{"id":611,"date":"2021-04-14T10:09:36","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T10:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/waterpig.life\/?p=611"},"modified":"2021-04-16T03:01:09","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T03:01:09","slug":"kung-fu-school-too-expensive-to-run-in-hong-kong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/waterpig.life\/?p=611","title":{"rendered":"Kung Fu School Too Expensive to Run in Hong Kong"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Story of Wing Chun master, Lam Shu-Shing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

August 9, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A 69-year-old martial art instructor Lam Shu-Shing moved his school three times this year, from a major commercial district of Mong Kok to an old district of Sham Shui Po this time. There is always the same reason for moving: rent is too high to run a school in the world\u2019s most expensive property market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lam\u2019s kung fu studio doesn’t have a name, except that there is a trademark with four Chinese characters on T-shirt his students wear: Leung Sheung Wing Chun(\u6881\u76f8\u8a60\u6625). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At age 18 Sifu Lam began kung fu training under Grandmaster Leung Sheung(\u6881\u76f8), the most senior student of legendary martial artist Ip Man(\u8449\u554f). During the last 50 years, Lam changed his jobs several times but he continued coming to kung fu studio. Before the wooden dummy that is taller than him by one head, he stood and practiced techniques almost every day, and continued teaching students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Challenge match on the rooftop<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1967, Lam was introduced to Leung Sheung through a friend and was accepted as a disciple. In 2010 he retired as a driving instructor and he started teaching Wing Chun on a full-time basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wing Chun kung fu is Chinese traditional martial art, that is effective in close combat situations. Wing Chun system includes three sets of forms: Siu Lim Tau, Cham Kiu and Biuzee, a six and a half pole, and double butterfly swords. Practitioners will learn each form as he advances in their training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lam enjoys reading martial arts nobles by Jin Yong and Gu Long. Once he had fantasized about heroes\u2019 esoteric supernatural power in stories. However, it didn\u2019t take too long until he realized it doesn\u2019t work like that in reality. Practicing kung fu is analogous to building a house: you must work on building the foundation slowly. There is no shortcut.  \u201cI had practiced each skill more than ten thousand times until those movements become automatic without thinking\u201d, Lam said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his friends\u2019 eyes, Lam is a self-made man who made his way up through strenuous training. It is hard to imagine the thin and kind old man used to compete with other young men from different martial art schools on the rooftop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 1970s, the golden age of Hong Kong martial art, challenge fights were common. Lam recalls at dusk young men from different martial art schools gather and compete on the rooftop. That was a very unique scene of Hong Kong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three years into training, Lam at age 20 often competed in challenge fights on a rooftop and sometimes at a park. By rules, retaliation is not permitted and both parties must agree before the match. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike martial arts novels, real fights do not need fancy and flashy techniques. You need to rely on pragmatic combat abilities. Nevertheless, Lam believes in the spirit of \u201cThe strong help the weak\u201d just like in those stories. Once he found someone was troubled by a man on the street and he stepped in to help. As soon as this man realized Lam knows some kung fu, he left the scene. \u201cThis is the way of the martial artist\u201d, Lam said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Temporary School<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In August 2020, Lam left the old school on Portland Street in Mong Kok and moved to another place in Sham Shui Po. The new studio belongs to his senior classmate, Leung Kam Tong. Lam rents the space for two and a half hours on Thursdays. It cost HKD1600 (USD200) every month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The school is only 20~30 square meters and it can accommodate ten people at most. This narrow space costs at least more than ten thousand Hong Kong dollars (more than USD1300). Lam has only 9 students and he receives HKD 600 monthly from each. He has no choice but to rent a temporary place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You will find a Wooden dummy, punching bag, six and a half poles there. Lam teaches his students one by one, demanding precise movements. The new studio is much smaller than the previous one, so whoever arrives first practices the wooden dummy first. If you come later, practice the basic forms: Siu Lim Tau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen accepting a student, I will pay attention to his\/her personality and how sincere they are. I will not teach the evil-minded. That\u2019s my bottom line\u201d, Lam emphasized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A young man, Ng Ga Lam was introduced to Sifu Lam through a friend. When Mr. Ng visited the studio the third time, Lam asked him  \u201cAre you serious to learn Wing Chun?\u201d. The young man nodded his head. Then, Lam simply said, \u201cIf you wanna learn, learn with me.\u201d There was no formal initiation ceremony. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Ng later realized his teacher was observing him for one month as a probation period. When Leung Sheung taught Lam Shu Shing, the grandmaster emphasized that nourishing both martial skills and the mind: the martial virtues are important. If the disciple hasn\u2019t cultivated virtues, he might hurt others easily. Sifu Lam is strictly following and passing down the teachings of his teacher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xinhua News: Hong Xue Hua <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Translation: TJ<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: https:\/\/xhpfmapi.zhongguowangshi.com\/vh512\/share\/9311941?channel=weixin<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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