Wing Chun Kung Fu has its origins in the Shaolin Temple of Northern China. The Shaolin monks developed a formidable open hand and weapon fighting system called Shaolin Kung Fu. The only nun at the Shaolin temple, Ng Mui, inspired by watching a fight between a crane and a snake, incorporated the direct striking of the snake and the simultaneous block and strike of the crane's beak into a new fighting style. Ng Mui used the concepts of directness, simplicity and conservation of strength she had witnessed in the contest. The new style utilised avoidance of force rather than using strength against strength, placing the emphasis on technique rather than muscle power.
The new fighting system was passed on to her adopted disciple, a girl by the name of Yim Wing Chun after whom Ng Mui named the new system. Wing Chun was passed down through the generations to the last Grand Master, Yip Man (who was Bruce Lee's teacher) then to his sons Yip Chun and Yip Ching, who both taught Master Samuel Kwok, the Instructor of Sifu Derek O'Hanlon.
