| Izz Karim |
SEVENTEEN Brunei Wing Chun members from the Ip Man Wing Chun Club recently received their certificates of proficiency during a ceremony held at Soto Rindu Restaurant in Rimba, Gadong from two Wing Chun Sifus – Pengiran Mohd Alexander and Zainal Abidin.
Seven of the participants received their Siu Lim Tau certificates, while the other 10 received their Chum Kiu certificates.
Wing Chun universally has six forms – namely, Siu Lim Tau, Chum Kiu, Biu Jee, Wooden Dummy, Butterfly Knife and the Long Pole. While easy to learn, they would take a lifetime to master.
Ip Man Wing Chun under Sifus Pengiran Mohd Alexander and Zainal Abidin has been in the country since 2007.
It now has around 30 students, some of whom are expatriates living and working in Brunei.
Long-time student Sid Lawrence receiving a certificate from Sifu Zainal Abidin – PHOTOS: IZZ KARIM
Sifu Zainal Abidin presenting a certificate to Izzah, one of the recipients
Wing Chun is a southern Chinese martial arts made famous by Ip Man with its origin from the Shaolin Temple.
Apart from its effectiveness as a close-range fighting arts, it has however several other benefits, including health and fitness, better coordination and reflexes, as well as helping to reduce stress.
Brunei Wing Chun also bids farewell to long-time student, Sid Lawrence, from the United Kingdom and who has been attached to the Royal Navy, joining the Wing Chun class in 2014.
He has reached a proficiency level of the 2nd Form Chum Kiu and had completed the Wooden Dummy form training.
Wing Chun practitioners with their certificates during the ceremony at Soto Rindu Restaurant in Rimba, Gadong
Sifu Pengiran Mohd Alexander observed that Sid has been diligent and immaculate during training, which he takes seriously. Sid will soon return to his native England, and plans to continue his Wing Chun practice there, as soon as he finds a suitable Wing Chun club in his locality.
Sid said that he always has been interested in martial arts and did some Karate at school as well as boxing after joining the military.
Wing Chun is a very efficient fighting system that can be used by anyone, regardless of size, strength or age, he added.
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