A master's gift to the world is his life. By seeing his life or at least by seeing the protrait of his life as painted in the stories of those who knew him, a Master's life becomes a sketch of a path to Mastery.

From stories shared by his son, this book paints a portrait of the famous Wing Chun Grand Master, Ip Man, providing a set of fifteen principles as a guide to mastery. While there are broad lessons to be learned from this portrait, the details must be savored. Many of the great figures of history are shrouded in the mists of aggrandizement, but here the details , the fine strokes of the portrait, have remained to show the humble seeker something about the life of a Master.

Each chapter provides a principle or set of principles to contemplate. You will be richly rewarded if you seek to discern the principles and the man who strove to embody them.

These stories and the principles drawn from them are commended to your for your benefit and learning and enjoyment. Let them guide you in your journey, but do not look for them to tell you every step. In this portarit are great teasures for the taking -but not simply for the asking.

'...Personal insight into the working mind, life-and-times of a man who took the Martial arts World by storm.'-Paul Clifton, editor, Combat Magazine

'Ron's authoritative research and numerous published article have made him a respected figure in the world of Wing Chun and martial arts. This loving tribute to a great master captures the warrior spirit and pays homage to an extraordinary martial legacy.'-Gigi Oh, Kungfu Qigong & Kungfumagazine.com

Contents

Introduction
Turmoil
The refiner's fire
The challenge
Perfect virtue
The unwelcomed necessity
Honorable character
What's in a name?
Finding the soul
Three dimensional teaching
Teacher and friend
The art of noncompetition
Natural understanding
The right measure
The steadfast master
IP Man's gift to the world
About the authors
Index