The Masters' Visit

Master Tan Soh Tin the Master of Nam Yang Pugilistic Association from Singapore, has just returned home after spending a month at the Mountain Training Centre.

This was a really valuable time for all the residents here, as it gave us the opportunity to get advice on our Kung Fu, right from the top and get more of an insight into the art.

We had the opportunity to show Master Tan our Sum Chien's and to comment on this the most fundamental and essential of our forms. To be honest, I probably did the worst rendition ever as I am not used to having anyone but Iain and Chris take a look. 

Master Tan reminded us of the importance of the basics; getting the fundamentals of the art correct. Simple things (well in theory not in practice) such as remembering to turn in the front foot in stance, sinking, keeping the back straight etc. He also went through the Four Points of Gold and had some interesting discussions about generating power from the  Tan Tien.

Particularly valuable was the time we could  spend individually talking to the Master. He gave me and Chris some very good individually tailored advice, that would be hard to get out of a one day seminar. He showed immense understanding and patience and has given us all something to work on, which will significantly improve our Kung Fu, and (without trying to sound cheesy), our outlook on life.

Spending "down time" with Master Tan was also a rewarding experience. Outside the training arena, just sitting drinking Kung Fu Tea, eating dinner or just relaxing, opened up opportunity to find out more about Master Tan's life and experiences and discuss more abstract yet related matters. 

Along with Master Tan also came Master Tey (sometimes also referred to as "Uncle" as he is not technically a Master of the association). This is the first time I have met this energetic and charismatic Master. He was full of fun and energy for the whole 2 weeks he was with us. Again he has a fascinating life story (by all accounts a bit of a rouge!) and trained under Master Ang in Singapore. He now has a passion for dancing, as well as teaching his Kung Fu. Training with Master Tey really helped with my Suang Yung and gave me some solid techniques to focus on for sticking hands.

It was truly an honour to have the opportunity to stay here while the Masters were visiting. The amount you can learn by just being around them is astonishing and as a result I am hoping to visit Singapore some time in the future and am really looking forward to their next visit here at the Mountain Training Centre.

If you get the chance to meet your Masters definitely do everything you can to do so, as I will guarantee you won't regret it.

(Photo from right to left: Maria Colom-Moreno, Chris Pass, Master Tey, Chief Instructor UK Iain Armstrong, Master Tan, Sasha and Chet Olafson)