Wing Chun Heritage

An Interview with Master Ron Heimberger
  By Amer Saleem
& Jon Grange
In our modern era it is becoming increasingly difficult to find authentic, traditional Chinese fighting systems preserved and offered in their pure state. this Phenomenon stems from the breakdown of the master/disciple relationship, where individuals without the patience or integrity to commit themselves to this environment are only exposed to a limited understanding of their respective arts, and then begin to teach the public. A traditional Chinese fighting system is preserved in its purity through the system of lineage, as each master passes his intimate understandings of his art to a few chosen disciples. Through this system the integrity and effectiveness of the art is maintained, and students will be able to study it in its entirety.
  One such product of the traditional lineage system is Master Ron Heimberger, President of the Wing Chun Kung Fu Council and Director of the Wing Chun Athletic Association. Master Heimberger is a practitioner, and consummate instructor, of the Chinese fighting system of Wing Chun and operates kung fu schools throughout the United States, Europe, South America and the Middle East. He holds the honour of being a direct disciple of Grandmaster Ip Ching, who is the youngest son of the late Grandmaster Ip Man. As a disciple of Grandmaster Ip Ching, Master Heimberger is able to trace his lineage directly to Grandmaster Ip Man with full confidence and authority.
  In his first exclusive interview in Europe, Master Heimberger gives you, the reader, an insight into his path to mastery of the Wing Chun system.

COMBAT: Where do you currently direct your activities
  as Director of the Ip Ching Wing Chun Athletic
  Association?

MASTER RON HEIMBERGER: My current residence
   and headquarters for my efforts is St. George, Utah, USA.

COMBAT: You have been a practitioner of Wing Chun since  you were a teenager. How did you decide to devote a    considerable amount of your life to mastering this art form?

RON HEIMBERGER: My late Grandfather, who was a professional boxer, and my parents, had encouraged me throughout my childhood to learn  a combat art of some kind. Then as a teenager I was exposed to Wing Chun. Since that time it has been the only martial art that I have studied. It was the freedom of expression and promise of self-mastery that Wing Chun offered that first captured me. Wing Chun does not bind you to a rigid technique, but allows you to apply yourself creatively to overcome any situation. It was this promise of continual development of fighting skills and personal awareness that made me to decide that this would be a lifelong study. You will never exhaust Wing Chun's possibilities.

COMBAT: What was the process that you undertook which eventually led you to becoming a personal disciple of Grandmaster Ip Ching?

RON HEIMBERGER: it was actually a combined effort of my kung fu brothers Sam Chan, Garner Train and myself. Through a great deal of work we eventually managed to arrange for Grandmaster Ip Ching to come to the USA in order to train us. The problem was that at the time Grandmaster Ip Ching's low profile made it very difficult to contact him. However, Sam Chan, who used to live in Hong Kong, knew the Grandmaster. Through Sam's dedication we arranged to meet Ip Ching and then began formal training. Shortly after that, Garner and I underwent the traditional tea ceremony and were accepted by him as a personal disciple.

COMBAT: In light of the difficulty you describe in your process of becoming a disciple of Grandmaster Ip Ching, can you tell us what convinced you that he was the Wing Chun master you wanted to study under?

RON HEIMBERGER: First of all, it was his heritage of being the youngest son of Grandmaster Ip Man. I could not have wised for a purer lineage in Wing Chun to become part of.
Secondly, I would have to say that his humble character and quiet authority impressed me.
Grandmaster Ip Ching is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet, he being completely free of the arrogance you often find in the martial arts world. He is admired and respected by all his students around the world because of his integrity, ability and wisdom in Wing Chun.

COMBAT: What is Ip Ching like as a teacher?

RON HEIMBERGER: My Sifu is a perfectionist and demands a high level of skill from his disciples. He expects from you your personal best and will drive you to your limits in order to find it. Grandmaster Ip Ching is very traditional in his approach to instruction and takes a personal interest in each of his disciple's progression.

COMBAT: Your organisation, the Wing Chun Kung Fu Council, is growing very rapidly. With authorised schools across the globe - including England, France, Venezuela, Iran, Italy and Turkey - how do you keep your high standards of instruction in place?

RON HEIMBERGER: In each country where I have authorised schools I have a representative who is responsible for making sure my guidelines are being met. This representative arranges instructor and student seminars for me on a continuing basis. This allows me to personally insure that all Council members are progressing fully in their study of Wing Chun. Additionally, when I conduct seminars for my Certified Instructors, I not only see that they are maintaining a high standard in their Wing Chun, But I teach them how to impart true knowledge clearly and succinctly. In order for a student to find his greatest potential in Wing Chun he must study with an instructor who not only has genuine skill, but also is able to present his knowledge without confusion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grandmaster
Ip Ching
help Ron with
the finer points of the
Bot Cham Do
COMBAT: You have recently conducted a number of seminars in England - how did they go?

RON HEIMBERGER: They went very well. I am always impressed with the seriousness and commitment that the British people apply to the martial arts. The attendees of the seminars were enthusiastic, and the attitude with which they approached their training was refreshing.

COMBAT: We have learnt that you have co-authored a book with Grandmaster Ip Ching on the life of the late Grandmaster Ip Man. Could you tell us more about this project?

RON HEIMBERGER: The title of the book is "Portrait of a Kung Fu Master". It gives the reader a special insight into Ip Man's genius through stories from his childhood and his road to the mastery of Wing Chun, related by Grandmaster Ip Ching. Sifu also tells the reader how his father Ip Man expressed Wing Chun, not only in combat, but also in everyday life. Included in the book are dozens of rare photographs never before seen outside of the Ip family. I hope that this book will be a fitting tribute to the life of Grandmaster Ip Man.

COMBAT: You  have created a number of unique programs that have been implemented throughout your organisation. Could you tell us a little about them?

RON HEIMBERGER: Yes. One program is called "Defence For Life" which I created as an educational resource for women on the issues of personal protection and empowerment. Defence for life is a non-profit corporation that coordinates with victim advocates and women's groups wherever the Council has a branch in order to effectively free women from the fear of abuse and assault. Another is a comprehensive children's Wing Chun training program with a fully developed and specific curriculum. The Council offers young children a specific and directed opportunity to learn Wing Chun. I also have fully developed curriculum's for law enforcement and military professionals that is now in place all across the USA.

COMBAT: Master Heimberger, thank you for your time. We wish you great success.

RON HEIMBERGER: You are welcome. May I take this opportunity to thank all of my European instructors for their dedication and hard work, and the rest of the Wing Chun family who have made me feel at home here in England.

 

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