Culture Archives - WAH LUM®

My Exercise for the day

January 18, 2025Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Sifu Mimi's Blog

One of the earliest memories I have of getting on a plane was when I was going to Toronto to visit my family as a young child. I think it was on Eastern airlines. Anyone remember them? I believe the flight was delayed, it was a long drawn out day, and I was really tired. Thank goodness for modern day travel; where flights are always on time, the seats are comfortable, and the food is fantastic. Right? Not so much. It’s kind of disappointing that we haven’t really made progress with travel in the comparison of going from the steam boat to flying. I guess I’m asking for too much. I am often guilty of asking for too much, but I feel like traveling is sometimes such a chore, it deters people from exploring the world. Once you can get past the travel woes of TSA lines, luggage costs, and grumpy airport people, it is totally worth it. Getting the TSA pre-check has helped immensely in eliminating long lines at the airport, and careful packing can curb being overweight and more importantly over packing. I always seem to gravitate toward giving advice on organization and am stopping myself from doing so now (although, get these packing cubes, they are great!). Ok, don’t worry, I am not going to get into the nitty gritty of packing in this post.

The reason I decided to write a post today was to share some of the thoughts running through my head as I pack and prep for my trip. It would be easy to get caught up in the negative parts of traveling, and get grumpy about it, but that would be ridiculous. It is ridiculous, because I should be nothing but appreciative for this unbelievable opportunity! This is beyond a cup half full or half empty scenario. It’s more like, I am lucky I even have a cup! It’s ok to be a little grumpy about some of life’s inconveniences, but I try to use gratitude as my reminder to ‘kick me out’ of any grumpiness. I used to write in this 5 minute journal. I finished it, and haven’t been diligent to get back into it, but I feel it is an exercise everyone can benefit from. It’s a simple exercise, and you don’t have to buy the official journal to do it, any notebook will do.

Write 3 things you are grateful for today. It can be as simple as the sun is shining, or as meaningful as your health.
What 3 things would make today great? Again, you can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. There is no right or wrong.
Daily affirmations. I am… (I am a tiger, climbing up a mountain… and why not? Usually I write something like: I am healthy, happy, and will do my best to help others today.)
At the end of the day, you write 3 amazing things that happened, and how could I have made today better? (I usually am patting myself on the back if I ate a good meal, got good sleep, or spent time with someone I care about. How lucky am I? Every day in my life is amazing!)

It might take a little longer than 5 minutes, but I think it is a valuable exercise that helps me see beyond any of my excuses I make myself or petty inconveniences. I believe gratitude can solve most of life’s problems. Whenever I am feeling grumpy (more often than I like), I try to take a moment to think what I can be grateful for. Today, I am grateful for all of you who are reading! Thanks for supporting and taking a moment out of your day. What do you do for daily exercise?

Lions and Firecrackers and Kung fu, Oh My!

November 23, 2024Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog

We are almost finished with the shows for Chinese New Year (CNY). It’s hard to believe in 2 days, we did over 30 performances. I’m not sure why I am always surprised, because this has been our tradition… this is our culture. I only know how to celebrate CNY one way: with lion dancing, kung fu shows, and firecrackers. Lots of firecrackers.
When I was younger, and the Temple would go out to perform, we had fewer participants, which meant a lot more kung fu for the few of us who performed. It didn’t matter. We loved it. As much of a ‘mysophobe’ as I am, CNY was one time I didn’t mind the germs or dirt. Rolling in firecracker dust on the parking lot floor was expected. Exciting even! What is CNY without hearing the drums play over and over in your head before you go to sleep, or coming home and finding firecracker remnants in your hair? No cuts or scrapes? That just means you didn’t celebrate properly.
Ask any performer what the shower at the end of CNY day 1 is like, and they will all tell you the same story. You watch the dirt go down the drain; you feel the burn from scrapes you didn’t know you had, you feel amazing to be under the warm water, and could probably fall asleep right there in the shower. That is the essence of CNY. The lunar calendar marks the ‘new year’ for us, a new beginning. We wash away the dirt and negativity from the past, recognize the hardships that will soon be in the past, we embrace the warmth of the new beginning, and we feel the challenges of being tired from hard work… But then we get up and do it again.

This is me running into the lion’s tail this year!

