Hong Kong 2007

On Saturday 31^st march 2007 Sifu Paul Burkinshaw, Antony Mee and I David Richardson set off for Hong Kong. Whilst waiting in Heathrow airport we decided to treat ourselves to a full English breakfast (well it was going to be the last taste of English bacon and eggs we would have for at least ten days). We arrived in Hong Kong early Sunday morning after a brief stop in Paris. On landing I sent a text to Jamie White (a Sil Lum Kune student who had been in Hong Kong for four months) to let him know we had arrived so he could meet us at the airport train station. I noticed Jamie as soon as we walked out of arrivals, as he was leaning wearing his England rugby top. After sorting out train tickets we headed to the hostel on what seemed like the cleanest, quietest and most efficient train system I have ever been on.

The hostel was in Tsim Sha Tsui, on Nathan road. The building had street level shops and above that were several hostels. Ours was not the most beautiful place to look at but the cost definitely reflected that.

No time was wasted putting our bags in the rooms as we wanted to make the 10.30 am Black Tiger Kung-fu lesson in Kwun Tong district.  Sifu Paul and Jamie had already met and trained with most of the students there. Sifu Paul had also organised a plan for training throughout the week with the three senior students, Michael, Jimmy and Simon. This meant we could get straight into learning the new forms.

Sifu Paul demonstarting the cymbals form

Sifu Paul was taught the Black Tiger Iron Rod weapon form. Antony and I started the spear form with Jimmy. Sifu Paul then took a break from the iron rod form to show the class the Black Tiger cymbals form, (Wind and Thunder Double Cymbals) which he had learned with Eric Tsai on a previous trip. Michael then moved on to show me what seemed like an endless number of arm conditioning and strengthening drills and finished with iron rod blocking and striking drill.

 

Michael teaching me the Iron rod drill

I learned a lot from that training session and Sifu Paul had learned all the moves of the Iron Rod form. After the lesson we showed the guys our mobile phone screen savers with the Hark Fu logo on them. Then we all went Bluetooth crazy passing them onto the Hong Kong guys. We also had brought a load of club t’shirts as gifts and passed them around so they all had one. A good lesson for us, considering we had little or no sleep since we got up to leave for the airport the previous morning.

A little later back at the hostel we were talking about what we should do for the rest of the day. So keeping in mind Ant, Sifu Paul and I hadn’t slept properly that day, had just finished a hard training session, and Jamie had also had no sleep from three days at the rugby sevens.(which were being held in Hong Kong Stadium) we all considered our options. Sleep, so we can get up the next morning ready for our day off and go site seeing refreshed, or go to the rugby sevens and drink lots of beer. So we headed for a night at the beer Garden of the Hong Kong Stadium to watch the finals on the big screen.

  
  

 

On Monday morning we went over the forms and drills we had learned the previous day, then Jamie took us to see some sites, including the famous Bruce Lee statue which was just a few minutes walk from our hostel.

Tuesday Simon came to our hostel to teach us the Chin Chong (front dummy form). In the reception area of our hostel there is a Wing Chun schools training room and we used this area to learn this new form.

After training we set off to the Mong Kong district to see were Grandmaster Wong Cheung’s former gym in Bute Street used to be. In the last few months the gym had been dismantled and all evidence of its existence removed from its former roof top position.

The roof top where Grandmaster Wongs gym stood four months previoulsy

 

Notice new painted roofs.                                    

Sifu Paul explaining the layout to Jamie

Me in a tiger pose at the original out-door area of the gym

After visiting Bute street, we then looked around the market in Mong Kong.

 

Wednesday we trained in Kowloon Park with Simon, were we learned the Wut Fat Sin which is a Hard Fan and one of the very rare black tiger weapons forms. This was a wonderful surrounding in which to train. It was easier learning the form as a group, because when one person got stuck the others usually knew what the next move was. Later that day, we went to Hong Kong Island and caught a bus up to the peak were there was a great selection of shops, restaurants and coffee shops. EA Sports has a demonstration and outlet shop there which took a few hours to get round. Later that night we went to the cinema to watch 300 as recommended by Jamie who had already watched it, “brilliant” 

 

Thursday we trained across the road at the park again, and this time both Simon and Jimmy were teaching us. We split into two groups, Sifu Paul and I started the epic Hau Chong which translates to Rear Dummy Form which seemed like the longest form I had ever learned (ahh it was!).

Earlier that morning, Jamie and Ant went to a martial arts shop to buy some good quality butterfly knives. So Jamie and Ant started to learn the spectacular looking butterfly knives form with Simon.

After training we all went to a local noodle bar for lunch, then we headed off to look around some of the shops. We were looking for Hard fans (a dried leaf shaped to be used as a weapon). We also bought some cymbals which are used as weapons and I was looking for lion dance equipment. That evening it was off to the cinema for 300 again “yes it was that good”. On the way to the cinema we were passing a hotel and noticed some large statues in the foyer of the Ninja Turtles. Well, we just had to get a picture.

 

Friday’s training was back to the park to finish the forms with Jimmy and Simon. We then went off to a few of the many shopping centres to do some bargain hunting. There are so many shopping malls its unbelievable and they all seem to have almost the same shops in them. This evening we went to the cinema to see Sun Shine, we weren’t impressed so went to the late showing of 300 to cheer ourselves up.

 

Saturday’s training was with Jimmy at the park. Today we were reinforcing the practical applications of the open hand forms of the black tiger system. That night after a few drinks at the local Irish bar, Jamie went to the airport to return home after being in Hong Kong for just over four months.

 

Me, Ant, Sifu Paul, Spunky (nickname given to our waitress by Jamie), Jamie & Bridget (the Canadian chick as Jamie called her)

Sunday we went to the association class in Kwun Tong district. Before we arrived we weren't sure if we were going to be learning another form or just refreshing what we had already learned. When we arrived, Michael was practising the spear. We watched him, then moments later handed us a spear each and said you learn spear. We were defiantly happy to have the opportunity to learn this fantastic weapons form. This form was called Ng Fu Chek Wun Cheong (Five Tiger Chasing Spirit Spear) and it quickly became my favourite weapons form. Then as we were finishing off the lesson there was a lion dance drummer practising and teaching a student the cymbals, he then pointed out that he wanted to show us some black tiger self defence techniques performed on the punch bag. Could it get any better? 

We came from England to learn from our Hong Kong Black tiger kung fu Brothers and they all went out of their way to help us grasp as much knowledge and experience as possible. Simon and Jimmy took time from work to teach us and we were treated like a family.

After the lesson we all headed to a local restaurant which I believe to be one of Michaels favourites. We had Dim Sum with a large selection of different dishes.

Later that day Ant and I went to Lantau island to visit the Tin Tan Buddha and stopped to shop at the mall in the new up market district near the MTR stop. (Loads of bargains)

Monday we went in search of more bargains around the many shopping malls Sifu Paul took the lead this time. There was a shirt that Sifu Paul wanted but the shop didn’t have his size so, to our surprise, the shop keeper sent his assistant across Hong Kong to pick one up from another store. Ant and I then set off to Victoria peak for the second time. This time the view was much clearer. We also had a look around the war memorial and then took the ferry back across to Tsim Sha Tsuidistrict then back to the hostel to meet up with Sifu Paul.

Tuesday travelled home

I would like to thank all the Black Tiger students in Hong Kong for there help and guidance.

Written by David Richardson