At Ip Man pre-production press conference held on March 31, it’s announced that Ip Man 2 would commence filming officially in August 2009. Producer Raymond Wong and director Wilson Yip express confidence for the sequel which has a bigger budget – 100m yuan, saying that the sequel will be even more exciting. The sequel is set in 1949, right after Ip Man arrives in Hong Kong and is about how Ip Man introduces and propagates Wing Chun in the region, and taking in a few disciples. So, in terms of timeline, there won’t be Bruce Lee, and they hope that there would be Bruce Lee in Ip Man 3. While the initial plot outlines for both are done, they would not be shooting Ip Man 3, which would involve Bruce Lee, back to back with Ip Man 2 as previously intended, as they haven’t finalised negotiations with Bruce Lee descendants on the rights.
Above all, martial arts choreographer Sammo Hung – the mystery heavyweight actor mentioned before – will be playing a Hung Gar master in the sequel, and will again be going toe to toe – or rather, finger to finger as the case might be – with Donnie Yen since SPL. Sammo Hung says, “As boss didn’t pay me in the first, I wouldn’t appear in front of the screen. This time I’m getting paid, so I’ll be playing a role too.”
Upon his arrival in Hong Kong, Ip Man notices that the martial arts schools there operate like triads rather than true institutions of martial arts. To set things right, he starts his own school that teaches not just martial arts but also the right values. However, Wing Chun, as taught by Yip Man, is being viewed as kungfu meant only for girls, while Sammo Hung’s Hung Gar is being seen as a macho form of boxing, resulting in exchanges, conflicts and rivalry between the two, with major clash between the two screen titans being main highlight of the sequel.
Fan Siu Wong and Lam Ka Tung will continue to reprise their roles in Ip Man 2. Lam Ka Tung’s Li Zhe will be enlisted in the police force once again in Hong Kong while Fan Siu Wong’s Jin Shan Zhao will turn over a new leaf and retire from the martial arts world (or more appropriately brigandage), becoming an ordinary citizen, and making friends with Yip Man.
With his latest 2 films, Painted Skin and Ip Man, ruling the roost at the box office, Donnie Yen, has become a “hot commodity”, and apart from a share of profits, is getting a substantial pay rise from 10m yuan to 15m yuan for Ip Man 2, says, “Ip Man is indeed my landmark production, this is the first time I’m getting nomination for Best Actor award. I’m grateful to the director, for giving me so much room, presenting an unseen side of Donnie Yen, and also broadening my acting career. It’s also very rare for a kungfu film to receive 12 nominations.
It’s rare that a sequel surpasses the original, but a recent casting announcement concerning the follow-up to Ip Man (see Reed’s review here) seems to indicate that director Wilson Yip is gearing up to do just that. Legendary action star Sammo Hung has signed on as Donnie Yen’s opponent in the film, playing a macho master of Hung Gar who takes exception to Ip Man’s introduction of Wing Chun to the streets of Hong Kong, a style dismissed as being too feminine. I’m a great admirer of Sammo Hung, having spent the past few months going over some of his early work, so this is quite possibly the best movie news I’ve heard so far this year.
Wilson Yip’s IP Man, a biopic based on the life story Bruce Lee’s first martial arts teacher, won best film at the Hong Kong film awards. No luck for Donnie Yen to make it a double for the flick though, as he failed to scoop the best actor accolade. That honour went to Nick Cheung for his performance in Dante Lam’s gritty action cop drama ‘The beast stalker.’ Perhaps the Don-meister will have better luck next time around. “Ip Man 2” is already scheduled to start production in June, with principal photography expected to last until October. IP2 will continue the story of martial- arts expert Ip Man’s escape from Japanese occupied China into Hong Kong. Director Wilson Yip and Yen are both back on board and the pic is aiming for a release towards the end of 2010. Full winners list below:
Best film: Ip Man (dir: Wilson Yip)
Best director: Ann Hui – The Way We Are
Best screenplay: Lou Shiu-wa – The Way We Are
Best actor: Nick Cheung – The Beast Stalker
Best actress: Paw Hee-ching – The Way We Are
Best supporting actor: Liu Kai-chi – The Beast Stalker
Best supporting actress: Chan Lai-wun – The Way We Are
Best new performer: Xu Jiao – CJ7
Best cinematography: Arthur Wong – Painted Skin
Best film editing: Yau Chi-wai – Connected
Best art direction: Tim Yip – Red Cliff
Best costume & make-up design: Tim Yip – Red Cliff
Best action choreography: Sammo Hung & Tony Leung Siu-hung – Ip Man
Best sound design: Wu Jiang & Roger Savage – Red Cliff
Best visual effects: Craig Hayes – Red Cliff
Best original score: Taro Iwashiro – Red Cliff
Best original film song: Jane Zhang – Painted Skin
Luuk Dim Boon Kwun training in the park outside Malmoe Wing Tsun School summer 2008
Sifu Donald Mak from Donald Mak Int’l Wing Chun Institute (IWCI) comes to Sweden and Malmö Wing Tsun School januari 25-28. The theme for the seminar will be Biu Jee.
