Ky Moo Kwan in Toronto

Sifu Krys van Hoof

Both Sifu van Hoof, and Sifu Croy training snake techniques

When Sifu Krys van Hoof moved to Toronto to go to University, she looked all over for a good Kung Fu school, and found that most were commercial type schools that taught Karate, but called themselves Kung Fu. She went all over and was so surprised with what she saw. The skill, the knowledge, the way the schools were run, and yes even the Chinese few Chinese Kung Fu schools she visited. What she could not believe was all the while living in Pembroke and training Chinese Martial arts, she dreamed about going to the city and finding something that would be as good if not better. It would only be logic to think she could find such an art in a big city. In time she realised that the art she learned in small town Pembroke, was as good, if not better then anything she had seen in Toronto. So she called Sifu James Croy and asked him if it was Ok for her to teach the systems taught in Ky Moo Kwan. Sifu Croy agreed and she opened her own classes. These classes were great, with some really great students, some years went better then others. The main thing was she could train what she knew while teaching students, keeping up her own skill. The only reason why she could not keep it going at all times, was her work, and school. Because Sifu Charles Croy, "Sifu James Croy's son" lived and went to university in Toronto also, he would come to some of the classes, and one year while Sifu Krys van Hoof had to work out of town, Sifu Charles Croy took over the classes for the summer for her and did an excellent job with the students. Sifu Charles Croy lived very far away in Toronto, and to take a bus to where Krys had the classes took longer then an hour both ways. This while working and going to school did not work. Both are still in Toronto, so you never know when either of them will start another class. Both Sifu Krys van Hoof and Sifu Charles Croy started the Chinese Martial arts when they were very young. They trained very seriously all the way through school until they left for university. Both are extremely talented in the martial arts, and basically anything they touch turns beautiful, plus" both are extremely nice people. If ever you have the chance to learn from either one of them, go for it.

Sifu Krys van Hoof's student in Toronto

Chris, and Krys while still learning in Pembroke Kung Fu school

Best Friends for life, both Christy, and Krys, grew up together. Both moved to Toronto to go to University. Christy tried to do the martial arts a few times during her time in Pembroke, but found it not for her. Sifu Krys van Hoof, wanted so bad for Christy to like it because that way she could spend more time with her best friend. That is one of the all time problems of everyone that takes the martial arts seriously. They have no time for friends. The time that we do have we use for training, every single waking hour of the day. Most of the time, when one of our friends sees that we want to do the martial arts and they do not, they start to cause problems for us, like oh you have no more time to party. Or you are not any fun any more. But that is it, we finally see that there is more to life then a party, and there is more to life then having fun. As time goes by, we have less and less time for the friends we used to have before we started the martial arts. And with in a few years, we have no more friends left at all. You can look at this as a problem, or you can look at this as something that makes us get ahead in life. Ether way, once we start the martial arts, our lives change drastically. I would say that if you train the martial arts for something to do, then it would be a different affect. But if you practise the martial arts seriously, be prepared for a large change, all for the good.

Her students working on bags and practise shields

Blind Fold Push Hands

Once they learned push hands to a very high level, they were started on blind fold push hands. It was amazing to see how well Sifu van Hoof taught her students. That is one thing you cannot miss, a teachers students skill, if the teacher teaches incorrectly, it is easy to see, if they teach correct you can also see it. These students were amazing, especially for the length of time they trained.

Blind fold push hands

When blind fold push hand training, one can feel every motions ten fold. Once you cut off one sense, your other senses will become stronger.

Sifu van Hoof the Queen of flying kicks

Sifu Krys van Hoof, was one of the best flying kick performers of all time in Ky Moo Kwan, and that for thirty years of watching students come up through the ranks. Not one was like Krys when it came to flying kicks, she has bones like a bird, with holes in them. That is a joke we would use for those who could do flying kicks. Not everyone can do flying kicks, it is a skill that takes most people a lot of work. But the one thing about doing flying kicks properly, people take notice. Anything that others cannot do that well, is noticed when we can. That is why instead of taking out all of the hardest type kicks for modern students. Sifu Fiedler always made sure that everyone training today, would have the same training as people did yesterday. If someone finds a skill to hard, they do not have to do it, especially if they have an injury, or if their bodies are not wall suited for a certain task. Remember that there are all types of bodies, large people, small people, short people, tall people, and every type of person, is able to do something better then someone with a different body type. That is why with the martial arts, we have kept all of what was practised for hundreds of years. Allowing people to practise today, as they did yesterday. If someone cannot do an area of technique very well, as long as they try that is fine. Because in all likelihood, that same person will find that they will be able to do something better then others. Remember everyone is different, everyone has different types of bones, tendons, and stretch. Some people can in the first day get down and stretch the splits right away. Others can stretch for years and still are unable to do the splits. Just as some people are shown the push up on the knuckles, or back of wrists, and find that they have a very hard time with it. We do not make them do it, we show them that they can do it, as long as they work up to it slowly. For push ups, on fists, it is best to hold yourself in that position as long as you can first. Same with back of wrists, to hold yourself in that position as long as you can. Same with actual martial arts, some people are excellent with their hands and can use them right away to defend themselves, others like to use their legs to keep people at bay. Especially when you have no skill in any area of the martial arts yet. When you have a teacher that shows you compassion and caring from the start of your training, it makes all the difference in the world. You can't make someone do things that they do not want to do, and that is why a good teacher will get around people by trying different things, with confidence, with kind words, and by showing you that no matter how hard something is, you can do it, if you try.

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Last modified: 10/30/07