Master Meng Houston Workshop and Private Training 4/25/09

[Brad Ryan TX]

Master Benny Meng will be conducting a special Workshop at the Houston Branch and Private Training with Sifu Ryan.

Date:

Saturday April 25th
Time 10am-2pm
Topic will cover Chi Kui and takedowns skills within the 3rd hall.

Black Sash Members only and person invited guests of Master Meng and Sifu Ryan within Texas area are also welcome.

Cost is $65.00

Please contact Sifu Ryan to register at sifubrad@houston-martialarts.com

[Daniel Duran]

Master Meng’s Houston Black Sash Workshop 4/25/09

Sigung gave our group a very deep perspective on what is Shaolin Kung Fu today, what it was 300 years ago and what is Shaolin Wing Chun.    Having the unique position as curator of the Ving Tsun museum Master Meng has been able to train extensively in Yip man Wing Chun, Chi SIm Weng Chun, Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun and recently started training the newly discovered Black Flag Wing Chun.   On the surface these systems appear to be different.  However, when one compares  the concepts and principles these systems are based on one will find they share the same common root-Shaolin.   The evidence or proof is not in the oral tradition or documented lineages, although these are consistent with Master Meng’s Theory, it’s in the language, philosophy and training methods each of these systems contain. Each contain Heaven, Human, Earth concepts. In line with Chan Buddhist philosophy these systems are complete in that they are based on understanding the nature of reality, they address all ranges in combat, all 3 dimensions of time, space and energy and body, mind & spirit.   To get to a level of understanding this connection a student must begin cultivation at the foundation of basic movements and physical attributes, developing awareness of technique and mechanics. Then progress to integration and becoming effective to the point of refinement and maximum efficiency.  Our program follows this logic of learning.

Learning Sigung’s refined shoalin earth form with leg takedown applications was just awesome.  Sigung demonstrated and explained how to see beyond the technique and shape but recognize the core concept behind what makes the technique successful.  For example: with  leg sweeps do not chase the leg, sweep your opponents center.   Taking each component of the form and giving us an application gave practitioners a much deeper understanding of how the method of training must match reality and how important it is to develop a strong foundation under the guidance of a qualified teacher.   
The trapping  series training  was very exciting to me, focusing on the application and live drilling of Jau Sau, Paak Sau, Laap Sau and Kau Sau.   Sigung was excellent in guiding us through each drill as he did with the leg takedowns focusing on the concepts not the technique themselves. 
Overall all it is concluded that this is a more advance training method. To be able to train in this way a student must already have a solid foundation of basic movements and some physical conditioning.   Otherwise the risk of injury is increased and the student will more than likely not be successful in learning.

It was an extremely enlivening weekend!! All black sash members walked away in awe and completely fired up to continue training and developing kung fu.

Your Ever Well Wisher,
Daniel

[Brad Ryan TX]

It is always a great experience to train with Master Meng. Every time he comes to Houston,  he not only teach us a technique, but he shares all the concepts and philosophy as well. Master Meng is past the technique level and it is always an honor to train with him.

Cesar Hernandez
Black Sash Member
Grade 6


 
    Sigung Meng's workshop was enlightening. He provided a wealth of knowledge as he has done on the three previous workshops that I have attended. The demonstration of the form, from form to application, was awesome. The progression of the training is totally conducive to the learning process. We are very fortunate to have Master Meng and to be a part of the 3 Halls of Shaolin training progression. I would advise anyone that has an opportunity to attend any of Master Meng's workshops to do so, if not, you will definitely be cheating yourself.
 
