一開始，小龍果真搶步急拳向鐘面部打去，這一拳剛好打個正著。得勢不饒人，小龍連環直拳出擊，拳拳擊中鐘面部，至鐘整個人倒臥在牆角上，比賽宣告終止。小龍畢竟年輕，難免興高采烈，態度輕佻忘形，引起對方不滿，招出不少相互抵辱的話，自然種下了恨根。
此後，小龍每天放學回家，都有人聚集想找他的麻煩。小龍無奈，只有求助於師兄，請黃淳樑每天到學校門前接他，小龍總算避過了一些麻煩……怎料有一天，幾名警察到學校搜查小龍的書包，於是驚動了學校和小龍的父親。他父親為了不讓小龍在港出現不測，決定送小龍去美國念書。1958年11月，李小龍赴美讀書，攻讀哲學專業。隨後，在美創設泳拳館，主拍武術功夫片，開創截拳道，成了影壇矚目、武壇關注的新星。
1973年，年僅32歲的李小龍不幸長辭人世，比他年長5歲的師兄黃淳樑，以其曾是李小龍追隨的拳搏實踐家，曾為李小龍的成功指點過迷律，拋灑過汗水的經曆，成了人們探索李小龍武術思想，了解李小龍拳道技藝的中心人物。由李小龍的崇拜者們組成的香港“李小龍會”，聘請黃淳樑擔任顧問。
1996年春，筆者就李小龍與截拳道專題，走訪了年滿花甲的黃淳樑先生。黃先生首先拿出一疊李小龍赴美後與他的通信，其中有向黃傾吐在美生活狀況的，有記述傳授詠春拳況的，還有一些是征詢拳學疑難的信。1970年11月，李小龍給黃淳樑的信中，寫著如下幾段：
“淳樑兄：……
“至於武道方面，我仍然是日日修習，與一般徒弟和朋友每星期會兩次，無所謂是西洋拳、跆拳道或摔角……
“自從66年開始認真去練習後(護具手套etc)，覺得以前的偏見是錯了。因此改叫我的心得練出的為截拳道。截拳道只是名稱矣……
“我是感謝你和師父在港時多多指導我詠春門徑，其實是多得你，使我多去走現實路……”
在談到李小龍截拳道的的基本構成時，黃淳樑概括說，李小龍自言截拳道是他根據個人的體會練出來的拳技，我看，他賴以萌生這種體會的基礎，主要有三。一是詠春門徑的拳理和拳技；二是走實踐的路，與不同國家和地區的多種格鬥研習者進行切磋交流，再就是他的個性和攻讀哲學所得。
黃淳樑認為，截拳道的理論，不過是套取詠春拳理論再另行演繹。詠春拳理認為格鬥時絕無時間去考慮使用什麼招法，一個好拳手從不執著於怎樣攻擊對手，而強調根據對手的攻擊，做出純屬條件反射的攻防應答。這就是所謂以無招勝有招，以無法勝有法。截拳道自稱“無型之型，無式之式”，純看對方來勢如何，便怎樣回敬，同詠春理論並無分別。李小龍於此的成功，在於他運用大學修讀的哲學，將詠春拳理論演繹成含有道家味道的截拳道理論。而今，陪伴在美國西雅圖李小龍墓上的那本翻開的石質黑色書上，銘刻著一個金色太極圖，及漢英兩種文字的銘言“以無限為有限，以無法為有法”，昭示了李小龍的拳學境界和截拳道的最高理念。
在攻防技法方面，黃淳樑追憶說，成名後的李小龍與人切磋拳藝時，仍以詠春門的黐手為主，不輕易起腿(所謂“李三腿”，是李小龍在電影中扮演的一個角色。)。他最常用的前手直拳，始終沿用詠春的中線攻擊、日字握拳和寸勁爆發技術……李小龍在攻防技法方面的成功，在於他根據自己的性格和特長，修改了詠春打法。詠春打法認為，與人對搏的最佳距離，是伸手可及。對搏時，逼近對手，連環出拳，速戰速決。李小龍則以半步加伸展一臂可及為對打的最佳距離。對搏時，可進可退，靈活自如。
李小龍在世時，他拍的功夫片相繼打破香港全港電影票房記錄，一時之間，李小龍和他的截拳道成了街頭巷尾的熱門話題。但是，截拳道究為何形，差不多每個人都不甚了了。很多記者從李小龍口中采訪得到的，也僅是只鱗片爪。實在說，在當時，截拳道既沒有固定的套路和系統，也談不上有什麼曆史傳統。別說他人搞不清楚，就是李小龍自己，對此也缺乏足夠的信心。李小龍曾多次尋機，征詢黃淳樑對截拳道的想法。
1973年的一個周末，李小龍撥電話給黃淳樑。邀黃星期天到他家吃飯。以便“整日長談”。翌日，黃淳樑偕同妻兒到九龍塘金巴倫李小龍新居。見面時，小龍將黃擁抱得緊緊的，來了個西方密友闊別重逢的禮儀。隨後，小龍帶著淳樑一家參觀他的新居，介紹哪個是工作室，哪個是練功廳，哪個是臥室，哪個是兒子的房，哪個是女兒的房。在走向花園的路上，小龍突然向黃胸腹發拳打去，這樣兩人便黐上手了。你來我往，較試幾招。這種突然襲擊，原是黃以前用來鍛煉小龍反應能力的方法，不料，小龍今日用它來驗證自己的功力。只是剛一交手，小龍滿懷信心的臉上，就露出了驚訝。黃的手克制了小龍的下壓力。從下而上，反守為攻。小龍的力度遠遜當年(當時不知小龍已有病)。小龍回手捏著黃肩膊的肌肉問：“你那麼愛好拳術．怎麼讓身體胖起來了？”黃笑答：“以前是為了興趣，現在是為了生活，練是基於興趣，教是基於責任。所以，現在是教多而練少了。”
這一天，他們談得很廣，也談得很深。就連哪位武打影星有可能威脅小龍的地位，小龍也請黃幫助分析。小龍摟著淳樑上臥室時，順手關上門，劈頭一句問：“我想知道，你對我的截拳道怎樣看法。”淳樑與小龍素無拘促，見他如此，知是小龍約見的主題開始了。便也開門見山，實話實說：“截拳道只不過是一個名字，詠春也是一個名字。重要的不是名字，而是它的實質。李小龍換了別的名字，會變成另一個人嗎？詠春其實是一種武術構想和要求。不論采用什麼方法及形式，只要能達到這種構想和要求，就可以。至於名字，管它叫什麼”。小龍略微一愕，隨即笑道：“原來我們所想的，還是如此相近。你總說出我想要說的。詠春拳就像水一般。不管怎樣形狀的瓶子，它准會注滿的。”淳樑接著問道。“自從你教截拳道以來，究竟有多少弟子令你覺得滿意?”小龍呆了呆，竟答不上來。黃接著說：“假如有百分之六十，那就非常成功，有百分之十，也算很不錯，如果一個也沒有，那麼，不論這種拳術叫什麼名字，都只屬於你自己”。
黃見小龍不答，又接著自問自答地說：“這個問題的症結何在，你想過嗎？你大概沒有察覺，你曾經做過長期的條件反應鍛煉，你的身體各部遇到某種情形，都能自動反應，做出應答。但你的弟子空白了這個階段，就像上階梯一樣，缺少幾個腳踏，又怎能登攀上去呢？”小龍不斷苦笑，最後舒了口氣說道：“假如我能收回截拳道的話，我希望收回它”。他們的談話，就好像說佛偈般。淳樑沒有想到，他與小龍的這次長談，竟是與小龍生前的最後一次見面。
二、斥狂語 倔童初試拳 遊武場 淳樑師葉問
1935年，香港一戶祖籍廣東順德的中醫世家中降生了一個男孩。這個男孩，就是本文的主人公－黃淳樑。當時的香港，不像今天這麼繁榮，人口僅約50萬。街道兩旁都是三四層高的平頂建築。樓頂天臺連通成片，成為老人納涼，孩子嬉戲的消閑地方。當時在香港的中國人，足踏祖國的土壤，操作祖輩傳留的技藝，卻得處處謹慎，小心度日，海外漂來的洋人，反倒傲氣十足，不可一世。甚至連印藉雇員也常常踢中國人的屁股。中醫世家的熏陶，養成了黃淳樑自幼鐘愛國學的嗜好和崇尚民族氣節的意識。殖民地環境的壓抑，刺激黃淳樑從小卑視空談，卑視不武，逐漸養成了頑強的性格和尚武精神。
黃淳樑這種倔強的性格在他七八歲時，已顯露出來。一個仲夏的晚上，小淳樑與一群孩子在天臺上聊天。他們談星星，談神物，天真怪誕。其中一個體格高大，約十一二歲的男孩，藐視眾小，誇口自己是神靈轉世，非池中物，淳樑脫口回話說：“誰敢說蕃薯是池中物呢？”逗得旁邊的成年人捧腹大笑。大孩惱羞成怒，撲向淳樑。挨了幾拳的淳樑，面對比自己年紀大、個子高的對手，不畏懼、不服輸。一陣亂拳對歐後，兩人摔倒在地，抱成一團滾來滾去，最終被成人給分開了。這種性格逐漸發展成了黃淳樑從不自誇、嘲弄吹牛的品質，也養成了他與人比武，必鬥到底的作風。
黃淳樑的個性，在學校中也有獨特的表現。他抗拒學英語和殖民教育。因此，除中文秀出於眾外，其他各科都很一般，英文成績極差。課餘時間獨好習武，常常將該交學校的學費，拿去學武術和西洋拳。這類事一被母親知道，免不了一頓訓斥。父親對此倒很寬松，還悄悄拿錢給淳樑支付習武費用。黃淳樑少小時，先後在志賢小學、導群中學和南華中學就讀。在校中練習西洋拳。放學後，習練中國武術。
他的舅父喜好吳式太極拳，能走走架。小淳樑天天纏著舅父。舅父雖啟蒙了他幾招基本動作。但根本無法應付他的求知欲。於是，將淳樑送到一位頗有名氣的拳師處習練。這位師傅懂得很多，你想學什麼，他都能教。似乎南拳北腿、刀劍槍棍等等，他沒有不懂的。淳樑認真地學著，刻苦地練著，用心地思考著。漸漸地，他發現這位師傅頗像個武術的零售商人，沒有一點宗師的風範。有一天晚上，淳樑和幾個學員正在練習時，師傅接待了幾位客人。話匣子打開後，你一節，我一段，談的盡是武功奇技，把學員都吸引過去了。這時，師傅談了一段故事。他說，幾年前，他去成都，在一條斜坡路上，看見一輛貨車從上急馳而下，剛有一小孩跌倒路中，汽車來不及煞住，觀者驚呼。突然，有一老翁抬起兩臂，手掌對著汽車，放出外氣，汽車嗄然而止，停住了。淳樑聽到這裏，起身穿衣，揚長而去。他失望了。他不相信吹牛了人，也會有真功夫。
此後，黃淳樑開始遊曆武場，東走走，西看看。在切磋武術的地方，比試格鬥的場合，總有他的身影，他希望通過自己的反複觀察，認識武術，訪尋名師。
