The Kung Fu Family
Posted on Monday, April 02, 2007 at 8:10 AM by Sifu Smith
Posted in Students
So Different, So Similar. As this Saturdays practice came to a close, I
was again reminded of the attributes of learning from an old set of
values when it comes to the kungfu school. Master Chin often told us
stories almost 20 years ago, of how when he was learning Kung Fu and Tai
Chi that he would have to pay Master Mat Sik with a bag of oranges. The
incredible number of stories, whether it was Mat Sik, Kuo Lien Ying, or
Henry Ng always gave an image of family. It was so much different than
what I had seen at the time at other martial schools: students show up
at 5:30 out at 6:45, next class 7 pm, endlessly. The Martial Art
Business School, that was one reason why I never went to those places.
Often after practice, the students would be tired, having trained diligently and we would go for lunch. Master Chin liked the K&W at the times so for years that where we went. Some of my fondess memories were of training hard with my classmates, and near the end of practice get the smell of cooking in the back. We would get through, Sifu Chin would hand you a bowl of rice, we would eat some other dish with one of the good sauces, and talk, or watch a kungfu movie (Clubfoot sticks in my mind).
At this stage, now I try to pass down that old-timey tradition. Each saturday after practice, we (10-15 of us) come together at the school, and cook a fine and fulfilling lunch. A massive pot of jasmine rice, grilling vegetables, stir-fry more, and at least 3 sauces we make (thanks again Star, the hot mustard sauce is still burning :). Many of the students have trained in other places and often comment that they never have had a bond with their classmates like the group they sweat, work, and endure with. They often meet with one another at parks and places to train and compare notes.
I am very proud of our group, each has their standing space and work diligently themselves. Again I am grateful to Master Chin who taught me a hell of lot more than kung fu, who shared with me a lot about life, togetherness, and the places you can find family.
The Kung Fu Family