Muay Thai Meeting/Seminar Held By: James U. Sy Jr.

4 times world Sanshou champion and new Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP) Region 6 Director Rene Catalan of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo (standing, 4th from left) with Negros Occidental martial arts instructors during an organizational meeting and seminar last January 26, 2011 at the Tribu Hangaway Gym, Golden heritage Bldg., San Juan St., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS photo).




















4 times world Sanshou champion and new Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP) Region 6 Director Rene Catalan of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, met with Negros Occidental martial arts instructors for an organizational meeting and seminar last January 26, 2011 at the Tribu Hangaway Gym, Golden heritage Bldg., San Juan St., Bacolod City.

A total of 14 instructors and fighters from 7 cities and towns were in attendance. James U. Sy Jr., Founder of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. and former MAP Negros Occidental Coordinator, assembled the instructors at the request of Catalan.

Catalan, who resigned from Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP) to focus on Muay Thai, wanted to meet the local school heads and reorganize the local chapter of MAP. Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP)-Negros Occidental was founded by several martial arts organizations on June 24, 2005 in Bacolod City with Sy being appointed by MAP Visayas Head Kru Ike Xavier S. Villaflores as Provincial Coordinator. Sy sponsored two Muay Thai seminars which were conducted by Kru Villaflores. Master Elmer V. Montoyo succeeded Sy as Coordinator in the succeeding years; a student of his brought home a bronze medal from the Philippine Olympic Festival held in Dumaguete City.

Catalan went through a short review of Muay Thai rules and had one hands-on refereeing practice. He also echoed to the school heads his plans as Reg. 6 Director. His first major project is a regional tournament tentatively slated for March 12, 2011 although the host group has still to be finalized.

The Negros Occidental instructors expressed their desire to help the region so long as there won’t be politics that are so common in sports organizations nowadays.

Catalan verbally appointed Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo of Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc. and Chief Instructor Joery C. Amante of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main as Coordinators for Bacolod City and Negros Occidental respectively.

Those in attendance were Chief Instructor Joery C. Amante of Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main, Tony Ross Bullecer and National Sanshou bronze medalist Nilrax de Café of Pabalinas MMA (Victorias), Instructor Allan Mario Facturan of Tribu Hangaway, Founder/Chief Instructor Jesus “Jess” Flores of Thunder Kick Martial arts (Escalante), Founder/Master Roy R. Flores of Tribu Hangaway, Founder/Chief Instructor Melchor Garcia of Rainbow Martial Arts Club (Silay), Founder/Chief Instructor Diomedes N. Mamugay of San Carlos Jungle Fighters Martial Arts Club, Founder/Grandmaster Elmer V. Montoyo, Master Elmer “Don-Don” P. Montoyo Jr., and Master Ernest Christian “Chen-Chen” P. Montoyo of Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy-Filipino Tang Soo Do Association (PIMAA-FTSDA), Inc., Founder/Chief Instructor Ian B. Negrido of BASSDUMAS Combat Sport (Talisay), Assigned Instructor Jerry Nodnod of Red Dragon Fighters Martial Arts Club (Calatrava), and Founder/Master James U. Sy Jr. of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc.

Wing Chun Kung Fu Demonstrated at Tay Tung By: James U. Sy Jr.

Sports Coordinator/High School Health Teacher Pearl Marie A. Oh, Ng Yung-Wa Sifu, and High School PE Teacher Mia M. Balista (seated from left) with sophomore students pose for a group picture at the conclusion of the “Wing Chun Kung Fu Lecture and Demo” held last January 24-25, 2011 at the Po Hang Gym, Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS), Hernaes St., Bacolod City.

The Bacolod Tay Tung High School (BTTHS), one of the three Chinese schools in the city of Bacolod, hosted the “Wing Chun Kung Fu Lecture and Demo” last January 24-25, 2011 at the Po Hang Gym, BTTHS, Hernaes St., Bacolod City.

The Wing Chun lecture and exhibition was a milestone in the history of BTTHS because it was the first ever to be held within its premises since its founding many decades ago.

The “Wing Chun Kung Fu Lecture and Demo” was conducted by Ng Yung-Wa Sifu, a Hong Kong-born Cantonese who now resides in the Netherlands, and was facilitated by BTTHS Board of Trustee Mr. Victor Go, Principal Nilda Monge, Sports Coordinator/High School Health Teacher Pearl Marie A. Oh, and High School PE Teacher Mia M. Balista. Accompanying Ng Sifu was James U. Sy Jr., Founder of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc., and Jeremy John Dy of Kimdo Martial Arts, who assisted him, and Chris Marie Dumasis, who documented the event. 80 freshmen and 45 sophomore students witnessed the lecture and demo on the first and second days respectively.