一次，淳樑之兄的朋友羅炳與一位複姓歐陽的年青人相約在九龍青山道一個大露臺上交手較技。淳樑前往觀戰。羅炳30出頭，練南螳螂拳七八年時間。歐陽年約21歲，習練詠春拳僅年餘。競技開始時，歐陽擺開詠春的樁手，羅炳擺開南螳螂的包樁手。幾個照面後，羅炳以驚彈勁搶攻，著著進逼。歐陽將前鋒手變為膀手，左右變換，有條不紊。大概進退50餘尺。羅雖占贏勢，終未擊中歐陽。歐陽年紀輕、拳齡短，體力和經驗都不如羅炳，雖較技中贏不了對方，但終未漏招。淳樑感到，詠春拳是值得一學的自衛術。
又一次，黃淳樑得知在嘉道理山，被人稱為“寨主”的林某，將與詠春傳人切磋。這位林寨主，擅長快太極，兼習北螳螂拳。所謂“寨主”，是他推手技術了得而得的美稱。切磋那天，黃淳樑逃學跑到現場。詠春拳出場切磋者名駱耀。林駱二人商定，進行詠春拳黐手與太極推手的切磋。動手之際，駱占盡上風，揮灑自如，將林玩弄於指掌之中，煞是好看。詠春拳給黃淳樑留下的印象更為深刻了。
這一年的農曆十二月二十八日，學校放年假。黃淳樑邀堂兄一道，到九龍深水埗海壇街，參觀葉問的詠春拳館。接近年關，來拳館練習的人不多，只有幾個年輕小夥子在練習單黐手，這是詠春拳入門的基本功夫。淳樑看著，不明優劣，湊興想與他們試試。這一下，犯了武館的禁忌－－未經預約，不能到武館較技，否則，會被認為是來“踢場子”的。在武館一方，有人來較，是必須應付的，否則，失去了威名，只有關門了事。練習單黐手的小夥子與淳樑交起手來，沒幾個照面，淳樑就將葉問的弟子推倒在地。
葉問冷眼旁觀，慢條斯理地說：“你要試試，該找個學拳時間長點的”。隨即，用手指指旁邊一個普通身材，年約20出頭的門徒，淳樑也不答話，上前就交手。
黃用西洋拳打法，對手竟招架不住，三兩下子就將對手打得東歪西倒。葉問看著很氣惱，卻不失宗師的風範，說：“我跟你玩玩罷。”黃雖初生牛犢，也感受寵若驚。一開始，黃以探拳虛攻，葉不反擊，只略略迫前，封住黃前手，令黃無法施展。黃忙抽回前手，葉乘黃抽回之勢再度封迫。黃想從橋底偷襲，但前手受制，後手也動彈不得；轉念來了個小後跳步，以求擺脫封迫。豈料葉如影隨形，步步封迫。不幾個照面，將黃迫封到牆邊，全身受制。葉突然快攻兩拳打向黃的胸口及鼻部，卻全不用力。黃淳樑如獲大赦，佩服得五體投地，要求即刻拜師學拳。葉笑著說：用不著那麼心急，今天已是年二十八，正月初四開館。你還是年初四來吧。淳樑佩服葉問。葉問也愛上了淳樑。正月初四。黃淳樑約羅炳陪同，來到葉問的拳館。恭恭敬敬地給葉問叩了三個響頭，開始了習練詠春拳，為誅春拳打開門戶的曆程。這一年是1954年。
三、求真知譽冠講手王 究拳理推演詠春學
1954年拜入葉問門下的黃淳樑，有如幼芽逢春雨，如饑似渴地吸收著詠春的營養，他感到學詠春比看詠春更有趣。一天早晨，黃淳樑經過林“寨主”拳場時，正逢林一邊與人推手，一邊高淡年前與詠春駱耀推手較技的情節。僅習練詠春拳十多天的黃淳樑，掄開雙拳就與林寨主較量起來。畢竟習武多年，加上被淳樑舉動激起的怒氣，幾招連擊。打得淳樑眼角掛采，口角瘀血。
此一劫，使黃淳樑幾天睡不好，吃不香。詠春拳為何沒有發揮威力？幾位師兄得心應手的招法。他為什麼竟用不上？思前想後，他得出了兩個結論：其一，泳春拳雖好，沒有功夫不行。其二，詠春拳是否真好，只有靠自己去實踐，去印證。此後，黃淳樑既加緊練招術，更加緊練沙包。練木人樁。沙包上、木人樁上，留下了淳樑的斑斑血跡。葉問看在眼裏，實在喜愛。大約5個月後，黃淳樑開始“去實踐，去印證”了。凡有人約他“講手”砌磋，他一概應允，還四處尋找對手。研究武術，追求真知。他曾對人說：所謂武無第二，是須與入較量去證實的。
香港工務局有位督察王喬，跟南螳螂派盧遠江先生習拳。王喬不僅拳藝老辣，而且膽識過人，仗義琉財，大有武林遺風。他聽說葉問在港傳習的詠春拳，較港地舊有拳種頗多特色，很想見識一下。經友人轉邀，黃淳樑來到了王先生的客廳。黃落坐後，打量了一下王喬。王約30歲，體形魁梧，皮膚黑紅，肌肉結實，行動輕捷，一眼就能看出是位經常運動的行家。幾句客套話後，王喬提議“講手”切磋，交流交流。並建議因地制宜，就在客廳中，對座交手。
剛交手時，王喬體壯臂長，加之螳螂手法敏捷，連招直逼淳樑。沒過幾招，淳樑就適應過來了。他發揮出詠春“黐手”的特長。拳拳擊向王的胸面部。卻不打實，手手攔住王的勁路，卻不截死，只將王弄得東歪西傾。王喬功力也算了得。每次歪斜，都能擰扭掙轉，重新坐直。直到有一次傾斜得露出了屁股，被黃順勢拍之，切磋才停下來。王喬雖有受辱之感，倒也賞識黃淳樑身手不凡。此後，王喬為著進一步了解詠春的技法和黃淳樑的功夫，多次邀人與淳樑較技。
一周後，王喬派人邀黃淳樑晚八時到又一村會堂與他的同門拳友鄧生比試。鄧聳背收胸，擺開包樁手。黃攤手在前，護手在後。雙方拉架對峙。突然，鄧大喝一聲，雙拳連發，直攻黃中路。黃不慌不忙，前手轉為膀手，後手變為攤手。將鄧兩手格向左邊。並進擊鄧頸部。鄧受擊連退數步，黃緊步進逼。鄧急呼“停”。鄧感到黃招法淩厲，功力深厚，幾乎沒有占絲毫便宜的可能。雖經王喬再三激勵，鄧也不願再繼續比試。就這樣，黃淳樑一面與人“講手”印證，一面在葉問嚴教下加緊訓練。師兄們對他也刮目相看了。
一天，師兄潘海邀淳樑去他店鋪與一位武友認識。潘的那位武友姓顧，膀大腰圓，滿身殺氣，自稱是練“車輪拳”的。顧邀黃比試，黃本就想與不同門派的武友切磋拳技，哪能放過這種機會。可是，剛一交手，就發現顧某發拳狠毒，招招進攻黃的要害，全不似講手研究。黃突然想起，這位師兄是黑幫中人，聽說他與這位顧某為爭地盤，產生過節。此時，顧以為潘約黃來制他，對黃毫不手軟。黃為著自己的名義和印證詠春，也不便罷手。於是，黃奮起進攻，剛見顧由攻變防，即將前拳化為枕手，以一伏二，後手同時發拳向顧面部打去。立時命中，血流披面。黃得勢不饒人，連環發拳，打得顧手忙腳亂，仰跌在木炭堆上。黃撲身壓下，一手捉住顧手，一手拳擊顧某面部。顧還算識相，借有人勸解，說了聲“老弟好功夫”，拂衣走了。
經此一較，黃聲名雀起。工務局王喬對觀賞淳樑講手的興趣大增，四出找高手與黃較技，先後有七八位拳手，都不是淳樑的對手，統統敗下陣來。一天，王喬又約黃至旺角上海街餐廳見面，介紹一位名叫楊華的高手與黃認識。王喬盛贊楊華精通數派武術，是不可多得的武壇奇人，誇得黃淳樑對楊的武功也有幾分佩服。
萬沒想到，楊一開口，就擺出老前輩教訓後輩的模樣，罵起人來。他傲慢地對黃說：“你能受得住我用指頭敲十下嗎？”黃答道：“我不能。”楊說：“既不能，還敢與人講手。”黃說：“我們的功夫是用來打人的，不是用來挨人打的。”言來語去，本想教訓黃一頓的楊華，滿面怒氣地說：“如此厲害，我們當眾比比。”
在公務局貨倉空場，王喬一聲開始，黃淳樑伸出兩手，一前一後，面對楊華。楊華腳踏麒麟步，手掐鳳眼拳，勢頗沉穩。黃不知楊功夫究有多深，放松兩臂，柔若柳條，待楊進攻。楊不明淳樑路數，也不敢冒進，只以虛招攻擊黃的前臂，並不深入。黃偶爾出拳，楊急速後躍，閃避頗快。彼此相峙有時，黃突然急步猛攻，快拳連擊，楊忙繞場閃躲，左右化解，黃竟無一拳能擊實對手。黃再度煞住攻勢，讓楊試探虛實。楊突然以左手抓搭黃的左前臂。黃乘勢轉腕反拿楊腕，雙方互拉，身體接近，右拳互歐，均因身體轉動，互不能中，黃突然不拉反進，楊退步不及，一個踉蹌一膝跪地。黃右拳乘勢下擊，楊因左手仍被黃抓住，自然抬頭上看。剛巧拳與眼撞個正著。楊慘叫一聲，雙膝跪地。此一役，黃雖勝了。但心中一直因傷了對方的眼感到內疚，差不多有兩個月拒絕與人講手。
這時，有人挑說，黃淳樑東勝西贏，終不是林寨主的對手。說得黃心癢。於是經幾次相商，定在嘉道理山林寨主拳場與林比試。比試中，林寨主左右走動，伸拳舒腿。黃既不擺架，也不動步，只漫不經心地看著林。林多方探試，黃終無反應。林經不住黃的冷漠，突然一個小躍步，右拳直擊黃面部。黃也不招架，待林拳將要打實，黃突然閃身進步，將林拳峰讓於肩後，林的前臂正好被扛在黃肩上。黃乘此機，左右直拳直擊林面部。林一時防守不及，兩眼受擊，心慌步搖。黃不待林穩步定神。接連左右開弓，打得林左倒右歪，癱倒在地。
香港所謂“講手”，實際就是比武。只是為了減少火藥味，突出研究氣氛，才慣稱之為講手。當時彼此之講手，雖然不是公開，但是有許多圈內人皆知道，而且每次參與戰役，例有一兩個記者相隨一一事後便在一部份報章上面，發表戰情，因此，這些事遂為人知。當時有幾間報館，對於此種講手事實，特別注重。每一次講手完畢之後，便將過程用大字標題，連篇累牘刊出，加以渲染，不厭求詳。因此，黃淳樑的名字，便為一般人認識。其名頭越來越大，當時武術界有一句成語，便是“煞星降九龍”，所謂煞星，即指黃淳樑也。一般記者，則將黃淳樑譽為“講手王”(見香港《新武俠》總第54期《黃淳樑替詠春派打開門戶》)。
黃淳樑不斷實踐，不斷印證。同時也不斷加深了對詠春的認識。他深感詠春不僅是一門格鬥藝術，更是一門學問。他坐下來，靜心總結，撰寫《講手四十回》，對每一次比試，進行徹底的檢討，通過對實踐的總結，重新去領會葉問師父的教誨，參悟詠春的拳理。黃淳樑隊為，詠春派前人積累了豐富的實戰經驗，提煉出以手為主的近身打法。詠春獨有的黐手，填補了近戰中最常遇到的一手可及距離，施展攻守技巧的空白點，總結出了中線攻擊和最短距離理論等等。黃淳樑還運用現代科學方法和原理，剖析自己的講手心得，研究誅春的基本技術，他曾在《新武俠》雜志上開設專欄，運用力學和幾何概念，闡述“小念頭”技法。他總結出了多人進攻解圍法、被逼近牆邊解圍法，被騎在地上解圍法等等。
