Upon presenting himself to ask for her hand in marriage, Wong was flatly rejected by both Yim Wing Chun and her father, so he plotted to take her by force. In a short period of time Ng Mui was able to teach Yim Wing Chun to defend herself. When Wong returned with his men, a confrontation ensued during which Wong was seriously injured by Yim Wing Chun.

Yim Wing Chun continued to study under Ng Mui, and later married Leung Bok Chau. During the years to come, she used the principles of the style that she had learned from Ng Mui and commenced to improve and simplify the art. After refining the art significantly, Yim Wing Chun began to teach it to her husband. Leung Bok Chau was already rather adept in other styles of the martial arts. Impressed by Yim Wing Chun's knowledge and ability, he studied her style diligently and learned it quickly. Thus, although Ng Mui founded the art, it bears Yim Wing Chun's name owing to her improvements.

Leung Bok Chau taught the style to his uncle Leung Lan Qui. Leung Lan Qui started Wong Wah Bo and Leung Ye Tai in their Wing Chun instruction, but it was Leung Bok Chau who was their primary teacher. Wong Wah Bo worked on the Red Boat, the Chinese Opera. He was an oarsman for the Boat and did other labors. He was very muscular. Throughout the generations from Leung Bok Chau to Wong Wah Bo, the Wing Chun system was getting harder and tighter. Leung Ye Tai was also a Chinese Opera member. Leung Ye Tai was a male actor who played female roles in the Opera. His Wing Chun was softer. It is also during the so-called "Red Boat Years" that weapons came into the system. Wong Wah Bo taught Leung Ye Tai the Lok Dim Bun Guan (the six-and-a-half point pole), and Leung Ye Tai taught the Bak Jaam Do (the butterfly knives) to Wong Wah Bo. Leung Jon was an herbal doctor. He was taught by both Wong Wah Bo and Leung Ye Tai. Leung Jon was able to put the hard and soft elements back together. Leung Jon's pupil, Chan Wa Soon, was unable to incorporate the soft elements and made the system hard again.