Traditional Martial Arts: Hong Kong school keeps kung fu culture alive

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Traditional kung fu used to enjoy an enormous following in Hong Kong, but the growing popularity of other forms of martial arts, like Thai kick-boxing and MMA, has seen kung fu culture decline. CGTN's Patrick Fok went to visit one school, that's trying to keep the discipline alive.

The main focus of this practice session is technique. But make a wrong move, and you could get hurt.

XAZAR WING CHUN STUDENT "You have to learn from your mistakes, take hits, you fight with experts and you get to their level by sparring with them."

IVIS WING CHUN STUDENT "It's not just about brute strength and force, it uses skill, so it's also suitable for women."

On this evening, there are about 25 students training at the Yip Man Martial Arts Athletic Association.

It's run by Sifu Sam Lau, a former apprentice of Yip Man, who was a Grandmaster of the Wing Chun style of Kung Fu.

SAM LAU, CHAIRMAN YIP MAN MARTIAL ARTS ATHLETIC ASSOC. "I think it's the best technique in fighting."

Sifu Lau's taught Wing Chun for nearly half a decade. This dojo's been open for about 25 years. He says it was especially successful following the release of the Ip Man biopic, featuring action star Donnie Yen.

SAM LAU, CHAIRMAN YIP MAN MARTIAL ARTS ATHLETIC ASSOC. "At that time I had 120 students per night, it was jammed here, jammed there, jammed everywhere, every night."

PATRICK FOK HONG KONG "Hong Kong's long-had an association with Kung Fu, and Wing Chun in particular, because of Bruce Lee, who popularized Kung Fu culture all over the world throughout the 60s and 70s with his movies."

Often regarded as Hong Kong's most famous son, his statue takes pride of place here on the tourist attraction, Avenue of Stars currently undergoing a facelift. But in recent years Kung Fu's faced stiff competition from other disciplines like kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Its reputation's taken a beating also because of phoney kung fu masters.

A Chinese MMA fighter made headlines recently declaring his intention to expose kung fu fakery, and for pummeling a practitioner who claimed to have mystical powers.

SAM LAU, CHAIRMAN YIP MAN MARTIAL ARTS ATHLETIC ASSOC. "They use the name of Wing Chun and go to fight with people and they teach and of course they lose, they damage the name of Wing Chun."

But it's unlikely to deter followers at the Yip Man Association who see Kung Fu as a tradition worth preserving. And it falls on the shoulders of enthusiasts like them to pass on the practice in future.

Patrick Fok, CGTN, Hong Kong.