Sihing Page
The plan we had years ago, is starting to come true. Still people that come up through the ranks, having started when they were twelve, by the time they reach black belt they are off to university, we loose so many like this. However time has gone bye, and I would not even know what we would do without all of the wonderful people we have. All of these people train together so well it is amazing, they do not argue, they do not try to out due each other because of some ego trip, and they don't ever teach or show someone something unless they are absolutely sure of what they are teaching. Yes every one can make mistakes, and yes I do remember a time when we had a group of people that did not get along, we did not have a group that worked with each other, and because of that, the school was an unhappy place to go to.
We all know the difference between wanting to go to class and dreading to go to class. We all know this for different reasons. It could be a bully at the back of the class that is picking on you, when no one is looking. Or you could feel like one of the instructors does not like you and he or she makes you feel uncomfortable saying things in front of everyone to belittle you, we all that know that type of teacher. Teachers are there to help you and teach, not to belittle you. Bringing this all up, I remember talking with Sifu James, and Sifu Fiedler, and they all said the same thing, hardly anyone that comes that has a bad attitude stays. They talk tough the first day they come, some talk about how much martial arts they know and how great it is. A teacher teaches them how we punch, and the student stands there and says no he or she is going to punch the way they were taught some where else. Can you even imagine that type of mind going to learn. Please remember the only way we can learn is by having an empty cup, most important. We must do what our teacher asks of us, and we must do the best that we can do in class. Not for anyone but ourselves.
Sihing Garry Hartlin
One of the very first pictures of Sihing Garry Hartlin standing in horse stance. This was around one month after he started, and we put his picture first, because he has been with us much longer then most. He has always been patient with the students, has always cared for them in a way a parent would have for his children, he never lets students get the upper hand with him, and he knows who is doing what even when not looking behind him. Sihing Garry had to work at Mount Everest in the last few years, how fortunate is that, not only that, you can only imagine how professional he is with his work, to be asked to go to Everest is like being asked to be a professor at a prestigious University. Another thing about Sihing Garry, is he has helped all of us with his knowledge of computers, no matter what is going on, if Garry finds out you are having computer problems, he asks you if you need help, you never need to ask him, he loves it, he loves to figure out problems, then fix them. He also owned his own Internet company in Pembroke, Twice. Both times he sold, and now he works for Algonquin Collage, another great student we are so proud of.
Sihing Hartlin, first week introduced to Kung Fu, Sifu Dee brought him to class, from there things have been great.
Sifu Hartlin doing his packing on wood pole in ground. Sifu Krys van Hoof is behind Sihing Garry Hartlin, can't remember the other student. Typically we would use three star blocking, or combat blocks, all the same thing. Always start this type of training very slowly, look at a long run, not a short one, and realize that time goes by fast, and before we all know it, six months has gone bye.
We also leave all of the baggage at the door when we come into the club, because of that, when it is time to leave after class, everyone is refreshed, everyone feels fantastic. That is one of the most important things you can do once you start training. Forget about what happened during the day, forget about that argument you had with a co worker, forget about the argument you had with your son, your mother, your brother, forget about everything except how well you are going to do in the club tonight, and I promise you it will make you feel like one million dollars.
Another thing about jointing a club, is to always listen to the teachers, Sifu's, Sihing's, and never talk unless you are asked to talk. When we talk, we cannot learn, when we listen, we learn always. All of these things are the Sihing's job, they prepare the students when the Sifu comes in, how to act, what to call him or her, and everything from proper method of bowing to addressing higher levels or degree's.
The Sihing does a lot of teaching, why?, because they want to become a great teacher, and a great martial artist. They do not have to teach, they want to teach, big difference here. Another thing that makes us a little different is we will teach anyone to teach. Most schools do not pass on all of the knowledge to everyone because they fear that if someone learns to much and they allow that person to teach, that person will open a club across the street, which is very disrespectful in China, or in an Oriental mind set. Because we want to be an excellent teacher, we will never disobey ours, never. Sifu Fiedler told us once that after seven years with one teacher, and training eight hours a day. He started to learn another martial art that was totally hidden from Sifu Fiedler for seven years. Sifu Fiedler said he was shocked, not only shocked at being able to learn something totally amazing, but also to be able to learn something totally different again. It seems with GM Chow, every five or so years he comes out with something that is totally amazing. And you could be with that man for as long as you would want to be
Great Picture of some of the Sihing's and one Sifu
On the left is Sihing Evan, beside Evan, the big guy, is Sihing Jean, beside him in the white is Sifu Dee, to the far right is Sihing Gary Sutton, and on the other side of Sifu Dee with Blue belt is Sihing Chris.
