Chong's Wing Chun & Bak Mei Kung Fu Association

The Pan Nam system of Wing Chun is a different branch from the popular Hong Kong system.It has been called this way after the late Master Pan Nam, who took Sifu Eddie Chong as his last disciple in 1991.  The Shaolin Temple monk, Yi Chum, was said by Pan Nam to be the true founder of Wing Chun. 

Yi Chum taught Tan Sau Ng, who taught Dai Fa Min Kam, Wong Wah Bo and Leung Yee Tei (Leung Jan’s teachers) and so on until Pan Nam (see lineage chart here). Nevertheless, Pan Nam’s account involving Tan Sau Ng fills in many gaps in the previously known history of Wing Chun, as it’s recognized by several Wing Chun masters nowadays..This story regarding the origin of Wing Chun and the theories of this branch can seem to be in conflict with those of various other Wing Chun systems, but this is not really a problem when understood and considered objectively. 

Though at first glance some of the differences are dramatic, each system in fact complements the other, and knowledge of the theories and techniques of the Wing Chun taught by Master Pan can only improve one’s martial skills. Understanding the differences and the reasons for any changes that have occured, gives us perhaps our only glimpse into the martial minds of the early masters.  

As for the differences, this branch of the Wing Chun family tree has not only preserved a different, possibly older, form of Wing Chun but also the Qigong (Chi-Kung) exercises that Master Pan said have been a part of the WIng Chun System from its inception. The techniques in Pan Nam Wing Chun are relaxed until the moment of initiating the attack. The stance uses a 50/50 weight distribution. The toes are pointed straight forward and advances are made with stepping movements as opposed to dragging the rear leg. 

The system emphasizes triangular footwork, as compared to linear directions. The punches can be directed towards any line from the shoulder. In other words, the shoulders are considered the centerline.  by Eddie Chong