VIDEO-Ip Man

Ip Man is the semiautobiographical story of Ip Man, the kung fu master who would go on to teach Bruce Lee. This movie is nothing short of amazing. It has it all--great characters, great story, and awesome martial arts action. The only downside is that you have to read subtitles.

Ip Man was the master of Wing Chun, a style of Southern Kung Fu in China, that legend says was created by a woman who did not want to marry a man she was betrothed to. The man gave her the option to fight. If she won, she was free. She had six months to prepare. Wing Chun was the result. Do I believe this story is true? Nope. But it helps to understand the insults in the movie.

Wing Chung is a deceptively simple style, but it is devastatingly effective. Donnie Yen does a superb job both of acting the part but also doing the moves. His work is mindblowing.

The basics of the story are that Ip Man was a wealthy man living in China prior to the Japanese invasion leading up to World War II. He was also a Wing Chung master who refused to teach despite people begging him to do so. His kung fu is a private affair as he seeks to placate his wife who demands his time and attention for herself and their young son. Ip is a devoted father, but the community clamors for his instruction. Eventually, the Japanese invade, and Ip loses everything. His skills are discovered by a brutal Japanese general with a love for martial arts, and the epic battles begin.

I won't give it all away. This is not your typical martial arts movie. This is simply a great movie about martial arts. It will move you as you come to appreciate Ip's considerable skill, wisdom, love, and humility. I cannot recommend this one more highly. You have to see this one.

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