據悉，近年來黃淳樑對詠春拳學的研究日益精深、日益體系化．他的這些獨到見解，將在今年十月赴京授課時，傳授諸生，作為他回大陸普及詠春拳的獻禮。
四、承師志出掌詠春會 揚國粹傳藝五大洲
香港詠春拳發展到本世紀60年代間，葉問的幾大弟子相繼自立武館，收徒傳藝。黃淳樑也開設了“黃淳樑詠春國術會”。黃淳樑由於有指導李小龍的教學經驗，又在與多家拳手較技中，藝高一籌，譽冠“講手王”。一時間，慕名來訪者眾，求學者眾。詠春繁衍日盛，分支愈多，黃淳樑擔心拳技偏離正軌。師資易失水准。建議組織詠春體育會。1967年，經香港當局體育主管部門批准。“香港詠春體育會”正式成立，成為香港武術團體中第一個注冊的社團。會址油麻地彌敦道438號二樓。1970年遷入自置新址旺角水渠道3號長寧大廈3樓C座，號稱擁有十數萬眾弟子的詠春派，形成了自己的領導核心，也有了同仁溝通、聚會活動的會所。葉問先生，作為興盛香港泳春拳的宗師，出任該會永遠會長，親自處理各項會務。
1972年，葉問先生病危，黃淳樑至病榻看護師父，葉問基於黃淳樑拜門後，處事公允。從不計個人私利，希望他能出面維持會務。葉問次子葉正要求黃向師父保證搞好諑春體育會，以安慰師父。但黃淳樑既盼師父早日康複，又對自己能否搞好沒有把握，未敢答應。當年12月初，葉問仙逝。黃淳樑悲痛萬千，自撰挽聯一對，拜掛師父靈堂。聯雲：“寒風損勁葉，地慘天愁，應是有情同此痛；軟雨株幼芽，豪懷寄我，奈何無力遂師心。”道出了黃淳樑在師父臨危時“無力遂師心”的內疚。詠春體育會辦完葉問喪禮後，漸漸失去了凝聚力，會務一蹶不振。人們感慨，興盛的詠春，至此失卻了方向，不知下一步怎麼走，走向那裏，各大弟子各自為政，交往稀少，間有紛爭。感歎者以為，之所以如此，都是因為沒有一個能令眾人唯馬首是瞻的掌門人所致。
當時，《當代武壇》第十七期登載了何天《誰可繼承詠春掌門之位》的文章，文章認為詠春門中人材濟濟，該文對有能力繼任詠春掌門的多位名手，進行了一一評價。謹將這些評介抄錄如下，以便了解當時的詠春人物和本文主人公的份量：“繼承詠春掌門之位，先提葉宗師長子葉准。葉先生出自武林世家，多年來雖未公開教拳，唯仍堅持練武不綴，自葉宗師逝世後，始承父意旨，設立“葉問國術總會”，葉先生且為人敦厚穩重，尤是對朋友之間，熱誠非常。
葉宗師大弟子梁相，他是香港學習詠春拳的先行者，追隨葉宗師多年，苦心學技。梁師傅對詠春派之發展亦功勞不少，刻下仍有設帳授徒，作育良材。梁師身段魁梧、性情豪邁，一派武林傑士之風範。駱耀亦是葉宗師在港的數大弟子之一。他使一手詠春‘六點半棍’淩厲高明。享譽同門，聞名武林。駱師傅因跟從葉宗師時日相當，和師傅結下深厚情誼。葉宗師逝世之時，駱師傅淚灑靈堂，令人感動。平時駱師傅專心詠春教務，是位虛懷若穀的人物。徐尚田師傅以精擅‘小念頭’而在同門稱著。徐師雖挾強功在身，但從不以此為炫耀，他謙虛隨和，與之相處如沭春風，在詠春之中，徐師傅人緣頗好。葉宗師生前曾以‘詠春正統’4字題贈招允師傅。可見招師傅在詠春派中，技術造詣火候相當。招允師傅早年在佛山已開始習詠春拳，及後來港再從葉宗師深造，亦可謂千錘百煉。且招師為人精明十分，對大小事情往往亦處理得宜。
黃淳樑是詠春在港打開門戶的功臣。年青有為，允文允武，早年在葉宗師教導下，勤學苦練，自己憑著一身肝膽，闖蕩江湖，與武林各路英雄相會，亦就此使詠春揚名。黃師傅對於詠春拳術，無論自練或授徒，都甚講求理論。有說到葉宗師另一親傳弟子李小龍，他亦是早年詠春闖將之一，為人聰穎靈活，以理論結合實際，加上自己能融匯貫通。李小龍這種不墨守陳規、敢於創新的精神，誠是現代武人難得的人才。唯其近年因覺武技已超越詠春範圍，而自封為截拳道宗師了。
另一位詠春幹材鄧生先生，其近年來出錢出力。支持詠春拳術發展，把詠春拳派內事務，當為己任。
詠春今日在港之豐業，鄧先生功勞高大。他為大家做事的熱心，早為同門所贊賞。”人材濟濟的詠春同仁，也深感空懸掌門之位給詠春帶來的損失。曆經半年醞釀，眾舉公認為詠春掌門三元老(駱耀、徐尚田、黃淳樑)中的黃淳樑出掌會務。當時，由葉問宗師之子葉正與黃商量，既談眾望，又重申葉問遺願。希望黃出馬，重整會務，重振詠春。痛懷“內疚”之心的黃淳樑，不得不遵先師遺囑，順同仁所望，擔起了“香港詠春體育會”主席之職。此後，他廣邀同門歸會，整理會務，開展活動，使詠春又現蒸蒸日上的勢頭。在同仁的擁戴下，黃淳樑一直連任四屆主席至今(1996年)。
黃淳樑從設館授拳到出任詠春休育會主席後的一段相當長的時期內，一直執著於葉問遺志，以香港為基地開展教務。1983年時，現今“詠春功夫歐洲總會”創立人(德國)菲臘．拜耳(PHLIPPBAYER)，慕黃淳樑名，親至香港，登門拜師，求學詠春。這才促使黃淳樑將教務擴展到海外。此後，黃先生每年都應邀去設在德國的“詠春功夫歐洲總會”進行指導，他還相繼多次應邀到英國、瑞士、意大利、奧地利、西班牙、荷蘭、克羅地亞、澳洲、加拿大、美國和非洲的一些國家去傳授詠春拳學。據悉，黃淳樑的海外弟子已愈萬人。黃淳樑對筆者說，詠春拳是中國武林中的一株奇葩。她在香港開花結果，又漸漸遠傳海外生根發芽。他認為，詠春拳更應該回到祖國大陸，普及發展，造福民眾。詠春拳也只有回到大陸，才能得到更好的發展，更高更遠的騰飛。鑒此，黃先生欣然答應國家體委武術運動管理中心培訓部的邀請，將於今年(1996年)10月15日赴京執教，傳授詠春拳技，奉獻拳學心得。
我們期待著黃淳樑先生的到來，期待著詠春拳日益普及，期待著第二個李小龍的成長。
(《香港“講手王”詠春拳學家－－黃淳樑武術生涯四十年》原連載於北京《武魂》雜誌1996年第5至9期 )
The Wong Shun Leung History
By Cliff Auyeung and Lewis Luk
Translated by Buick Yip and David Peterson
Preface
Since Grand Master Ip Man began teaching the Ving Tsun style of Chinese martial arts in Hong Kong, his lineage has developed for over 50 years, and Ving Tsun has grown from relative obscurity in China, to a practical martial arts system renowned and practised throughout the world. As such, the achievements and influence of the late Grand Master are well deserving of legendary status. Our teacher, sifu Wong Shun Leung, who learnt from the Grand Master with diligence, intelligence and dedication during the 50s and 60s, representing Ving Tsun victoriously in some 60-70 “comparisons of martial skill” (beimo) in Hong Kong against devotees of many other fighting systems, laid the groundwork for the eventual expansion of Ving Tsun that has taken place. His life story is equally deserving of legendary status.
The telling of his life story is possible after his untimely death by virtue of his lifetime of achievements as recalled by his peers, students and friends. Ving Tsun brothers and friends such as Chu Shong Tin, Chan Chi Man, Wu Chun Nam, Leung Man To and Wong Tak Chiu were all more than willing to share their memories of his life to ensure that this essay provide a truthful account of the man and his deeds, thus preventing future rumours or miss-truths emerging which would otherwise cause him to seem supernatural or unbelievable, rather than the practical and realistic person that was Wong Shun Leung.