Sifu Wan Kam Leung once again comes to Sweden, Malmoe Wing Tsun School, and teach Practical Wing Chun.
Friday, february 6
Training: 18.00-22.00
Adress: Celsiusgatan 29
Price: 55 euro for members, 65 euro for non members of Wing Tsun Sweden or Practical Wing Chun.
Saturday: february 7
Training: 12.00-16.00
Adress: Celsiusgatan 29
Price: 55 euro for members, 65 euro for non members of Wing Tsun Sweden or Practical Wing Chun.
If you attend both day you got the training on sunday in Copenhagen for free. If you want to participate don´t hesitate to contact me. This is a great event.
It´s been a big year for Wing Tsun / Wing Chun in Sweden. Thank you to Sifu Wan Kam Leung, Sifu Donal Mak, Sifu Jörgen Riis, Sifu Andreas Hoffmann, Sije Maria, Sifu Henrik Sprechler, Sifu Allan Jensen, Sifu Thommy Boehlig, Sifu Ricky Croffs and grandmaster Brian Jones, for all the teaching.
What can be a better final for this Wing Tsun year then the movie about Yip Man.
It is not many days left until it is 2009. This year will be different from 2008 in many ways. 2008 was the year of changes for Wing Tsun in Sweden. We have worked us up from total disaster to great succes. We have doubled the amount of students and people that have graduated. We are not anymore a country out of nowhere , but a country that is conected with the Wing Tsun / Wing Chun world again.
In many ways this have been a hard task. But many people have worked very hard for this succes. A big eloge´to all of you that have been involved. You are the best!
November 21 – A press conference (again) was held and Raymond Wong revealed that next year, they’ll be making IP MAN 2, the sequel which will tell the story of Ip Man’s time in HK and include Bruce Lee. Other than that, the IP MAN movie soundtrack album was also revealed during the conference.
Ip Chun who also attended the conference gives compliments, praising both Donnie and Lynn Hung for their close portrayal of his parents and that it brought back alot memories for him.
Wilson Yip was also said to have begun preparing IP MAN 2 and as for the role of Bruce Lee, they might have a worldwide casting call to find a suitable actor. It’s also not determined whether Lynn Hung will return in the sequel as the story tells the Ip couples seperated from eachother, Ip Man in HK while his wife stays in Foshan.
IpMan gala premiere was held in Beijing on December 10, attended by producer Raymond Wong, director Wilson Yip, martial arts choreographer Sammo Hung, the cast members Donnie Yen (and his wife), Lynn Hung, Fan Siu Wong, who wowed the audience with a highly impressive martial arts display, as well as Yip Chun, Daniel Chan, Hu Yan Bin and others.
Donnie Yen says that it took him 9 months before he truly comprehended Wing Chun, and also incorporated some of his ideas. In themovie, the quick, successive punches are no special effects, but a result of his training, and he was actually having much difficulty delivering such a chain of supersonic moves, having to endure the pains from his ailing right shoulder.
In IpMan, what they wish to convey is not the ostentation of kungfu, but its inner cultivation, it’s a film promulgating Chinese martial arts philosophy. It’s not about fighting, but understanding of martial arts essence through sparring, swapping pointers with each other.
Sammo Hung hopes to eulogise grandmaster IpMan with pure kungfu, “Nowadays, you only see special effects in action films, but no real kungfu. Kungfu has gone above the sentient world, becoming impracticable. I hope to let the people see that fistplay can be humanly attainable, returning to the original forms. Wing Chun is a simple kungfu that anyone can pick up, I have no reason not to use real kungfu.”
Wilson Yip says they intend to make a series out of IpMan franchise, and hope to shoot the sequel next April. IpMan opens on December 12 in China, and across other Asian territories next week.
In the 1930s, Foshan thrives as the hub of Chinese kung fu, with various sects actively recruiting disciples. They often compete against each other to prove their strengths.
While Ip Man is an accomplished martial artist, he is unassuming and keeps a low-profile, and doesn’t run any martial arts school nor accept students. He only stays at home, quietly sparring with his compatriots in friendly competitions, swapping pointers with each other.
