Planet of the Apes ?

Another view of “Yuan Gung Quan” – Art of Ape Power.

The ground sliding kick is something that you see a lot in Singapore/Malaysia Zhou Jia also; avoiding a high gate attack and sliding into opponent’s legs.

We call it “sheen tui” – eeerh spelling it the way I pronounce in my pathetic Cantonese.

Don’t shoot me! Me not Cantonese!!!

 

 

 

 

SaoLim Lotus Form.

Folks, a short glimpse of Ven. Sek’s SaoLim Lotus or “Lien Huay” in Fukien.

 Sorry, the owner only gave permission to present partial view of this form …..

And for good reason too; SaoLim is one of the arts that I do since way back and over the years, there has been just too many perversions of Ven. Sek’s legacy.

Don’t know much about Medan, Indonesia but in Penang and my hometown, Singapore – all sorts of forms have been put forth as “SaoLim”. 

What I do know and this is confirmed by SaoLim elders, direct disciples of Ven. Sek, is that there are only 3 “mother” empty-hand forms :- 

1. Yi Ki Muay or 1 stalk Plum flower.
2. Lien Huay or Lotus
3. Lohan

There are many other forms transmitted by Ven. Sek but these are the seed forms and every SaoLim student must learn/master at least one. 

Ven. Sek is known to have passed dissimilar forms to different disciples but these 3 are more or less elemental. Simply put, if you’re Saolim, you must be able to do at least one of the 3.

With the passing of many of Ven. Sek hand picked disciples, the race is on to document and archive as many of the skill sets as possible before it mutates to something else altogether…

 

 

 

 

Mixed Martial Arts in Asia.

No not talking about the latest fads in “MMA”, this idea of mixing has been around for a while.

Some 30 plus years I would say all over Asia.

I’ve read about fusion of various CKFs, CKFs and Muay Thai, Judo, karate and TKD in various forms and shapes. Hey, they are even mixing Silat and other art forms and teaching them all over Singapore and Malaysia.

I do Taizu (Grand Ancestor) under the banner of “San Cheen Do” which is a blend of Taizu, Wuzu, Karate, Judo and Muay Thai in Singapore at a time when you also find other hybrids like Chap Koon Do (CLF and Karate), Nam Wah Pai (mixture of several Northern/Southern CKFs), Khong Chang (Fong Yang and Karate/Judo), Hong Quan Dao, Quan Chi Dao etc etc…

Even the authorities got into the act.

In an effort, personally I think ill-advised; the Singapore Wushu Federation rounded up some traditional teachers and assembled a form called “Zhong He Quan – Combined Fists”.

This later became a compulsory form for anyone testing to be a traditional Wushu instructor.

Nothing wrong with the concept; putting out a form to “bond” the various major styles active in Singapore but it’s the cut & patch job jerky flow that raised quite a few eyebrows.

Mainland did something similar but in this case, they concentrated on southern styles that gel almost seamlessly.

In Singapore’s case, we got Fukien Soalim one minute, then Chin Woo’s stuff and then Hakka …….. aaarrrgggghhhhhhh!!!

Rojak – Singapore style fruit salad is what it is.

Frankly, I hated the form but because it was compulsory….like I have no choice…..

But folks this story has a happy ending … it’s no longer in circulation, they abolished that testing system and I am sure few, if any at all, do it anymore.

RIP……

 

 

 

 

 

Sawadeekup – Muay Thai.

Muay Thai – my path is crossing with this deadly efficient fighting art once again. 

Back some years ago, I was in Singapore and working with one of my Saolim sihings, Collin Chan. 

Collin, a successful businessman wanted to introduce Muay Thai into Singapore and there I was finding myself involved…in a very small way….. 

It was through Collin that I met Stephan Fox, the current General Secretary of World Muay Thai Council. 

Originally a Wing Chun man, Stephan went on to do and later became a champion in his Muay Thai career. 

And now that we are mooting the idea of launching Muay Thai in Malaysia; who else would I go to for guidance? 

Collin and Stephan, of course and that exactly why I will be flying to Singapore this month end – to explore…. 

To me Muay Thai is what effective fighting is all about – keep it uncomplicated and keep training repetitiously, solo and with a partner. 

To learn how to fight, you got to fight and that’s precisely why Muay Thai is so highly regarded as a “fighting art”.

It’s all about “fights”……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Responding to a request.

Got a youtube message asking for more clips from GM Poon Seng 43^rd anniversary performance – obviously a big fan of GM Poon Seng….

Ooookay, I’ll try to post as much as possible from the DVDs..

Enjoy.

Hakka Wing Chun Kuen

Keeping in the vein of things Hakka, here’s a “Hakka Wing Chun” clip.

Footage taken in Hong Kong some 20 -30 (maybe more) years back, got no info of the background of the form or performer.

Duh, this form is announced as “Hakka Wing Chun” so no mail from anyone telling me I got it labeled wrongly.

If you must, write to the presenter ….. If you can find him ……hahaha…

Again, with some historians recording 600+ styles of CKF, how certain are we that we’ve seen the big picture.

CKF is a huge elephant folks, so let’s not be the 6 blind men…

It’s Sunday still, remember?

And I am still in the “preachy” mood…..

 

 

More CLF.

From the same DVDs that GM Chia gave me in Singapore, here’s another extract:-

GM Poon Seng doing one of his forms.

This is one master that I read so much about growing up, in all the magazines and books published in Hong Kong in the 70s and 80s.

Now, to be able to watch him in action even if it is only in a video recording is really inspiring….