Descendant of a community-minded scholarly family
Wong’s ancestral home was the small village of Songma, Hangtaan Town, Sundak (Shunde) County in Guangdong Province (where incidentally, everyone had the surname Wong), and he was born the second son of a respected family. His father, Wong Kay Yat, was a famous doctor of Chinese traditional medicine, well known in the region (prior to WWII, one of the 10 most famous doctors in Guangdong) and just as famous for his expertise in treating women’s health problems after moving to Hong Kong. As part of a family which included an older brother (who passed away early on), a younger brother (who incidentally also studied Ving Tsun from Wong), and six younger sisters, Wong Shun Leung was born in Hong Kong on the 8th June 1935. At that time, the former British colony had a population of less than half a million, and the lifestyle of those who lived there was generally simple compared with the Hong Kong of today.
1935-1952: the Warring Years, where truth was sought through martial art
When Wong was a lad, he received adequate family discipline, learning obedience, literature and calligraphy, and was a gifted student who easily picked up both academic and cultural knowledge. He responded especially well to literature, from which he developed an extensive knowledge of Chinese culture and history, and then later on he also expanded his studies to include a Western education by attending an Anglo-Chinese school. At this stage of his life, those who knew him saw how his natural ability to adapt and adjust to his surroundings began to surface.
From very early on, Wong developed a strong sense of racial pride, with the true-life experiences of colonial inequality and foreign invasion at the hands of the Japanese in WWII fuelling his hatred of those who hid behind meaningless talk. He despised unjust behaviour and had strong principles, which he was prepared to defend. He proceeded to seek the truth through real grit, and martial arts offered an open path by which a young and restless youth could express his personality and opinions.
In the summer of 1942, a bunch of boys gathered in discussion, with a boy about his age boasting of being some kind of spiritual superhuman. Wong could not stand such nonsense and argued with the boy, resulting in a reckless fight breaking out between them in which the two boys ending up rolling all over the ground, tearing each others clothing as they wrestled about. At such a tender age, Wong was already exhibiting his fearless desire to defend the truth.
According to Wong himself, way before he began actually learning martial arts, he had countless “contests” with many under-qualified sifu, whereby he made them lose face, proving that they had more talk than actual ability.
Another story was that while Wong had started learning Wu style Tai Chi from an uncle, he eventually switched to learn some Tai Chi and hard fist forms from a teacher named Wong (no relation). One night while Wong Shun Leung was practising, this sifu Wong and some guests were swapping martial tales with each other when the teacher said that while in the Sichuan Province city of Chengdu, he had witnessed an old master stop a moving car from running over a fallen child by exerting chi through his two palms. On hearing this, Wong put on his jacket and left without as much as a backward glance and never returned, deciding that a person who told such tales could not possibly possess any true gung-fu.
