An outsiders view from the inside
The politics of who is the rightful heir will go on forever and will worsen upon the eventual death of each of the top JL Masters alive today. This is a shame because so much will be lost in the minutes wasted fighting over who has what. Only the character of the men will prevail and B.P. has displayed the highest level of character.
So here’s my story:
Back in early 2006, I had the pleasure of meeting Sifu Yee personally and spent two days training with him and his disciples at a ymca in NJ. First of all, his Gung Fu is dead-on unbelievable. This fact I cannot imagine anyone disputing. Never before had I seen and felt such power. During a demonstration, I looked a bit puzzled and he called me up and demonstrated how chi can move. First he had me feel his throat and it felt like a normal windpipe. He closed his eyes and took a few breathes, then told me to feel it again. It was as though a rubber hose was covering his Adams Apple. Then he told me to strike it and I didn’t know what to do. It was something I will never forget and you cannot make this stuff up. His short power shook the floor of the gym we were in and the movements looked effortless. This is a trademark of each of the genuine masters I have met. Their movements were effortless, yet the power was overwhelming.
Sifu Yee’s body connection defied logic. If you do not believe this, walk up to him and give it your best, but prepare to be humbled. The fact that he has scores of LOYAL students all over the world speaks volumes and his ability to transfer this knowledge is certainly a large part of his allure. To see it first-hand is worth triple the price of admission. I’ve paid more for seminars given by masters with little first-hand knowledge of the system and here I was in the presence of a genunine master. I was giddy. While his english was a little difficult to understand, his hands and Gung Fu did not need words. The logic behind his moves is what he was trying to get across and this type of information can only be found in the hands of a real master. This is the problem with buying video tapes- you cannot see or feel the real power and the nuances are all lost. In demonstrating on one of his students, he taught us another valuable lesson- the sound of impact is the difference between life and death. No sound = internal damage. Think of a ***** slap compared with a phoenix eye to the throat while using 1000 pounds of body connection. It will take many, many years of practice to attain this level of awareness and connection, but what greater goal is there in Gung Fu?
There was no mistaking Sifu Yee’s skill or character and I’m upset at the fact that he is now approaching 70 and I didn’t know of him until last year. To all who are interested, do not waste time. Simply make the call and see for yourself.
Enough about the physical… More impressive than Sifu Yee’s physical skill was his character. He was the first to admit that as a young man he made mistakes, but what followed read like a manual on martial virtue and I am thankful to have heard it first-hand. It changed my course immediately. How many of you have sat next to a genuine master and heard his words first-hand? I don’t mean heard, I mean understood, absorbed and acted on! It’s like experiencing a part of history that alters your course. There is no b.s. with this man. I have trained with Sifus who keep everything secret; they belittle other styles outright, don’t respect their students and basically lack the martial character that is necessary to lead people of character and integrity. I have also trained with a Master who led by example and held nothing back. He is from the other side of the JL fence, so I have seen that both sides have men of character and incredible skill. It would seem that regardless of which path you choose with regard to current Sifus of JL, you cannot go wrong. Each side has incredible talent, the best of which is never displayed in public. This boggles the mind. I strained to remember all of the things he said, but it was an overwhelming amount of knowledge and wisdom- more than anyone could retain in one sitting. This year, I shall go again and try my best to retain some more of this wisdom. A few weeks with Sifu Yee would work wonders on your ability to see.
To preempt this next statement, I sat two seats to Sifu Yee’s right and asked him questions for hours during a meal at a local diner after training where he taught 6.5 hours virtually straight! I was like a kid in a candy store sitting in front of the Oracle.. He did not dodge a single question and struck me as an absolutely forthright man. He commended many masters which I asked him about and stood several times from the table to demonstrate his statements. One that is firmly burned into my brain was “how can you know the right power unless you feel it from your master? You cannot!”? How many of you have trained with a master who doesn’t actually demonstrate on you, then allow you to do the move back to so that you know the right power and where it exists in the technique? This statement was one of many that helped clarify the path I personally needed to take.
Lastly, Sifu Yee still trains every freakin day and did not once stop because he was tired during the 14 hours we trained over two days. He outlasted the entire place sitting in a dragon stance- it was unbelieveable. We were all shaking like leaves and he was smiling lower than all of us. He lives and breathes martial arts to a level I have never seen. His art is alive and continaully changing. How many can make the same claim? Additionally, there were 32 people at this seminar which lasted two days and among them were at least six Sifus! Who else pulls that kind of weight? The average tenure in the room was over 20 years. Undeniable. All were more than eager to assist me and any others who were falling behind or new to the system. An intense brotherhood existed in the room and I was honored to be among them.
If you want to feel the hands of a Master, regardless of what crown, altar, title, he does or does not hold, seek out Sifu Yee. You will not be disappointed.
“and a hush fell over the crowd”
