Kung Fu Adventures in Toronto

So more than eight months has gone by and here I am back in my homeland, Ireland.  My experience in Toronto, Canada has been a real blast.  There never was a dull moment throughout the duration of my stay, whether it be positive or negative.  One thing that I am certain of is that I have gained tremendous amount of knowledge and experience, and Toronto would remain a huge chapter in my life.....

Many would already be familiar with Philip Ng, Vincent Sze, and co. as they traveled China and across the global for TVB's RTHK show Kung Fu Quest.  Little did I know I would be experiencing my very own Kung Fu adventure right here in Toronto....!

"The Choy Luck Club"My first taste of the Kung Fu world in Toronto happened back in February when I joined the city's oldest martial arts establishment based in Chinatown, Hong Luck Kung Fu Club.

During my six months at the club I had made fast progression in the styles of club, Choi Lei Fat and Do Pi.  It was at Hong Luck where I really developed a love for Kung Fu and knew that martial arts would be my main priority during the remainder of my stay in Toronto.

I was delighted to have made so many friends at Hong Luck, and from my determination and dedication in the arts I had gained much respect from my instructors/sifus and my peers - all whom I share much mutual respect for also.

Sifu Clive Allison would be considered my first official instructor at Hong Luck Kung Fu club.  It was nice to have developed such a bond with him inside and outside of the club, and through him my world of Kung Fu was to expand beyond just Hong Luck.......    I am also very grateful for Sifu Clive's trust in me to allow me to instruct and lead the class at times when my service is required, giving me the taste of what it might be like to teach one day..... 

Sifu Quang Thang has a reputation of being as tough as nails and drives the students to the limit (and he definitely lives up to it!!!), but is a genuine nice guy and it was a real pleasure to have trained under him.

It was certainly a real pleasure and honour to have trained under/with the talented martial artist and stunt mastreo, Sifu Ian Chow.  So highly skilled in his art and more importantly he possess such kind humble personality, I found him such an inspiration to better myself as a martial artist and a person.

Ian:  Alan, what's with the Hung Gar Kuen stance....?

Alan:  Uh-oh.....

Ian: Grrrr........!!!

And through Sifu Ian I had the opportunity to participate in numerous lion dancing events and functions, usually arranged with his own club, Northern Legs Southern Fist.

And meet the bright future talents of Hong Luck Kung Fu Club

These kids are not to be messed with.  The future of the club will one day lie in their little hands (and feet)...! 

And the many talents (in all shapes and sizes) at Hong Luck.....

The founder of Hong Luck, Sifu Paul Chan no longer teaches in any of the beginners/intermediate/advance classes, but only instruct the other instructors/sifus at the club on Saturday class.  Knowing of my return home looming and aware of my progression at the club, I was very fortunate enough to have been invited to train in one of the classes the weekend before my departure!

It was such an honour to have practiced under the guidance of Sifu Paul Chan and definitely a most rare opportunity for a student of the club for only a meer six months.

My last visit to Hong Luck with the senior club members in attendance.

Unfortunately my departure from Toronto on July 24th just three weeks before the club's 49th Anniversary, so I miss out on all the fun, celebrations, and performances..... 

However I had promised to return for their huge 50th anniversary next year (possibly as a special guest of honour....?  ), and of course I hope to bring a few other artists of the action films/martial arts world with me to celebrate this occasion.....  So any volunteers out there on AnD would be more than welcome.....! 

Chi is the Key.....Through my sifu at Hong Luck, Clive introduced me to Chen style Tai Chi and Chi Kung master, Sifu C. M. Cheng.  Tai Chi had always been something I wanted to try out so when the opportunity came along to study under the respectable Sifu Cheng I was all game on

My three months in Tai Chi and Chi Kung practice has been a real blessing, and I even managed to train six mornings a week even though it means getting out of bed at 6:30am!!! 

In the short space of time I have managed to learn the first two basic forms of Chen style Tai Chi and various Chi Kung exercises which I have have extremely beneficial.  I genuinely believe it has helped me a lot in my Kung Fu training (being more relaxed when needs be) and also in my general health and lifestyle which I am deeply happy with.

I also developed a close bond to my Tai Chi family, each and everyone of them are beautiful and nice individuals.

Not only Tai Chi and Chi Kung practice, but massage sessions too!  What's not to love about getting up so early for these classes!!! 

Sifu Cheng is usually all serious and dedicated to his art when it comes to training and practice, but he can be a really funny guy when he wants to be....!

It was also from Tai Chi mornings that I met my adopted 'God-mother', the wonderful (and colourful) lady - Hedy.  It was from our second encounter that we instantly struck such a bond and rapport that we had taken a liking to one other, hence after a couple of weeks we verbally agreed to adopt one another as 'God-mother' and 'God-son'! We later learnt we celebrated our birthday just one day apart which made our bond more the stronger!Hedy is seriously a character - loud, brash, and funny with much resemblance to the 'Landlady' (played by Yuen Qui) from Stephen Chow's hit comedy Kung Fu Hustle but with a real heart of gold!  More so a socialist than anything close to being a martial artist (she admits Tai Chi is just for socializing, she would sooner kill someone verbally before she even has to raise a hand!  ),  I will surely miss our post-Tai Chi breakfasts together.....

