The Lo Man Kam Wing Chun System - Stories, Reports and Techniques

Foreword

In this book we offer a collection of texts by various people, each attempting to describe their experiences of learning Kung Fu with their Sifu. We are happy to be able to offer reports from those learning within other branches of Kung Fu. The book is enriched by stories and anecdotes from former pupils of Yip Man, relating to the time they spent training in his school. Furthermore we discuss the various training methods, training equipment und techniques.

I have tried to motivate as many people as possible who practice Wing Chun Kung Fu to write a report of their experiences for this book. This is aimed at illustrating the differing training ideologies, perceptions and individuality of Lo Man Kam’s pupils, without however trying to make any comparison.

Frequently there is discussion of the differences in methodology between various Wing Chun Schools: the historical reasoning behind particular training methods is explored, or assumptions are made about the combat effectiveness of a particular system. Unfortunately it tends to be entirely forgotten that most Wing Chun systems worldwide spring from the same root, namely that of the Great Master Yip Man. Various interviews have shown that Yip Man himself altered his training methods frequently over the course of his teaching career, and that methodological differences developed as they were passed on from pupil to pupil.

For example, during a talk with Sifu Wang Kiu I learned that in the early days of Sigung Yip Man’s teaching career, they had no wooden dummy available in the school and that therefore the Wooden Dummy Form was taught either without a dummy or using one of the pupils as a dummy. As a result of this experience Sifu Wang Kiu developed a training method which he called „Living Dummy“, where the Wooden Dummy Form is practiced with a partner.

This method of training is frequently called into question: however the historical facts as reported to me by Sifu Wang Kiu show that this training process actually existed in Yip Man’s school. And furthermore Sifu Wang Kiu puts forward a very positive argument for this particular training variation: „All the pupils of any Wing Chun school can practice the Wooden Dummy Form at the same time with this method, as most schools have only one wooden dummy available“.

This story and the resulting practices have proved to me that it is mistaken to believe that one cannot learn from other Wing Chun systems. Their experiences can benefit one’s own training methods and bring advantage to the development of one’s personal teaching style. The Masters and teachers who have practiced this art for many years have developed many useful theories as to how one can coach pupils in particular techniques and movements, thereby helping them in the learning process.

Our basic aim is to produce pupils who can master the art of combat and to encourage them to teach it to others, so that our chosen combat style does not die out. A teacher should be proud to see his pupil improving in the art of combat, and perhaps eventually outstripping the performance of his teacher. A good pupil is the result of a good teacher. The essence of the art of combat is never to give up the fight, and to win. This is the basic ideology which every combatant follows. The well-known saying of a famous fighter applies equally to the Wing Chun System: „Hasta la victoria sempre – Onward to victory!

Tuition with Lo Man Kam: the nephew of the last Great Master Yip Man.

-Training in Taiwan 2004-

What is it like, to train in a school run by a long-term pupil of the famous Great Master Yip Man? Surely many martial arts experts have asked themselves this question. Lo Man Kam not only enjoyed many years of training with Yip Man; he is also the nephew of the last Great Master. His first impressions and experiences of Wing Chun Kung Fu took place in Foshan (central China), when he was still very young, and before Yip Man lived in Hong Kong. At this time Lo Man Kam lived with his mother and his uncle in this province. Later he studied with Sigung Yip Man at one of his schools in Hong Kong for ten years.

Sifu Lo Man Kam sometimes talks about his experiences of training with his uncle, or as he explains a technique he relates what his uncle would have said about it at the time. Marc Debus and Dr. Frank Kuhnecke from the German Lo Man Kam Wing Chun Association went to train in Taipeh in the summer of 2004 and a short report of their first-hand experiences will give an impression of the realities of training in Sifu Lo Man Kam’s school.

Sifu Lo in Taiwan in the 70ties

It was not the first training trip to their Sifus school. Marc Debus and Frank Kuhnecke had already visited the Master’s school in both the preceding two years, while for one visitor it was the first experience of training with Sifu Lo Man Kam in Taipeh after getting to know him during his last two annual visits to Germany. Pupils from many other lands also travel regularly to Taiwan for training purposes, including Philipp Mueggler and Horst Uecker from Switzerland, and John Kang und Bradley Temple from America.

At the Sifus school, training sessions are divided into two blocks. The „Morning class“ takes place from 10am to midday, and is generally not as well attended as the „Evening class“ von 8.00 until 10.00pm. This later class tends to concentrate on Chi Sao training, and on practicing Forms and combat techniques together. Foreign students usually stay in the Sifus house with him, and therefore in the afternoons Sifu often gives them additional tuition in order to maximise the training potential of their stay. He puts emphasis on the perfect execution of the ‚Forms’ and corrects details of technique so that his Kung Fu style can be taught in the finest detail in schools outside Taiwan.

