History
The History of Our Wing Chun Clan
by Sifu Clark Thornton
The history of our branch of the Wing Chun family begins in the Shaolin temple, but the legacy of Ng Mui and Yim Wing Chun is well known and will not be repeated here. We will start with what little is known of Chan Yu Mim, son of Chan Wah Soon (Chow Chin Wah), the head of the Wing Chun clan in the mid-1800's.
As is oft repeated, Yip Man was the youngest student of Chan Wah Soon and the last grandmaster of a unified Wing Chun family. But Master Chan Wah Soon had other students and disciples as well.
One of these students was his son, Chan Yu Mim. Said to be most famous for his abilities with the six-and-a-half point pole, Chan Yiu-Min earned the title of Chut Sang Gwun Wong (Qi Sheng Gu Wang, King of the Pole of Seven Provinces) by defeating all challengers in a great tournament. The trophy, an engraved pole as thick as an arm, was said to have been hung above the door of his own school. According to the Chan family, Chan Yiu-Min was also known by the nickname Kwai Sao Min (Gui Shou Mian, Ghost Hand Min).
Chan Yiu-Min taught several students during his career, including his sons Chan Ga-Wing, Ga-Chai, and Ga-Lim. He also taught Jiu Chao and, in some accounts, Jiu Wan as well.
Jiu Chao (Zhao Jiu) learned Hung Ga boxing and other systems before studying Weng Chun Kuen and osteopathy from Chan Wah-Shun's son, Chan Yiu-Min. Several accounts suggest he worked in law enforcement for a time alongside his junior martial uncle, Yip Man and took the opportunity to practice with him as well.
Group shot of Chu Wan and some of his students |
Among his students were several other members of the Jiu family, including his nephew, Jiu Wan (Chu Wan), as well as Wong Jing, Gao Jeung, Kwok Sing, Pan Nam, and others. Jiu Chao passed away in Zhongshan in 1972. One of his students was Jiu Wan (Chu Wan).
Jiu Wan had many students and even taught a couple of movie stars in Hong Kong. In his youth in Fatshan, China, he studied Wing Chun from his cousin (literally his father's elder brother's son] Jiu Tong, who is in the same lineage as Wing Chun Master Yip Man. Later, because he was quick to understand the martial arts, Jiu Wan established his own Wing Chun school in Fatshan. After the Communists took over China, Jiu Wan left Fatshan for Hong Kong where he met with Master Yip for continued advanced study.
Since, as it is said, "There can be no two teachers in the same style" or in other words no two teachers equal in skill, in his twenty years of following Yip Man, Jiu Wan always deferred to Yip Man as the head of the Wing Chun clan.
Chu Wan performing |
Jiu Wan emphasized practice sparring because Wing Chun doesn't have many forms and, in general, doesn't take too long to finish learning the system. But he also pointed out that "when you study the martial arts it should be practical, and young people in particular get easily bored. Sparring trains the reactions, and Chi Sao can help students understand the main points of the system. Diligently practicing chi sao drills gets better results than any complicated explanation."
"With sparring, a student can both increase their confidence to face an attack and give themselves a chance to use the offensive and defensive movements they have learned in order to protect themselves."
Grandmaster Yip Man, before he died, presented Chu Wan with a plaque on which was written the four words "Wing Chun Jing Tung" which means "Wing Chun the Pure Tradition," thus recognizing the achievements of a true Wing Chun master. Jiu Wan was the only person thus recognized by Grandmaster Yip Man. At the time of his death in 1974, Jiu Wan was unofficially recognized as the new Grandmaster of the Wing Chun family in Hong Kong. He died leaving a great legacy carried on by his many students. One of his senior students at that time was Francis Fong.
Sifu Fong sitting, with a group of students |
Francis Fong began his study of Wing Chun at about the age of 15 in Hong Kong in 1965. He was introduced to the art by his friend and kung fu brother, Jason Lau.
After immigrating to the United States he taught for a short time at Master Jason Lau's school in New York before moving to Atlanta Georgia in 1978. After a short time he established his own school , the "Francis Fong Wing Chun Academy," with a small student body on Monroe Dr. He then moved his growing school in 1984 to Plasamour Dr. where he began to also offer courses in Muy Thai and Kali. He began to bring in a variety of guest instructors to give his students a chance to broaden their knowledge about other systems. As his reputation in the martial arts community continued to grow, he appeared on the cover of INSIDE KUNG FU in 1988 as he began to place more and more emphasis on cross-training in the martial arts. After 8 years in Atlanta he moved his school to Satellite Blvd. in Gwinnett Co. next to Gwinnett Mall. He changed the name to the "Francis Fong Martial Arts Academy," and added Brazilian Jiujitsu to the curriculum.
Today Master Fong is considered one of the best Wing Chun practitioners in the country and presently teaches at the Francis Fong Academy in Duluth, Georgia. One of his disciples is Clark Thornton.
Clark Thornton |
Master Clark Thornton began his training in the martial arts in 1970 in the USMC. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in charge of the 106 Recoilless Rifle Platoon stationed at the Marine Barracks in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he studied Kempo for 1-1/2 years. Later, upon release from active duty in 1972, he studied Tae Kwan Do at the Black Belt Academy on Memorial Dr. in Atlanta, Ga., under the tutelage of 3rd degree black belt, Sensei Jack Johns.
In 1984 he joined the Francis Fong Wing Chun Academy and began his formal training in Wing Chun Kung Fu. He received his Black Sash certification in 1988 and became Sifu Fong's 4th disciple in a bi-see ceremony in 1989 and began teaching in his Sifu's school.
Sitting: Sifu Francis Fong |
Sifu Fong's first disciple was Steve Bacastow, named "Jade Dragon; second was Wah Lun Syn, named "Jade Tiger"; third was Charles Thawley, named "Powerful Bear"; fourth was Clark Thornton, named "Powerful Lion", and there were others: Robert Brooks, Greg Hamilton, Peter Kwok, Randy Hewitt, Ali Mohajer, Denton Bragg, Mary Ann Bragg, Andy Peck, Martha E. Teeter, Bruce Jolly, Lance McRorie, and Samuel Cushman---sixteen in all.
The Master of Ceremonies was Grand-Master Jason Lau who had also moved years earlier to Atlanta and established a very fine school in Smyrna, Ga.
Master Clark Thornton taught at Sifu Fong's school for several years as senior student instructor. Then, in 1990, he created THE GREAT LION COMPANY, got a business license, and began manufacturing wooden dummies in a small shop in Chamblee, Ga.
Master Thornton accepted two disciples in a bi-see ceremony held at the Francis Fong Academy in 1998. His first disciple was Hao Souksavannh, named "Fearless Lion." His second disciple, Ha Le, was named "Courageous Lion." Master of Ceremonies was Sifu Francis Fong.
After leaving the Francis Fong Academy, Master Thornton taught a private group for several years and then in 2004 opened his own school, THE LIONS ACADEMY OF MARTIAL ARTS, in Doraville, Ga. He has now closed his school, "closed his hands" to teaching Wing Chun, and concentrates on the construction of wooden dummies and the development of new equipment.