Grandmaster Wei YuanFeng was born in 1906 in Jing County of Hebei province, China, the cradle of martial arts masters. During his childhood, his grandfather and granduncle, Grandmaster Ye FengTing and Grandmaster Ye FengQi (the famous master of Shanghai Chin Woo) taught him Chinese boxing. After more than 10 years of training under his grandfather and granduncle, Master Wei YuanFeng made rapid progress in Chinese martial arts. In 1922, he was acclaimed as a master by Shanghai Chin Woo.
During the early 1920s, Shanghai Chin Woo Athletic Association was selecting excellent masters from all of the Chin Woo schools to send them throughout China and other Southeast Asian countries to spread Chinese martial arts. While in Singapore, they participated in the fundraising event for the South China Floods. The fundraising committee comprising of Huang ZhaoGui, Li TieChen, Mai ZhongYao, Lin Wen Qing, Lin YiShun, Lin TuiQian, Gan QingSi, Eu TongSen, Wu Huang etc, decided to establish Singapore Chin Woo Athletic Association, modelled after the spirit and ideals of Shanghai Chin Woo Athletic Association. Two nights of fundraising performance were held on 7th and 8th September 2001 at the Hua Ying Theatre. This is the first time that the Chin Woo Athletic Association performed in Singapore. The audience was spellbound and full of admiration for the performers’ level of skills. These type of performances were brought to other Southeast Asian cities, thereby motivating the Chinese community leaders to set up Chin Woo Athletic Association.
Grandmaster Wei travelled to Malaysia in 1924 to help spread Chin Woo. He taught in Kampar, Ipoh, Taiping, and Melacca with his uncles, Grandmaster Ye ShuTian and Grandmaster Ye ShuXiang. Master Wei felt he was no match compared to his two uncles, in both teaching experience and kungfu, so he decided to pursue further training under his uncles. He taught classes and trained during the time and after several years, his kungfu was at its peak.
In 1936, the Singapore Martial Arts Association held a grand scale Wushu performance at the Great World Amusement Park and invited Master Wei to perform with them. Master Wei demonstrated his remarkable skills and Singapore Chin Woo asked him to take a position there.
For forty years, Master Wei was a notable instructor for organisations, schools, communities, and associations. He also founded the Nanyang Chinese Association, Zhonghua School, and many other organisations. In 1957, under his teachings, fifty martial arts masters were brought together. In 1958, Singapore Chin Woo Athletic Association appointed him as head instructor and in 1967, the Singapore Martial Arts Association elected him as their chairman.
Master Wei contributed greatly to the Chinese martial arts in Singapore and Malaysia. He is highly regarded by many people for his great achievements and admired for his spirit in serving the people and promoting the martial arts.