Michigan Friendship Seminar report

(l/r) Speaker Benny Meng, Host Robert Hannon, and Speaker Eddie Chong
 

During two days and 16 hours of instruction, Sifu Benny Meng and Sifu Eddie Chong covered many aspects of two different systems of Southern Shaolin martial arts. Saturday morning, Sifu Chong spent 4 hours on a foundational form in the Bak Mei system called Sap Jih (character 10). The name of this form comes from the footwork used; this form covers North, South, East and West. The form was practiced many times. Sifu Chong used his training and understanding of both the Yip Man and Pan Nam lineages of Wing Chun to show the similarities between Bak Mei and Wing Chun. Numerous times throughout the day, Sifu Chong would show how the two styles would approach the same situation in Chi Sau.

After lunch, Sifu Meng started with classifications of martial arts. There are four: martial fitness, martial sport, martial arts, and martial science. Each type of martial training offers different amounts of information and serves to satisfy different goals. People interested in martial fitness programs might not be interested in combat applications or training. The focus of their program is on fitness. On the other hand, people interested in martial sports must have a well-developed level of fitness to remain competitive. Once an individual retires from active sports competition, they might stop training. Alternatively, one might become involved in teaching one's style of fighting developed through competition experience. This moves into the realms of martial arts. Martial arts serve to give an individual a vehicle to express certain fundamental truths about life or fighting based on their subjective experience. Martial science focuses on the reality of combat and the reality in nature. Each classification serves a unique purpose; when one attempts to mix up the purpose of each, it causes problems.

Following this foundation focused on science, Sifu Meng used the Time and Space concept of Hung Fa Yi as an example of Martial Science. He used the technique of Taan Sau to explore three-dimensional space relative to one technique from the Hung Fa Yi system. Following this technical discussion, Sifu Meng had his student, Jeremy Roadruck, talk about the history of Hung Fa Yi and its relationship to Shaolin kung fu. After this discussion, the workshop ended for the day.

Sifu Benny Meng explaining a basic stance of Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun
 

Sunday morning began with Sifu Chong reviewing the material he presented the previous day. The focus of the second day's activities was to show the ranges of combat trained in the form. Using separate exercises and chi sau, Sifu Chong took participants through many combinations of techniques and reaction drills. In closing his portion of the workshop, Sifu Chong emphasized that Bak Mei utilizes soft power rather than strength. Through the proper release of energy a practitioner is trained to strike to the vital points, making this a very deadly art. However, it is a Buddhist art so combat should be hard whenever possible.

Sifu Chong demonstrating an application of Baak Mei, White Eyebrow Kung Fu