Attaining the WingChun Diploma with Sihing Tobias, Sihing Igor, Sije Nina and Sihing Marc.
I can still feel it from my brain to my bones. The effect of the IAW Event weekend lingers in body and mind. It takes a while to digest everything I ingest. Especially when it’s a daily WingChun buffet and happy hour rolled altogether here.
Saturday was part one of testing for aspirants to the Pre-Primary Level, a Technician Grade or Professional Degree. This continued in part two on Sunday, which was also open to all IAW members new, old and young. But regardless of age and experience, everyone turned up the heat. Literally, the hundred of us were steaming and sweating, almost swimming! A lemonade stand would have made a lot of euros.
Perhaps I’m old-fashioned, but I never ask to test. Instead, I just do my best. Then wait when Sifu deems me ready. As is necessary for advanced advancement, we commit years preparing, maturing, ripening. Yet time is not enough because the seconds tick by anyways. How do you spend them?
A big WingChun family photo.
After proudly enduring and even enjoying the exam with a stellar group — Sihing Igor, Sihing Tobias, Sije Nina and Sihing Marc — we all graduated with the Diploma of WingChun. This is the fifth Professional Degree covering instruction of the First and Second Technician Grade Programs (Sections 2-7). It precedes the culmination of the teaching track, the final distinction known as “Sifu”. Speaking of which, thanks to Sifu Alex who acted as my main testing partner.
It is motivating to watch everyone moving forward. Whether that means in skill or rank, as student or teacher, the going and getting is what counts.
So what is your next goal? How are you working to achieve it? I’d love to know! Post your vision below:
Sifu Paul Wang 
Well, I have already acheived my ultimate goal for this year which is my Instructor Degree 1 which I received from GrandMaster Klaus on June 4th. I remember it very well because on the same day I bought my first car. That day still remains the best on of this year! My next goal is Technician Grade 1 which I am deciding upon when to take it at this very moment actually. My Sifu thinks I am ready to take it in September, but I feel this too shorter time to prepare myself. I want to decide with my heart and soul on this one and I feel next February is a better proposition.
And congratulations on your Wingchun Diploma Sihing Paul 🙂
Many thanks,
Adam M.
Adam, great goals! It sounds like this is turning out to be a brilliant year for you. The First Instructor Degree and First Technician Grade are respectable achievements and relatively rare in the IAW. I’m glad you’re taking your next graduation so seriously. Listen to your heart and the words of your Sifu 🙂
WOW! Congratulations Sihing! As official recognition of progress within the system is so infrequent for you this far in, it must be awesome to get that degree. No words I can put down can really match the magnitude of the amount of energy you have put into the academy. So I’ll just leave it at, “that’s incredibly cool.” I look forward to seeing if you come back a changed man.
And in response to your question. My ability to read whether I should use an inside or outside Bong Sao could use some work. Practice makes perfect…. or at least better. Hopefully I’ll have it more or less down by the time you return. Get a chance to attack some hooks and back fists.
That’s incredibly generous! Thanks for the acknowledgement, Ben. I’m grateful that the energy I express recirculates in manifold ways, especially as motivated students such as yourself. Isn’t it electric?
The Bong Sao is a profoundly simple, flexible and effective technique. But it takes some training to achieve that state. Indeed, you identified the primary applications to recognize, realize and repeat. Remember, the diagonal Bong Sao is for a straight punch. The parallel Bong Sao is for a backfist.
I will check your progress when I return!
Huge Congrats Sihing Paul!!
And an equally ginormous thanks to you, Ayron!