Springtide Scrolls

On the evening of March 19th, 2009, a rather breezy and downcast Wednesday, I arrived at SFO for my 2009 trip to Hong Kong. Pausing to make sure that I had all of my documents, I decided to give my sihing and good friend Sifu Robin Tsang of the IWTA headquarters a quick call before I got onto the plane for a fourteen hour flight. I was quite shocked to find out that I would be taking the examination for the 3rd Technician Grade on March 21st! I had inquired about this, in fact, but never got a definite response as to timing. This caused some panic initially, but ultimately finality set in. Whatever came to pass would pass. I would either be good enough, or not, and under the eyes of any combination of three grandmasters, I was sure that the decision would be fair.

After a long and grueling flight involving a disproportionate number of screaming children, I arrived at 7AM in foggy Hong Kong. I meandered around the spacious and modern airport for a bit, then got onto a shuttle bus to take me to my hotel in Mong Kok district, quite literally a mile's walk from the main school and IWTA office. Upon my arriving at the office as planned, Si-Tai (Sikung’s wife) greeted me and we exchanged some news, then I groggily awaited my sihing's arrival at his usual morning time. Sifu Robin arrived at approximately 11AM, and we caught up while he was doing some paperwork in his capacity as Sikung’s right hand office man. We then left to eat lunch. I highly recommend the Pink Salmon restaurant on Nathan Road for a slow and leisurely meal=) Afterwards I returned to the hotel for a nap, then we met up again to go to Sifu Robin's class at the Hong Kong Baptist University. In fact this University was where Sikung’s first University class ever was opened decades ago! The class was also taught by several other instructors such as Sifu John Lau, his two brothers (Julian and To), and of course Sisok Kung Leung Koon, one of the most mellow yet most formidable kung fu instructors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Much ado was made of the next day's coming exams, and the students for the most part worked very hard to prove themselves capable of being promoted to the next levels. I begged off for the evening after eating having a late dinner with Sifu Robin, as I was still tired from my flight. It always amazes me just how many out of the way little eateries he can navigate to, though.

On Saturday, I ambled over to the IWTA headquarters around noon after having a slow continental breakfast. Thankfully I was fine, as in the middle of my breakfast apparently the Hong Kong official kitchen inspector came to the restaurant... Sifu Robin and I went to the Baptist University again to make sure that students were prepared to take their student grade examinations. I was able to work with both beginners and more advanced students, just assisting as I could. Thankfully the more recently educated generations in Hong Kong speak both English and some Mandarin Chinese. Just my luck to be fluent in the dialect NOT commonly used in Hong Kong! After an afternoon of training, and approximately fifteen minutes worth of preparation for my own exam (haha) we high tailed it back to the IWTA headquarters to start the examination process.

The examination process started at around 6:30PM, and I volunteered (thinking it would help speed things up) as one of the judges for the student grade examinations, along with Sifu John Lau, Sibak Leung Kwok Wah, Sisok Wong Nga Chung, Sisok Yeung Kai Kwong and several others. We were overseen by Sisok Kung Leung Koon, and occasionally other instructors such as Sifu Yan Yiu Wing dropped by to assist. This was a long process that did not end until after midnight, with each candidate having to perform in front of at least thirty people forms, applications, and lat sau depending on the level. All told, there were around fifty candidates in all that had to be individually graded for one or two student levels, each one separately by an individual examiner! Finally, the student grade 12 examinations concluded. I have also most likely earned a reputation as the instructor who has failed the most people during one of these exams (sigh...). However, then came the instructor level examinations, which included myself as the ONLY candidate going for 3rd Technician Level! In addition, I’m pretty sure that my sihing had told people to come to watch the (relatively) rare exam 3^rd Level examination process....

Along with three candidates for the primary technician level, I performed the SNT and the CK in front of Grandmaster Cheng Chuen Fun, who had replaced Sisok Kung Leung Koon as head examiner (and only a grandmaster may examine for technician levels). I had of course met Sisok Kung Cheng before, and he is a consummate gentleman and warrior, but out of the three grandmasters residing Hong Kong, I actually have the least familiarity with him. Thus, I was so nervous by this time that my hands were shaking from the adrenaline coursing through my blood. The primary level candidates then had to perform each of the three Chum Kiu chi-sau sections, then do lat-sau as well. Their examinations concluded with a two on one free fight, and all three put forth commendable efforts.

