SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
1923: A boy was born under the Chinese sign of a Boar. His Star of Destiny was unknown yet.
2007: International Tribute is given to a man in the Chinese year of the Boar. He receives a Star with his
name for his life achievements.
To celebrate this event, an honouring feast was given on the 14th of April 2007. Hero and Star of that Tribute is Joseph Wang Kiu, Master of Wing Chun.
Countries present at the feast: USA—GERMANY—HOLLAND—BELGIUM.
Representatives of the various Wang Kiu Tong Schools: Sifu’s RUUD PERREIJN—MARTIJN WAGTENDONK—DENNIS WETTER—JIM ZEE—JOHNNY RYCKEWAERT—HERBERT MAIER—KLAUS JESKE.
Representative of the Kam Lung School: Sijo VAN DER SPEK.
Tribute given by others not present: countries: CANADA—AUSTRALIA—HONG KONG—GERMANY.
Representing lineages: LEE SHING—LO MAN KAM—LEUNG TING—LUN GAI—CHU CHONG TIN—WANG KIU—YUEN CHAI WAN.
PROGRAM OF THE EVENING.
HONOURING NIGHT FOR MASTER WANG KIU.
Place: Cité du Dragon/Dragon Village
Boomsesteenweg 139, Antwerpen/Antwerp België/Belgium
Date: 14 April 2007.
Hour: 18.15 h. evening.
Other guests: 1st generation students of Sifu Wang Kiu
Other guests: 2nd generation of Sigung Wang Kiu
Other guests: 3rd generation of Sigung Wang Kiu
Program:
Arrival all guests and the drinking of the tea.
Opening speech: by host Johnny Ryckewaert Senior.
Opening with Chinese Tradition
Wing Chun History Performance.
Played by the Feng Huang Men Yong Chun Kung Fu Pai school.
*Honour speech with a Very Unique Surprise for the Great King of Wing Chun!*
Dinner
Stories, experiences, expresses of gratitude, anecdotes, other demonstrations or whatever…
By anyone else present.
The last word by Master Wang Kiu.
THE END.
OPENING SPEECH.
Good evening everyone. We welcome our special guest Joseph Wang Kiu and his wife Ping. Also all other here present are very welcome. We thank everyone to have made the effort to come, because most of you have a long trip behind you. After making acquaintance with each other and drinking tea, we have come to the brink of a special evening. For two reasons we are gathered here. 1st of all we are here to honour Sigung—Sifu Wang Kiu for his lifetime Wing Chun achievements and 2nd to demonstrate the functional operation of the Wang Kiu Tong.
This is the first surprise for our master this evening. He is not here for just a dinner among friends, but it is HIS honouring night among his Wing Chun family.
What is the goal we want to get out of this feast?
Simply this: we have to stick together as one group that represents the ways of Master Wang Kiu. It is necessary to be really united. The Wang Kiu Tong has to show the unique DNA mark that only belongs to Master Wang Kiu. Practically this means in the words of the Master: “Not to change anything”. His Wing Chun is as he himself said it, naïf and simple and it honours Yip Man in the way he taught our Master. What is visible now as an identification of his teachings, must remain for future generations. And that is what we are, the future generation. Don’t let an ancient knowledge become a thing of the past. Support authenticity, support Wang Kiu Wing Chun.
A 2500 year old Middle East saying explains an unchangeable wisdom: “A son honours his father—a servant honours his Grand Master”.
This is the main goal this evening, to show in return our gratitude and our respect for a person who is a part of the Wing Chun jewel. He is an important gem of the jewel, an important key in the Yip Man history. He has proven to urn a place in the long list of Wing Chun descendants. To make sure that his contribution is not in vain, we want to make this evening unforgettable, we want to make our Master unforgettable. Whatever your position, or how long you practice, whatever your participation is this evening, you are all playing a role this evening in the life of Sigung—Sifu Wang kiu. Being here completes the whole picture of what the evening will bring.
PROGRAM
If you look at the program which you received, you will notice that after the opening we will first have a shortened version of the Wing Chun History. We hope you will enjoy this performance. It is a combination of film and play. Trying to show history in a short time and with not much means was a challenge. That is why we came up with this idea to combine it with film and pictures. Serious efforts have been made to make this possible.
