Hek Ki Boen Eng Chun of Dayton, Ohio ICP training April 2011

[Benny Meng]

The Ving Tsun Museum Proudly Presents

Grand Master Kenneth Lin
Saturday, April 16th

10a-3p   Hek Ki Boen Workshop
3:00 p   Special VTM Tour
4:30 p   Ving Tsun Museum Hall of Fame Award Presentation
5:30 p   Special Dinner with the Grand Masters Kenneth Lin

All Instructor Candidate Program members throughout the USA will be in Dayton, Ohio for this special event.

Kung Fu Day Package: $100 (includes all activities) A la cart: $80 for workshop; $35 for Dinner; $25 for VTM Tour

About Grand Master Kenneth Lin:
As a Chinese born in Indonesia, Suhu Kenneth Lin Xiang Fuk has devoted his entire lifetime to the field of martial arts starting from age 10.

He began his Fukien Black Flag Eng Chun (Wing Chun) training in or about 1985 with Tai Sukong The Kang Hai (3rd Generation of Black Flag Wing Chun successor). Suhu Lin also sought instruction from Sukong Tio Tik Kwi. After an eight-month "selection"process which tested his patience, strong will and diligence, Sukong Tio Tik Kwi finally accepted Suhu Lin as an in-door student.

Since then, Suhu Lin dedicated several hours every day to receive private instruction from both Tai Sukong The and Sukong Tio after the regular school hours. Not to mention that there were many countless sessions during his school semester break where he spent 10 hours training with the Grand Masters for several years. Seven days per week, he practiced forms, drills, and weaponry as well as meditation techniques. He has completed all of his training and has more than 25 years of experience in Black Flag Wing Chun Kung Fu as of 2010.

[Benny Meng]

HKB Instructor Candidate Training Weekend
April 14-19, 2011
Dayton, OH

Only back one day from Sri Lanka, I moved immediately into our next two featured events at the Ving Tsun Museum. The first was with Grand Master Kenneth Lin, successor of the Hek Ki Boen Eng Chun lineage. The second was with one of the top instructors of the Wong Shun Leung lineage: Grand Master Gary Lam.

Day One - Thursday 14th

Once Grand Master Lin settled in from his flight, we went straight into Hek Ki Boen Instructor Program training, which included advanced Sam Chian Phok (Saam Jin Bo, Three Battle Steps), Tim Kiao (Chum Kiu, Sinking the Bridge), and advanced energy training.

I also had a long discussion with Suhu Lin on the expansion of the HKB lineage as there is growing interest from the Arab communities in the Middle East.

Day Two - Friday 15th

All the Dayton and Cincinnati Instructor Candidate Program members arrived and we started training in the early afternoon. The training consisted of reviewing previously taught material and tightening up the details. Mid-way through the late afternoon, two members of the ICP from the HKB HQ arrived after a long drive.

In the early evening, we proceeded into filming the HKB system, including interviews and action sequences. There will be much more action footage of the HKB system available to the public and HKB members in the very near future.

Day Three - Saturday 16th

This was the day of the official HKB workshop for the public. We had members from Michigan, Texas, Virginia, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Centerville in attendance. This day also included special recognition for Suhu Lin, a past inductee of the Wing Chun Hall of Fame, with a special dinner. Afterwards we continued with ICP and IP training late into the night.

Also on Saturday, Grand Master Lin and I formally interviewed Mr. Joel Pryor for the ICP, which is one of the final steps in the formal process to join the Instructor’s Training Program. Joel is a long-time student of mine in the Ip Man lineage, and has been with me for more than 10 years. He made the decision to learn the HKB system – not only as a student of the system but with an eye on becoming a professional martial arts instructor. I was very happy with his decision; his intelligence, creativity, and passion will serve him well on his new journey in the martial arts.

Day Four - Sunday 17th

All-day training was held at the Centerville Branch. This was a full day of ICP training. Personally, I had an injury which just recently recovered. I was glad by body finally healed because we were doing 110% hard-core training together with the HQ ICP members. All our bodies were pushed to the limit, and by the end of the day we realized that everyone in attendance for the weekend’s skill and power had improved, from the locals to the HQ members.

Sunday night, Grand Master Lin had the opportunity to join us in a family celebration for birthdays for two of my sons. My in-laws were there, and my two brothers-in-law are both very successful instructors in Taekwondo. It turned out to be a great evening, with many ideas shared between the four of us on the martial arts and serving our students.

Sunday was also the last day for the HQ ICP members; they drove back to Virginia in the early evening.

Day Five - Monday 18th

This was a special half-day of training, focused on quality over quantity. Grand Master Lin gave everyone special lessons on Huat King (Faat Ging). We had a very successful, intense four days with Grand Master Lin.

In the late afternoon, time was reserved for Grand Master Gary Lam. Grand Master Lam and his students arrived from Indiana in the late afternoon. We gave him a tour of the Ving Tsun Museum: the Tiger (the training hall) and the Dragon (the exhibit area). The VTM has been a long-time supporter of Grand Master Lam and his efforts to promote and teach the system. We were honored to host him in person. He and his students were impressed with their tour. Afterwards, we held our formal inductee ceremony for the Ving Tsun Museum Hall of Fame: Grand Master Lam is the most recent inductee, witnessed by Grand Master Kenneth Lin of the Hek Ki Boen lineage (and also a former VTM Hall of Fame recipient) and many students of the VTM. Afterwards, we shared fellowship over a special banquet. The evening ended early so that Grand Master Lin could return to Indiana, with plans to invite him back for a formal workshop. One of the VTM’s missions is to help share and promote friendship and flow of information between all lineages and families of Wing Chun. The VTM highly recommends dedicated students of the martial arts student with the Grand Masters recognized by the VTM’s Hall of Fame. The wisdom and expertise these experts can share with you will grow your skill, compressing decades of experience into just days! Experiences like this will keep the martial art community continually growing and improving.

Day Six - Tuesday 19th

This day was focused on additional IP training between Grand Master Lin and me. Later in the day, ICP member Missy Pruden joined us. Missy was the first female ICP member; with her highly motivated effort, she is making great progress.

In the late afternoon, we dropped Grand Master Lin at the Dayton Airport. Overall, back-to-back, I had three highly successful events: the Sri Lanka Trip with Dr. Salah Al-Rashed, then the HKB ICP training weekend with Grand Master Kenneth Lin, and finally the VTM Hall of Fame induction of Grand Master Gary Lam.