Words and Deeds - Part 3

T'ai Tsung Sifu Tony Roberts

Traditionally, Kung Fu schools have a long history of training individuals for many years before Sifu status is bestowed upon them. Doctors spend much less time and effort obtaining a doctorate. I don't imagine the Masters that proceeded me worked with equivalent dedication to be referred to as 'just coach'. Over the years, I have been developing an understanding of my mind, and physical skill in the context of combat. I am always working on improvement and efficiency. I use violence as the medium because the risk attached to violence makes it a very practical and exciting study. Risk is also an excellent catalyst for mind/body development, as is the framework of the Wing Chun system.

My knowledge also extends to the health and maintenance of the human being on a holistic level. This is because I have experienced so much injury and healing as a byproduct of my training. With a relatively sound understanding of myself, I am able to use my tools and experience to help other people understand them selves and in turn understand their situation better.

Most importantly, I teach people how to adapt situation so they are capable of making the most out of it. ‘Coach’ does not adequately depict the potentiality of Sifu. On a micro or macro basis it is out and out reduction. A Sifu should not be grouped with those who play games. The ability to enhance life or crush it is not a game. It is a serious matter for serious people. In the same way we respect life, wholesome individuals who have a handle on life’s enhancement or cessation should be appreciated. Like we differentiate between a soldier and a police officer, we wouldn’t confuse the two - the role is entirely different.
 
Not using the title Sifu does not make a man any more or less humble. Men decide that for themselves. In not using the title Sifu, we break a culture of respect and succession that has operated for roughly one thousand five hundred years.

Kru Dave with Rampage Jackson

The degradation of what it means to be Sifu is something we have to accept. As people pay for qualifications or amalgamations rather than working to accomplishment this much is inevitable. At the same time, it is important to remember that a select few are the ‘real deal’. They have honed their skill through blood sweat and injury and should be named as such. Rather than abandon the title of Sifu or substitute it for something that fails to capture the essence of what it is to be a teacher of Kung Fu, I would like to think that the next generation of proficient teachers among us will continue to use it, and remain conscious of their obligation to students, teachers and Chinese Kung Fu as hard working individuals capable of producing positive change. Without it, they only 'sell themselves short'.

I have had a Sifu since the age of eleven. Watched, listened, dined and sparred with them. I only ever intended on having one, but that’s not the way things work out. I have respected each of my Sifus in turn and worked my hardest to replicate and refine their teachings and output to the best of my ability. I feel honoured to have worked with all of them - I had so much fun!!!

Sigung Wong Shun Leung

There are not many positive male role models accessible to our youth. Sat in the fabric of advertising many seem lost. I don’t know if people will continue to pursue consumerism and entertainment as the route to happiness for a lifetime? As somebody who knows better, I hope that in teaching a few people the value of personal power they can obtain some salvation from the dictates of the mainstream, and gain some insight and satisfaction with who they really are, minus their possessions and the attempted ownership of other people.

Most importantly as teacher, I get to witness the elation and upgrade people experience as part of their personal journeys in contact with Wing Chun. This is confidence and choice that grows from an enhanced relationship people develop with them selves. To clarify, a Sifu is a man with a degree of self mastery not a man that outwardly seeks to be the Master of others. Each student I contact is on loan to me for a time, how long I have no control over. If after a single session, that person manages to take something positive and practical away with them, I’m satisfied and feel like I’ve done my job. How much people choose to take is always up to them.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my students for providing me an opportunity to share with them what I have. Best of luck to each and every one of you. You know my door is always open.

In this life there is truth - reality, and then there is everything else. In testing, teaching and contacting through combat, we may assess our grip on what is real. Our functionality and the reality of shared experience will pin point the measure of our skill. If you cannot operate in the truth unequivocally, the victim is only ever you. Reality possesses substance, when we contact the truth it dissolves everything else as everything else...doesn’t actually exist.  You can teach what you like, but if you move and speak with disillusionment when the truth catches up with you, you will acquire a new reflection. Real teachers and skilled fighters deal in truth. They assess themselves and the world against reality. These people we call Sifu.



