Personal history in Wing Chun Kuen Kung Fu - Mark Pepping

[Mark Pepping]

Where did I begin?

In '89 I started WC with Earle's Academy of Ving Chun Kuen Kung Fu, in Timaru. The head instructor was Kevin Earle.
The local instructors there were Brian Finn, Awatea Edwin, and Honti (sorry I don't remember your full name). Others I remember include Kenny Waller, Lindsay Mutch, "Rocket", and Darryl.

Personally, I grew from a timid giant (I am 6'4"!) to someone who became rather confident in himself. I believe this was caused by the skills being taught. At the time we (young fellows that some of us were) were told to keep the learnt skills a secret. Mainly to protect us from school mates and bullies who wanted to see how 'good' we were.
During this time, I remember feeling (some would say smug!) empowered, knowing that I could give a good account of myself if required.

I am pleased to say that I never needed to utilise my skills, then or now.

However, time goes on, and in '93 I moved to Christchurch for tertiary education, and later started working.
I lost contact with pretty much everybody I knew then, starting my own adult life.
After a while, I realised that I wanted to do some sort of martial art again, joining a Ju Jutsu and Shin-Kendo school. I well recall my Sensei telling me to "Relax!". Well, what could I say. I was relaxed in my Wing Chun stance. After 2 to 3 years of this, and night shift work starting, I stopped attending this school.

A few years later I started Judo, something I did when I was 9-10 years old. I thoroughly enjoyed this, but I noticed my body not quite being able to handle the throwing, landing etc.

I got to know my, now, wife, who lived in Rangiora. Not long after I moved in. I gave Aikido a go in Rangiora, and while being a good school, I could not 'get into it'.
I realised, at some stage soon after, that my Wing Chun training still left some remnants behind, mostly economy of motion, centre-line theory, etc.

I started looking around for a WC school again. All that I could find were in Christchurch.

Then one day, whilst reading the Northern Outlook (a little local newspaper), I noticed a photo of a man standing with Butterfly swords. A closer look, and reading the caption, soon had me inspired to join a new school in Kaiapoi.

Needless to say, it was Awatea that I saw and read about.
When his school opened last year, I was certainly there.

I am now amazed that I found myself, naturally, back in 'the stance' again. okay maybe a little bit out of correct posture. It felt like coming home!

Since joining Sifu Awatea's school of Man Sau Gwoon I have found myself picking up techniques that I recall doing, and many new ones. After only 3 school terms, I am still amazed at the simpicity and directness of the art. Needless to say there will be many more such 'surprises' in store for the future.

(Edited to correct dates)

[David Michael Johnson]

I believe that experience tells us that learning and honing our skills in the art of surpise is one of many Wing Chung lessons that help us became better exponets of the Martial Art.

[Awatea Piripi Edwin]

Awesome thanks for this but I think you may find the dates in the 90's a bit late as I was already in Dunedin 1995, perhaps you mean the late 1989 - 1993 period?