M. Debus in Taipeh

During the training classes the Sifu pays attention to all his pupils. He walks around the class to keep everyone under observation, and constantly corrects his pupils. He repeats these revisions tirelessly if he believes he can improve one’s technique. Some pupils are given special exercises in order to help them to rectify a mistake. This can be difficult, since Sifu Lo Man Kam will only allow a progression to the next exercise when he can see that the previous one has been fully understood and is now being correctly implemented.

Taifun in Taipeh

The climatic conditions demand particular effort: the temperature can often be between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius. The majority of foreign pupils are not used to training in such high temperatures. One must drink a lot of water in order to make up for fluid loss. Furthermore the air humidity level is extremely high and the temperature barely drops even at night. During 2004, Marc Debus and Frank Kuhnecke experienced a violent typhoon in Taipeh which almost prevented their journey home. One day the storm was so severe that it was impossible to continue training on the roof, where the training usually takes place. Instead a small group of five pupils trained in the living room of Sifu Lo Man Kam’s apartment.

My Training with Sifu Lo Man Kam

-by Marc Debus-

I began to be interested in martial arts in the middle of the eighties. At that time I trained a great deal with fellow students who had themselves been practicing various types of martial arts for several years. The problem with the training was that we were not able to have regular sessions, nor did we have a particular location for our training.

Sifu Lo Man Kam with Marc Debus 1996

I decided to attend a school of martial arts, so that I could have regular training sessions. And so I found a Wing Chun Kung Fu School in the city in which I was studying, and registered there and began my training. I quickly became fascinated by the combat style and therefore began a training programme to teach it myself. My teacher at the time soon encouraged me to open my own school. After a year of preparation I opened my own school in North Rhine-Westphalia with a colleague, and we ran it successfully together for three years.

Meanwhile I had been training for several years and also attending weekly sessions for teachers, lasting two to three hours each time. There we practiced the Siu Lim Tao and the Cham Kiu Forms of Wing Chun, techniques, ‘feeling’ training and free combat. However the training basically remained the same over a long period of time, and my questions regarding techniques and applications could not be answered to my complete satisfaction. I therefore decided to find an authentic source to further my knowledge of the Wing Chun Kung Fu System.

My first contact with Sifu Lo Man Kam came during a seminar in 1996. The wonderful training methods and friendly attitude of this Chinese man encouraged me and three teaching colleagues and friends (Olaf Buschke, Andreas Zerndt and another guy, who leaved later), who were also unhappy with their current training regimes, to renew contact with Sifu Lo Man Kam at the end of 1999.

Sifu Lo Man Kam visited us for the first time in the year 2000 for two weeks, and we used this time entirely for our own training purposes. Sifu Lo Man Kam taught, to begin with, the Siu Lim Tao of the Wing Chun System. I experienced for the first time what it was like to have a teacher who could distinguish the tiniest error in practicing the Form, and who was able to give advice regarding these problem areas which enabled me to correct my mistakes quickly and effectively. Furthermore for every mistake Sifu Lo Man Kam explained to us the dangers and problems which could arise in a combat situation if we continued in the error of our ways. He reinforced this by giving examples of the differences between the right and wrong forms of the exercise. It quickly became clear to us that the process of learning the first Form would demand more time and effort than we had until then imagined.

At the same time we also absorbed Lo Man Kam’s teaching methods, so that later we could pass on his tips to our own pupils. He showed us various teaching aids and gave us many simple examples which would be invaluable for tuition purposes. Simultaneously we learned the correct execution of the Dan Chi.

The tuition with Sifu Lo Man Kam during these two weeks solved the many questions which had plagued me over the preceding years of my martial arts training and to which I had never received answers. For these reasons we decided to intensify our contact with Sifu Lo Man Kam in order to extend our knowledge of Wing Chun Kung Fu.

Andreas Zerndt with Yan Tin San in Taipeh

The next step was to make contact with long-term students of Sifu Lo Man Kam, so that we could train together with them and build on our new knowledge. At the same time we planned with the Sifu (by telephone) both his next visit to Germany and our visit to the Association’s headquarters in Taipeh, as well as the founding of the German Lo Man Kam Wing Chun Association.

By contrast the training in Taipeh was completely different to the private training we had had in Germany. Many long-term students of Sifu Lo practice the Wing Chun Kung Fu System here daily, in two training sessions. During this first visit to Taiwan, contact with our mostly native fellow-pupils was not as difficult as we had previously imagined. Most of our colleagues spoke good English and were always ready to answer our questions or to give help when we had a problem. Sifu Lo Man Kam himself was always present during the training sessions and corrected his pupils or gave them new exercises when he was convinced that they had mastered the previous one. Many of the advanced students were a great help as one frequently found oneself in untried situations during the training, especially in the Chi Sao. Our colleagues were used to considering and repeating problematical situations arising during training, until one came up with a solution. Furthermore I always received tips from Sifu Lo Man Kam or indeed he would repeat a maneuver or procedure himself with me. Here I experienced for the first time a training exercise which kept me busy for many hours. Some fellow-students were quite prepared to practice with me outside the normal training sessions and so I quickly became used to an entirely different training regime.

