Wing Chun as a proven, explainable, and demonstrable system. No belts. No mysticism. No filler — only technique that works.
Wing Chun is a Southern Chinese martial art designed to train the practitioner to be as efficient as possible in any combative situation. Made famous by Dr. Leung Jan (1826–1901), and brought to global renown by Ip Man, Wong Shun Leung, and Bruce Lee.
Our mission is to provide a gold standard in the objective and fact-based learning methods of Wong Shun Leung's Science of Wing Chun to international audiences of the 21st Century.
At our studios in Oakville and Hamilton, every technique taught must be provable, attainable, and demonstrable. Progress is measured by competence, not by rank.
Our studio is the proud home of the Philipp Bayer Ving Tsun Kung Fu Association International — Canada. Master Wong Shun Leung was Ip Man's premiere student, renowned for his career in illegal Hong Kong rooftop challenge matches in the 1950s–60s, and the primary instructor of Bruce Lee. His student Philipp Bayer has continued this mission, bringing Scientific Wing Chun outside of Asia. We carry that same standard forward here in Canada.
Erik Pothast is an Authorized Instructor in Wing Chun Kung Fu under the Ving Tsun Kung Fu Association Americas and the 21st Century Scientific Wing Chun Initiative, and a fully certified instructor in Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do under Sifu Lamar Davis II. He has been teaching Wing Chun since 2019, bringing a clear-eyed, no-nonsense approach to one of Southern China's most storied martial arts.
Erik trains within the lineage of Ip Man → Wong Shun Leung → Philipp Bayer, and has had the privilege of training directly with Philipp Bayer, Kevin Gledhill, and Brian Kwong. He continues his development under Brian Kwong as part of the 21st Century Scientific Wing Chun Initiative — a program dedicated to delivering Wing Chun as a proven, explainable, and demonstrable system rooted in the science of combat.
At 21st Century Wing Chun Studio, Erik teaches students aged 16 and up in an environment that is serious about skill, but equally serious about community. There are no belts, no mysticism, and no filler — progress is measured by competence, and every technique taught must be provable, attainable, and demonstrable.
"The studio is a place where students push each other to improve, build genuine friendships, and have fun doing it. If you're looking for a martial art that respects tradition while demanding real results, you're in the right place."
Ready to step on the mat? Your first class is free. No experience necessary — we train students 16 and up at both our Oakville and Hamilton studios.