From left: Sifu Brian Yam 2TG, Sifu Gary Kaiser 1TG, Sifu Steve McMinn 1TG, Sifu Ciprian Constantinescu 1TG. Seated: Master Ralph Haenel 5PGOn December 4th 2009, at the Wing Tsun Vancouver 15th Anniversary Dinner, Master Ralph Haenel made me a Sifu of Wing Tsun Kungfu. The term Sifu means "father teacher" and is awarded in recognition of a teacher's contributions to the learning, teaching and promotion of Wing Tsun. A few weeks earlier, Brian, Gary and Ciprian received their Sifu titles at the last Seminar of 2009. I was in sunny Venice Beach at the time and was very happy to hear about the new Sifus when I got back. Imagine my surprise when I became a Sifu too! After 10.5 years training and just over 8 years teaching, it is an honour I will continue working hard to live up to.
Master Ralph recently wrote a great article titled SifuMania – or who or what is a Kung Fu Sifu anyway?
Now, some people reading this may ask, "Why are you calling him Master Ralph?. I thought he was a Sifu too!?!"
Well, he WAS known as Si-fu Ralph and continues to be to his current students. However, on the same evening as I was awarded my Sifu title, the senior students and trainer team at Wing Tsun Vancouver presented Si-Fu Ralph with his 5th Practician Grade in Wing Tsun, making him a Master of Kungfu. This title is well deserved as we have felt for years that Master Ralph is at a Practician's Skill Level. Many visits from other WT teachers and students from around the Wing Tsun world have served to reinforce Ralph's level of skill and unsurpassed teaching ability.
Congratulations, Master Ralph Haenel, training and teaching WT for 25 years!
Me and Sifu Chris Chinfen present Master Ralph with his 5PG Certificate.
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