William Pendergraff
Black Sash Club Member
Grade 6

 
Hey Sifu, just getting back to you with my comments on the workshop. I found the workshop to be very informative. The drills were fun and the application concepts were easy to identify. It was a great workout but not tiring, and I left feeling great. My only regret was that I was not able to stay for the "Trapping Range" segment of the seminar; although I have no doubts that it was just as great! I look forward to future seminars with Sigung and Sifu and would like to thank them for putting this together; This has been an experience I am sure the other Black Sash Members as well as myself will never forget. Thanks Again!
                                               
 -Jonathan Black
  Black Sash Member
 Grade 2

As always I am very honored and humbled to be present when Sigung Master Meng is here in our presence. His knowledge goes so much deeper then most of us can fathom. He demonstrates to us that our journey is just beginning and that we can spend the rest of our life continuing this education. As far as I am concerned I will do everything I can to spend as much time learning, touching hands and embracing his knowledge. Sigung continues to set a high standard for those of us who plan on continuing our education for the years to come. I hope that as we develop as individuals and as a school he will honor us with his presence more frequently.

I feel very blessed to be part of such a wonderful group of individuals.

Craig MacLeod
Black Sash Member
Grade 6

[Benny Meng]

Thanks for all the feedback. I always enjoy my trip to our Houston branch. Sifu Brad continues to do a wonderful job, demonstrating his leadership. I had a lot of fun working out with the members. It was great to see old and many new faces. Some drive from a long distance to train.


One of the sayings I commonly use is that we want an organization that teaches people to think for themselves and not to come to conclusions until you experience it. Said another way, we teach you how to fish, not just give you a fish. The Texas group is certainly picking up that energy.

I see many of Sifu Brad's students taking on leadership, the senior students were able to assist and lead classes as well as give great support to Sifu Brad. And the seniors can make their own conclusions by the experience that they gained. During the workshop, I mentioned that - generally speaking - there are three classifications of learning or traditions:

1) Dead Tradition - this is where personality takes over, students mimic or copy the teacher or basically when asked why you do certain things, the answer is 'because the teacher says so' or 'that's the way it's always been done.'  This type of learning is dead kung fu. Sifu Jeremy calls this "Convention" or "Conventional Thinking."

2) A true sense of traditional system with enough roots to let the student go into the system to get answers. By searching deeper into the system, you can discover the answers to your questions. This is our approach - we have breadth and depth, and universal Wisdom. We can relate to everything else rather than create separations. This is what Master Lin (of the Black Flag Wing Chun lineage) calls Traditional Progressive. Since I started the VTM project in 1993, I have never left the system... but students from the Dead Tradition mindset feel I have left the lineage or changed the system. In truth, I've just gone deeper into the concepts and principles that guide the Wing Chun system.

3) Modern Training - this is the fad of martial arts from stereotypical ninja to kid's programs to cardio kickboxing to mma. This approach typically comes on strong and then fades away over time. Only time will reveal if this approach will translate into one of the other two approaches.

I am very happy to see that our current school Instructors understand the differences in these three approaches.

Another feedback: I just wanted to thank you again for letting me attend the workshop - I greatly appreciate it.  I was a little nervous before the workshop because of my lack of experience and technical knowledge in Wing Chun, but you, Sifu Ryan, and the rest of the students made me feel very welcome.  Your patience along with the rest of the class made it a much more comfortable learning environment.  I really can't say enough about how positive my experience was, and I am looking forward to meeting with you again as well as Sifu Ryan and his students.  Even though I needed a lot of correction I did not mind at all (in fact I was hoping for it) because I was shown the logic of correct technique and the ineffectiveness of incorrect technique.  I'm sure there were questions I should have asked at the end before I left, but my body was so exhausted I figured I better head home before I completely stiffened up!  Although, I have never had so much fun pushing myself physically like that.  This past weekend served as further motivation for me to continue my training and trying to grasp the finer points of Shaolin Wing Chun.  Thanks again for your teaching and patience, and let me know if you will have some time when you come to Austin so we can hopefully meet up there also.  I will be looking forward to the Trapping Hands dvd and the information on the chi gung as well.  Take care, and I will talk with you soon.
 
Sincerely,
Aaron King