Schools

My Journey From Student to Sifu only to empty my cup and become a Student of WingTsun and then again climb my way back to Sifu. My journey began in the 60’s from childhood thanks to a younger Brother who wrestled with Me and a Father who was a great boxer and street fighter. By  1969 I started my excursion into the evolution of the Chinese Martial Arts. Beginning with the brute force and then leading the energy, progressing to the more eclectic  and philosophical, ending with the most practical. Tai Chi Chuan and Taoism from Master Gia Fu Feng. The Koushu Federation Republic of China, a general curriculum of Chinese Kung Fu headed by Professor James C. Cravens who holds a 4th black in Kodokan Ju Jitsu and heads the Chinese Boxing Institute Inc. International course of study included: Chinese Hawaiian Kempo – Chinese Okinawan Kempo. Both influenced  by the Old Pine Tree Style Kung Fu. Northern and Southern Shaolin—Chuan Fa,  and White Lotus. Students obtained a general feel for the five animal energies. Chin Na-(grappling, joint twisting, vital points.) Chinese Boxing included  (Wing Chun, Pa Kua Chang, Tai Chi Chuan, Yang and Chen style, Hsing-I Chuan) The goal being to give the student a diverse view of the Chinese Martial Arts  from the external to the internal, hard to soft, long to short…etc. Seven Star Praying Mantis – Honorable mention my original Teacher in Mantis was Si-hing Bill Clark who was one of Tony Eggerts’s assistants  in  Colorado Springs, Colorado. Sifu Tony was a student of Sifu Brendan Lai who taught in San Francisco . A hybrid Kung Fu with its circular movements. Which in turn  led me to the most practical I have ever seen.  “WingTsun Kung Fu”  I happily gave up everything previous, because once you have a seven course dinner in front of you there is no need to add anything! It felt like coming home. I finally found what I was looking for, my destiny path. Even though I still respect all those styles and teachers along the way, WingTsun is the top of the mountain for me, the peak of martial arts evolution and Grandmaster Leung Ting is the guiding light shining the way. From the caveman’s club to the fencer’s foil which can parry and thrust in one motion, this is evolution and when it’s reached its highest point of freedom this is WingTsun!  I first wrote to the Headquarters (In Phoenix, Arizona at the time) in 1980 with My Credentials and Arranged a Training Session with my Si-hings’ Keith Sonnenberg, Robert Jacquet, and Stephen Freriechs. I trained for a week of Intensive Seminars with these Gracious People. I fell in Love at first sight, recognizing the most efficient, fiercely fluid, Totally Applicable,  Freed up martial arts I’ve encountered.  A true self-defense in that it can be applied by everyone, and it teaches to overcome stronger enemies. Which I believe was the original reason the Arts where invented in the first place. There is a saying in the Traditional Styles, “ The fullest stalk of rice bows its head the lowest”.  Meaning to me the more knowledge and understanding you possess the more humble you should become….Immediately they Introduced Me to the Grandmaster, and I emptied my cup, and requested to become his Student. He accepted my Sincerity, and allowed me to become his Direct Disciple (What an Honor). After training with him in Arizona I asked him if we could hold a Seminar in Montana. We held our first Seminar in Billings, Montana at My first Commercial WT Public Professional School on the Busiest Street in Montana (1111 Main Street). That was in 1982.   From 1981 to 1985 I Trained intensively at all his Stops, and in 1985 He Awarded me the Title of Sifu, and Montana WingTsun Kung-Fu Headquarters. Then soon allowed Me to Pioneer Branches in Great falls, Montana,  Wyoming, Boise, Idaho, Seattle, Washington, Oregon. Currently I have been Training with Master Sifu Carson Lau http://www.wingtsun.ca 7th Level, who Guest Instructors at my gym twice a Year. He always inspires me and keeps the system pure to the Traditional Chinese Ways. (Thank You Sifu Lau)  My two Senior Kung-Fu Brothers are Dei Si-hing Elmond Leung http://www.eleungwingtsun.com and Si-hing Keith Sonnenberg http://www.wingtsunaz.com which includes me as one of the Original Students, and Instructors in the United States. I have a younger Kung-fu Brother Sifu William Parker who like Sifu Lau is a Visiting Guest Instructor, and recently achieved Master Level (Congratulations by the way.) My Eastern Kung-Fu Brother Sifu Mike Adams (Much Success to you Mike),. There are many up and coming Sifu’s I haven’t met or forgot to Mention, but none the less just as important to our organization. Upon the forming of the I.W.T.A. – N.A.S. Sifu gave me the Title of Coordinator for the Northwest. I have completed the Long Pole, and I’m applying for 4th Instructor Level.  It’s taken me longer than some to accomplish what I want, but my Sifu always told me “More is not the answer, Better is” so I just keep training and I think I always will be the eternal student, because when you think you know it all, you quit learning! It’s not often in life you get the chance to bask in the light of True Genius! Thank You Sifu for all these glorious years, and here’s to Many More of the Same. Your Forever Loyal Student in Montana Steve Brandon. I would like to close with an invitation to all to come and see this Love Affair I have with WingTsun Kung-Fu, and Why it just may be Your Destiny to Take This Path.