My time with Wai Po Tang will forever have an impact on my life. He was more than a teacher to me in the 9 years I spent learning from him, he was a father figure and with out knowing a mentor. He inspired me to train hard and follow a path of self discovery through his teachings in Wing Chun and also naturally by his way of being. His teachings helped me through my darkest times and I will always be thankful.
My journey with him and Wing Chun all started when I was 17. My cousin Kevin introduced me to some Wing Chun movements he had been learning (bong lap drills and chi sau) Which I thought was so cool. They were fast and flashy and seemed very direct. I had always loved Kung Fu movies since I was little but never had been exposed to any movements or training, so I was very excited to learn what he showed me. My cousin had been doing some training with Sifu James Sinclair, one of Wai Po Tangs friends and previous training partners. We watched a VHS together he bought called “Inspired by Wing Chun by Wai Po Tang” and were in awe of his abilities. His speed, precision and intent were to us were absolutely amazing..
Later that week my dad found his advertisement in the newspaper and encouraged me to go along, which I did. I convinced a couple of my friends to come, one came with me, my good friend Jack. That was a big turning point in my life for sure. I remember the bus ride there, we were talking about what we might learn and discussing the VHS. We had such excited and nervous energy and even got a bit worried as the bus driver pulled over randomly and started eating a banana! We so didn’t want to be late to our first class!!
The first class was intense to say the least. It left us feeling energetic and super inspired. We invited more friends to join us and started training more and more. Wai Po Tangs teaching style was a mixture of classical Wing Chun were we did drills, Chi Sau and forms and what he called flexible Wing Chun, were we trained like fighters, with gloves and summer training camp style classes. The kind that make you want to puke in the corner haha.. We learnt to love the hard work and felt the change in our bodies and minds.
In the 9 years I just finished the third form Biu Gze, and was asked to help teach the classes. I was leaving London for better life opportunities in Hong Kong. I was very sad to leave but sometimes you know you have to move forward. Wai Po Tangs school and teachings helped steer me off certain paths and on to a one of self improvement.
Those times were some of my fondest memories and I bring what I learnt into my system at Raw Wing Chun, balancing the internal and practical application of the art.
I loved your article on Wai Po Tang. It made me feel really nostalgic as he was my first Kung Fu teacher. It was in the early 80s and he had just left Simon Lau. He and James Sinclair had decided to form their own schools. Later I would be taught by James Sinclair, but Wai Po was the first. He did a demo in Hastings, on the south coast of England with his brother Hang Po Tang, doing all sorts of stuff that made my jaw drop. When the lessons started a week later , only about 15 people turned up, I think the demo was a bit too fierce. I think for the first month we only did, Tan Sau Bong Sau and chain punches, but I loved it. He was so inspirational and really looked the part. Everyone was scared to be called out to be demonstrated on. He would do a round kick on a pad and shout “Pom!” I remember being taught by his brother, when there was a phone call. Hang Po threw his fist in the air and announced that Wai Po had just one his first fight in Thailand. We were all very excited. Wai Po used to run a glass bottle up and down his shins to condition them. He was not so keen on teaching though. Once I asked him what the wooden dummy was for, He said ” you hit it”
He used to drive a white ford Capri with a spoiler, very flashy back in the day. I had a black one, though not as powerful. His friend James Sinclair was just the opposite, he could talk for England. He liked Wai Po very much, though Simon Lau tried to plant the seeds of jealousy between them. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
Hi Robin,
Awesome read! Great and hear your experience with these guys, much before my own. I think when I joined the school he was a much calmer teacher but still it was pretty tough being demoed on haha. He has some serious power! Your words make me remember those hard summer sessions.
I didn’t get a chance to meet James but he looks like a very nice humble guy. Maybe one day. I actually started teaching his older brother in HK who was looking to get back into the training which was a massive honor.. I still keep in touch with Wai Po and had a great time catching up in HK when he visited.
Would love to hear more about your training and experience with Wai Po!
Thanks. That sounds like a big responsibility teaching James Sinclair’s brother. I am glad Wai Po had mellowed a bit when you met him. Of course he and James learned their trade old school style, very hard, relentless repetitive training, no holds barred street fights and an almost religious devotion to their master. I remember James” patience with us breaking sometimes. We did exercises followed by the Siu Nim Tao. Our legs would wobble uncontrollably doing the SNT and we could hardly hold our Tan Sau. James would rip into us, calling us wimps and berating us for not having the commitment to work hard and train outside class.
Wai Po was the ideal first teacher for me as his charisma was enough to pull me away from my old way of life. We were not only scared to be demoed on, we were scared of his dead pan stare that would chill you to the bone! Wai Po had a great sense of style, our kung Fu uniform was definitely the best: Bruce Lee style kung fu trousers with white Chinese writing down the side. The only drawback was the kung fu slippers. Wai Po used to teach what he called the “Tong Kick”which I have not found in any other Wing Chun school. It’s like a low roundhouse except contact is made with the heel. Practicing the Tong kick in kung fu slippers against the air on a wooden floor resulted in me slipping over a lot.
Happy new year. Blessings on Wai Po.
Sorry for the confusion I was referring to Wai Po’s older brother Po. He’s out in HK now and came to give me a visit once while I was teaching a class. Pleasant surprise to say the least. He then started coming regularly to train at my School.
I know exactly what you mean about Wai Po Being able to pull you away from an old way of living. I had the same experience.
Yes those Kung Fu shoes! I still use them!