For those familiar with the ongoing politics within the Leung Ting universe, recent events have likely not gone unnoticed. Following the untimely death of EWTO founder Sifu Keith R. Kernspecht, Sifu Leung Ting has predictably—and regrettably—unveiled yet another ill-conceived plan to assert his authority in Western Europe, particularly in Germany. On a side note, if you are unfamiliar with the contentious history between Leung Ting and his largest representative, the EWTO, this post may not be for you.
I frequently receive inquiries on social media seeking my perspective on these developments, which has prompted me to write this blog post. If there is sufficient interest, I may consider creating additional posts to delve deeper into this peculiar history. My video titled “My Thoughts on the Wing Tsun Political Chaos on Facebook” may also help fill in some gaps. Ideally, we can all move on from these outdated politics and focus on the more rewarding pursuit of practicing Wing Tsun. However, I feel compelled to share a few observations.
The adage “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” aptly describes the current situation surrounding Leung Ting Wing Tsun in Europe. Sifu Leung Ting has often exhibited erratic behavior regarding his most successful branch, the EWTO. This behavior can perhaps be traced back to the saying, “never outshine the master.” If the EWTO made any misstep, it was in achieving greater success than the branches directly under Sifu Leung Ting’s control.
Not only did the EWTO surpass anything Sifu Leung Ting had ever accomplished, but they also began to operate independently since 2008. During Sifu Kernspecht's lifetime, Leung Ting frequently complained about the “ills” of the EWTO to his students, myself included. While he could publicly boast about their success—as if it were purely his own—he privately expressed disdain for their existence.
The financial support he received monthly from the EWTO kept him silent publicly—until Sifu Kernspecht's passing. To claim that Sifu Leung Ting is a man of principle in his business dealings would trivialize the very concept of principle. He never threatened to sever ties with the EWTO, as the financial rewards were simply too lucrative to forgo. His Hungarian yes-man echoes the same sentiments, yet even this burly bearded man lacked the courage to voice them publicly until after Sifu Kernspecht's death.
This context illustrates that the current turmoil is not simply a reaction to recent events; it is a continuation of a long-standing pattern of behavior. Sifu Leung Ting's actions seem driven by a deep-seated need to assert dominance over a branch that has consistently outperformed him, rather than a genuine concern for the integrity of the Wing Tsun system. The uncomfortable truth is that Sifu Leung Ting has lost numerous branches over the past 14 years, leaving him desperate to cling to whatever he can salvage. His once-mighty empire has diminished, and rather than enjoying a well-deserved retirement, he finds himself teaching bong sau for cash at this stage in his life.
In 2001, Sifu Leung Ting assumed direct control of the U.S. Wing Tsun scene following Sifu Emin Boztepe's resignation as head of the AWTO. This presented a tremendous opportunity for many North American instructors, myself included, as it meant that our training would continue under the direct guidance of Wing Tsun’s grandmaster. However, I soon realized that this came with a cost: navigating the unpredictable politics arising from Sifu Leung Ting’s ever-changing moods and attitudes regarding the management of the association. Admittedly, smaller schools with few students were largely unaffected by these issues—spoiler alert: many of the schools in the North American section were quite small.
In the years that followed, Sifu Leung Ting effectively undermined what could have been a promising revival of his North American association. Instead of promoting and supporting the few who ran large, successful schools, he surrounded himself with “yes-men”—individuals who simply agreed with him, regardless of how misguided his ideas were. Those who voiced differing opinions on promoting Wing Tsun were sidelined in favor of those who uncritically endorsed his views.
It’s important to highlight that the “yes-men” who aligned themselves with Sifu Leung Ting often had little to no success as Wing Tsun instructors. In contrast, the more successful instructors understood how to effectively promote the art in North America and offered him valuable insights. For instance, while we attempted to convince Sifu Leung Ting of the importance of establishing a social media presence, he insisted that we rely on classified ads in newspapers to grow our schools—after all, this approach had worked for him in the 1970s.
The consequences of this approach became evident between 2011 and 2014, just a decade after Sifu Leung Ting "took over" the U.S. Many instructors and schools began to exit the North American section, with many of the departing institutions being some of the most successful and professionally managed. If only one or two schools had left, it could have been dismissed as a matter of statistics or personal conflicts. However, when most of the largest schools exit within a short timeframe, the issue clearly extends beyond mere coincidence. This is something Leung Ting and his associates will likely never understand, let alone admit. It’s always someone else's fault—some “meddler” or “conspirator”—and never their own.
With the departure of these prominent schools, Sifu Leung Ting was left with his self-described “country boys,” whom he characterized as “simple, but loyal.” Many instructors possess emails in which he refers to his followers as “loyal idiots.” This characterization reveals much about his attitude toward those who claim to follow him devotedly. Ultimately, this pattern of behavior highlights a fundamental disconnect between Sifu Leung Ting and those who have worked hard for him. It has hindered the growth and success of the art in North America and, in recent years, even in Sifu Leung Ting's own backyard of Hong Kong. In fact, any mention of his name in Hong Kong often elicits ill-concealed laughter or unflattering stories.
A similar situation is now unfolding in Europe. Sifu Leung Ting is mobilizing his “yes-men” to become new representatives for him. The problem is that his “brand” is 40 years out of touch with current trends in martial arts. Uploading videos of groups of Hungarians chanting “Leung Ting! Leung Ting!” in 2025 comes off as painfully cringeworthy. This absurdity is compounded by the fact that a Hungarian student told me they were forced by their local leader to practice this chant the day before. Are we in the business of teaching Wing Tsun, or simply showcasing public displays of adoration for the “dear leader”? Will videos of this nature convert former rebels, WSL students, or MMA practitioners to flock to "official Leung Ting gyms"?
Such high-control groups have no place in a consumer market where potential students have enough information to make informed decisions about where to train. The tough-guy photos of the Hungarian leader “beating up” his willing assistants evoke more of a parody than a serious representation of martial arts in 2025. It is evident that they are not seeking intelligent, cosmopolitan individuals to join their schools; rather, they are looking for the next generation of “loyal idiots.”
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