Top 10 Best Ip Man Scenes

Top 10 Ip Man Moments

He truly is the Grandmaster. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 Ip Man Moments.

For this list, we’re looking at the moments from the first three “Ip Man” movies that were memorable for either their emotional resonance, sheer excitement, or both. We’ll be excluding other biopics about Ip Man, such as “The Grandmaster” and “The Legend is Born: Ip Man,” as well as the spinoff movie “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy”, since Ip Man himself doesn’t appear. Since we’ll be going into detail regarding the scenes in question, a spoiler warning is in order.

#10: Ip Man Meets Older Bruce Lee

“Ip Man 3” (2015)
The eponymous Wing Chun master had a plethora of students, but none so notable as future megastar Bruce Lee. Fans of the “Ip Man” series knew Lee would make an appearance sooner or later, and even got a tease at the end of “Ip Man 2.” It wasn’t until “Ip Man 3,” however, that we got a glimpse of Ip training a grown up Bruce Lee, played by actor Danny Chan. While Ip initially shows him the door outright, probably due to his cocky attitude, this knowing, tongue-in-cheek scene is a gleefully enjoyable one to start the film on. Its use of slow motion on Bruce kicking something as innocuous as flicked cigarettes exemplifies that the series can be as funny as it is gripping.

#9: Master Hung vs. Taylor “The Twister” Miller

“Ip Man 2” (2010)
If there’s one theme that persists throughout the “Ip Man” series, it’s that you have to defend your beliefs. Master Hung takes this to heart when British boxer Taylor “The Twister” Miller tries to turn Chinese martial arts into a laughing stock. Hung is more than willing to accept the challenge. However, in a literal East vs. West showdown of fighting styles, Hung is soon overpowered by the hulking Twister, whose ego only grows by the second. In a pure “Rocky IV” moment, Ip Man is prepared to throw in the towel on Hung’s behalf, only for Hung to insist the fight go on. And if you’ve seen the aforementioned movie, you know the heartbreaking and brutal moments that happen next . . .

#8: Ip Man vs. Cheung Fung

“Ip Man 3” (2015)
Throughout “Ip Man 3,” Cheung Tin-chi and Ip Man were always in quiet contention. That is until act three, when Cheung begins making moves to proclaim himself as the true master of Wing Chun - calling Ip’s methods into question. In the Battle for Wing Chun, Ip and Cheung hold an ostensibly private sparring match to settle the matter for good - using everything from six-and-a-half point poles and butterfly swords to their bare hands. At one point Ip is blinded and has to rely on only his hearing to dodge strikes, but he ultimately overcomes when he pulls out the fabled one-inch punch. Humbled, Cheung accepts defeat and rescinds his claim, but not before we got one hell of a duel.

#7: The Cotton Mill Fight

“Ip Man” (2008)
The Japanese invasion in 1937 devastated many communities, including in Ip Man’s hometown Foshan. When the factory workers at the Cotton Mill find themselves accosted by Northern Chinese martial arts master Jin Shanzhao and his desperate thugs, they turn to Ip Man for help. Helping them help themselves, Ip teaches them the ways of Wing Chun, and when the gang returns, they’re ready. While the workers never get the upper hand, they do hold their own long enough for Ip to arrive. From there, Ip Man confronts Jin. When Jin persists, Ip settles the matter the only way he can, with a really, really long bamboo pole.

#6: Ip Man vs. Frank

“Ip Man 3” (2015)
When it was announced legendary boxer Mike Tyson was joining the cast of “Ip Man 3,” we knew he had to be getting in on the action. Here he plays Frank, an American property developer trying to take the local school’s land by force, and a hulking badass to boot. When Ip Man confronts Frank in his office, Frank agrees to back down if he can hold his own for three minutes. Ip consents, a timer is set, and the two duke it out. Frank initially proves too powerful for Ip, but Ip does well to attack his lower half. As Frank is about to deliver what could be a knockout uppercut, the timer goes off, and both freeze, Frank true to his word. Phew.

#5: Ip Man vs. Jin Shanzhao

“Ip Man” (2008)
This one’s probably the funniest fight in the series. Jin Shanzhao has entered Ip Man’s home in an effort to prove his Northern fighting style is superior to Southern, but Ip has a lesson or two to teach. Jin comes out eager, breaking several of Ip’s household items and promising to pay for each. Upon hearing all the destruction, Ip’s son rolls in on a tricycle in an I-told-you-so moment, only irking Jin more. Jin tries to cheat by bringing a sword into the fight, to which Ip counters with a feather duster. Ip proceeds to beat him with it before giving him a little smack on the butt for good measure. You know what they say: the feather duster is mightier than the sword.

#4: Ip Man vs. The Three Masters

“Ip Man 2” (2010)
If you want to set the stage for some tense battles, you can’t do much better than a rickety tabletop surrounded by upturned stools. In order to legitimize himself as a Wing Chun teacher in Hong Kong, Ip Man must prove himself against the other local masters. He makes quick work of his first two opponents, tossing off the first and overwhelming the second. It’s when Master Hung hops up that he gets a real challenge, nearly getting knocked off himself. In such close quarters, however, it’s almost impossible for either one to get the upper hand, and the two are so evenly matched that the tabletop splits in two before a winner can be declared. Yeah, we say Ip Man’s in.

#3: Ip Man vs. General Miura

“Ip Man” (2008)
The people of Foshan needed something to cheer about when the Japanese took over, and boy did Ip Man give it to them. Going toe-to-toe with the Karate master General Miura in the city’s public square, Ip Man nearly falls off the platform twice early on, but relies on his balance to recover. The scene is tense, as the better Ip Man does, the closer Colonel Sato’s hand gets to his gun. However, the threat of death doesn’t stop him, as we get to see just how Ip Man’s training has prepared him for this moment. When he’s victorious, the crowd erupts in celebration - and then revolution when Ip Man is indeed shot. Fortunately, he pulls through, living to fight another day.

#2: Ip Man vs. 10 Black Belts

“Ip Man” (2008)
During the first half of “Ip Man, ” the Wing Chun master’s skills are often mythologized by the people of Foshan, though seldom seen. However after witnessing Master Liu being executed at General Miura’s dojo, and suspecting that another friend met the same fate. Ip Man is through being coy. He immediately demands to face ten karate black belts. After getting his wish, Ip Man does not hold back, breaking the leg of one and handily defeating all the others. He made a statement to not only General Miura, but to us as well, proving that he wasn’t to be trifled with.

Before we get to our top pick, here are some honorable mentions:

Ip Man vs. Hung Gar Gang
“Ip Man 2” (2010)

Ip Man vs. Master Liu
“Ip Man” (2008)

Master Liu Is Executed
“Ip Man” (2008)

Elevator Fight
“Ip Man 3” (2015)

Jin vs. Two Masters
“Ip Man” (2008)

#1: Ip Man vs. “The Twister”

“Ip Man 2” (2010)
Completing the “Rocky IV” parallel, Ip Man challenges “The Twister” in an attempt to avenge the fallen Master Hung. Though their fighting styles differ, their bout does not lack excitement. Twister’s strength initially proves too much, and when the judges ban Ip Man from kicking altogether, claiming it gives him an unfair advantage, he’s stripped of nearly half is arsenal. Digging deep, Ip Man adopts Master Hung’s fighting styles, going for Twister’s head to disorient and ultimately defeat him. Now with the platform to speak, Ip Man pleads that going forward, no matter the differences between Eastern and Western philosophies, that there be a mutual respect for one another. He is given a standing ovation for his words of wisdom.