Sifu Bruce Clark – Yee's Hung Ga Kung Fu Academy, Inverness

All kung fu schools are very much family oriented. They are set up like a family and try to instil family values to their members. Family names are used to show respect to instructors and other students. At Yee’s Hung Ga we have many branches so it can be difficult to keep track of who is who and what the proper name should be. The following are the family names and meanings that you will commonly hear at a Yee’s Hung Ga school.

English	Cantonese
	Male	Female
Door Man or Founder	Jeurng Mun Yahn	Jeurng Mun Yahn
Lineage Holder	Si-Jo	Si-Jo
Great Grandmaster	Si-Tai Gung	Si-Tai-Poa
Grandmaster	Si-Gung	Si-Poa
Senior Kung Fu Uncle	Si-Bahk
Senior Kung Fu Aunt		Si-Guma
Junior Kung Fu Uncle	Si-Sook
Junior Kung Fu Aunt		Si-Guje
Teacher/Instructor	Si-Fu	Si-Fu
Teacher’s Husband/Wife	Si-Jeong	Si-Mo
Most Senior Brother/Sister	Di-Si-Hing	Di-Si-Jeh
Senior Brother/Sister	Si-Hing	Si-Jeh
Junior Brother/Sister	Si-Dai	Si-Mui
Student	Toh-Dai	Toh-Dai

If you are a student at Yee’s Hung Ga in Inverness, anyone who has been training longer than you at the school, depending on their gender, you would call Si-Hing or Si-Jeh. Anyone who begins at the school after you would be your Si-Dai or Si-Mui, depending on their gender. They would call you Si-Hing or Si-Jeh. Sifu Hepple would be your Sifu and his wife would be called Si-Mo. Sifu Bruce Clark would be your Si-Gung. Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee and Sifu Yee Chi Wai would be known as Si-Tai Gung. Si-Jo is another name which Sifu Yee Chi Wai may also be known as. This means lineage holder.

If visiting another local Yee’s school, the students of that school would be your cousins. You would address them just as if they were training brothers or sisters at Inverness, Si-Hing, Si-Jeh if more senior and Si-Dai or Si-Mui if junior. The Sifu of that school would be your uncle. You would call them Si-Bahk or Si-Guma if they were Sifu Hepple’s Si-Hing or Si-Jeh. If they were Sifu Hepple’s Si-Dai or Si-Mui, you would call them Si-Sook or Si-Guje.

This might seem rather complex and difficult to learn but it is important to maintain the traditions of the kung fu school so that we can pass on our heritage for future generations. The important ones to remember are your Sifu and Si-Mo/Si-Jeong. Showing further respect to their teacher, Si-Gung/Si-Poa, and their teacher, Si-Tai Gung/Si-Tai Poa is also expected. Everything else can be worked out and nobody else is likely to take great offence if you call them the wrong name. If you are unsure, it is always best to ask, just like anything else that you may be uncertain of.

It is also worth noting that a senior uncle/aunt/brother or sister are senior only by the length of time practicing and not necessarily of a higher rank. Your Si-Hing is, and always will be, your Si-Hing. Just as an older brother can never be demoted to a younger brother, no matter how much you may wish for it to happen.

Other important terms that you may hear is the Kwoon or Kung Fu School itself. We shall look at the etiquette within and around the Kwoon in a future post. Suffice to say though, that it is important to remain respectful and uphold composure whilst in and around the Kwoon. Inside the Kwoon is the Sun-Toi or ancestral altar. We will also discuss this in a future post too. To show respect to the ancestors, who have passed down our art from generation to generation, we bow to the Sun-Toi. We use the traditional ‘sun and moon fist’ to bow to the ancestors, whilst entering and leaving the main training area. You may also hear your Sifu or instructor counting punches or kicks etc in Cantonese. The following table will help you to learn numbers 1 to 10:

English	Cantonese
One	Yat
Two	Yee
Three	Saam
Four	Sai
Five	Ng
Six	Luk
Seven	Chat
Eight	Baat
Nine	Gau
Ten	Sahp

Perhaps you have heard a term that you are unsure of that is not listed here. Please feel free to let us know and we can discuss. If you enjoy our posts and wish to be notified of further posts, notices, discounts and events, pop your email address in the box below and we’ll give you a shout when new posts are added. You can also like and share on Instagram, twitter & Facebook

On Sunday 9th June 2019, the World Headquarters of Yee’s Hung Ga International Kung Fu Association appointed new governing positions to the UK & European Headquarters. These new positions will help in overseeing the numerous branches that have descended from the expansion of our disciples in the UK and across Europe. They are charged with maintaining the quality, philosophy and direction of our Association. In a ceremony in Edinburgh, UK, Grandmaster Yee Chee Wai (Frank Yee) presented certificates, the appointees took oaths of office for their positions in the organization.

Grandmaster Yee Chee Wai is seated in the middle, on his left is Sifu Ian Rose, President, and on his right is Sifu Conrad Barrett-Freeman, Chairman.From Sifu Ian Rose’s left to the end: Sifu Michael Rose (Vice-President), Sifu Simon Hepple (2nd Vice-President), Sifu Paul Leslie (3rd Vice-President). From Sifu Conrad Barrett-Freeman’s right to the end: Sifu Philip Horey (Vice-Chairman), Sifu Hannah Dawson (2nd Vice-Chairman), absent from photo is Sifu Simon Finlayson (3rd Vice-Chairman).

Grandmaster Yee, lighting incense to pay respects to the ancestors and invite them to witness proceedings.

Grandmaster Yee handing out incese and giving instruction on the traditional Shaolin bow so we can pay respects to the ancestors and forefathers of Hung Ga.

Another important ceremony which took place on Sunday the 9th June was the Bai Si. The Bai Si ceremony is often referred to as the “discipleship ceremony” or “tea ceremony.” It is not often seen in many western martial arts schools. At Yee’s Hung Ga, we feel that it is important to preserve our art in all its forms, this includes official ceremonies such as these, so that we can pass on the complete art to future generations. It is perhaps the most important ceremony a martial artist, in kung fu, could ever be invited to participate in.

In China, many of the kung fu systems were passed down through the generations to family members only. The higher levels were considered private and secret. Traditionally a Sifu would agree to teach students out-with the family, but with caution. General classes, available to everyone, were often held in public areas, parks or inside the courtyard of the Sifu’s own home. When a student first began their training, and were not well known to the Sifu, they weren’t trusted enough to actually be taught inside the Sifu’s house. These were known as, “outside students.” Once the student earned the trust of their Sifu, a Bai Si ceremony took place. This made the student an “indoor student.” It meant that the student had gained the complete trust of their Sifu and would be taught the whole martial arts system. The Bai Si ceremony also confirmed the relationship between a Sifu and the student. If you completed a Bai Si ceremony the student was given a name in the Sifu’s family and they were treated like a son or daughter.

After almost 19 years of diligent practice and loyal conduct, the great honour of performing this ceremony was bestowed upon Sifu Hepple by his Sifu, Bruce Clark. Other highly trusted martial artists were also given the privilege at the same time. It was witnessed by Sifu Ian Rose, in front of a small group of people. After the ceremony, speeches were given. It was a great chance to celebrate together by sharing some food and drinking a toast after the proceedings.

Sifi Hepple receiving his discipleship certificate from Grandmaster Yee.

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