Baai Si and Atlantic City Review

Grand Master Garrett Gee came to Dayton, OH on Thursday January 18th to preside over the Hung Fa Yi Baai Si ceremony of Sifu Richard Loewenhagen and Mike Mathews to Master Benny Meng. This ceremony would represent a major transition in Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun history and tradition. In its previous 330 year history, Hung Fa Yi was taught only secretly to Ming Dynasty revolutionaries and Red Flower Society members. Grand Master Gee formally opened the art to the public in April 2000 in what is today the Western Regional Hung Fa Yi Headquarters, Meng's Martial Arts of Arizona (Chandler, AZ). Since his public coming out, Master Gee has accepted only 4 disciples: Master Benny Meng, John Murphy, Mathew Kwan, and Allen Kong. These four constitute the 9th Generation of Hung Fa Yi leaders. Sifu Richard Loewenhagen and Michael Mathews would become the first Hung Fa Yi disciples and leaders of the 10th Generation. Grand Master Gee, his friend Martin Ng, and two students, Allen Kong and Jeff Chin arrived on Thursday January 18th. After settling in at Master Meng's house, the group reviewed the current HFY business plan and passed out membership cards.

After lunch, Grand Master Gee gave an impromptu workshop for VTM members covering the first section of the Hung Fa Yi Dummy. The workshop covered training, ranges, and combat applications, in addition to supporting footwork. Later on in the day, Grand Master Gee covered the first stages of Daan Chi Sau as taught in the Hung Fa Yi lineage. In Hung Fa Yi, every training exercise is related to combat. Daan Chi Sau is no exception. After learning the basic structure, the student is taught striking methods from the front hand.

The traditional Baai Si ceremony took place that evening at the Ving Tsun Museum on the main training floor. What follows is a brief description of the Baai Si ceremony. Disciple candidates Richard Loewenhagen and Mike Mathews went through the Hung Fa Yi Baai Si ceremony to show their commitment and loyalty to Master Meng, Grand Master Gee and the Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun system. Rick Howard and James Mollette acted as the Seung Fa Hung Gwan (Double Flower Red Pole), guardians and warriors of Hung Fa Yi system. These warriors served to protect the entryway of the bridge from the world outside this Kung Fu system to the world inside this Kung Fu system. The Seung Fa Hung Gwan are referred to as "Left Green Dragon" and "Right White Tiger"; symbols that date back to the Southern Shaolin Temple. These terms were given to the warrior monks at the temple who were heroes. Martin Ng acted as the master of ceremonies. Jeff Chin served as assistant to the Master of Ceremonies. Each disciple candidate went through the ceremony one at a time, beginning with Richard. The ceremony involved each candidate asking for permission to join the Hung Fa Yi Kung Fu family. Each had to state their name, give a brief martial arts background and state why he wished to formally join the family. The Master of Ceremonies would ask if members of the audience had any objections. Each candidate then preformed the Baai Si and offered tea to Master Meng.

Sifu Richard Loewenhagen offering tea to Master Meng, presided over by Grand Master Gee and witnessed by Martin Eng.


Michael Mathews offering tea to Master Meng, presided over by Grand Master Gee and witnessed by Martin Eng.

By drinking their tea, Master Meng accepted them into the Hung Fa Yi Kung Fu family. He then offered each disciple a cup of tea. By drinking this tea the students demonstrated their loyalty and obedience to their Sifu. Master Meng then presented both disciples to Grand Master Gee. After accepting them into the Hung Fa Yi family, Grand Master Gee then brought the group to the Tong representing the ancestors. He is the only one able to cement the relationship between the current generation and the previous generations. After the ceremony, the audience was allowed to offer their respects to the ancestors as well.

The first two members of the Hung Fa Yi 10th generation.