Iron-Ox Praying Mantis Seminar February 2009
On Saturday 28th February 2009 the students and instructors of Sil Lum Hark Fu Mun UK were visited by students, instructors and Chief Instructor Eduardo Barrios of Dit Ngau Hakka Tong Long Pai UK and Sifu Bob Melia from Chiu Gar Hung Kune and Sun Tai Ji Chuan.
In the spirit of constant improvement and development, Sifu Paul Burkinshaw of SIl Lum Hark Fu Mun, England had been focusing on the more elementary facets of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts. Closely examining more fundamental stances and movements to ensure core skills are perfected.
In recent years Sifu Paul Burkinshaw has been striving to implement these methods into his UK branch of Sil Lum Hark Fu Mun, returning to what would have been taught by the late Grand Master Wong Cheung in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.
The styles Iron-Ox Praying Mantis and Black Tiger share many common Traditional Chinese Martial Arts stances, blocks and strikes therefore the instructors of Sil Lum Hark Fu Mun UK were very grateful for the chance to converse and train with like-minded peers.
Eduardo Barrios is the founder and president of Iron-Ox Praying Mantis International Martial Arts Association and the present Chief Instructor of Dit Ngau Hakka Tong Long Pai for the United Kingdom and South America. Mr Barrios trained under the personal tutelage of Grandmaster Ho Kung Wah between 1991 and 1997 as his last disciple.
Dit Ngau Hakka Tong Long Pai was founded by Choy Dit Ngau during the late Ching Dynasty in Heyuen, Guandong County. Dit Ngau Hakka Tong Long has been promoted within the Hakka minority in Bao’ang mainland China for the last 150 years. The late Grandmaster Ho Kung Wah was a Hakka native he was responsible for introducing the art of Dit Ngau Hakka Tong Long to Hong Kong in the 1940's, Panama in 1950's and the United Kingdom in the late 1960's.
The afternoon's seminar began with drills and exercises which were used to strengthen stances and encourage better balance. Students paired off and practised together, although the movements were obviously very familiar to all, Eduardo suggested ways to improve and strengthen these movements. At many seminars held we try and cram in many new movements to learn or perhaps a new weapon to master, however, it was very welcoming to practise very simple movements unhurried so that the tiny details could be the focus.
Following on from our stance work, Eduardo moved on to more combat orientated techniques. Once more, the class split into pairs and this time one partner took the role of attacker, whilst the other concentrated on various trapping and pressing techniques as we moved across the training room. Eduardo demonstrated his considerable knowledge and expertise by explaining the subtleties of each move.
As the afternoon continued Eduardo inspected some of our own Black Tiger movements and offered his advice on improving technique and form. Hearing Eduardo's valued opinions offered a good insight as it was a fresh pair of eyes on techniques that the club has been practising for many years.
To conclude the afternoon's seminar Eduardo turned to conditioning drills which were aimed at strengthening our blocking tools against each other (in partners) and also on the academy's wooden dummies.
The instructors and students of Sil-Lum Hark Fu Mun UK were very grateful for the afternoon's training with Dit Ngau Hakka Tong Long Pai UK. Traditional Chinese Martial Arts is often considered a closed door community, but seminars such as this prove that different styles can work together in the spirit of friendship and progression. It is inspiring to work with a similar organisation that can inspect things from the 'outside' and create greater understanding.