The Instructor
Sifu Robert Ley
Over two decades of dedicated study and teaching in the authentic Ip Man Ving Tsun system.
Biography
From a tender age, Sifu Ley immersed himself in various disciplines such as Silat, Kali, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kick Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, and boxing. However, it was his profound devotion to the art of Ip Man Ving Tsun that became the focal point of his remarkable journey.
Guided by the esteemed Roland Tong — a trusted student and close confidant of the legendary GGM Ip Man — Sifu Robert Ley has emerged as a fully qualified Ving Tsun/Wing Chun Instructor and the distinguished global representative for his Sifu. Having undergone the esteemed Bai-See Ceremony, Sifu Rob Ley stands as the sole student of Roland Tong to have comprehensively mastered the entire system.
In recognition of his exceptional mastery of Ip Man Wing Chun, Sifu Ley was bestowed with the prestigious title of Master of Ip Man Wing Chun by the World Martial Arts Council in 2014. He subsequently received the Master of the Year award in 2015 at the Munich Hall of Honors, and again at the Innsbruck Hall of Honors in 2016.
The year 2022 saw the Munich Hall of Honors bestow the distinguished 'Martial Arts Family of the Year' accolade upon the Rob Ley Academy. In 2023, at the World Hall of Honors in Atlantic City, USA, Sifu Rob Ley was honoured as the Ip Man Ving Tsun Master of the Year.
As Co-Founder of the International Ving Tsun/Jeet Kune Do Alliance alongside Sifu Lamar Davis, Sifu Robert Ley holds the position of Senior Instructor for the Ip Man Ving Tsun Division, sharing his knowledge with students and enthusiasts worldwide.
Direct Transmission
The Ving Tsun Lineage
In traditional Chinese martial arts, lineage is everything. It represents the unbroken chain of transmission from teacher to student, preserving both the technical knowledge and the spirit of the art. Sifu Robert Ley's lineage connects directly to Grandmaster Ip Man.
Ng Mui
Founder of Wing Chun
Shaolin nun, legendary creator of the system
Yim Wing Chun
First Student
The art was named in her honour
Leung Jan
Master of Foshan
Refined and systematised the art
Chan Wah Shun
Ip Man's First Teacher
Ip Man trained under Chan Wah Shun from a young age in Foshan
Leung Bik
Ip Man's Second Teacher
Son of Leung Jan; Ip Man continued his training under Leung Bik in Hong Kong, completing the system
Ip Man
Grandmaster
Brought Ving Tsun to Hong Kong; teacher of Bruce Lee and countless masters worldwide
Roland Tong
Sifu's Sifu — Direct Student of Ip Man
Trusted student and close confidant of GGM Ip Man; passed down the complete system to Sifu Robert Ley
Sifu Robert Ley
Rob Ley Academy
Sole student of Roland Tong to have completed the entire Ip Man Ving Tsun system; teaching in Penzance and with academies across the world
The Complete Family Tree
Teaching Philosophy
Structure Before Strength
The core principle of Ving Tsun — and of Sifu Rob Ley's teaching — is that correct structure always precedes the application of force. A student who understands how to align their body, how to use their skeletal structure, and how to remain relaxed under pressure will always outperform a student who relies on muscular strength alone.
This principle makes Ving Tsun uniquely accessible. It is a system that rewards intelligence and sensitivity over physical attributes. A smaller practitioner who understands the principles can genuinely overcome a larger, stronger opponent — not through tricks or luck, but through the application of sound biomechanical principles.
Sifu Rob Ley's classes focus on building this foundation methodically, ensuring that students develop genuine understanding rather than superficial technique. The goal is not to produce students who can perform forms, but students who can apply the principles of Ving Tsun in any situation.
Credentials
Qualifications & Awards
Martial Arts
Recognised and registered Ving Tsun Instructor — Ving Tsun Athletic Association, Hong Kong
Master of Ip Man Ving Tsun — World Wide Martial Arts Council (2014)
European Master of the Year — Munich Hall of Honors (2015 & 2016)
Outstanding Contribution to Ip Man Ving Tsun — European Hall of Honors (2022)
Martial Arts Family of the Year — Munich Hall of Honors (2022)
Ip Man Ving Tsun Master of the Year — World Hall of Honours, Atlantic City, USA (2023)
Worldwide Representative for Grandmaster Roland Tong
Co-Founder — International Ving Tsun/Jeet Kune Do Alliance
Senior Instructor, Ip Man Ving Tsun Division
Fitness
Level 2 Instructing Gym Based Exercise
Level 3 Personal Training
Level 3 Diploma in Exercise Referral (GP Referral) — covering Asthma and COPD, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Mechanical Back Pain, Anxiety, Stress and Depression, Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia, Obesity and Diabetes
Box Fit
Spinning
Circuits
Train with Sifu Rob Ley
Join one of our academies or attend an upcoming retreat or the Yearly Chi Sau Masterclass.