Wong had already started to learn boxing while in junior high school, and according to his own account, once knocked out his instructor while sparring in the ring. A few days later, however, the instructor tried to exact revenge by using heavier punches to cause Wong to bleed all over. Feeling that this instructor was especially mean and having such a negative attitude towards a student, in order to avoid further ill feelings or unhappiness, Wong once again quit his training.
Wu Chun Nam, who was a classmate of Wong’s from the third year of their high school studies, recalls that Wong Shun Leung already had basic training in both western boxing and Tai Chi by 1952.
1953-1960: meeting the Grand Master
While there have been a number of different versions of Wong’s first meeting with Ip Man, the account given below is based on what Wu Chun Nam and Chu Shong Tin recall of Wong’s own account of the events:
Ip Man first began teaching at the ‘Hong Kong Retaurant Workers Union’ in 1950. From 1953-1954, the class relocated to Hoi Tan Road in the Shamshuipo district of Kowloon before eventually returning to the original location in 1955. It was around that time, while Wong Shun Leung was in his youth, that he often pitted his skills at western boxing against fighters from various disciplines. In one of these matches, which took place at Kadoorie Hill, an exponent of Tai Chi Praying Mantis defeated Wong, and he swore that he would be back for a rematch in three months. At that time, a friend of his cousin by the name of Law Bing had been learning Ving Tsun for a while, and through him, Wong met several other Ving Tsun practitioners. It is believed that he actually saw Lok Yiu competing successfully in a challenge match and came to admire the Ving Tsun method, so much so that on February 1st 1954, two days before the Chinese Lunar New Year, Wong Shun Leung, accompanied by his cousin, finally came to the school at Hoi Tan Road with a view to become a student of Ip Man. (According to Wong, he hadn’t known the name of the style at that particular time, only that it was a form of boxing from Fatsaan (Foshan) in Guangdong Province. Only after he began studying it, did he learn from Ip Man what it was called.) As it was so close to the Lunar New Year, there were few people present when Wong arrived at the school, just two or three relative beginners. Being young and keen to seek genuine gung-fu, and lacking an understanding of the protocol expected of him, Wong asked if he could try out against those present, not realising that this could be considered a challenge. Ip Man was polite enough to allow him to go ahead, only to see Wong defeat two of the students easily, one after the other. Without as much as raising his voice, Ip Man gestured to Wong to try out his skills with him saying, “I’ll have a play with you.” Wong Shun Leung began the attack, using his boxing skills to throw punches at Ip Man, but Ip Man calmly faced Wong, hands forward of his body, and using his forward footwork, stepped inside Wong’s guard forcing him back onto the wall. Making use of taan da to nullify Wong’s technique, Ip Man then threw a burst of light punches to Wong’s head and chest, not inflicting any damage, but clearly indicating to Wong that he had been controlled and beaten. Once this has taken place a second and then a third time, Wong was amazed by such skill and control, deciding then and there to become a student of Ip Man. He commenced his training four days after New Year, on the 6th February. It is also worth mentioning that on that first visit, following the exchange with Ip Man, Wong Shun Leung also had a match with senior student Ip Bo Ching, with neither one being able to totally dominate the other.
(Translator’s note: When retelling this story in an interview not long before his death, sifu told the funny tale of how, when Ip Bo Ching arrived at the school, Ip Man took him into the kitchen area on the pretext of making him a cup of tea. Sifu’s cousin turned to him saying, “What a nice teacher this man is, …look, he even makes a cup of tea for his student.” Sifu responded, “He’s not making him a cup of tea, …he’s telling him how to come out and give me a hard time!” Apparently the ensuing match was quite full-on, but neither Wong nor Ip came out looking too bad.)
Hard work and perseverance leads to success
Wong Shun Leung himself recalled that shortly after he commenced his training in Ving Tsun, he began learning how to strike the wallbag. One day, while he was hitting the wallbag, Grand Master Ip Man was talking to Leung Sheung and said, “Look at the way this kid is looking at the wallbag as he hits it, …it’s as if he’s hitting a person, not just a bag. I reckon he’ll create a stink in Hong Kong within a year (Ip Man referring here to Wong stirring up Hong Kong’s martial arts community through challenge fights).” Ip Man of course turned out to be correct, except that it only took Wong three months before he began creating an impression!
Chan Chi Man started training under Ip Man in 1955, and was one of the last students of the ‘Restaurant Worker’s Union’ period. According to him, Wong Shun Leung was very dedicated to his training. He imposed a strict training regime on himself, and refused to rest until he had completed his daily programme of techniques and drills. For example, he would strike the wallbag with five hundred punches on each hand, then five hundred times with both palms, or he would move up and down the room throwing punches fifty times in succession, and so the routine went on. He would maintain himself in fighting condition around the clock, always prepared for action, and when working out with his classmates in chi sau practise, Wong was very serious, often treating training sessions no differently from a real fight.
Wu Chun Nam was Wong Shun Leung’s schoolmate, as well as being his first Ving Tsun student. He recalls how, in order to find more time for practising, Wong would skip school classes to go to the gwoon, often spending as much as ten hours there. On arriving home at night, Wong would be so exhausted that he couldn’t even eat his dinner, and would simply crawl into bed and sleep. Eventually, Wong weakened himself to such an extent by such a rigorous training routine that both the Grand Master and his father had to prescribe herbal remedies to build his strength back up.
Wu often went to Wong’s home to do both schoolwork and practise Ving Tsun. Once, while the two of them were training within a large room in the house, Wong Shun Leung got a little too serious while using the po pai jeung technique, sending Wu flying backwards, smashing an antique bed belonging to Wong’s mother in the process. That of course raised the ire of Wong’s father, resulting in a large portion of family discipline.
(The story continue in de next reply)
« Last Edit: June 09, 2006, 12:00:07 PM by Gert-Jan Ketelaar »
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Re: WSL History - By Cliff Au Yeung and Lewis Luk
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2006, 11:55:59 PM »
Contests and challenge matches around the town
Masters such as Chu Shong Tin, Chan Chi Man, Siu Yuk Man, and several others, have all mentioned the late Grand Master’s attitude towards his student’s training at that time. He would say to his more experienced students, “After you have practised for a time, you should go out and test yourself to gauge your level of skill.” In those days, there was little restriction placed by authorities on such semi-open contests, compared with today. As a result, there were several members of the Ving Tsun school who engaged in such “tests of skill” at that time. The one person who had more challenge matches than anyone else was Wong Shun Leung. While he certainly wasn’t the only member of the Ip Man Clan to fight in these matches, according to Wong Shun Leung himself, because of his small stature (around five foot six inches tall, and weighing around 105 lbs), many of his opponents chose to fight him, thinking that he would be an easy adversary (there were no weight classes applying in these challenge matches of the fifties and sixties), thus Wong ended up having somewhere in the vicinity of sixty to seventy such beimo during this period in Hong Kong. Many newspapers and periodicals of the time, such as the ‘Hung Luk’, ‘Ngan Dang’ and ‘Ming Bo’ newspapers, and the popular 70s ‘New Martial Hero’ magazine, reported on Wong’s exploits. Fortunately, some of these reports still exist today and diehard Ving Tsun devotees and those interested in this period of martial arts history, can seek out these accounts for themselves as there are far too many of these stories about the “Gong Sau” exploits of Wong Shun Leung than this brief account will allow for.
The 1960s: teaching Ving Tsun as a hobby
At the beginning of the sixties, Wong Shun Leung and his family resided on the third floor of a pre-war apartment building at 466 Nathan Road, Mongkok. As Wong Shun Leung was totally engrossed with the study of Ving Tsun, he incessantly sought out training partners to practise with, eventually choosing people to teach and train with according to their body size and strength so as to provide himself with a greatest variety of partners possible. Because his primary goal wasn’t to teach, or to make a living from his training, Wong chose his students very seriously and as Wu Chun Nam recalls, many people of various backgrounds found their way to Wong Shun Leung’s door at that time, becoming his students, such as Yeung Yi Choi, Lo Min, Chang Yip Kau, Lau Man Kwong, Cheung Chan Ching, Wan Kam Leung, and so on. While the relationship between Wong and these people was largely that of a teacher and his students, Wong wouldn’t allow them to refer to him as sifu, preferring that they simply call him Leung Goh (“Big Brother Leung”), which was appropriate as their ages were all quite similar, and Wong also invited several of Ip Man’s students to train at his home, such as (Henry) Pang Kam Fat, Wong Tsok, Chan Chi Man, (Andrew) Ma Hang Lam, and others, so it was inappropriate for Wong to be addressed as sifu. The very first time that Wu Chun Nam took part in a beimo match was on Wong’s rooftop with Wong acting as an official in the proceedings. This was a time of great historical importance in the development of Ip Man’s Ving Tsun in Hong Kong, and was the first time that such a match was recorded on film. On the 10th of May, 1969, Wong Shun Leung officially opened up the first ‘Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun Gung-fu School’ in the Yaumatei district of Kowloon, on the first floor of a building there, and began recruiting students from the public. We believe that between 1969 and 1971, he conceived the establishment of the ‘Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun Martial Arts Association’ for the promotion and development of his beloved Ving Tsun. During this time, Wong had many, many people coming to him wanting to be his student, but while this was pleasing, Wong couldn’t accommodate them all, so he would have prospective students register their names and come back at a later date.