As host and organizer of this special occasion, I like to clarify the fact that inaccuracies can happen during the performances. Realize that we are not professional actors and some things had to be learned extra to be able to show this evolution in the growth of Wing Chun. Some players only have 6 months of training and some who were retired picked it up just for this evening. Also the film fragments are not always of top quality.
The film material is a mixture of documentaries, parts of movies, demonstrations and old films. The reason for bringing film and acting together is obvious, because we have not enough means, money, place and the time to put up such a big theatre happening. Doing it this way was the alternative. But in our opinion it is worthwhile to be here. Every effort will count and all is done with the best intentions and that is to honour our Master.
What may we expect or better what not?
Nothing is done to criticize or to make any degrading distinctions. It is not meant to ridicule anyone or to make a fool of someone. The whole purpose is to give an idea how the very first seeds were sown of Wing Chun. How it took an early start and how it, step by step became a big root with visual growth. The initial script had the intent to bring the evolution of the Wing Chun moves during the different stages in time, in a demonstrative way and this to the highlight where all the forms of Master Wang Kiu, as we know them today, should be shown , but due to differences in the forms I teach at this moment with some of the other Wang Kiu schools, made be conclude not to do this, not making it a point of issue this evening and that it is better to wait for a definite solution by Master Wang Kiu in due time.
Everyone here knows what Master Wang Kiu gave us. So with this in mind you can easily see the systematic changes during the play, what led to its definite pattern since 1950. Variations in our time can be caused by misunderstanding, misinterpretation or personality differences. This can not change the way Master Wang Kiu passed on his knowledge.
We are here to honour Master Wang Kiu, honour his Wing Chun, honour the source and trying to uphold these facts with deep respect, keeping the joy in practising the art!
Now look at the creation of woman, nicely brought in balance by the influence and completion of men. If some humour comes out of it, then laugh, there is no harm in some laughter well meant. Make with us this evening unforgettable for Master Wang Kiu and for yourself.
Is there anything you can do?
Yes, sit back, relax and sip your tea and travel back in time.
START OPENING WITH DRAGON DANCE—PLAY AND DEMONSTRATIONS.
THEATRICAL PLAY BY THE FENG HUANG MEN YONG CHUN PAI.
ENDSPEECH
I think we did quite well for amateurs. Showing the long of descendants up to Master Wang Kiu makes it clear what we represent. The Chinese saying:” Drinking of the water; remind the source. Keep on carrying the aim of the older generation, and breaking open new grounds in spreading the martial arts. What was hidden once, bringing in the light, while bringing honour to those who were there before us”, sums it up what we have to do for the future. This is the only possibility to preserve the art. What we have shown this evening is just a part of many more historical events. If you want to know more, there is a book available, in which the complete story is found.
I thank all the ones who played a role in the play, for all the efforts in such a short notice, also for the technical usage during the play and for filming this event. I thank my wife and son for putting up with me in stressful moments and supporting me in every way. I thank Sigung Wang Kiu, he is my inspiration to have accomplished this and to go on with Wing Chun. He is my inspiration to preserve the art. Thanks Master Wang Kiu for all the education and seminars you gave the last 15 years and most of them which I had the privilege to have attended. These teachings were a rich blessing. I thank the Wing Chun Tong to have been present here, to have shown your respect for our Master, for the art and for the will to do something with it for the future. Thanks for being a part of this accomplishment with credit to Ruud, Martijn and Dennis for this. I thank my teacher Henk Roelofsen for persuading me so many years ago to take up Wing Chun. I thank my older Wing Chun brother Hennie van den Berg of which I learned a lot. I thank Herbert Maier and Klaus Jeske for making the joy even greater to come all the way from the States and Germany to be a part of this event.
Now, if Master Wang Kiu could grant my school the privilege of taking a picture together.
The evening is not yet finished—it is just starting—enjoy your dinner. Good appetite and thank you!
SPEECH WITH GIFT OF STAR.
