Wilson Yip directs this action drama based on the young adulthood of renowned martial arts teacher Ip Man, purveyor of the art of Wing Chun to students including film star Bruce Lee. Set in 1930s Foshan, a Chinese town famed for its many martial arts schools, the film tells the story of Ip (Donnie Yen)'s growing reputation as a Wing Chun master against the backdrop of the Japanese invasion that robs him of his personal wealth and status.