Authentic Wing Chun is important for a few reasons:

1. The Well-Being of the Student

While no martial art or self-defense course is 100% effective all of the time, it is vitally important that a student is taught Ip Man Wing Chun by a teacher who who has had authentic training from a reputable Sifu.  Wing Chun should hold up as an effective means of self-defense and even in hand to hand combat situations, once skill is achieved by the student.  If the lineage and Wing Chun is in tact and has been trained with realistic force over time, then a student will have skill and raised their chances of surviving a dangerous encounter.  The safety of a potential student is important – a false sense of security benefits no one. 

2. The Preservation of Wing Chun

A Wing Chun lineage is like a family tree – the concern as the art gets passed down to future generations is that it will not remain intact. The survival of any skill can only be preserved through keeping an honest and ethical passing of the torch from teacher to student.   Documentation helps keep the art of Wing Chun preserved, as well as the culture it comes from.    Preserving Wing Chun culture is not dependent on birth status, but on the knowledge gained through proper teaching, through deep contemplation, and through proper respect.