One day, Ip Man (Donnie Yen) is challenged by Master Liao (Chen Zhi Hui), who just set up a kung fu school, in a closed match. Ip Man’s teahouse owner friend (Wong You Nam) who witnessed the entire fight, tells everyone about Master Liu losing. Seeing it as a public humiliation, Master Liao gets into disputes with Ip Man.
Henchmen of Jin Shan Zhao (Fan Siu Wong) are going around challenging various kung fu schools in Foshan. In one fight, Martial Zealot Lin (Xing Yu) is mortally wounded. Ip Man comes to his rescue, only to be stopped by Jin Shan Zhao. Everyone gathers around to watch the match whereby IpMan dispenses the latter with ease using four Wing Chun Forms: fist, footwork, blade and cudgel.
IpMan becomes an instant hero and there develops a craze for Wing Chun in Foshan.
Following Japanese invasion in 1937, everyone’s life is adversely affected. Ip Man’s property is confiscated and his family is forced to live in a decrepit house. Being one with strong pride, IpMan refuses charity from his wealthy friend Zhou Qing Quan (Simon Yam), owner of a cotton mill, opting instead to work as a coolie at a coal mine to sustain his family.
One day, General Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi), together with his troops, arrives. As a fanatical practitioner in martial arts himself, he sets up an arena, offering rice as a reward. However, to another high-ranking Japanese officer Sato’s (Shibuya Tenma) mind, they cannot afford to lose, they must preserve Japanese superiority and dignity.
Eagerly taking up the challenge, Martial Zealot Lin makes use of the opportunity to demean the Japanese…
Wing Chun Kuen is characterized by close body combat, requiring practitioners to show speed and power. Its Chi Sao of “sticking hands” is more similar to modern day combat skills and has a rich feel of genuine strikes. This is also why Ip Man differs from the dazzlingly romantic and purely fictional style of previous martial art movies. Its explosive punches and aggressive close-range combat offer a new thrill never experienced by modern day audiences.
The story of Wing Chun began in the 1920s and 30s, in Fatshan China. Ip Man was martial art’s unyielding follower, devoted whole-heartedly to the free learning of kung fu. The fight to be top between the kung fu schools in the southern and northern regions of China had not stopped him having goodwill matches with other practitioners. Nationalistic bad feelings and racial hatred had not lessened his respect for Japanese martial arts warriors. In this great era of hatreds and tragedies, Ip focused only on kung fu. His enthusiasm for martial arts saw him having devastating straight fights with various elite practitioners.
To this date there have been neither movies nor publications about Ip Man. This movie will be the first important record of the master’s life. Ip’s persistent devotion to Wing Chun is a classic example of the love and respect shown to kung fu and the freedom and spirit it represents. This movie will see the making of a modern kung fu representative of Chinese people worldwide. Ip Man is a concept, a spirit, a way of thinking – and it represents a new peak in Hong Kong’s kung fu movies.
International Ving Tsun Athletic Associasion rewarded this year Wan Kam Leung (Hong Kong) to Sifu of the year. On the picture above you can see Sifu Donald Mak giving the award to Sifu Wan Kam Leung. Both Sifu Donald Mak and Sifu Wan Kam Leung have been guest instructors at Malmoe Wing Tsun School this year. Sifu Wan Kam Leung will be back in Sweden already 6-7 february 2009. Don´t miss it!
So has the first photo of the new kwoon in Karlskrona fallen into my mailbox. If you look closely you can see that there is a marina just outside. It can be very stylistic images here in the future. Now we just need a Chinese JUNK and place outside.
Sisok Jonas, Sigung Andreas Hoffmann, and Sifu Henrik
Weng Chun Kuen is a southern chinese kung fu system descendent from the southern Shaolin temple. Many have linked this style to Wing Chun. The name and the style has striking similarities but are two separate systems.
Grandaster Andreas Hoffmann now come to Sweden, and Malmö Wing Tsun school, to keep a two-day seminar in this style. This will be the first time the system is shown in Sweden. For all who are interested in kung fu and, in particular, Wing Chun, Wing Tsun, and other versions, this is a real highlight. Take the opportunity to create kung fu history in Sweden. Do not miss this!
Date: 22-23 november
Price: not determined yet
Location: Malmö Wing Tsun School, Celsiusgatan 29
Time: not determined yet
If you want to participate mail: kungfu.sweden(at)gmail.com
Sifu Mak taught for a whole week Swedish practitioners in Wing Chun Kung Fu. On daytime there was a course in Luuk Dim Boon Kwun (Long Pole) and in the evening Sifu Mak taught close range combat. This was a really good week for Swedish kung fu. Everything took place at Malmö Wing Tsun School. Thank you Sifu for the great teaching!
