Great Grandmaster Leung Ting was the last “closed-door disciple” of the late Grandmaster Ip Man (Yip Man) and is the Golden Rank Founder of the International WingTsun™ Association. He systematized and modernized the system, creating a standard ranking system and teaching methodology as well as a standardized curriculum which has now been taught to approximately 1-2 million people in more than 60 countries.
For almost 40 years, he has taught the “Leung Ting WingTsun®” kung fu system and worked hard to establish his trademarks “WingTsun™” and “Wing Tsun™” as synonymous with him and with high quality martial arts instruction.
It is shocking to learn that some people have been using Great Grandmaster Leung Ting’s name, photos, uniforms (or deceptively similar ones), and in some cases even his trademarks* without his permission. The instructors of the International WingTsun Association – North American Section (IWTA-NAS) are extremely proud to be the only instructors authorized to teach the “Leung Ting WingTsun®” kung fu system in the USA and Canada. Please see this public statement from Great Grandmaster Leung Ting.
* TRADEMARK NOTES: Great Grandmaster Leung Ting has three registered trademarks through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): the phrase “Leung Ting WingTsun®” (Registration Number 3219330), the IWTA-NAS circular logo (Registration Number 3219319), and the IWTA circular logo (Registration Number 3243408). Their registration status may be verified through the USPTO at: https://www.uspto.gov/. For clarity, we use the common term “trademark,” as it is more widely understood than the term “service mark.” As noted by the USPTO, “The term ‘trademark’ is often used to refer to both trademarks and service marks.” Great Grandmaster Leung Ting also claims two common law trademarks in the USA (and most countries): “WingTsun™” and “Wing Tsun™.” In the USA and many countries, registration is not required to establish common law trademark rights. As explained by the USPTO, “Common law rights arise from actual use of a mark” and “you may use the ‘TM’ (trademark) or ‘SM’ (service mark) designation to alert the public to your claim of ownership of the mark…”
UPDATED DOMAIN NOTES: Please note that since Great Grandmaster Leung Ting’s statement was written in 2012, the primary domain name for the International WingTsun Association – North American Section (IWTA-NAS) has changed from wtdefense.com to leungtingwingtsun.com to make it clear that this site is an official representative of Great Grandmaster Leung Ting and his Leung Ting WingTsun® system. Most links to wtdefense.com now forward from the old domain to the current domain.