Dan Adwards
Senior Instructors from the Sam Lee European Martial Arts Organization assembled together to celebrate Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu and Wu Tai Chi instructor's DAN grade awards ceremony.
This prestigious accolade has been awarded to the very best instructors from Master Lee's organization for excellence in spreading the art, philosophies and wisdom of eastern martial arts throughout Ireland and the rest of Europe.
Master Lee is the European representative for Shaolin Hung Sing Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu and travels regularly to China to meet with Masters from all over the world such as Sifu Kong on Buk, Sifu Choi Kong Yun, Sifu Poon Sing, Sifu Wang Kai Cheun, Sifu Loeung Man Fat, Sifu Loiu Chig Wing, Sifu Joe Kwon, Sifu Li Siu Hung, to promote and encourage the growth of Kung Fu around the Globe.
The DAN grade awarding body is the "Jin Wu" or (Chin Woo) Association China, notably the largest and most famous Kung Fu Governing body in the world. The founder of the Chin Woo association was very recently featured in the movie "Fearless" played by Jet Li. This film tells the story of Chinese Martial Arts Master Huo Yuanjia (1869~1910). Huo Yuanjia was the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu Federation. Three Chin Woo Virtues 1. Wisdom "Man of Wisdom cannot be mislead" 2. Benevolence: "Man of Benevolence has no worry" 3. Courage: "Man of Courage has no fear".
To formally mark the occasion, and as a symbol of respect, instructors and students in procession offered a traditional burning of incense. Diplomas incased in red booklets issued by Chin Woo were then given to each instructor, as official acknowledgement of the DAN grade awards.
Grandmaster Sam Lee was awarded 9th DAN by the Chin Wu Association for life time's achievement in the martial arts. A level rarely seen in the international Kung Fu community.
Master Lee presented 5th and 2nd DAN Chin Wu grading certificates to his most senior and devoted students who have been following him since the 1980's and 90's.
Those who received DAN certification were;
Dermot O'Brien 5th DAN
Terry Frost 5th DAN
Leo Brennan 5th DAN
Robert Wolohan 5th DAN
Georgina Wright 5th DAN
Unsal Ozen 5th DAN
John Hogan 5th DAN
Joan McCormack 5th DAN
Thomas Doran 5th DAN
While 2nd DAN certificates were awarded to
Karl Kidd 2nd DAN
Finian Fallon 2nd DAN
Patrick Yeates 2nd DAN
Making his presentation speech, Master Lee spoke of the growing success of Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu and Wu Tai Chi in Ireland and throughout Europe. Master Lee expressed his support in seeing Sam Lee Martial Arts Organization grow and spread out across Europe, with senior instructors present from Germany and France on the day.
During the ceremony Master Lee welled up with emotion and expressed that one must have a good heart in teaching the Martial arts, that having a good heart was the most important action needed to embody the true essence of Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu. The atmosphere was one of deep gratitude felt by the students for Master Lee, so much so it was almost palpable. Each student over the years having received expert tutelage from Master Lee in such an individual and personal way had now reached Master level themselves in receiving 5th DAN awards.
Master Lee went on to say that his duty was almost finished, it was as though he felt honor bound to pass the complete system on to the next generation to spread and propagate the ancient art. Those present at this award ceremony could feel, that for Master Lee this outcome had been the result of many years of training and teaching Choy Lay Fut to worthy and dedicated students, who had now reached this comparable level through many years of devotion and hard training under the watchful eye of the Master.
With St Catherine's training hall in Marabone Lane, Dublin filled with smoke from the sweet burning incense the onlookers and participants spontaneously broke into applause, it was as though each of us recognized our potential in Master Lee and he had guided us to this moment of celebration and a once in a lifetime achievement of reaching Master Level in Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu.
By Terry Frost & Dermot O' Brien
