I’m the Best!
Rene Ritchie, November 30th, 2007
“I’m the best!”
“I was the only one who learned the secret style/form/technique…”
“My way is the only true way…”
“Only I preserve the real/true/authentic/traditional/classical Wing Chun exactly as Ng Mui/Yim Wing-Chun practiced it…”
“Everyone else is no good…”
“I was the Grandmaster’s first/last/only/favorite/closest student…”
“I’m the only real Grandmaster/successor/inheritor…”
“I’m the best!…”
Since I first became active on the Internet several years ago, I have had the good fortune to speak with Wing Chun Kuen practitioners from many different branches, in dozens of different countries around the world. I have found almost all of them to be uniquely interesting and insightful. From them, I have gained numerous perspectives into the art, and a continually growing appreciation of the depth and breadth of Wing Chun.
However, no matter whom I speak with, what line they come from, or where they practice, almost without fail I inevitably end up hearing some variation of “I’m/we’re the best!…”
In the broadest of contexts, most people who practice the Yip Man style of Wing Chun (the most widely spread and often encountered branch) often project that;
“Only Yip Man got true Wing Chun…”
“If Yip Man didn’t do (insert form/technique/etc.) it wasn’t worthwhile…”
“Yip Man beat all the other Wing Chun people of his time…”
“Everyone else learned Wing Chun from Yip Man…”
“We’re the best!…”
Conversely, people who practice the other, lessor known branches, usually hold that
“Only we got true Wing Chun…”
“Yip Man didn’t learn (insert form/technique/etc.) and we have it…”
“Our ancestors beat Yip Man…”
“Our ancestors taught Yip Man…”
“We’re the best!…”
The same holds true within branches. In the Yip Man style alone, there are many, many claims of
“I’m the new grandmaster/true succesor…”
“I’m the best fighter…”
“I’m the only one who learnt the true style…”
“I’m the only one who teaches the true style…”
“I’m the best!…”.
The same occurs in the Pan Nam, Yuen Kay-San, and other branches, of course, although far fewer people are involved.
At times, these feelings flare publicly, such as the Hong Kong V.T.A.A. (Ving Tsun Athletic Association) vs. William Cheung letters; the V.T.A.A. vs. Leung Ting letters; the William Cheung vs. Leung Ting altercations in New York, Germany, and last year, New York again; and the recent Yip Chun vs. Leung Ting feud in the Hong Kong media. Many other older generation practitioners, although keeping their opinions out of the public eye, are more then happy to share biting commentary on their peers in more personal settings (and yes, the head of your lineage does this to!).
Perhaps this is human nature, perhaps martial nature, perhaps even something in the nature of Wing Chun Kuen practitioners. Other martial arts, although having several branches and prominent instructors, manage to get along and work together (at least in public) to a much greater degree then the Wing Chun family seems able.
Why can’t Wing Chun Kuen practitioners get along? In the end, it seems often to come back to the heads of the various lineages propagating “I’m the best…”.
One has to wonder, then, “the best” at what? The best fighter? People with no Wing Chun training at all can fight. The best preserver of the “true” method? We aren’t machines and no one can replicate their teacher exactly. At best we can remember what they did, filtered through our own experiences and points of view. The best teacher? Different students respond to different teaching methods. No one method is best for everybody.
If the older generation can’t seem to get along and all think they are “the best”, where does it leave the younger generation? Unfortunately, many seem to adopt a “sifu says, so it must be true” attitude. In fact, well meaning, loyal, but unfortunately misguided students are sometimes at the root of the recent flare-ups in Wing Chun Kuen politics.
Personally, I’ve never found “the best”. I’ve seen and researched many branches of Wing Chun and spoken with many practitioners (both teachers and students), and many have been outstanding, but each is but one facet of the Wing Chun gem. Every branch has something to offer. Some preserve older aspects of the art, some include brilliant innovations. Some have maintained detailed records of legends and histories, others have accumulated deep insights into principles and concepts. Still others have developed great experience in practical usage.
We are fortunate to have such a wealth of knowledge available too us, regardless of which specific branch we choose to practice. In the end, we benefit and grow strong from them all.
Unfortunately, it may be too late for the older generation to put aside their differences. In all likelihood, it is up to the younger generation. With the many books, videos, and other information becoming available, and with the Internet bringing practitioners from around the world together, the ability to work together, gain understanding from each other, and present a strong Wing Chun family to the world has never been better.
As to “I’m the best!…”, when I hear it I think back to my own teacher’s words, “maybe I’m right, maybe I’m wrong, you have to go out and see for yourself”. It also brings to mind the famed saying of Yip Man sifu, “Maybe I’m tricking you. Go out and test it!
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