You know the more I see all the senior masters performing, at an age that most would have problems just moving around, the more persuaded I get; TCMA is the right path….. 

 

I am not a Cantonese.

I received the following from a reader, pointing to a Wing Chun clip I posted recently.

Yes, the characters on the DVD’s sleeve is “rice machine Wong” and I spelled in as “Mai Kay” and not “Mai Gei” . 

Just want to clarify that I spell the way I pronounce those characters in the Cantonese that I speak – no other agenda… 

I am not Cantonese and the way I speak is a mix of all the various Cantonese that I’ve picked up around here in SE Asia.

And “thanks” for your inputs about Sifu Wong; if you are contact with him, please tell him that I am a big fan of his….

 Here’s his message :-

I would like to correct a clip name. This is not “Mai Kay Wong WCK” but “Mai Gei Wong WCK”.

I would like to correct a clip name. This is not “Mai Kay Wong WCK” but “Mai Gei Wong WCK”.

Greatmaster Wong Wu Fong, later for his fighting ability called “Mai Gei Wong” – “rice machine Wong”. He was intersted in martial art from his childhood, he was experienced in many styles and big physical culture fans. He trained “Nothern Shaolin”, “Taj Ji”, “Pakua”, “Xing Yi”, “Tai Hoi”, “Mok Ga”, western box, fight and weight-lifting. By Master Wong Jing he started to learn, when like the only Master, who he met, managed him in friend fight to knock him down. He sent him to train to another Yuen Kay Shan pupil´s school – Master Sum Nung to have another view on Wing Chun from other direction. From there come some excercises “San Sik” and next techniques, which Master Wong Wu Fong included to his style “Mai Gei Wong Wing Chun”. In 1960´s and 1970´s was the line “Mai Gei Wong” Wing Chun the strongest school of this style in surrounding cities Fatsan and Guangzhou. Greatmaster Wong Wu Fong was admired master of fight and very respected person of local sommunity martial arts. There are incredible stories about his fighting abilities, speed and power, many times certified from up to now living eye-wintesses. After retire he forbad to use the name “Mai Gei Wong”, so his style isn´t known except China. Greatmaster Wong Wu Fong died in the year 1998. On his funeral were over 300 mourning guests, mainly pupils and Masters of many kung fu styles, who were his friends.

Greatmaster Wong Wu Fong taught Wing Chun Kung Fu all his children. One of them is Master Wong Nim Yi, who lives and teaches in southchinese city Guangzhou. He trains Kung fu from early childhood under his father´s charge, but another important Masters too. He can a few kung fu styles, but for example “Lion dance”, kaligraphy… His own kung fu school festively opened and officially registered in the year 1998. Before he taught in his father´s school, which he took over after hi death. He taught only “Mai Gei Wong Wing Chun” and a few interested people Tai Ji Quan every day early morning and in the evening in “Tian He Sport Center” park. During the day is his flat full of pupils and variant visiters – Wing Chun teachers from far surrounding and Masters of other styles, who like discussing with him by “Kung Fu” tea about all possible martial art aspects, how chinese as any other. Master Wong is very pleasant and humorous man, who also can during a second explode with incredible power and speed. His Wing Chun Kung Fu knowledges and fighting abilities are very deep. His pupils are from all social sections and all age groups. In last years he teaches his art unchinese pupils too.

On this video is master Wong Nim Yi.

 

Same kick different day.

You know how they say “same shit, different day”…but for me, nothing could be further from the truth.

Different day, different master to meet and delve into their arts, lives and plans is truly gratifying in every way.

So far, I have met with Sifu Lew Joon Miew and today I spent almost the entire day with Sifu Kong Shu Ming, Hakka Suppressing Tiger Kung Fu….

Both about 20 years my senior and lived through the tumultuous period after the Japanese invasion of this region; Kung Fu to them is never just a pastime pursuit.

Knowing how to fight is critical skill to staying alive, whether you like it or not.

To hear them both talk about their experiences, for me, is belittling – what do I know about fighting?

Competitions in my younger days, couple of altercations that got physical and some hand-to-hand combat training in the army; no where near what these 2 Sifus went through, really.

Custodian of his unique Hakka style kung fu, Sifu Kong is fully conscious of the imminence of the line stopping with him and we discussed, intensively, thoughts to preserve and propagate the art.

I might have described this elsewhere; I really love his brand of Hakka boxing. Staying very relaxed during execution, power is applied only at the point of impact. 

Personally, this is exactly the kind of “whipping” that defines Fuzhou White Crane boxing.

“Body like willow, hands like pellets”….

To be able to work this closely with these Sifus is a privilege – one that I take very seriously!

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLF.

You know, every now and then, I would receive messages asking for videos of this style or that style…

Well folks, as much as I would like to oblige every time, I have constrains.

My video collections, some from as far back as 30 – 40 years ago, are either gifts or purchased commercial releases.

These last few years, I added quite a bit through my own shooting of course.

Even then, I am usually told not to broadcast, in full, by the original owners or performers for personal reasons.

This is why I tend to upload only partial forms and sequences.

Got to respect their requests …….

With some of the masters, we are talking to them about commercially releasing their art forms and towards that, we have 8 titles slated to be launched very soon.

And I want to take this opportunity here to thank all the Sifus and elders who have graciously given me valuable materials for my study.

Over time, I wish to share these with all of you.

This next clip comes from a package of VCDs/DVDs that were given to me by GM Chai Yan Soon – the current “Jeong Mun” of Singapore Hong Seng Koon Choy Li Fut. 

Brilliantly executed form….in full…..