Meng's Martial Arts of Arizona's Third Anniversary Weekend

By David Escarcega, Student of Sifu Richard Loewenhagen

March 19, 2002 marked a two week long series of events commemorating the third anniversary of Meng's Martial Arts of Arizona opening to public training of Wing Chun Kung Fu as the West Coast Branch of the Ving Tsun Museum. As many of you may already know, Meng's Martial Arts of Arizona opened on the first days of Spring (March 19 and March 20) 1999. The days preceding our anniversary were filled with many memorable kung fu experiences.

With the arrival of Master Benny Meng on Thursday the fourteenth, the weekend began a little early. Sigung came to Arizona primarily to continue collaborations on the forthcoming book Mastering Kung Fu: Shaolin Wing Chun. When Sigung wasn't writing with Sifu Loewenhagen we were fortunate to have him oversee some of our training sessions. While keeping an ever-watchful eye on our kung fu he offered very useful advice. Thus, helping to refine some details and structures.

On Monday the eighteenth the newly constructed Tong dedicated to Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun was unveiled. The Tong primarily consists of four three dimensional graphics depicting the Hung Fa Yi Logo. The picture below reflects the new tong.

All are matted on a black background and surrounded in brilliant red framing. How apropos that the Tong was ready in time for the arrival our other guests, the Shaolin Warrior Monks.

Seventeen months have past since their last visit. We were fortunate to have seven monks come to give a demonstration of their kung fu. It was interesting to see the influence of the government's emphasis on today's Wushu competition form acrobatics in all of their kung fu. It should also be noted that the rebuilt Southern Shaolin Temple is now rebuilding its kung fu as well, but a monk from the Northern Temple was sent to renew the Kung Fu program. Since the Northern Temple was never trained in the Southern Temple's kung fu, it may be many years before true Southern Shaolin Kung Fu makes its way back to the Southern Temple.

The monks showcased many different types of Shaolin exercise. The energetics differed throughout, but the focus on chi development was very apparent. Some forms were reminiscent of yoga while others had a heavy Wushu or acrobatic influence as referenced above.

Northern Shaolin Monk visit to Meng's of AZ.


Northern Shaolin Monk visit to Meng's of AZ.

Following their performance, select students from our kwoon did a short demo of Hung Fa Yi Siu Nim Tau and the Yip Man system Wooden Dummy. After watching and discussing details of our demo, Sigung Meng referenced a planned trip next year to the Southern Temple. The Senior Monk on the demonstration team provided private phone numbers and a promise that he and the head abbot of the Northern Temple would meet us at the Southern Temple with a warm reception.

As if having our Sigung here, unveiling the new Tong, and a demonstration by Shaolin monks wasn't enough, our anniversary opening coincided with the monks' performance at Arizona State University. Before the show, the Meng's Martial Arts of Arizona demo team held an exhibition outside the auditorium. At any given time six to ten students were performing simultaneously. The crowd that gathered was quite large and very intent on watching our kung fu. The monks themselves came out from backstage to watch for nearly an hour. They were kept entertained with demonstrations of high-energy chi sao, laap sao, forms, kuen faat and a very exciting knife disarmament display. They all seemed very pleased to see Southern Shaolin kung fu combat applications. Their enjoyment was evident by the many smiles and intent focus.

Following the demo one hundred plus Meng's of Arizona students entered Gammage Auditorium, along with thousands of other Phoenix residents, to enjoy the show. For those who have not seen the Shaolin Warrior Monks' show, the acrobatics and physical feats accomplished were nothing short of phenomenal.