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Trip to the Root of Southern Shaolin Kung FuA few days ago a great international event occurred. People coming from all over the world participated to the Southern Shaolin Kung Fu greatest reunion. Our Sifu Luigi Martone took part in the event, writing a small diary, wanting to share this experience. Saturday - January, 11th 08.45am - This morning we went to Kow Loon Park. It had an interesting section completely dedicated to Kung Fu artists. Both schools and single artists trained there. Many different styles are represented, but the most diffused is certainly Tai Chi. We also saw many different Japanese Karate schools. After an individual training, Sifu Chiu Chi Ling arrived. He thanked us for the presents we gave him and then started us off to a training section in pairs. We observed the power application in our movements, the leg shifting and the three defensive lines. 
12.00am - We had an exquisite lunch in a restaurant found in a nearby skyscraper. I had the honour and pleasure to meet our Sifu's wife: Virginia. 02.00pm - At this point we moved to Sifu Chiu Chi Ling's gymnasium and clinic. It's full of old photographs, certificates, diplomas, trophies and weapons. We even saw a photograph of Sigung Chiu Kao and his wife Siu ying. There is a very interesting part dedicated to the Chinese traditional medicine, most of which are herbs, infusions and special utensils.  Sifu Chiu Chi Ling explained us his families contribution to
Hung Ga,
showing us the photographs on the walls. For an instant we felt as
part of an old Chinese movie dedicated to the national Kung Fu heroes.
The truth is that this actually happened and that there was no fiction
around us.
We had a break when Simo Virginia offered us some fresh fruits. Sifu Chiu Chi Ling continued narrating us of the last hundred years of his family. It was fascinating the passage of knowledge's that went from his father the Grandmaster Wong Sai Wing (Wong Fei Hung's pupil), after coming back to Hong Kong and meeting with Grandmaster Lam Sai wing, coming back to Sifu Chiu Chi Ling. Sunday - 12th of January 09.00am - We came back to Kow Loon Park. As Sundays consuetude, there were many Kung Fu exhibitions. We were pleased to see the perfect organisation: seats for everyone, bright posters, an athlete announcer and many Kung Fu pictures. Sifu and athletes of different styles performed their art. 07.00pm - We moved to the Hong Kong Colosseum, where there took place the International Lion and Dragon dance Tournament. We saw athletes performing their dance on wooden poles up to 2meters high! But honestly after a few exhibitions, it became a bit boring. (Click here to download the movie...) Monday - 13th of January 07.00am - We woke-up early to arrive as soon as possible to Popular China. The trip was long and we arrived at 11:00p.m. Although there was a positive aspect of the situation, we had in fact the chance to see different traditional country villages. We were caught by the outstanding differences between Shenzen, Shantou and Xiamen. The most evident differences were amongst the modern and the old villages: many without streets and with very small neighbourhoods. But one thing was common of all of the places we've been to: kindness, honesty, peacefulness, silence and curiosity towards us. Tuesday - 14th of January  We went to the Naam Siulam Ji temple in Putian, that has
recently been rebuilt. It is found on top of a hill, surrounded by
trees, we observed with admiration the incredible view. Many Kung
Fu schools are being founded around this temple. Inside there is
a wide square where the monks are trained.
A Lion Dance opened the exhibition. Young monks performed modern Wushu with incredible skill.  Then all the International Chiu Chi Ling
Assn representatives coming from Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy and Switzerland exhibited
under Sifu Chiu Chi Lings rhythmic drumming.Two Chinese and a German journalists accompanied us. We made friends and in the end they even made us a photographic service. In the evening we went to Quanzhou Shaolin Temple. Unfortunately it was too late, so after meeting some monks we made an appointment for the following morning. Wednesday - 15th of January  We were at the Quanzhou Siulam Temple early in the morning. I found
out that the original name was Zhenguo East Chan Shaolin Temple.
This temple is being rebuilt on the original one, but the works are not
yet finished. The landscape is very different from the past. Quanzhou
is nowadays very close and there is very little surrounding vegetation
left. As for many
 other temples, we saw many Kung fu schools here too.
