Chinese New Year with Toronto Hong Luck Kung Fu Club

Kung hei fat choy, my fellow AnD-ers and everyone!!!     A very Happy Chinese New Year to you all, wishing each and everyone of you joy, good health and prosperity!  

So I recently joined Toronto's oldest and perhaps one of the cities' most renowned trational martial arts school, Hong Luck Kung Fu club.

Hong Luck Kung Fu Club is founded by Chinese martial arts legend and Canadian Black Belt Hall of Famer, Grandmaster Paul Chan.

Having studied various martial arts including Tae Kwon Do and Muay Thai, and been regconised primarly as a kicking stylist (although I make no claims in being an expert.... ) I really wanted to try my hands in some real traditional Kung Fu.  The hardcore Southern style boxing, Choi Lei Fat was just my cup of tea.  Besides the club's recognition for its quality Kung Fu instructors, it is also known for their lion dancing skills and services.  Being part of Hong Luck, all students are invited to help out with the Chinese New Year parade and ceremony.  It's rare enough I get the chance to attend an actual Chinese New Year parade, and here in Toronto I now had the opportunity to BE part of it!!!    I have only been with the club for one week, yet already I find everyone I have met extremely welcoming and I definitely feel a sense of family bond amongst us all which is nice, especially coming from another country.

Here I am with the lively Grandmaster Paul Chan and his wife.  Grandmaster Chan is nearly 80 years old, still teaching and able to kick ass! 

My ass-kicking sifu, Clive.  He had nicknamed me the Kung Fu Genius during my first class for my ability in picking up techniques and most of the first Choi Lei Fat form within the 2 hour lesson!  We'll see how long that would last though as he promises to put me through the paces.......... 

My si-hings, Jules and Gao Long.

Me and some of my fellow Kung Fu brothers having the honour to fly the flags for Hong Luck Kung Fu Club during the lion dance parade.

The ceremony all kicks off from Hong Luck Kung Fu Club, with lions, drums, Choi-San('God of Wealth'), fire crackers galore!

The parade carried off along Dundas St West and Spadina Ave (the majority part of downtown Toronto Chinatown), with flags leading the way as our Choi-San (played by a senior member of the club) would enter stores and restaurants along the street to give them blessings for good health and business.  The lions would then perform a routine in front of the store in exchange of a lucky red pocket.  ( NOTE:I was unable to take much more photos of the parade itself as my hands were rather occupied...  But it was all quite a nice scene I got to witness with my own eyes at least... ) Jessey, long time student at Hong Luck, was leading the flag bearers and acting somewhat of a guardian of the troupe.  Hence the weapon in his hands..... 

It was a  cold cold day to be slowly wandering the streets of Toronto for over 4 hours of the ceremony, but it was certainly a nice worthwhile experience to have been part of. 

The ceremony wraps up where it all started off, as the lion heads gets rested back at Hong Luck Kung Fu Club.

Sifu Clive's cute little kid, Xavier posing with one of the lion heads.  Talented youngster he is, and a lion dancer in the making!

A dinner banquet was served at the club with loads of food and various dishes....

Chicken wings, special fried rice, house special noodles, BBQ pork, roast belly pork....  Food, food, everywhere - but not a bite to eat for me......  Since I don't eat meat......!       I did my best to sample some of the rice and noodles by avoiding any of the meat pieces, so I did manage to get something into me at least. 

So that's the latest of my Kung Fu adventures in Toronto..........

Wishing a fantastic year of the Tiger to all!!! Rwoar!!!!  Peace & Best Wishes,

Alan