Kung Fu History!

Clifton branch of Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu

"Those who constantly evolve will see the future first."

-Mike Lee Kanarek

People gathering for this historic event!

Saturday June 11, 2016 was a big day for the Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Lineage. I also wore a few different hats that day myself. That morning I had tested for Saam Cup Jr and tested with my favorite form thus far in my training of Hung Ga, Ng Ying Keun, the Five Shape Fist Form, more commonly known as the Five Animal Form. Grandmaster Yee Chee Wai (Frank Yee), and my Sigung, had published the book on the Five Animal Form just last year. It was a grand contribution to the Kung Fu community.

I think it was in 1987 that the idea for writing a book came about, but Sigung had chosen to wait until he turned 60 years old to start writing it, because that means he had lived a full life cycle according to Chinese custom. How do you figure? Well there are 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac and five elements so it takes 60 years to go through a cycle. Sigung's would say "How can I publish a book if I am still learning from my art and creating what will be? What if things change later on?" So true to his word, he waited and finally the Five Animal Book was published in fall of 2014.

Grandmaster Frank Yee, founder of Yee's Hung Ga International Kunf Fu Association.

 "To cultivate one's heart, to cultivate one's self and put the family in order."

-Grandmaster Frank Yee

Sigung during honoring the ancestors with the Five Traditional Shaolin Offerings.

After my test I had changed into nicer clothes for a very special ceremony that was being taken place. I was not only a member of my Sifu's school who had tested that morning but an invited master to take witness to the events that would occur. People had come in from all over for this event. In attendance was Sifu Shum Leung of Eagle Claw Kung Fu, Sifu Wan Chi Ming of Hung Ga, Sifu Yip Wing Hong of Dragon Style Kung Fu, Sifu Norman Chin of Southern Mantis style, Sifu Chen Yan of Bagua as well as Sifu Ralph Mitchell of Southern Mantis, Sifu Mimi Chan who is the daughter of and representing Chan Pui of Wah Lum Kung Fu, Sifu Tresa Man who is the daughter of London's Wing Chun Sifu Joseph Man, also from Wing Chun Sifu Vinnie Thomas, Jow Ga Derek Johnson, Grandmaster George Crayton, Soke Bob Martin who is the senior student of Moses Powell,Sensei Ismael Franco of Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujitsu, Sifu Richard Huang of the 5 Animal Kung Fu who is the student of Sifu Larry Tan , and myself as master of Taekwondo.

At beginning of the ceremony Sifu welcomed everyone to the ceremony and had verbally walked through all of the guests through Sigung's demonstration of the traditional Shaolin Five Offerings. A big table and a small table were set up in front of the ancestor shrine and Sigung facing the alter had structurally went through the five offerings, with Sifu narrating the entire ceremony for the audience to understand. He also explained the signifcance of the set up and use of Light, Flowers, Incense, Fruit, and Water.

At this ceremony Sigung had announced the newest Dan ranking system and significance that will be followed all over the world for Yee's Hung Ga, and the new sashes (like belts) were released to the senior Dan ranks. Anyone who knows Sigung knows that he never does something for nothing, meaning there is a reason for everything and there is a purpose. No detail went untouched. Everything from the colors of the trim, the picture of the dragons, the color of the dragons, the use of the hexagrams from I Ching, EVERYTHING had its purpose. The most senior ranks also had new jackets for the uniforms, and wore the new sashes.  This was the main reasoning for re-establishing the ranking system:

"The main goal is to avoid internal fighting. We are not trying to compare with other styles and the outside world. From years of experience, Master Yee believes we must take care of each our Kung Fu first, everybody must know where they stand in order to avoid future problems. There are commonly large disagreements after a head instructor passes away, because the rank is not set out black and white. Like most families, we have had internal problems in the past that could have been avoided with a system like this. He hopes that in the future, all of the Martial Arts families will be peaceful internally and therefore have the energy to offer more to the martial arts world and the whole of society. "

Sigung in front of his five disciples. 

The fourth generation disciples are accepting their new responsibilities for the lineage. 

After the ceremony honoring the ancestors, Sigung (Grandmaster Frank Yee) had announced that he was transferring the responsibilities of Yee's Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association to his five fourth generation disciples including my Sifu, Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee (9th Dan), Sifu Joseph Demundo (8th Dan),  Sifu Mike Perfetto (7th Dan),  Sifu Chi Wah Lee (7th Dan), and Sifu Sharif Bey (6th Dan). 