After a brief respite while the primary level technician candidates completed their examinations (no verdict yet), I then performed by myself the Biu Tze form and part of the Wooden Dummy form for Sisok Kung Cheng's review. Afterwards, I then did multiple consecutive chi-sau sections with Sifu Robin to show my knowledge of the chi-sau repertoire and my reactions and sensitivity. This was nerve-wracking, as our chi-sau sections did not exactly correspond, so we had to adapt on the spot no matter which section was being displayed. When I think on this however, WingTsun is meant for flexibility, so this was for the better and more of a true test of ability than if my partner had known exactly what I would do. In any event, following an all too short break, I did some lat-sau with Sifu Robin to show my free fighting abilities, and finally I had to fend off two high level students for at least 30 seconds (seemed much longer!) at the same time. They attacked me with both WingTsun and grappling maneuvers, which made it very exhausting to hold them off. By the end I was so exhausted that I could not move, but I continued to shake from the adrenaline while I was trying to catch my breath.

Finally, Grandmaster Cheng pronounced his verdict, in clear and precise English and Mandarin Chinese, luckily for me. Save for some problem areas which he advised me on how to train and correct, I had passed the exam! So as of approximately 1:30AM on March 22, 2009, I was promoted to the Third Technician Level. The exam was officially witnessed by Sibak Leung Kwok Wah and Sisok Wong Nga Chung, 5th and 6th Level Practicians respectively. In the end, despite practically no warning, I am very happy to have gone through this experience, both for myself and my students. For myself, I validate the training and efforts I've made in the last few years to stay true to the Hong Kong WingTsun spirit. For my students of course, I am happy to say that I have also validated that I have been teaching you guys the correct curriculum in spirit! Thanks everyone for their support, and especially Sifu Robin for being my 'demo' partner and for his additional efforts during the exam.

As the examinations wound down (they are held every three months in Hong Kong), I helped Sifu Robin to clean up the headquarters school, and around 2:15AM we staggered forth in search of food. I had not eaten before the exams started, as I knew that it would just slow me down, and that it would upset my stomach at that time. After a few wrong turns (being that we were both quite asleep on our feet), we ended up at a Szechuan barbeque shop a little ways from Jordan Road. Unfortunately, the food was good but extremely spicy to me, so we had no choice but to drown out the spice with beer.....and of course we toasted my examination results=) I finally made it back to the hotel at around 3:30AM, and found that the escalators were not on at this hour, so I had to climb three flights of escalator stairs to the elevators. After a brief shower, I crashed into bed, the adrenaline high finally spent.

I woke up on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 1PM. After slowly ambling through a rather late morning routine, I went out and had a slow lunch while taking time to look around the Mong Kok district of Kowloon. I was moving a bit stiffly from the day before, so I took the time to walk off the muscle stiffness, as in the evening I would attend Grandmaster Leung Ting's tutorial class. Usually this class in on Saturday evenings whenever Sikung is in Hong Kong, however due to the examinations, it was moved for the week. These classes are where Sikung reveals a lot of theory and gives conceptual corrections, though not necessarily in any particular order. I wish I had the opportunity to attend them every week such as the instructors in Hong Kong have the privilege of doing.

Funnily enough save for a chance meeting in a crosswalk, I had not seen my Sikung since my arrival in Hong Kong, so I was also quite looking forward to seeing him again. I retreated to the hotel again to rest briefly, then ventured forth to attend Sikung's tutorial. As it was a Sunday evening, since the exams the day before had displaced the usual Saturday evening tutorial, it was rather uncrowded (in the already cramped main school). After a pleasant session training some chi-sau and falling techniques (I apparently am still too heavy when falling), we ate a late dinner, then I returned to the hotel to get some sleep.

