Ip Man - Portrait of a Kung Fu Master Paperback – January 22, 2001

I have decided to buy this book of our Grand Master-Teacher (Tai Shi in Cantonese) the Hon'ble Ip Man who was instrumental in bringing his style of effective empty-hand combat via Bruce Lee to the Western World. I am not looking for a book on how-to-do instructions as I am more interested in the story behind the story of the realm of Wing Chun Martial Arts which later form the basis of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Doh (The fighting art of Interception Fists & Legs). Recently, there appeared on Chinese movies the exploits of Ip Man Vol.1 and Ip Man Vol.2 produced in Hong Kong and based on the life and times of Tai Shi Ip Man.There will, I hope, another movie Vol. 3 on Ip Man's life and this time, I hope too, will concentrate on how he trained Bruce Lee and his students - first in Futshan (Canton) and then in Hong Kong, prior to Bruce Lee's emigration to the States. Of late, as well, there appeared a 50-episode TV series based on the life and times of Bruce Lee - i.e. from his troublesome days in school at Hong Kong, his entanglement with the dark Triads and his ultimate journey to America and became a grandmaster and superstar ultimately. Unfortunately, this very interesting story made by China Central Television Network (CCTV in 2008) was exclusively made for Mandarin-speaking viewers but subsequently duped in the Cantonese version for the Cantonese-speaking Chinese all over the world. Let's hope that CCTV would at least made an English subtitle version for the benefits of Bruce Lee's fans all over the world who neither speak or understand Chinese. May the superior fighting concepts of Ip Man and Bruce Lee continue to speak and spread all over the world in the spirit of global brotherhood. Cheers...!PS: In the Legend of Bruce Lee (50-episodes), he said, without exaggeration nor nationalistic, that the true source of Japanese Karate, Jujitsu, Kempo, and Korean Taewon Do were adapted originally from China's KUNGFU...and he was so damned right, pals...you may believe this or not, pals!

This is a very charming book. AS a Ving Tsun practioner, ii and others like me concider Grandmaster Ip Man is something of a martyr figure, mentor, role model. His lifes work is a precious gift to us and his youngest son Ip Ching has blessed us with this special token of remembrance. It is not complete biography, but a book of 15 true to life short stories about the Grandmasters early life that contain valuable life lessons. There is much we can still learn from the great man who went through much hardship to ensure that Ving Tsun (wing chun) was not lost in history and that decades later, people of all ages may learn the ways of this special martial art for to protect themselves as well as the weak and very young. This precious little book shows us how the Grandmaster embodied respect, loyalty, courage and the importance of duration in practice. As much as wing chun practitioners will love owning this tiny book, its all too briefness will make them want for more. however, isnt that like life itsself? that may be taken as the books' final lesson: the best things in life are simple, direct, and very effective in purpose, just like the Chinese art of Wing chun. Do purchase this book, and may you enjoy its pictures, stories and influence as much as i have. thanks to grandmaster Ip Ching for this gift to us all!

A good book!

Pictures were great of this great man. Interesting reading, but not enough "details" - what happened to his wife and other children left behind? One of them found him after many years, but were there others? And what of the daughter that went with him to Hong Kong? Wish there was more details...

Igual que la descripción

Any martial artist would appreciate the book. Its great to read about a true practitioner's life story.

I thought there would be a little more substance to this book. Not very engaging, which is a shame. I love the Ip Man legacy.

This book is good for anyone hoping to improve their quality of life.