Sifu Lo Man Kam demonstrate a knife-defense technique

Becoming familiar with both the living conditions in Taiwan and China and the oriental way of thinking helped me to better understand Sifu Lo Man Kam’s training methods and explanations. Kung Fu pupils in Europe or America behave in an entirely different manner to those of Sifu Lo Man Kam’s school. The pupils practice exclusively that which Sifu Lo has shown them or the exercise he has given them to practice. They then begin their particular training exercise after practicing their ‘Forms’ for a short while. The pupils do not ask questions but leave the decision as to what they should practice entirely up to the master. I have rarely seen pupils plaguing Sifu with questions or asking him if they can practice something different. The quality of the Kung Fu which I have experienced in Sifu Lo Man Kam’s school speaks volumes for this style of tuition. One has the impression that the Chinese pupils, or those who have lived in China for a long time, approach their training with greater patience and stamina. The fact that the pupils invest two hours daily in learning the art of combat inevitably means that they learn in a much more intensive manner than in most Western schools.

Sifu Lo teachs Frank Kuhnecke

The criticism and corrections Sifu Lo Man Kam makes are seen positively by his pupils; since they are always appear to be justified. Sifu drew my attention to my own mistakes so often that I began to work independently on the correction of these errors. However I received no praise from him for the success of my efforts. I only realized that I was carrying out my exercises correctly when Sifu stood next to me, watched me complete an exercise routine and then turned away without saying a word. I knew at once that I had performed the exercise correctly. About 10 minutes later Sifu criticized another exercise and then I knew what I should be practicing next. At the same time it was clear to me that Sifu Lo Man Kam was keen that his pupils should constantly improve. He achieves this by continually correcting faults and inspiring the pupils in their training. Even small mistakes are not overlooked in his school. It was hard at the beginning, with my Western mentality, to accept this constant criticism. But I quickly learnt that this contributed to a more intensive preoccupation with my faults and helped me to carry out my exercise routines more precisely

The organization of the school was such that the saying „Wing Chun is a family system“ seemed logical. The respect of the pupils was not limited to a silly greeting or meaningless ritual as one often finds in martial arts schools. The pupils addressed Lo Man Kam principally by the Chinese title „Sifu“(father-teacher). The true meaning of this word only struck me at the moment when I realized that the son of Sifu Lo Man Kam, Gorden Lu (Lo), also used the word „Sifu“ when addressing his father. There was no sign of any competition between the pupils. My Sihings (older Kung Fu brothers) were always ready to give me help or to answer my questions: they never made a secret of anything. Even when I asked questions about ‘forms’ which I had not yet myself begun to learn, I received polite and informative answers which were always helpful to my later training

Sifu teach Keith movements of the Bat Cham Dao form

After these experiences I found the teacher-pupil relationship in some European martial arts schools completely ridiculous. Even the interaction of the pupils in western schools was harder to understand in view of the training methods practiced in Taipeh. In the past I have heard that one should not show a beginner too much and that as a teacher one must make sure that talented pupils don’t learn too much! (It must be mentioned here that there is absolutely no hierarchy or any belt system in Sifu Lo Man Kam’s school). The teaching method and the way of dealing with the pupils in his school made clear to me that a talented pupil is a gift to the teacher. The art of Wing Chun Kung Fu can only be furthered when we are prepared as teachers to allow others to be as good as or better than ourselves. If in our pupil’s generation there are none who reach our level of ability, this cannot be transmitted to the next generation and ever more knowledge of martial arts will be lost. Thus every teacher should try to encourage new talent in order to maintain the art of Kung Fu for future generations.

Due to the efforts of various western teachers and different associations there are ever more people trying to spread the art of Wing Chun Kung Fu, and undertaking longer training periods either in China or in schools run by pupils of Yip Man. Over the past few years it has been seen that some well-known and long-term Wing Chun teachers have sought contact with former Yip Man pupils, or invited them to attend one- or two-day seminars. They now wish to return to the roots of Wing Chun Kung Fu and forge links with Sifu Yip Man despite turning down such contact for many years. This is a very positive development, since it will lead to a more authentic assimilation of the combat art

Leung Jans house, Sigung of Yip Man, in Foshan / China

Wing Chun in my life

-By Gorden Lu-

Wing Chun was just like a game in my childhood memory, playing around with friends and my father’s students and at that time, looking people workup & training Wing Chun kung fu every night also was part of my life. But the most enjoy part then was listened the Wing Chun stories from my father Sifu Lo Man Kam. A great man and a warrior, who also is a Wing Chun master deep & far influence to the west countries.

