History of Jun Mo

Master Joseph Man: Early life

Born on the 2nd April 1953, Joseph Man spent his early years in his ancestral home, a village called San-tin in the New-Territory of Hong Kong. He lived with his mother, father, aunts, uncles and grand-parents who were skilled in the art of Chinese music, opera and costume making.

It was in 1960 in Hong Kong, after his parents immigrated to England that Joseph Man joined his elder sister Angela Man and started stage performing art training under a Chinese Opera teacher called Ms Wong Chin-Ai. He joined with travelling opera stage performances at the age of 9 years old and two years later with his sister arrived in England in 1964 to be reunited with their family in London.

Joseph Meets Master Lee Shing

To continue in his Chinese language and culture arts studies in the year of 1965, at the age of twelve years old his brother Ray Man (The Chair-man of Chinese Traditional Music Association) introduced him to Master Lee Shing, who was a Martial Art Teacher of the Wing Chun style at the London Chinese Association at Soho.

From there his Wing Chun martial art journey began.

Lineage

In the Summer of 1978 Jun Mo (meaning Martial Arts Promotion) was established and named by Master Lee Shing, and Chair by Sifu Joseph Man, for the purpose of promoting Chinese arts and culture.

Jun Mo was launched in Chalk Farm, London which was supported by his martial arts brothers Kenny Chan, Brian Lau, John Ho and Joseph Cheng as well as by his family and other Cultural artists.

In 1981 the Yip Man Wing Chun Association’s Chairman: Grandmaster Yip Chun along with Grandmaster Shing Lee awarded the Chinese literature scrolls to Master Joseph Man for the Jun Mo Wing Chun Martial Arts association and Risen Arts Cultural Arts association in London China Town. The scrolls were written by Grandmaster Yip Chun himself.

In 1985, consulted by Master Joseph Man, performing artists and Culture practitioners got together to form a new arts and culture association. The committee members included Master Joseph Man’s brother Ray Man, his sister Angela Man, Gransmaster Lee Shing, Master Joseph Cheng, the representatives of Chinese opera, lion dancers, Martial artists and other artists, in order to promote workshops all over England supported by the association.

In 1987 Grandmaster Lee Shing and his family immigrated to Canada but still kept in touch and visited his friends and students in London to continue to advise and promote in the formation of the arts and culture association every year.

Sadly Grandmaster Lee Shing passed away in 1991 in Canada aged 68. Being one of his eldest students and representative, Master Joseph Man and his Kung Fu brothers organised a ceremony in honour to the late Grandmaster and informed his friends and devoted students of Lee Shing root of Wing Chun style in England.

In 1992 the arts and culture association received charity status and was launched as the Anglo-Chinese Arts Council (ACAC). Master Joseph Man was elected as the stage production manager overlooking 250 Chinese artists to present their performances and demonstrated to a large audience at the Queen’s Theatre in London.

A fusion showcase for a private opening and New Years 2000 celebration on the evening of 31 December 1999 the Millennium Experience at the Dome Docklands was then open to the public. The Queen and the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, were among a crowd of 10,000 people to enjoy a spectacular show of music and dance at the Dome. Live Show New Year’s Eve 2000 Extravaganza at the Millennium Dome. Performed to HRH Queen Elisabeth and Prime Minister Tony Blair. There was 1000 performers of aerialists, carnival artists, dancers and musicians for this New Millennium Experience project. Jun Mo who having been a known carnival org was invited to participate with 50 Flag bearers and a unique design produced to fit the theme designed by Sindy Man. JM performed the first form, and flag formations.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, June 4, 2002
The Golden Jubilee gathering, Prince Charles; Prince Harry; Prince William; Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Prince Edward; Peter Phillips; the Queen; Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Princess Anne; Vice Admiral Tim Laurence; Prince Andrew; Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice was present.
On the day, the Queen, 76, and the Duke of Edinburgh rode in the magnificent Gold State Coach from Buckingham Palace to St Paul’s Cathedral for a thanksgiving service. Later they watched as six colourful parades filled The Mall outside Buckingham Palace and ended inside the gates. Jun Mo was one of the well established organisations to participate in this parade with 50 flag bearers in royal blue uniforms and black & red uniforms too. Jun Mo awaits inside the palace gate for the unprecedented low-level flypast by 27 aircraft – RAF jets with the Red Arrows and Concorde in formation – signalled the climax of the final day of the Golden Jubilee with the Royal family on the palace balcony.

The Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s biggest street festival, with a two million or so attendees, Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest street festival representing London’s multicultural communities. The celebration includes static sound systems, floats, steel bands and masquerades. Each year, costume designer Sindy Man creates an idea for the organisation costume theme for the year. It was the lunar year of the monkey 2004. The costume theme of the year was based on the Chinese ‘Mythical Gods’ from ‘The adventure of the Monkey’ (Chuy Sai Ging) consist of character such as the Monkey king, Sea Goddess, Kuan Yin (The Goddess of Mercy) and the Spider Queen. With much joy and excitement, the children category won a total of four first prizes in King, Queen, Female individual costume and the Best Band presentation. Not only did they win the award at Notting Hill Grand Costume Carnival Splash, they also won first place in traditional category and also picked up two more awards in 2nd and 3rd place at Notting Hill Carnival on the Road Best Children Band and Presentations. With much happiness as the only Chinese costume band to have scooped all 7 prizes in one year, we would like to inform and share our success with all.

London China Town Chinese New Year ‘Year of the Dog’, Celebrating includes a parade lead by Jun Mo Generations towards the Trafalgar Square Main stage where they then performed The winning number for The Notting hill Grand Carnival Splash show followed by Wing Chun demonstrations and displays, finished off with a song, dance and percussions wishing all the happy Chinese new year.

Junmo was invited to celebrate and perform for the olympic handover to represent Hackney borough fully support by the hackney cultural arts sections and the mayor of hackney jules pipe. Junmo performed the flag formation and followed with a Wing Chun martial art presentation.

This marks the moment London becomes the official host city for 2012 Paralympic Games, with Hackney hosting one third of the olympic site, Mayor Jules pipe and former Giles Long was present. Jun Mo was invited to perform and display the flag formations and perform Jun Mo Wing Chun martial arts ending with a special Olympic ring presentation.

On the 27th January 2016 Jun Mo Generations voluntary group was at the LCCA Chinese New Year Celebration (CNY) 2016 PRESS Launch at the National Gallery in Central London. We had two photo calls in the morning and the main press conference with other volunteers who were going to be involved at the CNY celebration event on the 14th February 2016 which included the Jun Mo flag troupe parading through London china town celebrating the year of the Monkey followed by a Wing Chun demo and presentation.

Organised by The London Chinatown Chinese Association ( LCCA), martial arts cultural practitioners and community groups lit up Chinatown with colourful performances. The daughters of Grandmaster Joseph Man received the tribute respects ceremony in London china Town on New Year day which was performed by the many Dragon and Lion dance troupes based in England, the dance troupes consist of martial artists and traditional cultural artists. The tribute concluded with a 3 bow ceremony in respects to Grandmaster Joseph Man who has been honoured for his life commitment and dedication to support the celebrations and Chinese cultural arts in UK. The Tribute marks a special occasion due to the long history Grandmaster Lee Shing and Grandmaster Joseph Man has given to mark the existence of Wing Chun and the Chinese cultural arts in London Chinatown

The Family stage in china Town Chinese New Year was lead and managed by Jun Mo Man sisters to deliver a programme to celebrate the CNY 2017 year of the Rooster. In tribute to the late Master Joseph Man, over 300 artist (performers) came together to celebrate as a tribute. The celebrations started with a parade going down Shaftesbury Avenue to Trafalgar Square. Multicultural diverse organisations from many art forms presented and performed to celebration together in unity for the CNY. A special Tribute JM Wing Chun 1st form presentation was performed to start off the stage programme.

On 25th June 2017, Jun Mo took part in the Dragon boat race at the Dockland Dragon boat festival Sponsored by Hong Kong Executive Club, JM New York and Nuffield Health club, The team achieved 4th place in the charity group, which was quite an achievement as the other charity teams had a lot more experience.