The Optimist
Written on Friday, 15 June, 2018
Seven samurai are preparing themselves for battle in a small cottage. A curious and bold optimist walks in and says to one of the samurai: Continue reading
Wing Chun Translations
Hello friends,
Peter Lee, of the 本能詠春 Instinct Wing Chun School, here in Guangzhou, asked me to translate and spread a little advertisement for him. Unfortunately, I’m not really into many forms of social media, and was not able to spread this so far – or maybe the U.S. doesn’t use the same kinds as in China. Continue reading
A Chinese Idiom
My writing has been a bit dull lately, and so none of it has made it up just yet. As an interlude, I thought this Chinese idiom might be interesting. In Chinese there are several of these, usually four syllable, idioms. They are called 成语 chengyu, which means “(something which has) become (common) language” – hinting that these idioms usually come from lines of stories or poems, sometimes directly, and sometimes condensed. Continue reading
Life and Review
Many of my letters are back-dated, due to the adventures described in them happening some time ago, and because I had written, or at least begun writing them at that time. Most of those initial adventures, in Zhuhai 珠海, Hong Kong 香港, and Foshan (Fatsaan) 佛山, took place during January. During the beginning of January I was afforded some spare time, due to my services at work being not needed; and then the end of January begins the approximately four week long Lunar New Year celebrations. At the time my situation in China was looking precarious, so I did my best to explore as widely as I could in a short time. Continue reading
Foshan Wing Chun
Monday, 18 January, 2016
佛山詠春
I had had my adventures in Zhuhai 珠海, with Henry Ho 何英才 and the Ming Concept 銘念, and in Hong Kong 香港, though admittedly only visiting one school (and not being particularly motivated to see the others), in Yip Ching’s 葉正 class. I had one more lead to explore, and that was in Foshan 佛山. Continue reading
Master Gwan
Master Gwan
Written on Friday, 29 January, 2016
Once upon a time, a young man was apprentice to a great martial arts master and retired ferryman who lived on a small island off the Fukien coast. This master was known as Master Gwan. During his days as a ferryman, he would often stop for extended stays in various harbors, waiting for his clients to complete their business. During these stays he would seek out local fighters and befriend them. Over his lifetime, he too became a great fighter and martial artist.
A Night in Hong Kong: Part 3
一個夜晚在香港
Sunday, 17 January, 2016
I planned the trip to Hong Kong 香港, through Shenzhen 深圳, stopping at Yip Man’s 葉問 grave, arriving in Kowloon 九龍, walking the streets, through the pet and flower market, and, finally, arriving at the building which housed one of the schools of Yip Ching 葉正, locating the entrance and entering the building.
A Night in Hong Kong: Part 2
A note: I’ve been a bit overwhelmed with some work lately, and that combined with the occasionally horrendous internet connection in my hotel home, have made posting at a regular interval a little bit difficult. I’m doing my best. There is a lot more to tell. We are only in January still.
一個夜晚在香港
Sunday, 17 January, 2016
For my first trip to 香港 Hong Kong I took the high-speed rail, which takes about two hours, and lands you, smack, in the middle of busy 九龍 Kowloon. For this second trip I wanted to try a different route, which was cheaper, and which would conveniently involve a stop at 葉問 Yip Man’s grave site. Continue reading
A Night in Hong Kong: Part 1
Sunday, 17 January, 2016
一個夜晚在香港
Expecting my free time for Wing Chun exploration in Guangzhou to be sparse, and not knowing what would come of any particular journey, I had already begun preparations for a trip to Hong Kong as well. I had done two things to prepare for this. One, I had researched a little about the schools there, partially on the web, and partially on foot during a previous short stay in Hong Kong. Continue reading
The Ming Concept: Part 3
Tuesday, 12 January, 2016
銘念
Macau Visitor Pass
We pulled off of the main alley and on to a smaller alley, where Henry parked the motorcycle. Everything in 澳门 Macau is crowded, and finding a place to park can be tough, even with a motorcycle. However, there was a spot waiting for us. We quickly dismounted and headed to the school. A metal door to a small residential looking building – concrete, maybe eight floors – with a metal plaque next to it reading the name of the school: 雷明輝 詠春班 Lui Ming Fai Wing Chun Class. We were buzzed in, and proceeded up the tight concrete switch-back staircase to the sixth floor. Continue reading
Centreclash 中冲 