The 1970s: lessons of the past handed down to the next generation
Because of reconstruction on the building, Wong moved his school from the original Yaumatei premises to a new location on the 5th floor of another building on Reclamation Street on the 16th August, 1971. He continued teaching at that location until 1975. During that period, he and his students took part in countless tournaments in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the region, with outstanding results. At that time, with the help of friends, Wong moved his school to Granville Road in the Tsimshatsui district and continued the advancement of Ving Tsun. In 1976, Wong Shun Leung left Tsimshatsui and commenced teaching in the front apartment on the 9th floor of 506-508 Nathan Road, Yaumatei.
Thus, from the end of the 60s through to the 70s, Wong Shun Leung threw all his efforts into developing and refining his Ving Tsun. He taught many, many talented students during those years, many of whom are now famous Ving Tsun instructors in their own right both in Hong Kong and overseas, such as Wan Kam Leung, Ng Chun Hong, (Tommy) Yuen Yim Keung, (Lawrence) Leung Chi Sing, Ko Kwong Nin, (Gary) Lam Man Hok, Chan Kim Man, Ko Kin, and so on.
The 1980s: roots in Hong Kong, flowers all over the world
By the end of the 70s and the beginning of the 80s, Wong Shun Leung had come to something of a low point in his life, having struck hard times in keeping his school running. Then, towards the end of the summer of 1983, a German by the name of Philipp Bayer came to Hong Kong with the aim of becoming Wong’s student, and studied the Ving Tsun system under him there. Bayer invited Wong Shun Leung to travel to Germany and Europe, with a view to conduct seminars there for the promotion of ‘Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun Pugilism’, and he then set about organising everything on behalf of his teacher. In December of the very same year, an Australian by the name of David Peterson (who also goes by the Chinese name Ding Chaochen) also came to Hong Kong specifically to become Wong Shun Leung’s student in Ving Tsun. From then on, Peterson returned to Hong Kong at least once every year after that until 1992 in order to study at Wong’s school. During that time, Peterson also arranged for Wong to travel to Australia for the purpose of conducting seminars. It really could be said that this presented Wong with a dream opportunity in his lifetime, and both of these students did much to promote Wong Shun Leung and Ving Tsun overseas. Wong took advantage of this opportunity and through his trips to European countries, was able to establish the “Wong Shun Leung Way” in Europe. He then travelled to Europe for seminars every year, staying there for up to two months at a time. As for Australia, Wong first went there in February of 1986 to conduct his inaugural seminars there. In total, between then and 1994, Wong Shun Leung travelled to Australia four more times. One could well say that this was a high point in Wong’s Ving Tsun career, moreover, it remained so on into the 1990s.
From the mid-1980s onwards, foreign students from many different nations came to Wong Shun Leung’s school in Hong Kong for training. One of Wong’s student, Cliff Auyeung (one of the authors of this article), became Wong’s chief translator in order to overcome the language barrier, both in Hong Kong and in his teacher’s travels to Europe for seminars on at least two occasions. Several of Wong Shun Leung’s students of this period, such as Chiu Hok Yin and Li Hang Cheong, became successful Ving Tsun instructors in present day Hong Kong.
The 1990s: a Dragon returns home, a Hero goes to heaven
The school in Nathan Road had to be closed in 1988 because of rental problems, so Wong began using the ‘Ving Tsun Athletic Association’ premises for running his classes, remaining there until 1997. Mr Leung Man To, a good friend of Wong Shun Leung as well as a famous martial arts researcher especially interested in Chinese wrestling, respected Wong very much indeed for his knowledge, ability and experience in Ving Tsun Gung-fu. With his connections in China, in 1996 Mr Leung organised a seminar in Beijing, China. It had been Wong’s long time desire to reacquaint the Chinese people with the Ving Tsun system, especially since it had become so successfully introduced to Hong Kong by Ip Man, and eventually to the rest of the world, yet little known to the Chinese people in its homeland. By doing so, Wong hoped to see Ving Tsun regain the fame and popularity that he felt it deserved, and so he made his first trip to the capital, Beijing, on August 12th of that year, accompanied by his student Li Hang Cheong and Mr Leung Man To. It was a very successful trip, with many famous Chinese martial artists amongst his audience, while a well known martial arts magazine, ‘Martial Soul’, ran a series of articles about Wong Shun Leung and his exploits. While in Beijing, Wong was also able to demonstrate his theories on the‘ Science of Ving Tsun Pugilism’ as well as presenting his article ‘A Discussion of the Science of Ving Tsun Pugilism’ which described the essence of Ving Tsun theory, based upon his many years of practising and researching the system.
By October of the same year, the ‘Chinese National Sports Control Centre’ and ‘Martial Soul’ magazine, together with the sponsorship of the Hong Kong ‘VTAA’, again invited Wong Shun Leung to Beijing to conduct the first ever such presentation which was named the ‘1996 All China Ving Tsun Gung-fu Short Course’. This historical event was headed by Wong who was accompanied by ten of his Hong Kong and European-based students (these included Chan Kim Man, Ma Chung Sing, Li Hang Cheong, Wong Kwong Yung, Law Wing Tak, Fong Si Lai, Wong Fei, and others), and they all played an important role in bringing Ving Tsun Gung-fu back to the mother country. (Note from the translator: I met si-suk Wong on the street in Mongkok shortly after his return from this trip and he exclaimed, “I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, but they really tested me out and showed no mercy to this elderly man.”)
According to Mrs Wong, before her late husband made his trips to China, he prepared everything with great care and attention, while at the same time still carrying on with the teaching of his classes. All of this, plus a lot of social activities, left Wong extremely fatigued. On January 12th, 1997, while at a gathering of his Ving Tsun brothers at the ‘VTAA’ , he collapsed into a coma and was rushed by ambulance to the Kwong Wa Hospital where he remained until his death some 16 days later. During this time, many of his friends, students, both local and overseas-based, came to show their concern of his situation, and ultimately, pay their last respects at his funeral after he passed away on the afternoon of the 28th of January, having never regained consciousness in his 62nd year.
By Cliff Auyeung and Lewis Luk
Translated by Buick Yip and David Peterson
Preface
Since Grand Master Ip Man began teaching the Ving Tsun style of Chinese martial arts in Hong Kong, his lineage has developed for over 50 years, and Ving Tsun has grown from relative obscurity in China, to a practical martial arts system renowned and practised throughout the world. As such, the achievements and influence of the late Grand Master are well deserving of legendary status. Our teacher, sifu Wong Shun Leung, who learnt from the Grand Master with diligence, intelligence and dedication during the 50s and 60s, representing Ving Tsun victoriously in some 60-70 “comparisons of martial skill” (beimo) in Hong Kong against devotees of many other fighting systems, laid the groundwork for the eventual expansion of Ving Tsun that has taken place. His life story is equally deserving of legendary status.
The telling of his life story is possible after his untimely death by virtue of his lifetime of achievements as recalled by his peers, students and friends. Ving Tsun brothers and friends such as Chu Shong Tin, Chan Chi Man, Wu Chun Nam, Leung Man To and Wong Tak Chiu were all more than willing to share their memories of his life to ensure that this essay provide a truthful account of the man and his deeds, thus preventing future rumours or miss-truths emerging which would otherwise cause him to seem supernatural or unbelievable, rather than the practical and realistic person that was Wong Shun Leung.
Descendant of a community-minded scholarly family
Wong’s ancestral home was the small village of Songma, Hangtaan Town, Sundak (Shunde) County in Guangdong Province (where incidentally, everyone had the surname Wong), and he was born the second son of a respected family. His father, Wong Kay Yat, was a famous doctor of Chinese traditional medicine, well known in the region (prior to WWII, one of the 10 most famous doctors in Guangdong) and just as famous for his expertise in treating women’s health problems after moving to Hong Kong. As part of a family which included an older brother (who passed away early on), a younger brother (who incidentally also studied Ving Tsun from Wong), and six younger sisters, Wong Shun Leung was born in Hong Kong on the 8th June 1935. At that time, the former British colony had a population of less than half a million, and the lifestyle of those who lived there was generally simple compared with the Hong Kong of today.
