GM Samuel Kwok Seminar Review Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Article by added on 20 Sep 2013.
This past weekend, on September 14, 2013, I had the unparalleled delight and honor of attending an Ip Man Wing Chun Seminar with my beloved Sifu, Grandmaster Samuel Kwok. I have been training in the martial arts since 1980, and it was literally the most incredible experience of my martial arts journey, as had been the last seminar I was pr:vileged to attend with Sifu Kwok in Medan 2 years ago, in 2011.
While the prevuous seminar had focused mostly on striking and defenses from the Sil Lim Tao, along with some advanced empty hand forms and wooden dummy techniques for the more advanced students, along with the healthy dose of top notch chi sau ("sticky hands") that sets GM Kwok's seminars apart, with some Qin Na. This most recent seminar, while still teaching some amazing percussion techniques, focused much more heavily on Chisau and Qin Na (Chin Na, or Cantonese Kum Na) the element of Kung Fu involving joint locks, throws, takedowns) and even some incredible, street worthy groundfighting. Like all GM Kwok's seminars, it was perfectly suited for and attended by students of all ranges of experience, from brand new students to highly experienced sifus.
I have also been enrolled in Grandmaster Kwok's long distance learning program for more than two years. While some claim that distance learning is not an effective way to learn a martial art, the irony of this is that most individuals making such claims have never tried. This seminar gave me, as one of Sifu Kwok's long distance students, the opportunity to both receive additional, highly intensive live instruction from the living legend, as well as to guage my progress on the distance program by training with live students from a traditional kuen (training hall). It may come as a surprise to some, but Grandmaster Samuel Kwok's long distance instruction over the two years since the last seminar I had been able to attend not only empowered me to hold my own amongst the l students, but I actually had the awesome honor and privilege of assisting in the correction and supervision of some of them during GM Kwok's seminar.
This experience has provided me with absolute confidence not only in Sifu Kwok's matchless tutelage and home study program, but also the incredible experience and effectiveness of his instructor training program, which I would heartily urge all who are serious about Wing Chun, or any Kung Fu, to learn more from GM Kwok himself about this unparalleled opportunity for you and your kuen.
Regarding the incredible Qin Na or Kum Na, as both a Jujutsu and Taijutsu instructor I can state on good authority that the joint manipulations, locks, breaks, throws, takedowns, etc. found in Wing Chun and mastered by Grandmaster Samuel Kwok are amongst the most comprehensive I have ever observed in any joint manipulation based fighting system, and delivered in the most brutally efficient, realistic, practical and streetwise manner possible. Add this to Ip Man Wing Chun's more famous, lightning quick and lethal percussion repertoire of "fists of fury" hand techniques, simple, direct and unmistakeably effective, and you have one of the most versatile and applicable self defense arts ever conceived.
Prior to becoming an Ip Man Wing Chun practitioner, I was already an instructor in another lineage. I mean no disrespect to any other lineage, as I think all styles of martial arts and of Wing Chun are great in their own way and teach many wonderful principles and techniques. However, when i first Chi Saoed and sparred with other Ip Man practitioners, they literally manhandled me with the superlative speed, efficiency of the Ip Man system. The following year I first met GM Samuel Kwok and some of his great disciples, who in turn manhandled me with their even greater softness and correct application of energy that had been passed on directly from GGM Ip Man's sons themselves, which haven't necessarily been inherited in all so called Ip Man lineages. Well, now the shoe was on the other foot, and I had the opportunity to demonstrate on another Sifu from the Wing Chun lineage I had previously represented, penetrating his defenses virtually at will with all the brilliant techniques GM Kwok had previously taught me.
Notwithstanding the amazing improvement that I hve availed under GM Kwok's legendary tuition, Sifu Kwok's skills, are more unbelieveable than ever. I love getting my ass kicked, because it is when I learn the most. And, though I have a good 20 -30 kg on Sifu and he, at age 65, 20 years my senior, can still hand my ass to me at will more effortlessly than ever. However, he only does so in the most constructive possible manner, making sure his students learn as much as possible from their mistakes, and progress at the most accelerated rates one could imagine. I can usually very easily throw an opponent attempting to mount me. However,when I attempted it as Sifu Kwok took me down in the seminar he was able to both completely throwproof himself despite my substantial size advantage, and simultaneously land a simulated vital strike before i even realized what was happening.
In addition to the Wing Chun training, I was also privileged to be able to go around Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with GM Kwok and my Kung Fu family there in Malaysia. As Kung Fu is very much about family, even moreso than about fighting, this was truly a rich and unforgettable experience. GM Kwok also totally embodies the Ip Man code of conduct and is an outstanding teacher by example of how to conduct oneself at all times, and of generosity and comportment as a true gentleman and ambassador of his art.
Last but not least, I had the unparalleled honor of taking the Bai Shi ceremony with Grandmaster Samuel Kwok, and being accepted as his true disciple. This is the greatest honor I have ever been privileged to receive in all my martial arts experience. I am honored and proud beyond words or expression to be a part of Grandmaster Samuel Kwok's and Great Grandmaster Ip Man's noble and legendary family. It is an honor I will always strive to uphold to the best of my ability.
GM Samuel Kwok has another seminar coming up on the first weekend in November in 2013 in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. As this past seminar in Kuala Lumpur was well worth the international flight from Vietnam, where I currently reside, I have no doubts whatsoever that this upcoming seminar in Medan also will be. I would wholeheartedly urge you to go to www.kwokwingchun.com check the events schedule, find the nearest seminar and make plans to attend. I am certain you will not regret it. I would also heartily recommend signing up for Grandmaster Samuel Kwok's distance learning program while you are there. Both of these have been the most important and rewarding steps I have ever taken in 30 years of martial arts training.