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Wong Shun Leung (1935-1997) started training with Yip Man at 17, after challenging the master and finding himself completely controlled by him. Already at this age Wong had a reputation as a fighter and Yip Man was at first worried that he would bring trouble for Wing Chun. In fact Wong Shun Leung's prowess as a "Beimo" fighter helped secure Wing Chun its formidable reputation. "Beimo" were semi-organised bare knuckle challenge fights between youths in Hong Kong. Wong Shun Leung, who stood only 5'6" tall, fought perhaps over 100 of these challenge fights and was never beaten. He earned the name Gong Sau Wong, King of Talking Hands. Once asked if he was the best fighter in the world he replied "no, only the second best." When asked who was the best he said "I dont know, I haven't met him."
Wong stayed with Yip Man many years longer than most of the other famous students, helping Yip Man teach and only opened his own school formally in the late sixties. He taught Wing Chun at his kwoon until his untimely death from a stroke. Notable students included Wan Kam-Leung, Gary Lam, Nino Bernardo and, of course, Bruce Lee, who later screen tested Wong for an appearance in the ill-fated "Game of Death" and corresponded regularly with Wong on the subject of the science of fighting. In one letter Lee wrote "Even though I am (technically) a student of Yip Man, in reality I learned my Kung-fu from you."
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