Don't tell me how well you fight,
or how great your teacher is,
or brag about your style.
Kungfu -
two words.
Horizontal. Vertical.
Make a mistake - horizontal.
Stay standing and you win.
Isn't that right?
We're from Foshan.
My father ran the family business.
He exported goods to Hong Kong.
The Ips have a long history in Foshan.
They named a street after us.
That's how wealthy we were.
Before I turned 40, life was easy.
I lived off my family money.
I had only one passion.
At seven, I started learning kungfu.
My master was Chan Wah-shun.
Foshan's Wing Chun began with Leung Jan.
I'm the third generation.
When I started, my master was seventy.
The day I became a disciple,
he tied the sash himself.
This sash stands for school and teacher.
It stands for honor.
You are now a martial artist.
You must live your life with honor.
One sash, an unbroken tradition.
I lived through dynastic times,
the early republic, warlords,
Japanese invasion and civil war.
Finally, I came to Hong Kong.
What kept me going
was the martial arts code of honor.
My wife, Zhang Yongcheng,
was the descendant of an Imperial Minister.
She was a woman of few words
because she knew their power.
We understood each other well.
She loved music.
I'd take her to hear opera.
People were so conservative back then.
Nice women didn't visit places like this.
But gossip didn't bother her.
When I went out, she lit a lamp
and left it lit till I came home.
If life has seasons,
my first forty years were spring.
(1936. Foshan, Guangdong Province.)
In 1936, Foshan
was a prosperous city.
Life was peaceful and good.
Back then, men socialised in brothels.
Such places were popular in the South.
Foshan's finest was Republic House.
Its walls were covered in gold,
so we called it the Gold Pavilion.
It was the first to have an elevator.
Enter a prince, exit a pauper.
You'd spend money like water.
It was like a social club for martial artists.
Good men can be found among rogues.
And hidden masters too.
People saw it as a pleasure palace.
But to us,
it was a battleground.
I claim three accomplishments in life.
First, I united Xingyi and Bagua styles.
Second, I became the director
of the Northern Martial Arts Union,
bringing together Tongbei, Cannon Fist,
Tai Chi, Yan Qing and other schools.
Third, I took the northern masters south.
In 1929,
the First Southern Martial Arts Academy
was founded under my supervision
after talks here in the Gold Pavilion.
I'm getting old.
It's time for new blood.
I held a retirement ceremony up North.
You invited me to hold a second one here.
It's my farewell to my southern comrades.
Up North, the one who took part
was my top disciple, Ma San.
He'll be my successor.
Please give him your support.
I'd always wanted
to take the southern styles north.
Sadly, my time's up.
I want to hold a demonstration match
with a southern martial artist.
Someone you all support.
Pick one.
Think you're good enough
to challenge the Old Master?
Let's keep it simple.
I'll take you all on.
Get him!
that at the ceremony up North,
I had the honor.
To worship at the feet of the Buddha
first pass the Guardian of the Gate.
That's me.
How can I represent the South?
The southern schools
are Hung, Lau, Choy, Lee, and Mok.
In rank,
you are all my seniors.
You're the leaders and masters.
I have no standing.
The reputation of the South is at stake.
We Southerners
may be petty,
but we don't run away from a fight.
We're not afraid of these Northerners!
This is a challenge.
We will rise to it.
Isn't that right?
Absolutely!
It must be you.
I'll take the kids to my mother's.
Less for you to worry about.
When a man reaches forty,
he needs to be sure of things.
When it's all over,
come pick us up.
Do you know
why a knife must have a sheath?
Its power lies not in sharpness,
but in concealment.
You're too sharp a blade.
You have to stay put.
My sheath
is you, Master.
With you around,
I'm under control.
I can no longer control you.
You're too anxious to make your mark.
For now, leave Foshan.
Miss that train,
and I'll break your legs.
Central News:
Southern armies
marched north
claiming for autonomy.
The Central Army blocked their advance.
The situation is explosive.
Halt!
Let us pass.
Sorry. This street is closed off.
No one bearing arms can enter.
Do you know who's in that rickshaw?
Call out the Gong Family disciples!
Miss Gong, it's good you're here.
He must call this off. Win or lose, it's a disgrace.
My father has never lost.
There's no question of losing.
And so what if he wins?
They'll say he beat a nobody.
Ip Man's not at his level.
Where's my father?
Brother.
It's me, Baosen.
Isn't the Northeast big enough for you?
You had to come to Foshan? Get up.