The real "Kung Fu Hustle".....I had come to realize Chinatown in downtown Toronto was almost like the real Pig Sty Alley from Kung Fu Hustle, as on each and every corner seems to reside a hidden talented Kung Fu master!!!  And (in my personally humble opinion) I had the absolute honour to have met and train under one of the finest, Sifu Chen Rong En.

Our first encounter was not long after I started Tai Chi.  While I was leaving the restaurant we had dim sum in, I came into contact with Sifu Chen and we struck a brief conversation about Kung Fu and martial arts.  I (later) learnt he had happen to taken a shine to me and once he discovered I was a Kung Fu practitioner he instantly invited me to the nearby park where he began basic introduction to the style of Fut Gar Kung Fu.  And the rest, like they say, was history.... 

Sifu Chen Rong En was a direct student of the legendary Grandmaster, Leung Tin Chiu, and Sifu Chen is one of the very few masters of the original style of Shaolin Fut Gar Kuen still actively teaching (although he said at his grand age of 88 he is going to give up teaching soon....).

Funny I should refer to Kung Fu Hustleoften in this entry - the style demostrated by Stephen Chow's character in the movie was Fut Gar Kuen (but in a more comical and dramatic fashion of course)!!

Never would I have imagined I would encounter such a legendary martial arts master, let alone being personal trained by one!!!  It was almost like something from a movie especially when he reveals he recognized my potential and he wishes to pass on as much Kung Fu knowledge to me as possible in hope I can fly the flag for Fut Gar Kuen one day....!!!! 

Here is a brief interview I managed to conduct with Sifu Chen.....

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9qmrCUaiUc

And no, I didn't have a gun to him and forced him to say those words....!!!    He would have been too quick for me anyways.....  Don't underestimate Sifu Chen's small and frail looking frame.....  At the age of 88, he is still quick as a tiger and punches as strong as an ox!!! 

Always the Kung Fu fanatic, my Sifu Clive was keen to learn a thing or two in Fut Gar from Sifu Chen!

There was a natural bond between Sifu Chen and I.  We both had this instant mutual respect and admiration for one another, and it was as if fate that brought us together when we discovered we both actually shared the very same birthday, June 26th!!! 

A nice anniversary ceremony was held in his honour the weekend of his (our) birthday and I was extremely honoured he asked me personally to do a demonstration at the event

I would forever be grateful for the trust, belief, and faith Sifu Chen has put in me in teaching and passing on many skills in learning Fut Gar Kung Fu in the hopes of carrying on the ancient art.

My Hong Luck and Tai Chi brother, Wally occasionally joins in the Fut Gar training.

After obsorbing almost two years worth of Kung Fu training in the space of three months, Sifu Chen honoured me with a parting gift for my accomplishments - an official Shaolin Fut Gar Kung Fu shirt! 

There will be the day we meet again (possibly towards end of the year in China) and he would like me to officially become his student through the proper ceremony at his school in Toy San.  That would be one day to look forward to..... 

Summer Fun...!!!My stay in Toronto didn't just consist of  Kung Fu and training, strenuous regime and sweating buckets.....  Here are some fun events and activities I've enjoyed with my Kung Fu and Tai Chi families over the summer......

God-mother and God-son joint birthday dinner at Taste of China Seafood Restaurant....

Here with Hedy's son, Christopher.  Another cool guy I share some bond with, us both the same age (at the time, before my birthday that is...), both in the arts field, and being left-handed!  He certainly has become a good friend and brother in the short time I've known him.

Sifu Chen Rong En's 88th Birthday ceremony at Thai Fay Restaurant.....

BBQ at Joanne's (Hedy's sister) house.....

Here with Hedy's sister, Joanne.  Another lovely lady and wonderful host of this BBQ.

My leaving dinner party with Tai Chi family at Mandarin Restaurant.....

Joanne presenting me a parting gift to bring home to Ireland.

My Hong Luck senior sister, Lily even joined us for dinner.  It was lovely to get to know this wonderful lady more.

A special shout out to my dear friend Dianna who accompanied me and acted as my personal photographer documenting my final week of training in Kung Fu and Tai Chi.  You rock, girl! 

A special credit has to go to my Sifu Clive also.  Without his encouragement and introduction to others in the martial world of Toronto, I probably would not have/be able to reach the level of my possible true potential.  Hats off to you my Sifu/friend/brother! 

To reach the conclusion of my Kung Fu adventures in Toronto.....  I have truly discovered that acting and the entertainment world will always be my career.  But Kung Fu is now certainly my life..... 

Peace & Best Wishes,

Alan