March 23, 2009, started with a slow breakfast, then I ambled over to the IWTA headquarters, taking a different route than before. After some more technical talk with my sihing, Sifu Robin, Sibak Leung Kwok Wah and one of his to-dai dropped by and we all went to lunch with Sikung. During the course of lunch, one of Sikung's movie business acquaintances dropped by, and before I knew what was happening we were back at the headquarters school on Nathan Road taking some photos for one of Sikung's book projects. This was quite involved, regarding lighting, backdrop, costumes, and of course makeup! I lent Sikung my camera for this photo shoot, and after he was satisfied with his 'victims' expressions and writhing in agony, we adjourned. At some point during the afternoon, Si-Tai basically ordered me to make sure to get my picture taken for my 3rd Technician Level certificates (no objections from me!), so we went and did that, then went on to the regular Monday evening class at the Hong Kong Baptist University. Afterwards, again a late dinner and crashing into bed at a late hour. I will no doubt still be pondering the cool stuff that Si-sok Kung Leung Koon showed me during this session.

I owe my very visit and all of the various nagging things that needed to be dealt with to Sihing Robin! I expect the remainder of my days to unfold in a similar fashion, save that I will arrange for some private instruction, most likely from Sibak Leung Kwok Wah and Si-sok Kung Leung Koon. I also have one more instructor tutorial by Sikung to attend before trip comes to a close. I have also resolved to have my si-jie, Ivy Yeung, teach me Cantonese such that I don't feel so awkward in conversations in Hong Kong! Ironically enough Sikung and the two Sisok Kungs are three people I can speak with in English and Mandarin Chinese....In any event, onwards!

March 24, 2009 started as usual, though apparently due to the rugby games being held soon, the hotel was starting to become quite noisy earlier. I ventured forth, stumbled my way through ordering coffee at a Starbucks (as the other local coffees were not strong enough to my liking), and arrived at the office as usual. After discussing various student levels and the materials and teaching methods for them, as well as dropping off my certificate pictures to Si-Tai, we went and got lunch. In the meantime I also checked my e-mail, despite my vacation status there were still some I had to respond to. As it had rained quite heavily the night before, Hong Kong was quite cool on this day, and I enjoyed the pleasant weather (to me anyways!). Afterwards, we went on a search for the one item I had not thought to bring with me to Hong Kong, a nail clipper! I explained that I did not want anyone to do chi-sau with Wolverine, so after that little excursion, I went off to transact some business. We met again to go to the Hong Kong Baptist University class as was becoming customary, and I had the pleasure of meeting another of my sihingdai, Alan Vu, whom I had not seen since I arrived as he was out of town. I also continued my exchange of teaching tips with my sihing, and even filmed a bit of his class as promised for my to-dai, si-jut, and sihingdai in the US. After we wound down and had a late (early) sushi dinner, I went to tuck in for the night.

March 25, 2009 started with no power! Apparently an annual inspection was being held of the hotel I was staying in, and as a result power would be out until the afternoon. I meandered around, did some shopping in the evening, and returned earlier than usual to the hotel. I had arranged some private lessons from Sibak Leung Kwok Wah (5th Level Practician), on the following day, so I wanted to make sure that I was rested. In my wanderings, Sihing Robin directed me to a video/dvd store where I purchased the historically inaccurate though somewhat entertaining Ip Man film that Sibak Hsiao had wanted me to get for him. I also arranged to meet a good friend of mine from a previous workplace, Eddy Chan, on Hong Kong Island later in the week for lunch. During dinner, my sihing, Sifu Jung-soo Park, head instructor for Korea, called me to congratulate me on passing the examination earlier. We exchanged greetings, although he had to run to teach his class. He is one of the most capable instructors that I know, and his long standing experience and skills make me want to invite him to the US even more. Sihing Robin is the same, though all of us feel that constant improvement is a motto that works well. I also began writing the long promised blog entry on Chinese kung fu families that my students wanted to clarify familial terms.

