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Dave’s Brucey bonus

Marie Burchill
13/ 3/2008

FOR Dave Haunch there is only one Kung Fu master.

The Burnage martial arts expert loves Bruce Lee so much that he has watched all of his films time and time again, and even named his six-month-old son Lee in honour of the Hong Kong legend.

Now Dave will pay him the ultimate tribute by travelling to the Far East to be taught by the man who trained his hero.

Dave, who lives in Eastville Gardens and has been practising the art of Wing Chun Kung Fu for the last eight years at the Heatons Sports Club – is to visit Hong Kong to be trained by Yip Ching, who learned his craft alongside Bruce Lee and later became his instructor.

Dave said: "I am a huge fan of Bruce Lee, I’ve even named my son after him, so to be flying out to train alongside the artists who taught him is just brilliant. I can’t wait. My club is directly linked through lineage to the family who taught Bruce Lee, so because of that I have been invited out there."

During the ten day trip Dave, 33, will be practising the martial art – famed for its lightning fast hand speed – with martial artist Yip Ching whose father, Yip Man, also taught Bruce Lee.

Yip Man is credited as being one of the most highly regarded martial artists in the world. He was the first person to teach Wing Chun openly and as well as passing on his skills to his two sons – Yip Ching and Yip Chun – he was the first martial arts teacher to train Bruce Lee.

Yip Man died in 1972, however his son Yip Ching has continued his legacy by carrying on teaching Wing Chun classes. Dave said: "The family I am going out to Hong Kong to train with are perfectionists at their craft. Bruce Lee was first introduced to them when he was 13 and he trained with them until he was 18. Although he was first taught by Yip Man, he was also a big fan of Yip Man’s son, Yip Ching.

"The two would practice together and Bruce Lee was often seen filming Yip Ching as he aspired to be just like him. He would watch the film footage he had taken of Yip Ching over and over again so that he could perfect the moves during training.

"I feel so honoured that I will be a part of their legacy."

Dave will travel out to Hong Kong with his Kung Fu colleagues from the Heatons Sports Club, Billy Davidson and Samuel Kwok.