I'm taking you home.
Home?
How's that possible?
The Japanese control the Northeast.
The Japanese flag
won't wave over me.
The time's not ripe.
Making soup like this
is a lot of work.
It's not soup.
It's snake stew.
Isn't that a winter dish?
It's a dish from a long time ago.
Yes, decades.
was a Snake Year.
You left the Northeast that year.
The fire has to be right for stew.
Too low -
it'll lack taste.
Too high -
it'll scald.
There's a lesson in that.
Go.
Wait till the fire can take this wood.
I'll go then.
The South may secede.
It's no time for diplomacy.
We're getting old.
Don't risk your reputation.
Ip is more than he appears to be.
Force it,
things could go wrong.
I know what I'm doing.
I'm creating opportunity.
This fire today
needs new wood.
Your northern colleagues
disapprove of this match.
It's a huge honor.
This Ip doesn't deserve it.
It's not how things are done.
Don't follow the herd.
If the old never let go
when will the young get their chance?
Ip Man has talent.
Let's see if he can prove himself.
The Gong Family has never lost before.
With you here,
what right does he have?
I once had a temper like yours:
winning was everything.
But life's bigger than that.
Take a longer view.
Past the mountains
the world opens up.
Not to see the good in others,
not to admit their talent,
is to lack generosity.
Our high standards in martial arts
apply to character as well.
Father,
why did you bring me to a brothel?
If you don't see something,
does it not exist?
No harm in seeing.
The first time I came here
was before you were born.
Twenty years have passed in a flash.
In life,
ability isn't everything.
Some thrive in light,
others in shadow.
The times make us what we are.
I asked you to come South
to bring things full circle
and to let you see
how I step down.
Since you were little,
you've watched me fight.
This is the last time.
You're engaged to be married.
The Martial World
is no longer your world.
Be a good doctor.
Live a peaceful life.
This is my greatest wish.
Master Ip.
We're here to celebrate.
Your big day is coming up.
We'd like to show you our support.
I'm humbled, Uncle Deng.
It's nothing at all.
Don't mention it.
Please.
On behalf of the ladies
and staff, congratulations.
That's quite a battle formation.
Sister San heads our Peking Opera troupe.
She dabbles in Bagua.
She'd like to offer a few pointers.
Please.
After you.
Bagua is based on swordplay.
Single reverse palm is a single blade.
Double reverse palm is a double blade.
The feet arc out and in.
There are 64 transformations.
Attack comes out of nowhere.
Sister San, it's just practice.
No need to smash the ancestral tablets.
I've done that many times before.
No big deal.
Mr Ip, Bagua is underhanded.
Beware.
Thank you.
Ah, Mr Ip.
Today is a happy day.
We in Accounts wish you well.
Xingyi began with General Yue Fei.
It uses the fist as a spear.
Drill
Chop
Cross
Blast
Crush
Such sensitivity - impressive!
That Crushing Fist is quite something.
Mr Ip,
each challenge leads to a higher peak.
Xingyi is brutal.
Don't underestimate it.
Let's see how high the peaks get.
Hmm. This will be fun.
My turn now, Master Ip.
And what have you got for me, Yong?
A string of firecrackers.
That move, isn't that Hung Gar?
I'm a jack of all trades.
You do mix it up.
What's wrong with that?
So long as it works.
The 64 Hands have endless combinations.
Your Wing Chun is a three-trick pony.
Spade, Pin, Sheath.
How can it compete?
Three's enough to take care of you.
Yong, your fireworks have fizzled.
What of it? I'm an old man.
Youth trumps skill.
He might be a grandmaster,
but don't hold back.
You'd better win.
This has been a real privilege.
To victory!
Good luck.
Every generation produces new talent.
Mr Ip, we were fated to meet.
For my final contest
I suggest we match wits,
not skill.
Do you accept?
As our guest,
it's up to you.
When our Union was founded 25 years ago,
a man came from the South.
He offered a challenge.
He held out a flat cake
and asked our Master to break.
Our Master wasn't offended.
He even named the man our first chairman.
It wasn't because of his kungfu
but what he said -
Kungfu divides into North and South.
Must the country divide as well?
That man was also from Foshan -
Ip Yun-biu.
He was a great man.
Today,
meeting another Mr Ip,
I will ask that same question.
Mr Ip,
can you break this cake in my hand?
A Tai Chi master kept a bird from flying
by giving it no perch
from which to fly.
The Old Master's skill is too great.
