Good morning.

 

I would like to say thank you to all the people that took part in yesterday’s Dulwich Park fair. A thank you should also go to those people who kept their fingers crossed about the weather as it turned about to be lovely day, if only a trifle chilly towards the end.

 

I was very pleased with the students and instructors who took part in the demonstrations. For those that weren’t able to attend, we showed three demonstrations during the afternoon, which attracted a large audience. What pleased me the most was that the students were the model of professionalism; they kept going despite the set-backs. Not only did the generator conspire to break irretrievably just before our first demonstration, but the replacement generator which Si-Mei Della very efficiently managed to arrange ran out of petrol half way through our second performance (not least because we lent to it to the other acts who did not bring their own power sources). Those demonstrating at that particular time not only stayed calm and composed, but in fact produced their best performance, something that the audience readily appreciated. Dulwich student Michael steadily improved on his use of the music throughout the day - an art in itself - and I’m sure went away with a much better understanding of the skills and feeling involved.

 

As a master you can tell when students really begin to understand the art of Wing Tsun because they begin to apply the principles to every day life. Those demonstrating proved that they had the courage to continue no matter what happen (a teaching that dates back to the early Shaolin era). As I keep saying Wing Tsun is far more than just physical techniques…

 

I was also happy with the other students who endeavoured to come to Dulwich and help by speaking to prospective students and generally making the fair run smoothly. The attitude of all who participated was epitomised by the one student who had had a bike accident early that morning but still came to do his part. Overall, there was a concerted team effort by the members and it was a thoroughly enjoyable day. The words ‘Kung Fu family’ are starting to have their true meaning…