3rd VTM Workshop in Brasil

[Marcelo-RJ]

Brothers + friends,

The 3rd VTM Workshop in Brasil was a huge success.
The 12th and the 13th of November, Sifu Meng introduced the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun Kuen system to a crowded room at the Northern Shaolin Association in Rio de Janeiro.
Amongst the attendants there were three Northern Shaolin Sifu of GM Chan Kwok Wai family ( http://fajing2.angelcities.com/gm.html ); Sifu Walter, the 1st student in Rio under the pioneer of Wing Chun in Brasil, Sifu Li Hon Ki; Wing Chun Sifu Andrias, from Croatia; and Sifu Jose Divino, president of the Wu Shin Yi Lung Association.
Every single person who attended the public workshop was astonished with HFY scientific and efficient approach to reality.
After that... we went to a pizza festival and ate until our energies were (almost) recovered :-)
The next day, Nov 14 we had a 6 hours training session with Sifu Meng, only for HFY students and 4 Northern Shaolin teachers who were invited. That day, Sifu guided us, HFY + Shaolin brothers, through some aspects of the 1st level of HFYWCK. Then, the HFY group went through the whole 1st and was introduced to the 2nd level. And, yes, we needed to go to a non-stop barbecue restaurant to recover part of our energies.
Nov, 15: Sifu went to Sao Paulo, where he met Sifu Marcio Silva, of the Duncan Leung family ( www.lihonkiwingchun.com.br ). Another workshop followed, specially designed for Wing Chun students. He came back Rio that same night.
Nov, 16: Once again, a training session with us, HFY students, and a lot of corrections and commentaries that certainly helped us to improve our HFY knowledge and skill. Then... rush to the airport! Sifu Meng departed at 8:10 PM (Rio time), and we can hardly wait for his coming back.
Ahmmm... sleeping? We tried to. But Sifu Meng's battery seems to be a never-low one. After all those training sessions, he still had energy to go jogging on the beach. Now we're all thinner (I'm almost disappearing as I'm naturally thin) and Sifu's famous as the "human-spa" (wanna loose your belly? so come and join us!).
Yes, a new seed was planted. And a beautiful tree is growing; yes, a beautiful tree is growing.
Thanks again, Sifu!

Marcelo
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

[BennyMeng]

Below is my review of the Brazil trip. Before getting to it, I'd like to thank my two hosts: Sifu Luis Pessanha and Sifu Marcio Silva for provinding such excellent locations. I would also like to thank the HFY students in Brazil, and expecailly Marcelo and Jacques for organizing everything, in two cities, and taking care of me.

2004, November 12-15 Brazil Trip
3rd VTM HFY Workshop

Rio de Janeiro – Day 1
Friday November 12th
Workshop session I - 6:00 to 9:30

Leaving the airport, we went to lunch, and then checked in at the hotel. From there it was straight to the workshop. It was held at:

Northern Shaolin Association
Assoc. Shaolin Norte
Rua Gago Coutinho, 37 A
Largo Do Machado – Rio De Janeiro

During the first evening, I covered the background of Shaolin, the history of Southern Shaolin, the Three Treasures of Shaolin and Shaolin Wing Chun: Hung Fa Yi. Technical material consisted of Saam Mo Kiu, Hung Fa Yi Qigong, and the Wing Chun Formula. The evening concluded with Siu Nim Tau.

Day 2
Saturday November 13th
Workshop session II – 2:30 to 6:30

In the morning, I ran and enjoyed a great breakfast at the hotel. During the workshop, I started with a review of the material from Day I and covered details in Jung Sin Jong Sau and Siu Lin Tau. At the conclusion of the first workshop in Rio, everyone enjoyed the information, experience and fellowship.

The location host, Sifu Luis Pessanha, has 20 years of Northern Shaolin experience. He is also a well-seasoned fighter, winning full-contact fights in China. He, as well as his assistants and the other participants, are interested in following up on this workshop and learning more about Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun.

According to Frederico Vianna Pullig Salgado, a student of Sifu Pessanha, ‘I like the science part of HFY. The workshop was very good because Sifu Meng related everything (philosophy, heath, self-defense) together. I can see the way of harmony, how it is possible to not fight to solve problems. With HFY Time/Space/Energy, I can see how.’

Marcelo Neves Capano, as Assistant Instructor with over 20 years of experience, commented, ‘Shaolin Wing Chun is very interesting. First of all, it’s new to me. It’s similar to the traditional Northern Shaolin that I practice. Today, especially in Brazil, not too many traditional Kung Fu teachers teach with traditional methods. This introduction of HFY to Brazil is very good. It will help the Brazilian Kung Fu community. It’s good to see how traditional Shaolin Kung Fu works rather than seeing a lot of kung fu people that look like kickboxing.’