He is a very humble man! Tonight we bring him out of the shadow into the light. From tonight on he will not longer be the underdog of the Wing Chun World. He is the STAR of the day!!! China has his 108 heroes, 108 stars of destiny who have played an important role in China’s cultural thinking.
Once in awhile, heroes were added because of their spiritual likeness with these 108 persons. This evening we will add another HERO, another STAR to these, because he played such a big role in performing and spreading an art that illuminated many who followed in his footsteps. I pondered deeply over it, how we could honour such a shining light, that it will have a permanent impression for centuries to come?! Then it came to me as if struck by lightning. What stands as a symbol for lasting memory? What have all humans, wherever they lived, whatever race and culture, seen and remembered in all centuries? Look up to the sky on a clear night and see what has been seen for thousands of years.
What better way is there than to name a star after your name, Master Wang Kiu! So every time when we practise Yong Chun, we look up to you being our STAR forever and for generations to come. This is the present we give you for all you have shared with us in your lifetime. You will keep shining as a big beam of light in that big universe. You said once that your generation took Yong Chun from the earth to the moon and that we, the new generation must take it from the moon to mars. Well, we took it even further, so we would not miss all that heavenly glory.
Handing over the formal present with the specifications of the Star that is chosen to bear his name!!!
By Maria.
The star is named J. Wang Kiu Master of Wing Chun.
For us your name will have a new meaning, it will be DA GUANG ZHU Wang Kiu or Big Light Beam Wang Kiu. This is most fitting to define your way of teaching during all your devoted Wing Chun years. Thank you master Wang Kiu. May future generations continuously be acquainted with your endless teachings and knowledge.
DINNER.
GIFTS BY SIFU MAIER.
APPRECIATING WORDS SPOKEN BY MASTER WANG KIU.
This party is arranged by John and John has attended almost every seminar.
I am thanking you all to have come and have a dinner with me to see this 84 years old man. So I wish you, like the screen says, good appetite—“lekkel”. Thank you very much.
14 APRIL 2007
VERLOOP FEESTGEBEUREN:
OVERLOOKING THE EVENTS ON THE FEAST:
13u Voorbereidingen in restaurant Cité Du Dragon. Het brengen en plaatsen van de poort en het in schatten van de ruimte waarin alles zich zal afspelen.
Preparations in Restaurant City Of the Dragon. Bringing and setting up the gate, also finding out how to use the space in the separated room.
15u De Feng Huang Men Yong Chun Pai komt samen in het restaurant om de laatste hand te leggen voor het feest en tevens een laatste repetitie te houden. Alles lijkt nog een beetje chaotisch maar iedereen wil er voor gaan. Naarmate de tijd verstrijkt worden de zenuwen op de proef gesteld. Het is bloedheet binnen (30° buiten), maar de inzet is groot.
The FHMYCP comes together in the restaurant to install all electric equipment and having a final rehearsal. It still seems all chaotic but everyone is motivated. While time passes, the nerves increase. It is hot inside (temperature outside is around 29°), but does not withhold anyone.
18u We zijn vol verwachting naar de genodigden.
In full expectation for the arrival of all guests.
18u10 De allereerste is er: Klaus Jeske. Anderen volgen. Maar het is wachten op Meester Wang Kiu, die bij Ruud in de auto zit. Ruud blijkt te ver gereden te zijn. Een gewillige medewerker van het restaurant met John (een familielid) gaan hen tegemoet. Ondertussen is onze Amerikaanse gast ook gearriveerd (Herbert Maier).
The first guest arrives: Klaus Jeske. Others follow soon after. We still wait for Master Wang Kiu, who rides along with Ruud. Ruud has seemed to lose the way. John (a family member) and a willing worker in the restaurant are guiding him through. Meanwhile, our American guest has arrived (Herbert Maier).