1935-1952: the Warring Years, where truth was sought through martial art
When Wong was a lad, he received adequate family discipline, learning obedience, literature and calligraphy, and was a gifted student who easily picked up both academic and cultural knowledge. He responded especially well to literature, from which he developed an extensive knowledge of Chinese culture and history, and then later on he also expanded his studies to include a Western education by attending an Anglo-Chinese school. At this stage of his life, those who knew him saw how his natural ability to adapt and adjust to his surroundings began to surface.
From very early on, Wong developed a strong sense of racial pride, with the true-life experiences of colonial inequality and foreign invasion at the hands of the Japanese in WWII fuelling his hatred of those who hid behind meaningless talk. He despised unjust behaviour and had strong principles, which he was prepared to defend. He proceeded to seek the truth through real grit, and martial arts offered an open path by which a young and restless youth could express his personality and opinions.
In the summer of 1942, a bunch of boys gathered in discussion, with a boy about his age boasting of being some kind of spiritual superhuman. Wong could not stand such nonsense and argued with the boy, resulting in a reckless fight breaking out between them in which the two boys ending up rolling all over the ground, tearing each others clothing as they wrestled about. At such a tender age, Wong was already exhibiting his fearless desire to defend the truth.
According to Wong himself, way before he began actually learning martial arts, he had countless “contests” with many under-qualified sifu, whereby he made them lose face, proving that they had more talk than actual ability.
Another story was that while Wong had started learning Wu style Tai Chi from an uncle, he eventually switched to learn some Tai Chi and hard fist forms from a teacher named Wong (no relation). One night while Wong Shun Leung was practising, this sifu Wong and some guests were swapping martial tales with each other when the teacher said that while in the Sichuan Province city of Chengdu, he had witnessed an old master stop a moving car from running over a fallen child by exerting chi through his two palms. On hearing this, Wong put on his jacket and left without as much as a backward glance and never returned, deciding that a person who told such tales could not possibly possess any true gung-fu.
Wong had already started to learn boxing while in junior high school, and according to his own account, once knocked out his instructor while sparring in the ring. A few days later, however, the instructor tried to exact revenge by using heavier punches to cause Wong to bleed all over. Feeling that this instructor was especially mean and having such a negative attitude towards a student, in order to avoid further ill feelings or unhappiness, Wong once again quit his training.
Wu Chun Nam, who was a classmate of Wong’s from the third year of their high school studies, recalls that Wong Shun Leung already had basic training in both western boxing and Tai Chi by 1952.
1953-1960: meeting the Grand Master
While there have been a number of different versions of Wong’s first meeting with Ip Man, the account given below is based on what Wu Chun Nam and Chu Shong Tin recall of Wong’s own account of the events:
Ip Man first began teaching at the ‘Hong Kong Retaurant Workers Union’ in 1950. From 1953-1954, the class relocated to Hoi Tan Road in the Shamshuipo district of Kowloon before eventually returning to the original location in 1955. It was around that time, while Wong Shun Leung was in his youth, that he often pitted his skills at western boxing against fighters from various disciplines. In one of these matches, which took place at Kadoorie Hill, an exponent of Tai Chi Praying Mantis defeated Wong, and he swore that he would be back for a rematch in three months. At that time, a friend of his cousin by the name of Law Bing had been learning Ving Tsun for a while, and through him, Wong met several other Ving Tsun practitioners. It is believed that he actually saw Lok Yiu competing successfully in a challenge match and came to admire the Ving Tsun method, so much so that on February 1st 1954, two days before the Chinese Lunar New Year, Wong Shun Leung, accompanied by his cousin, finally came to the school at Hoi Tan Road with a view to become a student of Ip Man. (According to Wong, he hadn’t known the name of the style at that particular time, only that it was a form of boxing from Fatsaan (Foshan) in Guangdong Province. Only after he began studying it, did he learn from Ip Man what it was called.) As it was so close to the Lunar New Year, there were few people present when Wong arrived at the school, just two or three relative beginners. Being young and keen to seek genuine gung-fu, and lacking an understanding of the protocol expected of him, Wong asked if he could try out against those present, not realising that this could be considered a challenge. Ip Man was polite enough to allow him to go ahead, only to see Wong defeat two of the students easily, one after the other. Without as much as raising his voice, Ip Man gestured to Wong to try out his skills with him saying, “I’ll have a play with you.” Wong Shun Leung began the attack, using his boxing skills to throw punches at Ip Man, but Ip Man calmly faced Wong, hands forward of his body, and using his forward footwork, stepped inside Wong’s guard forcing him back onto the wall. Making use of taan da to nullify Wong’s technique, Ip Man then threw a burst of light punches to Wong’s head and chest, not inflicting any damage, but clearly indicating to Wong that he had been controlled and beaten. Once this has taken place a second and then a third time, Wong was amazed by such skill and control, deciding then and there to become a student of Ip Man. He commenced his training four days after New Year, on the 6th February. It is also worth mentioning that on that first visit, following the exchange with Ip Man, Wong Shun Leung also had a match with senior student Ip Bo Ching, with neither one being able to totally dominate the other.
(Translator’s note: When retelling this story in an interview not long before his death, sifu told the funny tale of how, when Ip Bo Ching arrived at the school, Ip Man took him into the kitchen area on the pretext of making him a cup of tea. Sifu’s cousin turned to him saying, “What a nice teacher this man is, …look, he even makes a cup of tea for his student.” Sifu responded, “He’s not making him a cup of tea, …he’s telling him how to come out and give me a hard time!” Apparently the ensuing match was quite full-on, but neither Wong nor Ip came out looking too bad.)
Hard work and perseverance leads to success
Wong Shun Leung himself recalled that shortly after he commenced his training in Ving Tsun, he began learning how to strike the wallbag. One day, while he was hitting the wallbag, Grand Master Ip Man was talking to Leung Sheung and said, “Look at the way this kid is looking at the wallbag as he hits it, …it’s as if he’s hitting a person, not just a bag. I reckon he’ll create a stink in Hong Kong within a year (Ip Man referring here to Wong stirring up Hong Kong’s martial arts community through challenge fights).” Ip Man of course turned out to be correct, except that it only took Wong three months before he began creating an impression!
Chan Chi Man started training under Ip Man in 1955, and was one of the last students of the ‘Restaurant Worker’s Union’ period. According to him, Wong Shun Leung was very dedicated to his training. He imposed a strict training regime on himself, and refused to rest until he had completed his daily programme of techniques and drills. For example, he would strike the wallbag with five hundred punches on each hand, then five hundred times with both palms, or he would move up and down the room throwing punches fifty times in succession, and so the routine went on. He would maintain himself in fighting condition around the clock, always prepared for action, and when working out with his classmates in chi sau practise, Wong was very serious, often treating training sessions no differently from a real fight.
Wu Chun Nam was Wong Shun Leung’s schoolmate, as well as being his first Ving Tsun student. He recalls how, in order to find more time for practising, Wong would skip school classes to go to the gwoon, often spending as much as ten hours there. On arriving home at night, Wong would be so exhausted that he couldn’t even eat his dinner, and would simply crawl into bed and sleep. Eventually, Wong weakened himself to such an extent by such a rigorous training routine that both the Grand Master and his father had to prescribe herbal remedies to build his strength back up.
Wu often went to Wong’s home to do both schoolwork and practise Ving Tsun. Once, while the two of them were training within a large room in the house, Wong Shun Leung got a little too serious while using the po pai jeung technique, sending Wu flying backwards, smashing an antique bed belonging to Wong’s mother in the process. That of course raised the ire of Wong’s father, resulting in a large portion of family discipline.
(The story continue in de next reply)
« Last Edit: June 09, 2006, 12:00:07 PM by Gert-Jan Ketelaar »
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Re: WSL History - By Cliff Au Yeung and Lewis Luk
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2006, 11:55:59 PM »
Contests and challenge matches around the town
Masters such as Chu Shong Tin, Chan Chi Man, Siu Yuk Man, and several others, have all mentioned the late Grand Master’s attitude towards his student’s training at that time. He would say to his more experienced students, “After you have practised for a time, you should go out and test yourself to gauge your level of skill.” In those days, there was little restriction placed by authorities on such semi-open contests, compared with today. As a result, there were several members of the Ving Tsun school who engaged in such “tests of skill” at that time. The one person who had more challenge matches than anyone else was Wong Shun Leung. While he certainly wasn’t the only member of the Ip Man Clan to fight in these matches, according to Wong Shun Leung himself, because of his small stature (around five foot six inches tall, and weighing around 105 lbs), many of his opponents chose to fight him, thinking that he would be an easy adversary (there were no weight classes applying in these challenge matches of the fifties and sixties), thus Wong ended up having somewhere in the vicinity of sixty to seventy such beimo during this period in Hong Kong. Many newspapers and periodicals of the time, such as the ‘Hung Luk’, ‘Ngan Dang’ and ‘Ming Bo’ newspapers, and the popular 70s ‘New Martial Hero’ magazine, reported on Wong’s exploits. Fortunately, some of these reports still exist today and diehard Ving Tsun devotees and those interested in this period of martial arts history, can seek out these accounts for themselves as there are far too many of these stories about the “Gong Sau” exploits of Wong Shun Leung than this brief account will allow for.