All of these guys have worked together for years and years. To think this picture was taken so long ago, it is totally amazing and it is truly fantastic that so many stayed to learn in a high level of knowledge. For the first time in many years, we have more teachers then students. Again a plan we have had for many years. The only way to open a kung fu school to the public is going to have to be open eight hours a day, five or six days a week. Only then can we start to teach Seniors again, have a women's self defense class that teaches only women's self defense twice a week, same as a children's class, but that would have to be three to four times a week. Another class we would start to teach are private lessons to people that start at the very beginning. Or sometimes they make it to black belt, and see how fast private lesson students make it to black belt compared to those who are in a group class. Reason for this is think about it this way, one teacher one student. IF there are thirty students and one teacher, if half the class is making mistakes, and all different mistakes. How do you think that teacher can correct every one, even in the time they have for the class. That is right he can't. So with that, we can only imagine that having one teacher for one student, that one student is going to learn ten times as fast as a group lesson student. To have different programs for different types of people is very necessary in a martial arts class. Now for a martial sport class, that is another story.
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Sihing Jean Mathieu just passed his Black Sash test in Southern Ealge and Mantis
He has always completed his Black belt in Hung Kuen, "Kempo"
Date is Sept 2010
Some would say what comes next after black belt, well for one thing the Teaching degree, if you have not passed a teaching degree, you are unable to teach because you have a lack of knowledge to do so. Teaching is something that not everyone can do, it takes a special person to get that point across to many personalities. So after Black belt, which usually stands for Sihing. Sifu Degree is very different from a black belt, in fact once a student detirmines that is what he or she wants to do, they are put into a program that takes a good five years of teaching with an instructor or without, smae as getting your flying license, you have to fly in order to get experience. I have to laugh when some students say to me, "Oh my God I have to teach", no way I am not teaching, "They do not have a clue how much they are hurting themselves, and if they were asked to teach in the first place, that truly means that their instructor might be grooming them for Sifu Degree. You would not believe what I have heard come out of students mouths in forty years.
Also to Black Sash in Southern Eagle and Mantis is Sihing Gary Sutton
With Sihing Jean Mathieu around three years ago they passsed through their Black belt in Hung Kuen together,
Date is Sept 2010
. In fact there are people we have to say no too, because they are not the teaching type. Teaching is serious, it is passing on something so important. The wisdom of the ancients, the wisdom of thousands of years of war and protecting the wealthy, the Emperor, and other people with positions of power in ancient China. This went on for five thousand years. So remember this, whether you want to be a skilled student, and only train the martial arts as a hobby, or for a little self defense training that is fine, that is in fact excellent. But you can also join to learn enough self defense to handle most people easily, as long as that person trains hard and never starts and stops, starts and stops. One thing about people who start and stop and are trying to be teachers, can only become frustrated, what that person should so is take a long look into a mirror and wonder just what you want our of life. We cannot allow someone to teach when he or she does not put in the hard work as every one else that tries.
You see most people have different reasons for joining martial arts. Some join for a social evening, some to meet people, and others to do something for a hobby. There are people who join and almost within the first couple of weeks know they are going to be instructors down the road. Sifu Fiedler told us that is what happened to him, and you know what the instructors at the Hung Kuen school did, they all stood there and laughed. What was even more funny is two years later two of those who were laughing, lost their jobs to Sifu Fiedler. He was hired and they let two instructors go, they finally seen these two instructors colours, it was horrible the way they taught people, it was horrible the way that they punched students, when they were not looking, they kicked people in the grion the very first time they had to fight in the club, and that person never came back. Just imagine how one bad instructor could turn hundreds to thousands of people away from the martial arts, these people will always look back to that horrible experience and never want to try it again. And that is a sin, it is something that is so vil, so discuting, it inferiats me to hear such a thing.
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Sihing Aaron Simon when he first came back in March 2010
Here he is still working hard the date is Sept 2010
Even though Aaron left our club twenty years ago, he has worked hard for black belts in many other arts while going to university for his Doctorate. He came back to Pembroke, started his kung fu training again with Ky Moo Kwan under Sifu Dee Lely and Sifu James Gallant, Sihing Hartlin, Sihing Sutton, Sihing Mathieu, he has a lot of help this time to come up the ladder again. At this point in his training he is in the area of Green belt in Hung Kuen, he has also been trained in teh first four forms in Ying Yee, also the Ying Yee Short Sword form, and the Hung Kuen double ended staff form. He has gone through a knife throwing course this past summer, at the same time learning the Long Yang Tai Chi form on top of everything else. We can only wish that everyone else would train as hard as Aaron, he goes to classes six times a week in the club alone, four private lessons a week, two group classes a week. and he trains every day for a few hours at home daily. His skill was already at a very good level when he came, yes a few things were difficult to correct, some bad habbits crept into his routine. These have all been helped by Sihing Mathieu, Sihing Sutton, Sihing Hartlin, and Sifu Dee, every one gave a hand to help Aaron get back into the right direction again.
Aaron doing his circular blocks, the effect is stunning.
Aaron has it in his head to reach the level of Sifu, after that master, after that master instructor. He has a life work in front of him, but the funny thing is, he is doing all the right moves.
More pictures to come soon, especially of Sihing Sutton and Sihing Mathieu talking about their Tests to Black Sash in Eagle and Mantis.
Thanks see you soon
Back soon with more
Sifu Dee