18u45 Ze zijn er. Het feest kan starten. Sigung/Sifu Wang Kiu groet iedereen (zie foto). Iedereen maakt kennis met iedereen (in totaal met 33 personen). Voor velen is het de eerste keer dat we hen ontmoeten. Sigung/Sifu Wang Kiu en Simo Ping nemen plaats aan de eretafel. Thee wordt aangeboden. Een welkomstrede wordt gehouden door de gastheer Johnny Ryckewaert (lees “openingsspeech”) met het verrassingselement dat dit geen gewone avond is, niet slechts een etentje maar eerder een EERBETOON voor een leven van inzet voor het verspreiden van de Wing Chun kunst door Meester Wang Kiu. Na dit gezegd zijnde kon het spel beginnen waarvoor we ons enkele maanden van tevoren intensief hadden ingezet.
De moeilijke fase van de Drakendans was aangebroken. Vuurwerk werd op de tafels aangestoken. 8-9 min most de traditionele sfeer inluiden, niet in het minst om de goede verloop van de avond te waarborgen.
Na dit kreeg het verhaal van Wing Chun vorm, vanaf Shaolin tot op heden met Sigung/Sifu Wang Kiu als uitgangspunt (zie foto’s).
Master Wang Kiu arrives at last. The feast can start. He greets everyone. All present get acquainted (all 33 persons). For many it is the first time we meet them. Sigung/Sifu and Simo take place at the honouring table in the middle of the room. Tea is offered. An opening speech is held by the host Johnny Ryckewaert with the surprise that this is not just another dinner, not an ordinary evening, but rather an international Tribute for a life’s achievement in spreading the Wing Chun art.
Now the theatre play could start. This was the goal for all the many hours of intense rehearsing in the weeks before. The difficult part doing the Dragon dance started. Sparklers were lit on the tables. 8-9 min of this spectacle had to start the traditional atmosphere of China. Right away after this, the theatre play of the Wing Chun history was given shape from the day of Shaolin until the present, up to Master Wang Kiu.
Eens aangekomen bij een overzicht van de inzet die Sigung/Sifu Wang Kiu heeft getoond in 33 jaar, sinds zijn aankomst in Nederland (1974), werd het duidelijk hoe groot de invloed van zijn onderwijs wel is geweest.
Once we reached the part of how big the efforts by Master Wang Kiu really have been since his arrival 33 years ago in Holland, it became clear how great his teachings influenced people.
De woorden van Chu Chong Tin gericht aan Meester Wang Kiu spreekt duidelijke taal:”Hij is een centrale pilaar van het grote Wing Chun gebouw, en geeft steun aan de ganse constructie.”(een brief verstuurd naar Wang Kiu ter gelegenheid van deze viering).
The words of Chu Chong Tin directed to the address of Master Wang Kiu is so well put:”He is the central pillar in the big Wing Chun building, which gives support to the whole construction.”(a letter send to Wang Kiu for this celebration occasion).
Het hoogtepunt was de uitreiking van het officiële document waarin staat vermeld dat een Ster in het heelal de naam J. Wang Kiu Master Of Wing Chun, draagt. De gastvrouw Maria overhandigde dit met vreugde in haar hart. Ook voor Simo Ping was er een kleine attentie voorzien. De gedachtenis aan Sigung/Sifu blijft nu hiermee onvergetelijk (lees aankondiging tot deze verrassing en foto’s).
The highlight of the evening was the giving of the official document by Maria (hostess) which declares that a Star was named after HIS name: J. Wang Kiu Master of Wing Chun. A token of appreciation for Simo Ping was also given. With this the memory of Master Wang Kiu will be unforgettable.
Sigung/Sifu spreekt enkele woorden van dank (lees tekst en zie foto).
Sigung/Sifu Wang Kiu speaks some words of thanks to everyone present.
20u45 Na geduldig het belangrijkste deel van het feest te hebben doorstaan, was het aan de beurt om de lege magen te vullen. Een feestelijk diner werd geserveerd (foto’s).
After waiting with patience the so imported first part of this celebration, it became time to fill the empty stomachs. A fantastic menu was served.
Tussendoor werd Sigung/Sifu nog verder onthaald op herinneringen, door foto’s en filmfragmenten van vroegere tijden. Herbert en Dennis zijn hiervoor te danken. Het was fijn om de Meester nog eens aan het werk te zien. Hij droeg terecht de naam van de man met tien armen, “the King of Chi Sao”.
