Introduction:

In the 1930s, Foshan thrives as the hub of Chinese martial arts, with various sects actively recruiting disciples and competing against each other to prove their strengths. Well known throughout Foshan for his martial arts skills is Ip Man, who is an expert in Wing Chun. While Ip Man is an accomplished martial artist, he is unassuming and keeps a low profile. At the same time he doesn’t run any martial arts school, nor accept students. He only stays at home, quietly sparring with his compatriots in friendly competitions, swapping pointers with each other.

One day, Ip Man (Donnie Yen) is challenged by Master Liao (Chen Zhi Hui) in a closed match that ends with Master Liao losing. Sha Da Yuan (Wong You-Nam), who witnessed the entire fight while retrieving his kite from a tree, tells everyone about Master Liao’s loss. Seeing it as a public humiliation, Master Liao gets into a dispute with Sha at the teahouse, forcing the local officer Inspector Li Zhao (Lam Ka-Tung) to intervene. Li scolds them for starting a commotion and mocks them by stating that in the new era, duels are meant to be fought with guns not fists. Ip Man proves him wrong by forcing the cylinder of his gun out with a single finger, calming things down.

The next day, a martial artist from out of town named Jin Shan Zhao (Fan Siu-Wong) starts going around challenging various martial arts schools in Foshan and beating them all in the process. The teahouse owner, Zealot Lin (Xing Yu), who is also a martial arts practitioner, informs Ip Man of the situation. However, Ip Man isn’t able to help due to his wife, Wing Cheng’s (Lynn Hung), disapproval and dislike of her husband fighting. Jin eventually makes his way to Ip Man’s residence and arrogantly challenges Ip Man. Ip Man dispenses Jin with ease, causing Jin to leave in shame. Following this incident, the people of Foshan’s respect and admiration for Ip Man increase.