There was also a Taoist martial art association president in attendance, Sifu Divino José, and he is interested in promoting Hung Fa Yi as well.

One of the main reasons for their interest in HFY was the integrated approach to Chan, Health, and Martial Arts.

Following the workshop, we went to a Pizza Buffet for dinner. Due to overeating, I decided to go for a run in the evening as the hotel was on the beach.

According to the Rio organizer, Marcelo Santos:
“The workshop in Rio was a great success. We had more than 20 people - including three Northern Shaolin Sifu, one representative of a Chinese Martial Arts Association and one "Siu Lam" Wing Chun teacher plus practitioners of different systems and families. All of them were astonished with HFY's scientific and realistic approach to fighting, health and philosophy.”

Day 3
Sunday November 14th

On Sunday, I met the HFY people for lunch. We went to the Northern Shaolin School and I covered intensive training and organizational matters all day.

This was my third trip to Brazil. With this trip, we have accomplished the goal of building a core group and getting a physical location to train. They are working towards becoming a full school and developing a broader group of practitioners and students. As the Rio group develops, it will be possible for more trips to support their learning.

Day 4
Monday November 15th

I flew to Sau Paulo at 9:00 AM. The workshop in Sau Paulo was in the theme of the Friendship Seminars with two lineages presenting material: HFY and Duncan Leung.

The host was Sifu Marcio Silva, originally of the Moy Yat family, and now a representative of the Li Hon Ki Martial Art and Chinese Herbalist Association. The Li Hon Ki Association is connected with the Duncan Leung Wing Chun Association, which is from the Ip Man lineage.

The workshop began with Sifu Marcio’s presentation of Duncan Leung’s Wing Chun system. I presented the HFY lineage in the afternoon. The information that was presented was similar to what was covered in Rio. Towards the end of my 6-hour set, the participants asked a lot of questions, particularly about the history.

There was a lot of excitement and interest. Everybody wanted to follow-up and possibly develop a HFY school in Sau Paulo.

Because I was on a tight travel schedule, I left for the airport right after the workshop. Marcelo and Jacques met me at the airport in Rio and we ate a late dinner at the beach.

Below are the workshop comments, translated by Jacques Menezes:

I think it was a very interesting talk about a new Wing Chun system. I learned some blocks and attacks movements for my self defense in this international seminar. HFY Wing Chun is not only about fighting but learning new movements and techniques to improve yourself. No one is better than other - everyone is capable if we are diligent.
- Diego Silva

I appreciate very much this seminar. I found it very interesting - the stances and concepts about weight distribution. In my Duncan Leung’s lineage this concept is similar and is the first time I have heard about this outside my family. Congratulations for this great work.
- Romoaldo

This seminar was very good to complement the Wing Chun community here in Brazil.
- Mario Shugimoto.

Wonderful (in Chinese)
A very good scientific and spiritual path. Perfect!
I would like to join because of the path, Buddha’s law (in Chinese).
- Peterson

This was a very helpful seminar. I thought the information on this “new” old Wing Chun art very interesting. The explanations were great and I hope I can learn more about this system. I think I could learn many new, different things. Thank for this opportunity.
- Anderson

Congratulations, great seminar. I understood a lot of things about HFY Wing Chun. It adds a lot to my training. Thank you!
- Leandro

This was very interesting. Seminars like that can only add to Wing Chun and the martial arts because, by the interaction between families and the kung fu life, we can expand our understanding of the universe. It seems that the understanding of martial arts in the HFY and Duncan Leung families are similar in many parts. Congratulations for this great job.
- Lúcio Lima

I liked very much about the Hung Fa Yi historic aspects. The theoretical aspects are very advanced.
- Akira Outi

The Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun system seems to be highly connected at all: martial knowledge, strategies, philosophy and Chi Kung. Those subjects are not inseparable and they are in all the training.
- Mairton C. Romeu

This was my first practical experience with Wing Chun in spite of my theoretical knowledge. The most important thing, besides the knowledge exchange, was the fraternization and interaction between two Wing Chun families. I hope that this family (Hung Fa Yi) grows and prospers with quality strength and knowledge. This first experience was very good and it will open the way for these two Wing Chun Kung Fu families together.
- Fabiana

Day 5
Tuesday November 16th

I started my last day with a long run. After checking out, I met again with the HFY group and trained all day with a focus on covering level one and reviewing all the details.

Overall, this trip was a great success. With each trip, there are more and more people participating. Through direct, first-hand experience everyone came away with more positive energy. Everyone is impressed with the HFY system.