The purpose of the demo was to introduce students to one aspect of the Chinese culture that is often neglected by scholars, its martial heritage. In centuries past, Chine reigned as a superpower and it was the center of innovations and learning. Japan and Korea among others sent their scholars to study in China, most especially during the Tang Dynasty. These scholars studied the different sciences and arts perfected by the Chinese, among them medicine, mathematics, philosophy, calligraphy, and martial arts. Testament to this is the use of the Japanese and the Koreans of the Chinese ideographs, locally known as kanji and hanja in Japan and Korea respectively. The cultural influences of China are also seen in Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam among others.

The Chinese Martial Arts (CMA), more commonly referred to as Kung Fu “Skill, Hard Work (Mandarin 功夫 , Pinyin: Gōngfu)” or more properly, Wushu “Martial Art (Mandarin 武術),” were developed by the different sectors of Chinese society to protect life, property, and freedom. All throughout China there are hundreds, if not thousands, of styles of Kung Fu. One of these styles is Wing Chun.

Wing Chun Kuen (詠春拳“Sing Praise Spring/Spring Chant Fist” or 永春拳 “Eternal/Forever Springtime Fist”) is a style of Kung Fu founded by the nun Ng Mui (五枚大師 Wǔ Méi), one of the Five Elders who escaped when the Shaolin Temple was burned down by the Ching Dynasty. Since Ng Mui was a woman she had to rely on technique rather than brute strength. Her Kung Fu was inspired by the movements of the snake and crane fighting each other, which she had observed. She taught the art to her student, Yim Wing-Chun (嚴詠春 Pinyin: Yán Yǒng Chūn / Jyutping: Jim Wing-Ceon), from whom the then nameless art got its name from.

Ng Yung-Wa Sifu is a 12th Generation exponent of Wing Chun. He studied under Nils Sifu and then Dick Wachtberger Sifu, a student of Wang Kiu Sifu, who was in turn a student of Wing Chun 9th Generation Grandmaster Ip Man of Hong Kong. GM Ip Man is best known as the teacher of the legendary martial arts star Bruce Lee Siu-Long (1941-1973).

Ng Sifu has a total of 12 years experience, both studying and teaching, Wing Chun Kung Fu. He started assisting in instructing on his third year and became a Full instructor on his sixth year. Ng Sifu had a third teacher he could not name because he was made to promise not to.

Ng Sifu explained the code of ethics (9 Rules of Conduct) of Wing Chun and how to apply them, the origins of Wing Chun Kuen and its characteristics that make it unique from other systems of Kung Fu. He demonstrated several self defense techniques using regulated force as well as the hand speed which made the art popular.

Ng Sifu, who arrived in Bacolod on September 15, 2010, had previously introduced Wing Chun Kuen at the Yuan Thong Temple, demonstrated it to criminology students at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), and taught the first seminar on Wing Chun Kuen in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental on January 16, 2010 at the Avenue Gym (“An Introduction to Wing Chun Basics”).

For more info, please contact song4springtime@gmail.com or sophiahecate@gmail.com.

Ip Man Line Wing Chun Kung Fu Taught in Seminar Part II: The History of the Art by: James U. Sy Jr.

Ng Yung-Wa Sifu demonstrating the double/triple techniques concept of Wing Chun Kuen on Carlos F. Trunio II of the UNO-R Martial Arts Society during the “An Introduction to Wing Chun Basics” seminar last January 16, 2010 at the Avenue Gym, 2nd Floor La Salle Courtyard, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City (James U. Sy Jr./CMAS Photo).

People outside the martial arts community would normally show a blank face when they hear the name Wing Chun. This is not surprising considering the existence of hundreds, if not thousands, of styles of Chinese Martial Arts (CMA) in China, more commonly referred to as Kung Fu “Skill, Hard Work (Mandarin 功夫 , Pinyin: Gōngfu)” or more properly, Wushu “Martial Art (Mandarin 武術).”

Without a doubt Hong Kong-native and world martial arts superstar Bruce Lee Siu-Long (1941-1973) is the most popular exponent of Wing Chun as Steven Seagal is to Aikido and the Gracie Clan to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. But where did Lee’s superb fighting skills came from? This news feature will tell you just that.

China was ruled by the Manchus during the Ching/Qing Dynasty (1644-1910). The Manchus, who then comprise only 10% of China’s population, was seen by the Han Chinese as abusive foreigners who conquered their country. As such, many insurgencies were committed by rebels bent on restoring the Ming Dynasty. Many of these rebels would seek refuge in the famed Fujian Shaolin Temple and many studied or enhanced their Kung Fu skills in the Buddhist temple.

