Our lineage, from Ip Man to today.

Born in Foshan in 1893 to a scholarly family, Ip Man starts Wing Chun at seven under Chan Wah Shun, then refines his art with Leung Bik, son of the legendary Leung Jan. He embodies the sixth generation since Yim Wing Chun.

A refugee in Hong Kong in 1949, he opens the first public Wing Chun school there — the art leaves the family circle for the first time. Among his disciples : Bruce Lee, Wong Shun Leung… and William Cheung, whom he welcomes under his own roof.

At his death in 1972, his students had spread the art across every continent. Wing Chun becomes one of the most widely practised Chinese martial arts in the world.

Trained from age 14 in traditional Wu Shu, Didier Beddar meets Wing Chun in 1986, at a seminar given by William Cheung in Paris. He then goes to train in Australia, directly under the Grandmaster.

In 1989, he creates the ADWCT — the Traditional Wing Chun Academy — the first academy of the style in France, now based in Montreuil. Recognised as the French reference for Traditional Wing Chun, he has trained several generations of instructors, in Paris, the provinces and abroad.

Author of three books on the style, he has also worked as a stunt performer on Brotherhood of the Wolf and The Deadly Kiss of the Dragon.