Ip Man's Code of conduct for students of the martial art of Wing Chun
The late Ip Man (1893-1972) wrote a code of conduct for Wing Chun. Outlined below is the code of conduct that can be seen on the wall of the Ving Tsun Athletic Association (V.T.A.A.) in Hong Kong.
Ving Tsun Jo Fen
Remain disciplined - Conduct yourself ethically as a martial artist.
Practice courtesy and righteousness - Serve the society and respect your elders.
Love your fellow students - Be united and avoid conflicts.
Limit your desires and pursuit of bodily pleasures - Preserve the proper spirit.
Train diligently - Maintain your skills.
Learn to develop spiritual tranquility - Abstain from arguments and fights.
Participate in society - Be moderate and gentle in your manners.
Help the weak and the very young - Use martial skills for the good of humanity.
Pass on the tradition - Preserve this Chinese art and rules of conduct.
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1.
(SK) Remain disciplined – uphold yourself ethically as a martial artist
(RH) Discipline yourself to the Rules: Keep Sacred the Martial Morality
(RH) Discipline yourself to the Rules: Keep Sacred the Martial Morality
2.
(SK) Practice courtesy and righteousness – serve the community and honor your family
(RH) Understand Propriety and Righteousness: Love your Country and Respect Your Parents
3.
(SK) Love your fellow students or classmates – be united and avoid conflicts
(RH) Love Your Classmates: Enjoy Working Together as a Group
(RH) Love Your Classmates: Enjoy Working Together as a Group
4.
(SK) Limit your desires and pursuit of bodily pleasures – preserve the proper spirit
(RH) Control Your Desire: Stay Healthy
(RH) Control Your Desire: Stay Healthy
5.
(SK) Train diligently and make it a habit – never let the skill leave your body
(RH) Work Hard and Keep Practicing: Never Let the Skill Leave Your Body
(RH) Work Hard and Keep Practicing: Never Let the Skill Leave Your Body
6.
(SK) Learn to develop spiritual tranquility – abstain from arguments and fights
(RH) Learn How to Keep the Energy: Quit Inciting a Fighting Attitude.
(RH) Learn How to Keep the Energy: Quit Inciting a Fighting Attitude.
7.
(SK) Participate in society – be conservative, cultured and gentle in your manners
(RH) Always Deal with World Matters with a Kind Attitude that is Calm and Gentle.
(RH) Always Deal with World Matters with a Kind Attitude that is Calm and Gentle.
8.
(SK) Help the weak and the very young – use your martial skill for the good of humanity
(RH) Help the Elderly and the Children: Use the Martial Mind to Achieve “Yan”
(RH) Help the Elderly and the Children: Use the Martial Mind to Achieve “Yan”
9.
(SK) Pass on the tradition – preserve the Chinese arts and its Rules of Conduct
(RH) Follow the Former Eight Rules: Hold to the Ancestors’ Rules Sincerely.
(RH) Follow the Former Eight Rules: Hold to the Ancestors’ Rules Sincerely.
SK: Samuel Kwok, Mastering Wing Chun: The Keys to Ip Man’s Kung Fu, 2007.
RH: Ip Ching, Ron Heimberger and Eric Myers, Ving Tsun Jo Fen: Expectations and Guidance from the Ving Tsun Tradition, 2006.
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