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Words and Deeds - Part 2

T'ai Tsung Sifu McQueen

Even with my dislike of labels, I make an exception for the title of Sifu, because it is my opinion that ‘Sifu’ carries considerable value in the modern world as a hallmark of self-mastery – marking out individuals capable of assisting others in attaining some self mastery of their own. When we talk about Sifu  Kru, Sensei, Guru, connotation should conjure a series of positive attributes assigned to men who built ability through hard work and accomplishment.

 I never had a bad Sifu. I know many others who were not so lucky. So in adopting this title, I attempt to embody the type of qualities and values I associate to the people who have taught me – all of them. This title, should (I hope) illustrate that after twenty two years of hard work, I am in receipt of, and practicing all aspects of the Wing Chun system from Sifu Gary Lam, with the ability to convey their importance and function to others in a practical, fight specific format.

T'ai Tsung - Sifu Devon, Sifu Derek, Sifu Kevin

I am totally conscious of the Sifus who have come before me, down the Wing Chun, Chinese Kickboxing, Thai Boxing lines. In all instances across the board, they are documented as skilful, articulate, intelligent, and powerful individuals. That leaves a lot to live up to.

Kung Fu is work hard, but I owe what I have in some part to my teacher’s personal self mastery. Based on the time and effort exerted by us all, I feel I owe it to them, myself and students to be a teacher and to do my best to instil some of those positive qualities and values in others.

I think it is fair to say that the more prevalent a qualification, the less value it seems to hold. If we went back sixty years there would only have been a handful of Black Belts in the British Isles. Now, they are ten a penny, common, purchased, and in some instances, people entirely inept in harnessing or conveying practical skill. Self proclaimed Sifus are abundant and Martial Skill still a rarity. Desire, ambition and skill are moderated by fortune and intelligence in the aptitude of individuals to find a teacher who is proficient and motivated by the production of skill and wisdom over and above fame and financial gain.

Ego is a useful tool in driving possibility, it is a motivating force that propels us to compete and work harder, but unchecked it undermines teaching for skills sake, and negates the upgrade in human potential that should be attributed to Martial training. Motivation is the underlying principle of most behaviour. If you wish to understand why somebody behaves as they do, you need only assess their motivation as a predisposition to their following actions. In this way, it is very easy to surmise where somebody is coming from and why they choose to do what they do.

Unfortunately, occidental society is currently about money and fame. It presses dissatisfaction to churn effort and energy through the cogs of the system. This in its self has been enough to ensure that in less than 100 years skill production takes a back seat in the minds of many western Masters. Reputation is no longer underpinned by ability, but more about how many students you can accrue and how many people are talking about you. This is more than a dreadful shame. It has the aptitude to dilute martial skill, it spoils relationships through greed and envy, it turns avid students into commodities, it creates politics. It is a bastardisation of the title Sifu

Sifu Gary Lam

OK, everybody needs to make a crust, but if that compromises our ability to work from first principles, then we are ethically wrong and using Martial Arts as a prostitute to line our pockets. This is not the way. There is every reason to pay good money for decent information and training from a good teacher – some things you cannot put a price on, my time with Sifu Gary Lam is one of those things.

Sifu Gary

If only all teachers shared his conviction to teaching and practical insight. Rich in the head and rich in the hand are far more important than rich in the pocket in the spectrum of contentment and development. I would not choose to disassociate myself from the title Sifu to differentiate myself from individuals using the Sifu label to amass money. It represents the time effort and sacrifice necessary in obtaining practical skill. There is a requirement to represent the real, past and present in the proper spirit

 
Sifu Gary Lam

• Undefeated Champion Hong Kong Full Contact Tournament 1978 – 79
• Founder Top Fight Wing Chun 1986
• President Hong Kong Wing Chun Society 1991
• Sifu of the Year World Ving Tsun Athletic Association Hall of Fame 2006
• Life Time Honorary Advisor to Hong Kong Ving Tsun Athletic Association 2012

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