Mr Ip is a sparrow in his palm.
I don't think he can do it.
The world is a big place.
Why limit it to North and South?
It holds you back.
To you,
this cake is the country.
To me it's much more.
Break from what you know
and you will know more.
If the Southern arts go far,
what boundary is the North?
Would you agree?
Well said.
All my life, I've been the victor.
My technique has never failed me.
I never thought I'd see
the limits of my own vision.
Mr Ip,
today I've made you famous.
In future,
you'll face challenges at every step.
I hope you'll be like me.
Pass on the torch.
Never give up the faith.
Keep the light burning.
Miss Gong, you mustn't do this.
The Gongs have never been defeated.
I will redeem our honor.
Give this to Ip. He'll understand.
I have no chance
to be as great as Father.
It wasn't my choice.
But I'll make my mark.
Go.
Tonight, following Northern custom,
the winner will host a banquet.
Neither Ip Man nor I will attend.
You'll represent me.
Don't worry.
I'll do the right thing.
Let's go!
Of Master Gong's martial arts,
Ma San inherited the steel
and his daughter the silk.
She is the sole heir to the 64 Hands.
Her moves are deadly.
In booking the whole place first,
she forces your hand.
Don't underrate Gong Er.
The Martial World has four taboos:
monks, Taoist priests, women and children.
Grappling with them is a bad idea.
She's gone to so much trouble -
how could I not accept?
Three days ago,
my father sat here.
Tonight,
it's between us.
Please.
Pity about the lovely decor.
Kungfu is about precision.
If anything gets broken,
you win.
Mr Ip,
I showed you the 64 Hands
so that you'd know
the world is a big place.
Kungfu isn't just charging forward.
Look behind you as well.
I hope that's enough of a clue.
It went your way this time.
Who knows what
next time will bring.
Come.
I'll be waiting.
Take care.
(I dream of seeing the 64 Hands) (again in the snow.)
(I'm waiting. What's keeping you?)
Does it fit?
Does Foshan get this cold?
You look lovely.
Let's take a family photo.
(October 1938. Foshan fell to the Japanese.)
In October 1938,
the Japanese invaded Foshan.
Their army took over our home.
If life has four seasons,
we went from spring straight to winter.
I'll be back with dinner.
Help me prosper?
Rescue me from poverty?
I've never been poor in my life.
The country's in crisis
and everyone is suffering.
To be poor is no big deal.
I'd rather starve
than eat Japanese rice.
I won't collaborate.
I have plenty of friends.
They'll help me through.
Enjoy your dinner.
You won't find those friends here,
only collaborators.
We had a dinner just now.
These are the leftovers.
If it's not beneath you,
take them back to your family.
How can I accept?
Dirty money paid for it.
No point in waste. We're old friends.
You're most welcome.
They're brand new.
I was going to the Northeast.
But that's impossible now.
Sell them and I can feed my family.
Why is there a button missing?
Is there?
Must've dropped off.
I began studying kungfu at seven.
Before I turned forty,
I was never beaten.
When that happened,
It was life that dealt the blows.
In eight years of war
I lost everything.
Money,
friends...
China will never die!
Girls obey their Madam.
Gangsters obey their boss.
Our boss was Sun Yat-sen
We followed his orders.
We Southerners have fire in our bellies
and a sense of honour.
Only cowards fear the Japs.
I'll kill any I see!
(1938. Uncle Deng died) (in a Japanese bombardment.)
(Collaborators took over the Gold Pavilion.)
Finally, I lost my family.
(Ip Man lost two daughters in the war.)
No one move!
Where are you going? Show your IDs!
Hurry.
IDs!
Where are you going? IDs!
Halt!
(1939. Traveling to Northwest University) (to practice medicine,)
(Gong Er meets The Razor, a Nationalist agent.)
(1940. Ma San collaborates with the Japanese,)
(taking an official post in the puppet government.)
Do you remember what I taught you?
Yes.
Never put yourself first,
show respect.
There's always someone better.
To yield is not to lose.
Master, you have taught me
to be modest
and know my place.
I took you in as an orphan.
You brought
credit to our school.
Let's go over
my supreme move.
The Old Monkey Hangs up his Badge.
Have you practiced it?
Yes.
You know the key to it?
I was never told.
It's looking back in reflection.
It's not the upward move,
but the turning back.
Understand what I'm saying?
A warrior molds himself to the times.
What if
I can't turn back?
Then the Gong Family legacy
cannot live on in you.