News

Wooden Dummies
add to the fun of a very special workshop

Sigong had the lead role at the recent Manchester workshop, but the co-stars were most certainly the Wooden Dummies.

The use of this small army of Wing Chun training aids was appreciated by everybody at the workshop, and it is understandable why this is so.

The opening shots of the remarkable film, Ip Man shows a Wooden Dummy being used. It is great to think this simple, but effective devices add to the common thread that is the Wing Chun family.

Meanwhile in Manchester the day has finally arrived for the eagerly awaited visit of our Sigong, Michael Tse. The city could well be viewed as the ‘ancestral home’ of the Tse Qigong Centre, its birthplace almost 20 years ago.

Those small beginnings in Manchester spread across the world, reaching out to places like New Zealand, the US and Canada, Italy, Sweden and Norway, as well as many parts of the UK.

In Manchester on a cool autumn day we were eager to add to our knowledge and understanding of the most beautiful arts of Wing Chun, Chun Yuen Quan, Qigong and Chen Taijiquan.

Everyone realised we were in for a treat when we spotted three wooden training aids at the end of the hall. Before long we were queuing to try our hands working with these deceptively demanding sparring partners.

Everyone was having so much fun as we attempted to master the practice techniques. For most of us it was our debut with the wooden dummies and I’m sure there were many in the hall dreaming of owning their own, perhaps as a Christmas present!
Soon all of the days worries, whether work or other, melted away as Sigong demonstrated his own skill at Wing Chun.

Without a moment’s hesitation he demonstrated Chen Taijiquan and the elegant Wild Goose, and as we all practised Sigong passed from person to person and group to group, explaining, demonstrating, helping and gently keeping a watchful eye on each of us. He was making sure we used the correct hand positions and always reminding us of the importance of the key principles of Qi Gong, such as the importance of moving from the waist and correct posture.
Most inspiring was realising how much energy Sigong puts into teaching and demonstrating. You have to wonder where all of this energy comes from, but it is obvious – practice, practice and more practice.

The good rapport and relationship between Sigong and Sifu added extra happiness to the day, making everyone present realise we are all members of a remarkable family.
And as a ‘family’ at the conclusion of a busy, but enjoyable workshop we retired to nearby Chinatown to the New Hong Kong Restaurant that has become our gathering place. Good food and good company in the presence of Sigong and Sifu made it a perfect day. I wondered whether our new friends, the Wooden Dummies, should have taken pride of place in the corner of the restaurant.

Stories are swopped at these social gatherings, and we listened with interest as Sigong told how the story of a student diagnosed with cancer. She practiced Qigong as she awaited surgery, and continued to practice as much as possible. Her pre-operation scan showed the troublesome lump had disappeared and surgery was no longer necessary.

The day was memorable and the encouragement we all received from Sigong is a daily reminder of a very special day at a very special workshop with a very special person. And let’s not forget our new friends, those remarkable wooden dummies.

Ellie Ellis, Nov 2009