The Chief Monk welcomed us. We were surprised to see that the Chinese journalists were already there. They were interviewing someone, and soon after the exhibition started. Young monks performed traditional Kung Fu together with their older Sifu. Their support is fundamental to the teaching and preservation of tradional Kung Fu. After their performance we showed our arts, exactly like we did in the other temples. I had the pleasure in taking part to the Baai Si, an ancient traditional way to become a member of a Kung Fu family. Very few schools maintain this tradition. The chief monk and other grandmasters sat close to Sifu Chiu Chi Ling. I was very exited, it was a unique and wonderful experience. 
A flag prepared by Sifu Chiu Chi Ling was our tribute and offer to our hosts. Then we moved to Foshan. Thursday - 16th of January  We went to the historical museum of Foshan. There is a section
dedicated to the Grandmaster (or SitaiGung) Wong Fei Hung of
Hung Ga Style and SitaiGung Ypman of Wing Chun, both lived in
this town.The local Tv troupe and a few journalists were already there, together with the government representative. There were many Kung Fu schools too, which usually train in the museum. A Lion Dance started at the museum's entrance. The drum's roll drew everyone's attention. Foshan Dancers were excellent. Then Sifu Chiu Chi Ling and Foshan school's Sifu, drummed together. As the rythm became more and more frenetic, the acrobatic difficulty became higher, and the movements became more difficult.  In the end we went in the museum. As we were entering, we saw Pupils practicing Taichi and Qigong in
the internal gardens.
We then performed our exhibition on a stand, together with the Hung
Ga Foshan school and the very skilled Modern Wushu school.
Inside,
after taking some photos and making some interviews, some pupils
performed Baai Si. Then we moved to the Jing Woo (o Chinwoo) Federation seatings,
where we met its President. We exhibited again with a
young Sifu from this federation. Amongst all, we saw
Foo Hok Seung Ying Kuen.
The Jing Woo Federation's President exhibited in Qigong.
Friday - 17th of January We arrived to the Lionart Wong Fei Hung Wushu Hall in Wong Fei Hung's original town. Their local school showed us Lion Dance, by performing it on tall poles with enormous ability. Other groups then performed Baai Si and in the end we visited an ancestral temple. Saturday - 18th of January We had breakfast in a famous restaurant of Guangzhou and visited the Big Buddha statue. Then we came back to Hong Kong. Sunday - 19th of January In the morning we took a little rest. Then we went to Victoria Park, in order to meet a Sibak Chiu Wai's pupil. 02.30pm - We saw the exhibitions in Kow Loon Park. 04.00pm - We attended a meeting with Sigung Chiu Chi Ling at the sixteenth floor of our hotel. His son Kevin showed us the association's structure, rules, prospectives and possible improvements. Monday - 20th of January We ate in a restaurant in Nathan Road, found in the Mongkok district. Many old Sifu from different styles were there. Some of them were accompanied by their pupils. There were journalists from Hong Kong  ,
Popular China and Europe. The main hall was immediately covered with
flags. A Video Station was prepared: it showed shots from the previous
day. A DVD of the event we'll soon be created.
Sifu Chiu Chi Ling's birthday celebration started with the ritual Lion Dance performed by Swiss school and then followed by a performance of the Hung Ga forms, made by the occidental schools. The present Sifu drummed in turns. We had an incredible feeling: no matter how old they were, they were incredibly vital, joyfull, respectfull, friendly and well considered each other. Amongst the present styles, we mention Bagwa, Taiji, Zuiquan, Southern and Seven stars TangLang, Wing Chun, Choi Li Fat, Lama, Jow Ga, Hung Ga and modern Wushu. We thought it was finished, but during dinner we saw other performances.  We had dinner after slicing the cake and the usual group photos.. Sifu Chiu Chi Ling stopped to talk with everyone. We saw many "coups de theatre": in turns, Sifu got on the stands and encouraged their companions to exhibit again. With smiles and great applauses, some were forced to perform. When a turn finished, they restarted again, and took advantadge on the others. They expressed cheerfulness, friendship and professionalism. Guests started to go away in the end. All occidental pupils stood by the exit to salute and thank sincerely Sifu Chiu Chi Ling. During these days, I was able to appreciate the friendly terms between Chiu Chi Ling's pupils and the idea of a family, given by old Sifu. A big thanks goes to Master Chiu Chi Ling that offered us such a great experience, in the place where Kung Fu was born and developed. A further thanks goes to Sifu Chiu Chi Ling's wife, Virginia, and their son Kevin. M. Luigi Martone
Visit out Photo Gallery dedicated to this Tour... ----------------------- |
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