In the 1930s, in Foshan, known as the capital of Chinese martial arts, the martial arts scene was thriving and various schools frequently engaged in collective duels to display their strength and attract more disciples. Yip Man (played by Donnie Yen) possessed great martial arts skills but remained humble and did not open a school to teach. Instead, he stayed at home, privately exchanging techniques and studying martial arts with his friends. A group of Northern martial artists led by Jinshan Zao (played by Shaun Tam), in order to make a name for themselves in Foshan, harshly defeated the masters of various local schools. To gain the recognition of Foshan's citizens, Jinshan Zao decided to challenge Yip Man, who kept himself away from worldly affairs, and spared no effort to force Yip Man into a fight. Encouraged by his wife Zhang Yongcheng (played by Dorothy Tang), Yip Man stepped up and defeated Jinshan Zao with proficient Wing Chun. After this battle, Foshan saw a fervent Wing Chun fever rising.