Sifu Phillip Redmond
菲利普雷德蒙師傅

Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu

About Sifu Redmond

Master Phillip Redmond’s martial arts journey began during his service in the United States Marine Corps, where he completed two tours in Vietnam. After his first tour, he was stationed in Okinawa, where he studied Shorin-Ryu (Okinawan karate) under Eizo Shimabukuro. Following four years of duty, Master Redmond was honorably discharged in 1970 and relocated to New York City.

In NYC, he began training in Fu Jow Pai (Tiger Claw) under Grandmaster Wai Hong, and was introduced to Wing Chun that same year. He went on to train under Sifu Duncan Leung, and after Leung relocated to Virginia, continued his Wing Chun studies under a succession of prominent instructors in NYC’s Chinatown, including Sifu Lee Moy Shan, Sifu Alan Lamb, Sifu Henry Leung, and Sifu Moy Yat.

In 1983, Master Redmond traveled to Los Angeles for a two-week seminar with Grandmaster William Cheung. The experience was transformative: he recognized that what he had previously learned was a fraction of what Grandmaster Cheung’s system offered. He relinquished his instructor standing in his prior Wing Chun lineage and began again as a beginner under Grandmaster Cheung. He earned his Sifu rank in 1991 and his Provisional Master rank in 1994. Master Redmond has since been named to Grandmaster Cheung’s Honor List — awarded to those who have served the World Wing Chun Kung Fu Association with dedication, respect, and self-sacrifice for a minimum of ten years.

Experience & Credentials

Lineage & Training

Master Redmond’s Wing Chun lineage traces directly to Grandmaster William Cheung (張卓慶), who studied under the late Grandmaster Yip Man beginning in 1951 and served as a live-in student from 1954 to 1958, during which he inherited the complete Traditional Wing Chun system. Grandmaster Cheung is widely recognized as the person who introduced Bruce Lee to Wing Chun and has been honored with a Lifetime Tribute for Martial Arts by the Blitz Hall of Fame (1998).

Beyond Wing Chun, Master Redmond has trained extensively across multiple systems, including Hung Ga under Sifu Bill Chung, Baat Gua under Sifu Kenny Gong, Bak Mei, Seven-Star Praying Mantis, Juk Lum (Southern Mantis), and Vee-Jujitsu under Professor Florendo Visitacion. He holds a black belt in Aiki-Jitsu and Kobudo under Sensei Ronald Duncan, and trained in Aiki-Jujitsu under Sensei Robert “Sugar” Crosson. Master Redmond also speaks Cantonese, which has given him a distinctive depth of access to Chinese martial arts instruction and lineage holders.

Forms & Specialties

Teaching Philosophy

At Wing Chun Kwoon, instruction follows the Shaolin Temple principle that a practitioner must be not only a warrior but a scholar. Training encompasses the physical, intellectual, and philosophical dimensions of the art. The aim of Wing Chun, as Master Redmond teaches it, is to develop physical, mental, and spiritual awareness — elements that transcend the combative and point toward a higher quality of life.

Wing Chun is designed for efficiency and practicality in close-quarter combat, and can be practiced effectively at any age by both men and women. The system’s core principles — guarding the centerline, facing the point of contact, economy of movement, touch reflexes (Chi Sao), watching the leading elbow, linear striking action, avoiding force-against-force, and simultaneous use of both arms — form the foundation of every class.

Martial Arts Journey

Military Service & Okinawa (pre-1970): Completed two tours in Vietnam with the USMC. During a posting in Okinawa, began formal martial arts training in Shorin-Ryu under Eizo Shimabukuro. Honorably discharged in 1970.

New York City (1970–1989): Began training in Fu Jow Pai (Tiger Claw) under Grandmaster Wai Hong, then transitioned to Wing Chun. Trained under Sifu Duncan Leung, followed by Sifu Lee Moy Shan, Sifu Alan Lamb, Sifu Henry Leung, and Sifu Moy Yat. Pursued additional systems including Hung Ga, Baat Gua, Bak Mei, Seven-Star Praying Mantis, Juk Lum, Vee-Jujitsu, and Aiki-Jujitsu. Won his first full-contact bout after training with US kickboxing champion Yael Judah.

Grandmaster Cheung’s Lineage (1983–present): After attending a landmark seminar in Los Angeles in 1983, committed fully to Traditional Wing Chun under Grandmaster William Cheung. Earned Sifu rank in 1991, Provisional Master rank in 1994, and has since been named to Grandmaster Cheung’s Honor List.

New Haven / Yale University (1989–1995): Founded the Yale University Wing Chun Kung Fu Club in 1989. Hired by Yale University’s Physical Education Department to teach Wing Chun from 1990 to 1994.

Detroit (1995–2006): Established a Wing Chun school in Detroit. Upon relocating in 2006, left the school in the care of Provisional Master Carmelina Guiao.

Southern California (2006–present): Based at the North American headquarters in Southern California, continuing to teach and promote Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu through Wing Chun Kwoon (NYC/LA).

Achievements & Recognition

• Named to Grandmaster William Cheung’s Honor List for ten or more years of dedicated service to the World Wing Chun Kung Fu Association
• Founded the Yale University Wing Chun Kung Fu Club (1989); hired as instructor by Yale’s Physical Education Department (1990–1994)
• Black Belt in Aiki-Jitsu and Kobudo — Sensei Ronald Duncan
• Won first full-contact bout after training with US kickboxing champion Yael Judah

Training Information