WingChun has grown in popularity in the past decade thanks to the recent Ip Man movies. These movies introduced a new generation of people to the martial art style, but depictions in movies are rarely accurate. In fact, there is a lot of outdated information lingering in popularity since decades of historical research. Here are the 5 top misconceptions about WingChun.

WingChun is like other styles of Chinese Martial Arts

Popular culture depicts all Chinese martial arts as the same, but there are several Chinese martial arts that vary depending on the time period and region. It is true that WingChun shares some similarities among other Asian and Chinese martial arts, especially those in southern China. Many styles from this region have similarities in their folk history, concepts, and even names of their techniques. However, WingChun as a whole is unique.

There is one style of WingChun

Most people believe that every WingChun school teaches the same way. Although many WingChun schools share the same elements, there are many variations of WingChun emphasizing different aspects. The variation depends on whether the teacher decided to pass down knowledge exactly how it was learned or introduce ideas from personal experience and insight. Even students of the famous Ip Man have their own style.

WingChun was created by a nun

The most popular story of WingChun’s origin is that it was created by a Buddhist nun who named it after her female student. However, researchers have discovered lineages of WingChun with totally different origin stories. Since little records exist, there is no consensus on the actual origin of WingChun.

Ip Man was the only true WingChun master

Most people think that the Ip Man style is the only style of WingChun. In fact, there were other WingChun masters during Ip Man’s time, however, he became the most well known. Also, research has found that WingChun evolved over the years making Ip Man’s style different than the original.

Bruce Lee was a master of WingChun

Speaking of Ip Man, action movie superstar Bruce Lee put WingChun on the world map as Ip Man’s student. Bruce Lee displayed some impressive skills, but his WingChun study was postponed when he left Hong Kong.