March 26, 2009, started out with a hasty breakfast, as I was scheduled for some private instruction from Sibak Leung Kwok Wah for several hours. I've always just enjoyed his happy go lucky attitude and his explosive power generation, in addition to his fighting skills, so I wanted to pick up what I could from him this time around. We worked on generating that explosive 'bou ja lik,' some guo sau and lat sau, and some very painful kicking techniques in conjunction with hand techniques which I had learned from Sikung last time in the US, but never had a chance to fully understand how to train. It was very productive, and as usual I was bruised and a bit battered, but elated. We had a quick lunch with Sikung, though it was clear he was preoccupied with his impending China expansion push (good luck!), and afterwards we went to the Baptist University as usual, though the class seemed smaller than usual.

March 27, 2009 started with a late start from the late class the evening before, then I took the MTR to Central Hong Kong Island to have lunch with a friend of mine named Eddy Chan. Eddy is a former colleague of mine from Morrison & Foerster, the law firm I used to work at. We had dim sum, then I went to wander around the Mong Kok shopping district. Unfortunately the weather had taken a turn for the inclement, and so I went back to the headquarters. My si-jie Ivy Yeung was supposed to arrive today as well in Hong Kong, but I had no idea of the actual time. We taught a late class, had a late dinner and desert, and I went to bed, for the following day I had a private lesson with Sisok Kung Leung Koon arranged.

March 28, 2009 started with another slow and laconic breakfast, and I ambled over to the main school for my private lesson with Sisok Kung Leung Koon. It was very different from my last lesson with him, which consisted of learning by experiencing his very large and imposing fists (for the better of course). We went through some theoretical topics and some more questions that I had on how to generate the explosive force on the wooden dummy, and some little practiced chi-sau drills that my students will no doubt be soon experiencing. Afterwards, we had a later lunch then went over to the Baptist University for Sifu Robin's normal Saturday afternoon class. Several hours and a late snack later, we were in the headquarters school on Nathan Road again to attend Sikung's normal instructor tutorial. I was able to practice some advanced chi-sau with my very gracious Sihings, and to ask some questions of Sikung. I was also able to get my 3rd Technician Level certificates from Sikung as well, and this was a very nice feeling. I give thanks as well to Si-Tai and Sifu Robin for helping me along with this process. I do believe that I am the first and only US instructor to have taken and passed the examination for 3rd Level (or any level for that matter) in Hong Kong in the mother school!

My trip to Hong Kong for 2009 was winding down to a close after the last tutorial, and I bid Sikung farewell until August when he comes to the US. We wandered out in search of sustenance, then Sihing Robin and I chatted into the wee hours of the morning of future plans and WingTsun errata. However, I remained in standby mode for Sunday, as Sifu Robin might possibly need my assistance with a demonstration, otherwise my plans were to relax and perhaps do a little shopping depending on the weather.

On March 29, 2009, I woke up around 2PM, already starting to swing the clock back to US time. I planned to venture forward around 3PM or 4PM, get some food and generally take care of anything in Hong Kong that could not wait until next year=) I am always of two minds leaving vacation...always regretful yet anticipating a return to the normal routine. I do vow that by my next trip to Hong Kong, and hopefully before Sikung comes to the US in August this year, that I have addressed at least partially each problem area that was identified to me on this trip. Constant improvement is not just a motto for Toyota! As I was heading out to find something to eat, I received a text message from Sifu Robin asking that I assist him with an appearance he was to make that evening on a new game show for TVB, the largest television station in Hong Kong! Always eager to assist, I responded and around 5PM met him at the MTR station on Jordan Road. We took a taxi to the industrial estate of Hong Kong, and then spent the usual waiting time waiting for his appearance on the television show. Unfortunately all I was able to offer in way of assistance was a bit of cheerleading, but it was interesting nonetheless. After everything was done, we kipped off for a late dinner, and later discussed school and class matters at the hotel bar where I was staying for the last night.

On my last day in Hong Kong, I had arranged to check out of the hotel, have lunch with my sihing, Sifu Robin, and then take a taxi to the airport to begin my long (12 hours!) flight home. I had a few more items to purchase from headquarters, so after dealing with the hotel bill, I headed off. After a hasty lunch, I was off to the airport, already planning my next visit with my sihingdai and students!

Best Wishes,

Sifu