There are different theories out there depending who you ask and what lineage you are from. The story passed down from the Ip Man lineage is that a Nun named Ng Mui created Wing Chun from Snake and Crane Kung-Fu to teach Yim Wing Chun, a girl who was being threatened by a man to be forced into marriage who successfully stopped that man using the Wing Chun Kung-fu she was taught. Wing Chun was designed to be learned quickly with the most effective moves and allow a smaller fighter to defeat a larger opponent. As Wing Chun is passed down from generation to generation, the long pole/dragon pole was added later, possibly by the Red Boat Opera who spread Wing Chun as well.
