Bai Si Celebration – 17th October 2014 – Paul Burkinshaw UK Sil Lum Hak Fu Mun Association
Location– Tai Kok Tsui Municipal Centre, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Attendees- Yeung Wong Hing (Chairman), Ho Wai Man (Vice Chairman), Wan Jun Hei (Treasurer), Franco Lok (Martial Arts Executive), Alan Low (Hong Kong Head Coach), Chung Kin Kwong & Lee Wai (Coach), Paul Burkinshaw (UK Head Coach)
Following Paul Burkinshaw's visit in March in 2014 (For Grandmaster Wong Cheung’s Annual Remembrance Dinner), Paul once again visited Hong Kong from the 17th to 24th October 2014. On the first day of Paul's arrival in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong committee of Hak Fu Mun had arranged a welcome dinner at the Tai Kok Tsui Municipal Centre. The Chairman of the Association, Yeung Wong Hing and the committee Ho Wai Man, Wan Jun Hei, Franco Lok, Alan Low were all present for the occasion.
The dinner and meeting was also a special occasion, which was to affirm the Sifu and student relationship with the Head Coach of Hong Kong and Paul Burkinshaw. This matter had been discussed by the Chairman and arranged prior to the evening.
Alan Low had described to the committee, the historic links and lineage between Grandmaster Wong Cheung, Robert Henry Johnson and Paul Burkinshaw. Bob Johnson had followed Wong Cheung for several years during the late 1940s to early 1950s whilst serving in Hong Kong as a Military Policeman. Paul had also explained his wish of finding his roots by linking with his brothers of Hak Fu Mun in Hong Kong. It was agreed that a union would strengthen the Hak Fu Mun system and provide the benefit of promoting Hak Fu Mun in the future.
The committee appreciated the effort that Paul had completed in his martial arts life to date and recognised that the Hong Kong Wong Cheung Association had the same objectives as Paul. The committee concurred to accept the UK academy, lead by Paul Burkinshaw, as the branch and representative of Hak Fu Mun in the UK.
Paul started the Bai Si ceremony by pouring the tea and presented a red envelope to his Sifu Alan Low and Alan returned with a gift to Paul. A very warm and happy evening followed, enjoyed by all in attendance.
All members of both Associations look forward to a closer and stronger future between the two branches.
The Bai Si ceremony is seldom performed in many western or modern martial arts schools. But in a traditional school it is one of the most important ceremonies that a student can be asked to partake in. In Chinese Gung Fu, the Bai Si ceremony is the method that allows a student to “Enter the door” and therefore become a disciple. By performing the Bai Si, a commitment is made to the school, their Kung Fu brothers and sisters as well as their Sifu (teacher). Their commitment is appreciated by the Sifu who in return pledges to convey the full art of that style.