Top 10 Most Dangerous Ip Man Enemies

“Ip Man 2” (2010)
Let’s just say that Ip Man does not get the warmest of welcomes when he starts teaching Wing Chun in Hong Kong. When his pupil Wong gets accosted and kidnapped by Hung Ga students whilst trying to hang promotional flyers, Ip comes to the rescue at a local fish market. Naturally, another fight breaks out, which sees Ip and a still bound Wong take on scores of martial artists. It’s not just ths fact that the antagonists arm themselves with meat cleavers and other various utensils that makes us nervous, but simply their sheer numbers as they pop up from virtually everywhere. Fortunately before things get too hairy, backup arrives in the form of Jin Shanzhao, who we’ll talk about in a little bit.

“Ip Man 3” (2015)
Attacking Ip Man is one thing, but doing so in the vicinity of his wife is another. When all of property developer Frank’s schemes are thwarted by Ip Man, he enlists the help of a Thai boxer by the name of Suchart to take him out. Thinking Ip would be most vulnerable with his wife Wing-sing, Suchart attacks them in an elevator following an oncology appointment. What Suchart doesn’t know is Ip Man’s emotional state following his wife’s cancer diagnosis, and Ip is given full range to vent. Still, we do feel the threat Suchart poses to an already vulnerable Wing-sing, and she’s fortunate enough to have Ip there to keep her out of harm’s way by diverting the fight outside the elevator car.

“Ip Man” (2008)
The first antagonist in the series, Jin Shanzhao is the poster boy for egoism. He rides into Ip’s hometown of Foshan looking to prove his brand of Northern martial arts superior to Southern. He initially makes a name for himself by taking down two masters, but of course Ip’s there to give him a proper spanking. That’s not the last we hear from Jin, though, as the Japanese invasion makes beggars and looters out of many. Now leading a posse bigger than his initial one, he orchestrates recurring extortions of the cotton mill workers, to the point where Ip Man has to train them to fight back. Thankfully, he learns the error of his ways and becomes one of Ip’s strongest supporters in the sequel.

“Ip Man 3” (2015)
While local triad leader Ma King-sang doesn’t pose as great of a physical threat in dealing with Ip Man as the aforementioned Suchart, his resources and the lengths he goes to had us admittedly a little worried. He starts small by trying to coerce a headmaster into selling his school before attempting arson upon said school. When both efforts are thwarted by Ip Man and Cheung Tin-chi, he stoops so low as to have his goons kidnap Ip’s son and his classmates and threaten to sell them into slavery should the headmaster stand pat. Of course, Ip and Cheung arrive to save the day again, but we are left fuming to watch as Ma eludes his comeuppance by fleeing the scene.

“Ip Man 3” (2015)
While Ip and Cheung fight side-by-side on multiple occasions in “Ip Man 3,” it’s their climactic duel that really got our blood pumping. Most antagonists in the series are brash, polar opposites of Ip Man, but Cheung represents such a composed parallel, that he really had us questioning whether he could best our titular protagonist. After all, we’d already seen him take down a plethora of martial arts masters before challenging Ip to decide who is the best at Wing Chun. Indeed, for most of their subsequent bout, they appeared to be as equally matched as you can get. Of course, Ip finally gets the upper hand, but we can see why Cheung would eventually get his own spinoff movie, “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy.”

“Ip Man” (2008)
Surprisingly enough, Colonel Sato places so well on our list without even landing a single punch. General Miura’s right-hand man, Sato, bears nothing but contempt for the oppressed Chinese. Whereas Miura is more honorable and unruffled, Sato is quick-tempered and eager to administer punishment with his sidearm. He immediately earned our ire when he coldly executed Master Liu in Miura’s dojo, but it wasn’t until he brandished his gun whilst “playing” with Ip Man’s son did we comprehend the full malignance in his nature. Not to be outdone, the cowardly Sato is quick to shoot Ip Man upon his victory over Miura, but gets exactly what’s coming to him only moments later. Oh, and Ip Man survives, obviously.

“Ip Man 2” (2010)
There’s no shortage of ignorant and overpowered baddies in the “Ip Man” franchise, but none so bombastic as boxing champion Taylor “The Twister” Miller. Hailing from England, Twister arrives in Hong Kong to emphasize the so-called disparity between Eastern and Western fighting styles. For a while it seems like nothing can take him down, as he shrugs off throngs of martial artists like they are houseflies. He gets quite the test in Hung Ga Master Hung, but doesn’t think twice when he pummels a clearly stubborn and exhausted Hung to death. Blaming the outcome on Hung’s weakness rather than his own arrogance, Twister is finally put in his place by an incensed Ip, but not before Ip narrowly evades the same fate.

“Ip Man 3” (2015)
It would be enough to fear Frank on the grounds that he orchestrated the movements of both Suchart and Ma King-sang, but seeing as he’s played by legendary boxer Mike Tyson, we knew he’d be no slouch in the ring either. As if Ip’s in a video game and has progressed to fight the main boss, he confronts Frank in his office, leaving Frank no choice but to roll up his sleeves and handle Ip himself, promising to relent should Ip last three minutes. The timer is set and Frank puts the “fist” in “fisticuffs,” dealing such heavy blows we’re astounded Ip can take them at all. Fortunately, Ip is able to buckle down and survive long enough for the timer to go off. Phew.

“Ip Man 4: The Finale” (2019)
If racism and self-righteousness were superpowers, Sergeant Geddes would be unstoppable. Never one to be corrected or upstaged, Geddes will go to any and all lengths to prove that his ethnocentric views on America are the correct ones, and that kung fu as a martial art is nothing but phooey. Oftentimes he’ll dispatch his lackey Colin to make an impression, but when that fails, he is more than willing to get his hands dirty to send a message himself. Not only did he bust through the Chinese Benevolent Association like they were nothing, but he put their leader Master Wan in the hospital. Thankfully Ip Man returned the favor, but a world in which people like Geddes go unchecked is a scary one.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Master Hung
“Ip Man 2” (2010)

10 Black Belts
“Ip Man” (2008)

Master Wan
“Ip Man 4: The Finale” (2019)

Colin Frater
“Ip Man 4: The Finale” (2019)

Karate Champion
“Ip Man 4: The Finale” (2019)

“Ip Man” (2008)
When it comes to exerting power and influence, you really can’t do much better than a general who’s also a karate master. While we’re certain invading China wasn’t his decision, he is the face of the incursion in the prefecture-level city of Foshan. Ever the martial arts enthusiast, Miura capitalizes on the destitution and famine he’s foisted upon the people by promising a bag of rice for every battle won. This exploitation naturally leads to the deaths of many, including Ip Man’s friends Master Liu and Lin. However, Miura’s exertion of supremacy doesn’t stop there, as he seeks to physically assert himself against the city’s most skilled fighters, Ip included. Thank goodness Ip bests him, because the people really needed something to cheer about.