Sifu had been the the USA President for about 16 years. His disciple who received his 7th Dan, Sifu Michael Burnett, who is an excellent teacher and leader in his own right, had been appointed President of the USA Headquarters of Yee's Hung Ga International and my sifu, Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee, had been appointed now the World President of Yee's Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association. Sifu Joseph Demundo was raised to Chairmen of the World Association, Sifu Chi Wah and Sifu Mike Perfetto both raised to Vice Presidents of the World Association, and Sifu Sharif Bey to Vice Chairmen of the World Association. Also Sifu Roberto Alicea (6th Dan) was appointed to Vice President of USA Headquarters.

Yet another very special and momentous occasion had taken place. All of the branches all across the world from China, USA, United Kingdom, Brazil, El Salvador, and Italy (maybe a few other places I don't know about) had taken a vote to officially promote Grandmaster Yee, the founder of Yee's Hung Ga to the level of 10th Dan Sifu. Sigung, never wanted to self-promote or just assume rank ever. As a founder he constantly evolves the system, researches, studies, puts into practice, and teaches. It wasn't even a question to all the branches of the world to make an official vote to promote the founder. This was done without Sigung's knowing at all.

Sifu and Sigung during the tea ceremony.

Me and Master Chen Yan of Bagua. She taught me the 8 Brocade Qigong set four years ago!

Me and my Sigung, Grandmaster Frank Yee. 

But one of my favorite moments was when Sigung  and the association bestowed honorary 10th Dan to his long time friend and Blood Brother, Sifu George Crayton Jr.! His training brother who had attended in support of the lineage's historic day had been training all his life, and I believe it showed such true brotherhood and humility to brought his fellow training brother up with him to this prestigious rank! I was in absolute awe of that moment! That one moment spoke volumes in the the true spirit of it all.

Another tribute made at the ceremony was from Sifu Michael Burnett to Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee. June 1 actually marked Sifu's school's 25th year anniversary of the Clifton Branch school. Sifu Burnett gave a beautiful speech and presented Sifu Yee with a plaque commemorating the occasion and acknowledging him and thanking him for his many years of service, teaching, and for being the beacon for so many of us. 

"Time is our most precious commodity, it can never be recovered. So make the most of your life as I am making of mine."

-Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee

The traditional bowing and offering of the tea ceremony for the fourth generation disciples was beautiful as they accepted their new responsibilities. But Sigung made one thing VERY clear! He is NOT retiring!!! He is only changing the route and course he is taking to continuing to build the system and work behind the scenes of his disciples, taking on his own new responsibilities to it's highest caliber. 

There are some moments when you know a big change is happening. There are pivotal moments that occur in life and we don't know when they happen all the time, but sometimes we get privy to being keenly aware that it is happening. I did not take being present at this event for granted by any means. I was honored and humbled to be invited as a master of a neighboring art, but extremely proud to being there as well as a student within this lineage. Proud of what Grandmaster Yee has accomplished, proud of my own Sifu to have him guide me in training and to life, proud to be here for this moment in history, and proud to be recognized as part of the family. I also did not know that I would be accepted into a position of Honorary Advisor among these amazing masters. I was humbled and honored.

"If a martial arts system isn't constantly evolving and growing, it is dying. The cure for that is to find people....and empower them to make decisions and changes."

-Soke Dave McNeil

Evolution is important. When I first met Sigung, he had said "Tradition is important but so is innovation." This ceremony touched and filled our spirits. It had promoted and preserved the Chinese culture and traditions through our martial art as a family. One Art, One Family. At dinner, Sigung said to me and my student that "We in the martial arts world are all one family. We all speak the same language." To see first hand that level of evolution is tremendous and a high privilege. 

There have been a lot in the current of change in the air. All good things. As I sat there watching Sigung stand before his five disciples, I thought of my own students. I see the personal history between them and Sigung, and I think of the history being made now with my own. You can't help but be motivated and inspired by an event like this. 

I want to congratulate Sigung on this historic day in Hung Ga history, congratulate my training uncles in their new appointments, to Michael Burnett on his new appointment, and a special congratulations to my Sifu and thank you. Thank you for letting me be a part of this great lineage and exciting world, that I am so humbled and proud to be a part of. (BOWS)

Sifu Pedro Yee, Master Trento, and Grandmaster Frank Yee.

Yours in service,

MASTER A TRENTO