The masters of different styles at the temple decided to come up with a new system of Kung Fu. The existing systems of Kung Fu at that time although very powerful, took about 15-20 years to master. That was not fast enough to train rebels. So the elders started developing a very straight forward style that can be learned in a relatively shorter time yet be as effective, if not better, that the existing styles.

However, even before this new style can be completed, Ching forces burned down the Shaolin Temple. Chinese tradition tells us that among those who escaped were the Five Elders, one of whom was the nun Ng Mui (五枚大師 Wǔ Méi), the Founder of Wing Chun Kuen.

Ng Mui completed the new style of Kung Fu which was being synthesized by the Shaolin grandmasters and taught it to her disciple, Yim Wing-Chun (嚴詠春 Pinyin: Yán Yǒng Chūn / Jyutping: Jim Wing-Ceon “Sing Praise Spring/Spring Chant”), who was being forced to marrying a local warlord. Ng Mui advised Wing Chun to tell the warlord to give her a year so she can break up with her fiancé Leung Bac-Chou (Leung Bok-Chau / Leung Lan-Kwai) who lived in a different province. Travelling at that time was by horse and takes a great deal of time, especially between provinces. During the allotted time period Ng Mui trained Wing Chun in the new system.

When the moment of truth came, Wing Chun announced that she will only marry the local warlord if he can beat her in a martial arts bout. She defeated the bully and went on to marry her fiancé Leung Bac-Chou to whom she taught the art. At least one source says that it was her husband who named the then nameless art Wing Chun.

Wing Chun is represented by two similar sets of Chinese ideographs: The first one 詠春 means “Sing Praise Spring/Spring Chant” and the second永春 means “Eternal/Forever Springtime.” The alternative characters 永春 “Eternal Spring” are also associated with some other southern Chinese Martial Arts (CMA), including Jee Shim Weng Chun (Yong Chun) and White Crane Weng Chun (Yong Chun).

The Wing Chun lineage according to Grandmaster Ip Man is: Ng Mui (Founder/1st Generation), Yim Wing-Chun (2nd Generation), Leung Bok-Chau (3rd Generation), Leung Lan-Kwai (4th Generation), Wong Wah-Bo (5th Generation), Leung Yee-Tai (6th Generation), Leung Jan (7th Generation), Leung Bik and Chan Wah-Shun (8th Generation), and Yip Kai-Man (a.k.a. Ip Man) (葉問) (1893-1972) (9th Generation).

Ip Man was the first one to teach Wing Chun publicly based on a school structure and thus, many present day Wing Chun practitioners can trace their roots back to him. However, there are several branches of Wing Chun, depending on where a certain tradition stemmed out from. Other Wing Chun branches that are not related to the Ip Man lineage include Yiu Kai branch, Jiu Wan branch, Gulao / Koo Lo Village branch, Pan Nam branch, Yuen Kay-San branch, Vinh Xuan (Vietnamese Wing Chun), Cho Family branch, Hung Fa Yi/Hung Suen Wing Chun Kuen, Pao Fa Lien branch, and Fut Sao “Buddha Hand” branch among others.

Furthermore GM Ip had many students who spread Wing Chun all over the world, some of whom, or their students, or student’s student, founded their own interpretations or offshoots of Wing Chun. Among them are Lun Gai, Gwok Fu, Leung Sheung (梁相), Lok Yiu (駱耀), Chu Shong-Tin (徐尚田), Wong Shun Leung (黃淳樑), Wang Kiu (王喬), Yip Bo Ching (葉步青), William Cheung (Founder of Traditional Wing Chun), world martial arts superstar Bruce Lee Siu-Long (1941-1973) (Founder of Jeet Kune Do), Kang Sin Sin (Kong San San), Hawkins Cheung, Lo Man Kam, Wong Long, Wong Chok, Law Bing, Lee Shing, Ho Kam-Ming, Moy Yat, Duncan Leung, Derek Fung (馮平波 Fung Ping Bor), Chris Chan (陳成 Chan Shing), Victor Kan (Ving Tchun), Stanley Chan, Chow Sze Chuen, Tam Lai, His sons Ip Ching and Ip Chun, Lee Che Kong, and Leung Ting (梁挺) (Founder of Wing Tsun).

Today, Wing Chun is practiced in more than 64 countries and is the world's most popular system of Southern Kung Fu. Wing Chun joins Hung Gar and Choy Lee Fut as "The Three Great Martial Art Schools of South China."

Ng Yung-Wa Sifu, the Resource Instructor for the “An Introduction to Wing Chun Basics” seminar last January 16, 2010 in Bacolod City, was a student of Dick Wachtberger Sifu, who in turn was a student of Wang Kiu Sifu, one of the students of Wing Chun Grandmaster Ip Man of Hong Kong. Ng Sifu will be travelling to Taiwan this coming February 1 but he plans to go back three months after, to set up a Wing Chun school in Bacolod.