Learn kung fu & play kung fu there has a big different. Playing just playing, something you will always missing there. Wing Chun is no for play & it is just like art that you need to know what is the profound there. I was realized that thought when I started to learn Wing Chun. I studied Wing Chun when I was 15 with my father and that is 18 years ago. Playing is the pass for me. Listen, think, understand, feel & experience the firsthand were what I enjoyed. Learning Wing Chun is not just like some other martial arts to know hot to fight is enough…… I always feel this way, the Wing Chun ideas are the essence of Wing Chun and those ideas not only good for you skills also they are really good and can help in your life to face different things in a lot of different ways and that is also what I most benefit thing’s in my life.

Gorden Lu and Marc Debus in Taipeh 2002

Sifu Duncan Leung, another great man & Wing Chun master who is my father’s good friend also is my father’s joiner kung-fu brother. My father encouraged me go to Duncan’s school to see more Wing Chun and get more feeling. Make your Wing Chun more alive and be your own style that is he wanted me to be. I moved to Virginia Beach, USA at 1994 fall and start to train & help to teach at Duncan’s school.

Gorden Lu and Andreas Zerndt – Taipeh 2002

He trained me hard and taught me a lot. Not only physical also mental. No doubt, different people develop to different Wing Chun style. Learning with uncle Duncan, many techniques may have different approach & usage than my father, but the Wing Chun idea is always the same. That is learning Wing Chun you need to learn how to not get hit and is not learn how to hit people first and I think that also is the art part of Wing Chun.

Using your thought & ideas to present on the movement and be a body language and be your own style and it is art too and that is Wing Chun. Like my father says “Kung-fu is dead, you need to make it alive”. Uncle Duncan says “The best technique is no technique”… two meaning are the same for what I see. They try to say “react for what you should react, and it is not react for what you want to react”. Because the art is no rule, sometime it is no make any sense. If you can express your feeling & idea at right timing with right move, then it maybe the best technique, even that movement is not looks like Wing Chun. For sure, their ideas influence me a lot and help me to improve my skills. Learning from them so many years, in my feeling “Free to do things, but have to be right” this saying always gives me a faith to achieve what I can get from these two great Sifu of my.

Training in the former school of Gorden Lu in Hsinchu Taiwan

Master Lo Man Kam’s United Nations of Kung-Fu

-By Editors of Vigor and Beauty Magazine, translated by John Kang-

Without the lack of concrete historical evidence, it is impossible to conjecture an exact year for the genesis of Chinese kung fu. By conservative estimates, kung fu has enjoyed at least several hundred years of history in China. Yet, if one considers the wars fought by the Yellow Emperor as the birthplace of Chinese martial arts, then the year of origin becomes 2698 BC-thereby hinting at several thousand years of development. From the Three Kingdoms period (220 AD) to the Qing Dynasty, from the early Republic (1911 AD) to the present day, famous masters of the various styles of Chinese fighting arts would be to numerous to list.

Painting on a temple-wall in Taipeh

Sadly enough, despite being part of their cultural heritage and mass public exposure beginning as early as silent movies, for a long time the average Chinese could relate more to Korean Tae kwon do, or Japanese Karate. Excluding the handful of elderly Taiji practitioners, most of what one would see in the parks early each mornings-- such as sword dances taken straight from a movie and performed with music-- were generally for show and recreation. Even the “Martial Art Practice Halls” common to every street and alley in Taipei actually served as offices for practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine and fronts for sellers of “dit da jow”.

Old kung fu practitioner in Chongqing / China

After Bruce Lee burst onto the movie scene with “The Big Boss,” people began to change their view of kung fu. “Fists of Fury,” “Return of the Dragon,” and “Enter the Dragon” hit the silver screen in succession, with themes addressing the unspoken feeling of insecurity among Chinese of the time and Bruce Lee’s superb performance, sparking a new wave of enthusiasm for Chinese martial arts. Without a doubt, the high level of martial artistry in the movies, and spectacular performances at exhibitions, all helped wash away the contemptuous title “sick man of Asia” from the Chinese combined conscience. Further, Lee’s foundations in the southern style of Wing Chun, thrust that particular art into the limelight, becoming an instant hit to foreign enthusiasts of martial arts.

Now, in all corners of the world in which Chinese have settled, one may find kung-fu schools. Whether it be a Chinese teacher or a foreign teacher, enrollments continue growing. Wing Chun remains a significant beneficiary to this trend, despite Grandmaster Yip Man and Bruce Lee’s passing over 20 years ago. In almost every major city on six continents, one can find a Wing Chun school, with practitioners multiplying every year. Not to mention that Bruce Lee’s movies remain the favorites among martial arts enthusiasts

Lo Man Kam in his first school in Taipeh