Why is our lineage so important?
To this day the most advanced concepts of the Ving Tsun System are closely held family secrets and are only taught to the most dedicated of disciples.
Arguably, Moy Yat was the closest and most dedicated disciple of Yip Man’s.
Though initially, Thornton Williams was introduced to the system by, Brian Carruthers. Shortly after Brian Carruthers’ retirement, it was in 1989, that Thornton Williams began traveling to New York and training under Grandmaster Moy Yat. He went up there, multiple times a year, for around 10 years.
In 1996 Thornton Williams traveled to New York, and became grand indoor to Grandmaster Moy Yat. Thornton stayed at Grandmaster Moy Yat’s house on that trip, as he had done on many other trips. That night, Thornton and Grandmaster Moy Yat returned to his house, around two in the morning, and Grandmaster Moy Yat carved his chop and gave Thornton Williams his Kung Fu name, Moy Don.
For some reason, Grandmaster Moy Yat decided to treat Thornton Williams like a direct student, resulting in his exposure to the highest concepts and principles of the Ving Tsun system from Grandmaster Moy Yat’s perspective and the perspective of the students in New York and the northern region. Multiple times a year, Thornton Williams would go to New York and spend full days and nights with Grandmaster Moy Yat. Grandmaster Moy Yat called it Kung Fu life. During these trips, Thornton Williams received a much more in depth understanding of the Ving Tsun system.
I have taken on only three mentors in my life. One was my genius, oldest brother who in many ways helped raise me like a son. My Sifu, Matthew Balducci who was there to guide me through my young adult life and after his passing, the mentor of my mentor became my mentor, my Si Gung Thornton Williams.
On a personal level, I will not discuss our relationship other than to say this; I never knew my biological grandparents. They had passed before I was born or I was too young to remember. Thornton Williams has more than filled that void in my life. He was there for me and my family during some of our most challenging times. He is family to me as much as any of my biological family is. I could never repay him for the knowledge he’s imparted, his generosity and his genuine kindness.
The knowledge passed down to just a very select few of us has been because of an unbroken chain of sacrifice and dedication from; Yip Man to Moy Yat, from Moy Yat to Thornton Williams (Moy Don), from Thornton Williams to Matthew Balducci (Moy Don Xin), from Matthew Balducci to Ariel Lugo and then from Thornton Williams to Ariel Lugo (Moy Don Xin Meng).
~Ariel
Ving Tsun Kung Fu dates back to the 1600’s, during the Qing Dynasty. We have put together a timeline of our modern lineage, that begins with Yip Man in the early 1900’s.
Yip Man
1900’s
Yip Man (Yip Kai-Man) was born in the town of Fut Shan in southern China. Because his parents were wealthy, he was fortunate enough to study Ving Tsun Kung Fu under the tutelage of the venerable Chan Wah-Shuen (nicknamed Jow Chin Wah) He was also an educated man: not only was he well versed in Chinese literature, he studied the English language.
He headed the Ving Tsun Kung Fu system for over two decades, from 1949 until his death in 1972. He was the foremost proponent of the science and art of Ving Tsun Kung Fu. Under his leadership and guidance, Ving Tsun became the most popular style of Kung Fu in Hong Kong and the most sought after style wherever martial arts are studied.
Yip Man was respected not only by his disciples and students, but by the leading martial artists of other styles and systems as well.
Moy Yat
1957
Moy Yat (Moy Yit-Kai) was born in Toi Shan, in the province of Canton. In 1953 his family moved to Hong Kong where he had the good fortune to study Ving Tsun Kung Fu under Yip Man. He was a very close follower of the venerable teacher, being a frequent companion as well as a dedicated student. At twenty-four, Moy Yat became the youngest Ving Tsun sifu.
Today he is very well respected. His students number in the thousands and a good many of the well known Ving Tsun sifus were once his students. However, Kung Fu hasn’t been Moy Yat’s only preoccupation. He has also been a student of the fine arts. Aside from being a calligrapher and excellent painter, he is a sealmaker extraordinaire. He and his family immigrated to the United States in 1973, where he joined his brother Yit – Dean Moy in New York. Since then he has started several schools in the New York area where American Kung Fu enthusiasts are able to study the fine art of Ving Tsun.
Thornton Williams
1983
In 1996, Thornton Williams traveled to New York and became grand indoor to Grandmaster Moy Yat. Thornton stayed at Grandmaster Moy Yat’s house on that trip, as he had done on many other trips. That night, Thornton and Grandmaster Moy Yat returned to his house, around two in the morning, and Grandmaster Moy Yat carved his chop and gave Thornton his Kung Fu name, Moy Don.
Matthew Balducci
1994
Matthew Balducci was a loyal and dedicated disciple of Thornton Williams and Thornton Williams was loyal to him. They shared a mutual respect for one another. Matthew Balducci was so committed to his instructor and the way of Kung Fu that he had formed a transcendental relationship with his Sifu. Thornton Williams accepted Matthew Balducci as a Special Indoor Student in 1994. Matthew Balducci completed the entire Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu System. His passing in 2017 weighed heavily on the hearts of so many of those who knew and loved him.
Ariel Lugo
1996
Ariel started his training with Matthew Balducci in 1996 where as a loyal disciple he trained diligently for many years. Matthew Balducci had to leave Tampa to take care of his ailing mother. Ariel continued to train and study what he had learned from his Sifu. When they reunited, Matthew Balducci accepted Ariel Lugo as his Indoor Special Student. Sadly Matthew Balducci passed away in September of 2017. May he rest in peace.
Ariel Lugo
2017
After the passing of Matthew Balducci, Thornton Williams accepted Ariel Lugo as a Grand Indoor Special Student. Ariel Lugo dedicated himself to learning the entire Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu System from his Si Gung, Thornton Williams.
This was a natural transition made easily by how close the relationship was between, Matthew Balducci and Thornton Williams.
Under the explicit instruction from, Si Ti Gung Thornton Williams, Ariel Lugo completed the entire Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu System on June 5th 2019. Ariel Lugo is still a loyal disciple and like his Sifu before him, has also developed a meaningful relationship with his Si Gung Thornton Williams.