For more info, please contact 0927-987-1304.

Ip Man Line Wing Chun Kung Fu Taught in Seminar Part I: The Bacolod Seminar By: James U. Sy Jr.

Ng Yung-Wa Sifu (seated) with participants of the “An Introduction to Wing Chun Basics” seminar last January 16, 2010 at the Avenue Gym, 2nd Floor La Salle Courtyard, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City.

In another milestone in Negros martial arts history, Avenue Gym hosted the first ever Wing Chun Kuen (咏春拳) in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and perhaps, the Negros Island, dubbed as “An Introduction to Wing Chun Basics” last January 16, 2010 at the 2nd Floor La Salle Courtyard, La Salle Ave., Bacolod City. Nine participants representing three martial arts groups were in attendance.

Resource Instructor was Ng Yung-Wa Sifu, who descended from the Ip Man line of Wing Chun. Grandmaster Ip Man (1893-1972) was the teacher of the legendary Bruce Lee Siu-Long (1941-1973), who popularized Chinese Kung Fu in his movies.

Ng was born in Hong Kong and later resided in the Netherlands. He started martial arts training in Muay Thai in 1994 and continued to do so for two years. At 20 years of age, he started his studies of Wing Chun Kuen with Nils Sifu and then Dick Wachtbeger Sifu, a student of Wang Kiu Sifu, who was in turn a student of Wing Chun Grandmaster Ip Man of Hong Kong. Ng started assisting with the conduct of classes after three years. In his sixth year, he was already an Instructor at the school. Ng Sifu had a third teacher he could not name because he was made to promise not to. Ng Sifu has a total of 11 years experience, both studying and teaching, Wing Chun Kung Fu.

Ng Sifu travelled to Bacolod City on September 15, 2010 to study higher meditation techniques at the Humanistic Academy of Life and Arts at the Yuan Thong Temple, 2876 Burgos St., 6th Rd., Bacolod City. About a week after entry into the program, Ng Sifu introduced Wing Chun Kuen at the temple. Previously, Ven. Yung Ko had introduced the Tai Chi Fan to members of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) at the temple.

Later in 2010, Ng Sifu was invited by DEFTAC Instructor and Yasay Sable Master Ferdinand Emmanuel Y. Gayoles to demonstrate Wing Chun Kuen to his criminology class at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), Lizares St., Bacolod City.

Ng Sifu was the first one to publicly teach Wing Chun Kuen in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental. While there are individuals who know Wing Chun in Bacolod, they have chosen to remain anonymous and/or keep their art a secret or as a family heirloom. Bacolod had other visitors who had knowledge of Wing Chun, like Dr. Ned R. Nepangue of Cebu, but they have not taught publicly, and if they did, only to select individuals.

The seminar began with an overview of the Wing Chun system, starting with the burning of the Shaolin Temple by the Manchus, the escape of the Five Ancestors, and the subsequent founding, establishment, and propagation of Wing Chun Kuen “Forever Springtime Fist (Cantonese)” in China, Hong Kong, and the world (read the art’s history in Part II).

Ng Sifu then explained the principles that make Wing Chun different from other styles of martial arts. The six forms that were traditionally taught in Wing Chun were also enumerated.

During the seminar proper, Ng Sifu taught the fundamentals including yee jee kim yung ma, vertical straight punch, chain punch, uppercut, hook punch, pak sao, lop sao, bong sao, and basic chi sao. The afternoon session focused on Siu Nim Tao “Small Idea,” the first form in Wing Chun which teaches the basic techniques and structure of the art.

Jeremy John Dy, an alumni of St. John’s Institute (SJI) who had studied Kimdo Taekwondo before, was enthusiastic about learning Wing Chun from an actual teacher. “I did self study of Wing Chun and I know it is effective. Now that I’ve experienced it first hand, my conviction just became stronger. Ng Sifu’s punch may not look that powerful but if you’re at the receiving end of one it feels like being struck in front and having an exit wound at the back. There’s no magic about it, only science behind every move,” Dy commented.

Those who attended the seminar were Senior Officials Erwin A. Camara and Lisa Anna M. Gayoles of the Bacolod Taekwondo Association (BTA), Alan Yanmar M. Azuelo, Gerald June Daclan, and Carlos F. Trunio II of the UNO-R Martial Arts Society, and Founder James U. Sy Jr., Jeremy John Dy, Montano F. Mondia IV, Rommel Panal of Conceptual Martial Arts Society (CMAS), Inc. Also present was Chris Marie Dumasis.