The 1960s: teaching Ving Tsun as a hobby
At the beginning of the sixties, Wong Shun Leung and his family resided on the third floor of a pre-war apartment building at 466 Nathan Road, Mongkok. As Wong Shun Leung was totally engrossed with the study of Ving Tsun, he incessantly sought out training partners to practise with, eventually choosing people to teach and train with according to their body size and strength so as to provide himself with a greatest variety of partners possible. Because his primary goal wasn’t to teach, or to make a living from his training, Wong chose his students very seriously and as Wu Chun Nam recalls, many people of various backgrounds found their way to Wong Shun Leung’s door at that time, becoming his students, such as Yeung Yi Choi, Lo Min, Chang Yip Kau, Lau Man Kwong, Cheung Chan Ching, Wan Kam Leung, and so on. While the relationship between Wong and these people was largely that of a teacher and his students, Wong wouldn’t allow them to refer to him as sifu, preferring that they simply call him Leung Goh (“Big Brother Leung”), which was appropriate as their ages were all quite similar, and Wong also invited several of Ip Man’s students to train at his home, such as (Henry) Pang Kam Fat, Wong Tsok, Chan Chi Man, (Andrew) Ma Hang Lam, and others, so it was inappropriate for Wong to be addressed as sifu. The very first time that Wu Chun Nam took part in a beimo match was on Wong’s rooftop with Wong acting as an official in the proceedings. This was a time of great historical importance in the development of Ip Man’s Ving Tsun in Hong Kong, and was the first time that such a match was recorded on film. On the 10th of May, 1969, Wong Shun Leung officially opened up the first ‘Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun Gung-fu School’ in the Yaumatei district of Kowloon, on the first floor of a building there, and began recruiting students from the public. We believe that between 1969 and 1971, he conceived the establishment of the ‘Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun Martial Arts Association’ for the promotion and development of his beloved Ving Tsun. During this time, Wong had many, many people coming to him wanting to be his student, but while this was pleasing, Wong couldn’t accommodate them all, so he would have prospective students register their names and come back at a later date.
The 1970s: lessons of the past handed down to the next generation
Because of reconstruction on the building, Wong moved his school from the original Yaumatei premises to a new location on the 5th floor of another building on Reclamation Street on the 16th August, 1971. He continued teaching at that location until 1975. During that period, he and his students took part in countless tournaments in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the region, with outstanding results. At that time, with the help of friends, Wong moved his school to Granville Road in the Tsimshatsui district and continued the advancement of Ving Tsun. In 1976, Wong Shun Leung left Tsimshatsui and commenced teaching in the front apartment on the 9th floor of 506-508 Nathan Road, Yaumatei.
Thus, from the end of the 60s through to the 70s, Wong Shun Leung threw all his efforts into developing and refining his Ving Tsun. He taught many, many talented students during those years, many of whom are now famous Ving Tsun instructors in their own right both in Hong Kong and overseas, such as Wan Kam Leung, Ng Chun Hong, (Tommy) Yuen Yim Keung, (Lawrence) Leung Chi Sing, Ko Kwong Nin, (Gary) Lam Man Hok, Chan Kim Man, Ko Kin, and so on.
The 1980s: roots in Hong Kong, flowers all over the world
By the end of the 70s and the beginning of the 80s, Wong Shun Leung had come to something of a low point in his life, having struck hard times in keeping his school running. Then, towards the end of the summer of 1983, a German by the name of Philipp Bayer came to Hong Kong with the aim of becoming Wong’s student, and studied the Ving Tsun system under him there. Bayer invited Wong Shun Leung to travel to Germany and Europe, with a view to conduct seminars there for the promotion of ‘Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun Pugilism’, and he then set about organising everything on behalf of his teacher. In December of the very same year, an Australian by the name of David Peterson (who also goes by the Chinese name Ding Chaochen) also came to Hong Kong specifically to become Wong Shun Leung’s student in Ving Tsun. From then on, Peterson returned to Hong Kong at least once every year after that until 1992 in order to study at Wong’s school. During that time, Peterson also arranged for Wong to travel to Australia for the purpose of conducting seminars. It really could be said that this presented Wong with a dream opportunity in his lifetime, and both of these students did much to promote Wong Shun Leung and Ving Tsun overseas. Wong took advantage of this opportunity and through his trips to European countries, was able to establish the “Wong Shun Leung Way” in Europe. He then travelled to Europe for seminars every year, staying there for up to two months at a time. As for Australia, Wong first went there in February of 1986 to conduct his inaugural seminars there. In total, between then and 1994, Wong Shun Leung travelled to Australia four more times. One could well say that this was a high point in Wong’s Ving Tsun career, moreover, it remained so on into the 1990s.
From the mid-1980s onwards, foreign students from many different nations came to Wong Shun Leung’s school in Hong Kong for training. One of Wong’s student, Cliff Auyeung (one of the authors of this article), became Wong’s chief translator in order to overcome the language barrier, both in Hong Kong and in his teacher’s travels to Europe for seminars on at least two occasions. Several of Wong Shun Leung’s students of this period, such as Chiu Hok Yin and Li Hang Cheong, became successful Ving Tsun instructors in present day Hong Kong.
The 1990s: a Dragon returns home, a Hero goes to heaven
The school in Nathan Road had to be closed in 1988 because of rental problems, so Wong began using the ‘Ving Tsun Athletic Association’ premises for running his classes, remaining there until 1997. Mr Leung Man To, a good friend of Wong Shun Leung as well as a famous martial arts researcher especially interested in Chinese wrestling, respected Wong very much indeed for his knowledge, ability and experience in Ving Tsun Gung-fu. With his connections in China, in 1996 Mr Leung organised a seminar in Beijing, China. It had been Wong’s long time desire to reacquaint the Chinese people with the Ving Tsun system, especially since it had become so successfully introduced to Hong Kong by Ip Man, and eventually to the rest of the world, yet little known to the Chinese people in its homeland. By doing so, Wong hoped to see Ving Tsun regain the fame and popularity that he felt it deserved, and so he made his first trip to the capital, Beijing, on August 12th of that year, accompanied by his student Li Hang Cheong and Mr Leung Man To. It was a very successful trip, with many famous Chinese martial artists amongst his audience, while a well known martial arts magazine, ‘Martial Soul’, ran a series of articles about Wong Shun Leung and his exploits. While in Beijing, Wong was also able to demonstrate his theories on the‘ Science of Ving Tsun Pugilism’ as well as presenting his article ‘A Discussion of the Science of Ving Tsun Pugilism’ which described the essence of Ving Tsun theory, based upon his many years of practising and researching the system.
By October of the same year, the ‘Chinese National Sports Control Centre’ and ‘Martial Soul’ magazine, together with the sponsorship of the Hong Kong ‘VTAA’, again invited Wong Shun Leung to Beijing to conduct the first ever such presentation which was named the ‘1996 All China Ving Tsun Gung-fu Short Course’. This historical event was headed by Wong who was accompanied by ten of his Hong Kong and European-based students (these included Chan Kim Man, Ma Chung Sing, Li Hang Cheong, Wong Kwong Yung, Law Wing Tak, Fong Si Lai, Wong Fei, and others), and they all played an important role in bringing Ving Tsun Gung-fu back to the mother country. (Note from the translator: I met si-suk Wong on the street in Mongkok shortly after his return from this trip and he exclaimed, “I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, but they really tested me out and showed no mercy to this elderly man.”)
According to Mrs Wong, before her late husband made his trips to China, he prepared everything with great care and attention, while at the same time still carrying on with the teaching of his classes. All of this, plus a lot of social activities, left Wong extremely fatigued. On January 12th, 1997, while at a gathering of his Ving Tsun brothers at the ‘VTAA’ , he collapsed into a coma and was rushed by ambulance to the Kwong Wa Hospital where he remained until his death some 16 days later. During this time, many of his friends, students, both local and overseas-based, came to show their concern of his situation, and ultimately, pay their last respects at his funeral after he passed away on the afternoon of the 28th of January, having never regained consciousness in his 62nd year.