In between eating sessions our Master was surprised with memories from earlier times by photos and film. This was done by Herbert and Dennis. It was nice to see the Master again in his younger years. He really was worth the title of King of Chi Sao, the man with ten arms.
Herbert overhandigde ook nog vele geschenken, waaronder eerbetuigingen van zijn leerlingen en andere krijgskunst beoefenaars.
Herbert gave many more presents and written tributes from his students and other martial art practitioners.
Sigung/Sifu en Simo leken echt te genieten van al deze aandacht, wat ons zeer blij stemde. Er werden dan ook nog vele foto’s getrokken van de Meester met de Wang Kiu Tong.
Sigung/Sifu and Simo were glowing, enjoying all the attention. This made us very happy. More pictures were taken from the Master and the Wang Kiu Tong.
Voor de gastheer en gastvrouw, samen met de school is het dan ook een geslaagde avond. Iedereen had zijn uiterste best gedaan. Ook het restaurant had zijn volledige medewerking gegeven.
For the host and his wife together with the school he runs it was a successful evening. Everyone had done the utmost. Even the restaurant partook in full cooperation.
22u45 Iedereen gaat stilaan naar huis. Velen hebben nog een flinke trip voor de boeg. Voor ons was het uur aangebroken om alles af te breken.
Everyone leaves. Many still have quite a trip to go. For us it meant breaking up.
24u Op weg naar huis na een vermoeiende dag maar met een overgelukkig en tevreden gevoel.
On our way home after a tiring day but with a happy and satisfying feeling.
DANKBETUIGINGEN: (lees ook “end speech”)
In de eerste plaats aan Meester Wang Kiu en Simo Ping voor hun aanwezigheid op het feest, om ons de eer gegeven te hebben dit te kunnen verwezenlijken.
Bedankt voor de algemene samenhorigheid en harmonie waarin Meester Wang Kiu zoveel belang stelt.
Bedankt voor het internationale gevoel door de samenkomst van de Wang Kiu Tong.
Een dank aan de vrouw van Herbert die hem ondersteunde om hier toch naar toe te komen.
Bedankt aan de vele Wing Chun richtingen die hun oprechte eerbetoon hebben gestuurd door nobele woorden te spreken over onze Meester.
Een verdiende dank aan het restaurant voor hun ongelooflijke medewerking en enthousiasme.
Onze zoon, dochters en schoonzoon, mede met mijn leerlingen en hun familieleden zijn erg bedankt voor alle ondersteuningen op allerlei vlak.
Bedankt dat sommigen onder jullie mijn boek hebben gekocht. Ook hierin hebben jullie bijgedragen aan Meester Wang Kiu daar een deel van de opbrengst naar hem gaat.
Ik dank als laatste mezelf (hoe gek dit ook klinkt) om de uitdaging aangegaan te hebben dit toch te organiseren spijts alle stress en bepaalde moeilijkheden. Ik zou deze onvergetelijke avond voor niets ter wereld willen gemist hebben. Het was één van de grootste voorrechten in mijn leven dit tot stand te mogen brengen.
THANKS:
In the first place to Master Wang Kiu and Simo Ping for their presence, to give us the honour to be able to do this.
Thanks for the harmony and unity among us all of which Master Wang Kiu says it is of the most importance.
Thanks for the international feeling by the presence of the Wang Kiu Tong.
A thank you for the wife of Herbert who insisted that her husband would join this event.
Thanks to the many Wing Chun Lineages who send their honest tribute by speaking some noble words to our Master.
A well deserved thanks for the restaurant for their cooperation and enthousiasm.
Our son, daughters and son in law, together with my students and their families are appreciated for their efforts in all things to realise this event.
A thanks to those who bought my book. In this you also contributed to Master Wang Kiu because a financial part of it goes to him.
I thank myself lastly (how weird it may sound) to have taken up the challenge to organise this, despite all the stress and difficulties it brought along. I would never forgive myself not to have gone through with this and never would have missed it for anything in the world. It was one of the greatest privileges in my life to do.
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