Grandmaster Ip Man Movies
by Luc on February 15, 2010
in Kung Fu Life
In addition to the release of Ip Man 2, 2010 will see the release of two other films chronicling the life of the great grandmaster.
The Legend is Born: Ip Man
This film is a prequel to 2008’s Ip Man. To Yu-hang will play Ip Man instead of Donnie Yen who stars as the grandmaster in Ip Man and Ip Man 2. The Legend is Born: Ip Man will feature Sammo Hung playing Chan Wah-shun, one of Ip Man’s mentors. Sammo Hung also makes an appearance in Ip Man 2, as a Hung Fist master. Grandmaster Ip Man’s son, Ip Chun, plays the role of Leung Bik, another one of the great grandmaster’s teachers.
The Grand Master
Directed by Wong Kar-wai, The Grand Master stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Ip Man. This is a separate, stand-alone film detailing the late grandmaster’s life.
Beyond 2010
There are plans to make Ip Man 3. A Taiwanese producer has also secured the rights to create a 40 episode television series about great grandmaster Ip Man. A bright future awaits ving tsun cinema fans.
Train hard. Relax hard.
Ip Man 2
by Luc on February 1, 2010
in Kung Fu Life
The sequel to 2008’s movie, ‘Ip Man,’ is due out this summer. Starring Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung, it continues to chronicle the life of the late grandmaster.
Train hard. Relax hard.
Kung Fu is Hard Work
by Luc on January 15, 2010
in Kung Fu Life, Kung Fu Philosophy, Training
An important distinction exists between learning kung fu and learning about kung fu. Many times people get the two confused. While they can support one another, the distinction remains. To learn kung fu, one must put forth physical and mental energy, one must put forth hard work. To learn about kung fu, one need only pick up a book or look on the internet. No matter how many youtube videos, movies, documentaries, books, or website articles you view or read, do not think that knowing about kung fu equates to knowing kung fu.
If you know it in your head but not your body, it will do little good in a physical confrontation. To learn it in your body, you need to play a lot of kung fu. Have faith in the system, relax, and your body will come to know kung fu.
Train hard. Relax hard.
Before You Ask Your Sifu, Part 3
by Luc on January 1, 2010
in Kung Fu Life, Kung Fu Philosophy, Training
This is the third post in a series. To understand the concept behind this series, please refer to Part 1.
Efficiency
Train hard. Relax hard.
Kung Fu and the Saxophone
by Luc on December 14, 2009
in Kung Fu Life, Training
When I was in 5th grade, I took up playing the saxophone. Why? To rock out like Huey Lewis and The News, of course. After awhile, the novelty of playing the saxophone wore off. My parents kept me on a strict practice regimen. Everyday, 6 days a week, I would have to spend 20 minutes practicing. On the day of my lesson, I was allowed to take a break from practice. I did not always want to practice and my parents and I butted heads many times. The rule was that if a day were missed, that time needed to be made up with the next practice session. So if one day were missed, the next practice session would be 40 minutes in length.
Although I never made it to the point of being able to belt out tunes a la Huey Lewis, I always made second chair in the school band. (There was a girl who practiced more than I did in my grade level.) My passion for the saxophone waned but it was not until later in life that I realized the gift my parents had given me.
As Applied to Kung Fu Training
The practice system my parents put me on can easily be applied to kung fu. Passion for kung fu will drive students in their home training regimens. In some periods of life, finding time to train becomes more difficult. Committing to this sort of regimen will help one ensure consistency and push through times it might be easier to skip kung fu training. Setting this up is relatively easy:
1) Pick the amount of time you would like to spend each day playing your kung fu outside of class. Make sure the amount of time you choose is reasonable given your situation.
2) Determine how many days per week you need to train outside of class. You may choose not to train on the days you will be going to class, then again, you might.
3) It’s good to have at least one rest day.
Give the program a go for two weeks to see how it works for you. Adjust as necessary after the two weeks or as changing circumstances require. Remember that for each session you miss, it needs to be made up. Use this system as long as you wish and discard it when it is no longer needed. This program can provide consistency to the kung fu training you do outside of class. It is but one method of implementing a training schedule. Modify it as you see fit and rock your kung fu like Huey Lewis.
Train hard. Relax hard.
Before You Ask Your Sifu, Part 2
by Luc on November 23, 2009
in Forms, Kung Fu Life, Kung Fu Philosophy, Training
This is the second post in a series. To understand the concept behind the series, refer back to Part 1.
Relaxation
Train hard. Relax hard.
The Kung Fu Journey
by Luc on November 9, 2009
in Kung Fu Life, Kung Fu Philosophy
Embarking on the path of kung fu is embarking on a journey. This could be said for any martial art. All martial arts aspire to take you to great heights with the highest point akin to the top of a mountain. Different martial arts have different paths, all leading to the same peak. Some are short and treacherous, others are long and flowing, some are very difficult.
No two people follow exactly the same path. Different individuals will have different obstacles to overcome and some may need to linger on certain parts of the path longer than others. Sometimes people may co-travel but eventually their paths diverge. Some change paths many times. Many never make it to the top of the mountain. That’s OK as the view from halfway up is satisfactory to them. Reaching the point of mastery is a goal that few who start on the journey ever achieve.
It is important to enjoy your Ving Tsun journey: the friendships and camaraderie that develop, the physical skills and relaxation you cultivate, and the improvements that unfold in your life. Kung fu takes people on different journeys. These journeys take people where they need to go.
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” - Lao Tzu
Train hard. Relax hard.
Before You Ask Your Sifu, Part 1
by Luc on October 26, 2009
in Forms, Kung Fu Life, Kung Fu Philosophy, Training
First, if you are having problems with a technique, do not ask your sifu. Figure it out on your own. Not only will you enhance your understanding of the Ving Tsun system, you will develop your mind and body.
That being said, there are principles in Ving Tsun that you can use as tools when you are learning and perfecting techniques.
This three-part series of blog posts will be different in that each will focus on one word. Read these posts and take time to think of the concept and how it applies to kung fu. Meditate on these and generate your own ideas. Then, if you’re still in, see how you can apply the ideas in your own training.
Centerline
Train hard. Relax hard.
Grandmaster Ip Man Movies
by Luc on July 20, 2009
in Kung Fu Life, Training
For those of you who missed Ip Man, released on DVD in February, you should check it out. It stars Donnie Yen. Ip Man was the first movie made based on the life of Grandmaster Moy Yat’s sifu and covers a period of time from the 1930’s to the 1940’s while Grandmaster Ip Man is living in Foshan prior to and during the Second Sino-Japanese War. China fought with little foreign aid until the conflict became part of World War II. There are sequels to this movie in the works. The next is slated for theatrical release in 2010 and will feature Grandmster Ip Man’s life in Hong Kong as he establishes Ving Tsun there. It is rumored that much of the film will feature his relationship with his most famous student, Bruce Lee.
I just learned of another movie based on the life of Grandmaster Ip Man entitled, Grandmaster, starring Tony Leung. The latest news is that Mr. Leung broke his arm when he was kicked by his instructor while preparing for the film last week. Rumor has it that he has been training three hours a day for the past 5 months in preparation for the role. Have you been training that hard?
Filming was originally scheduled to begin in September.