I remember telling my students this year after the floor was wet from the rain, “you don’t need to split and roll on the ground.” Sure enough, they got out there and did the split and rolled around on the ground. At first, I wondered why they were doing it, I just told them they didn’t need to do it! Why are they getting all dirty? Then I remember how I was at their age and what I did as a young performer. The excitement of the shows, the adrenalin, and the fun of just getting messy for CNY. Why would I try to stop it?

It’s part of the tradition, part of the culture.

Photos: Courtesy Karl Simpson and Hao Nguyen

Take It Day by Day by Brittany Caldwell

April 20, 2020April 20, 2020Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Sifu Mimi's Blog

Feature story by Brittany Caldwell of the University of Central Florida schools of Journalism

3/19/20

“Take It Day by Day”

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Chief instructor Mimi Chan (center) demonstrates a kung fu form to a group of students. Photo by Hao Nguyen, Courtesy of Wah Lum Temple

Cars whiz past a yellow brick wall on North Goldenrod Road. After 40 years in Orlando, the Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Temple still maintains an air of mystery. Tucked back in a forest of bamboo trees, the Chinese martial arts school stands with cultural pride.

Chief instructor and UCF alumna Mimi Chan begins her day with tea and gratitude. She meditates and takes a moment to reflect on her blessings. At Wah Lum, she lights incense to honor her ancestors, a long-standing tradition of respect. She is an athletic woman of average height, dressed in her uniform of a comfy T-shirt and loose pants with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.

Throughout the day, she juggles technical difficulties and coordinating the business with the help of her MacBook and iPhone. Whereas the school would be full of students preparing for kung fu and tai chi classes, this week it’s just Mimi and a few instructors, who are careful to stay healthy as they livestream classes on Zoom. As the operation manager, Mimi runs the show- even in adversity.

“My day has been tackling and putting out fires and how I’m going to plan and implement for all the things to come,” Mimi said.

Because social distancing is being encouraged as a way to combat the coronavirus pandemic, small businesses are at risk. This has been in the back of Mimi’s mind since news of the outbreak in February. But her main concern was the students- the people that made Wah Lum like a family.

“The more we were hearing as things progressed, about how the disease could be spread from people who don’t show symptoms, the more concerned we were,” Mimi said.

She cancelled in-person classes in early March before the Florida government mandate closed fitness businesses. Even though she was saddened by the closure, she did not want to have the virus endanger the health of the students, especially given the range of ages.

“While all of our students were very mindful and careful, you could just never be too safe,” Mimi said. “I would’ve preferred to make the decision on behalf of the students while having a plan in place.”

Along with two other certified instructors, Mimi is referred to as “sifu,” which means a teacher or a father figure. It’s a symbolic title in Chinese kung fu, where the person guides the student through training but is also like a second family to them.

At 42, Mimi has managed the family business that her father created for the past 21 years. Her father, Grandmaster Pui Chan, and her mother, Simu Suzy, are the owners and influential to decisions. The school is not just a business to Mimi and her family- it’s also a temple rooted in history. She is dedicated to upholding her father’s legacy of authentic Chinese culture and martial arts.

Overseeing a small business amidst the coronavirus is not an easy task but her gratitude for the Wah Lum community motivates her to keep going.

“We run our business like a family,” Mimi said. “All of our students are like family members.”

Some students and instructors are UCF alumni just like Mimi. UCF is not far from the Wah Lum Temple- about 12 minutes away.

Virtual classes don’t mean that the students watch a video at odd times in the day. The schedule is the same as it was pre-coronavirus. If you have a class at 6:30 p.m., you log on to Zoom at 6:30 p.m. The only thing that has changed is the format.

“For us, the priority is keeping our students engaged and active, and helping bring them some normality in a very abnormal time,” Mimi said.

Mimi said they wanted to livestream the class at the school in a familiar place- in front of the martial arts altar.

“It is far better for them to actually feel like they are there with us,” she said. “That way the students can get as traditional of an experience as possible.”

Mimi has been working at least 12 hours each day to organize the virtual classes. When she feels stressed, she uses the breathing exercises they teach in kung fu and tai chi classes. The impacts of the virus on Wah Lum are like math problems that she has to solve, yet she said she enjoys figuring out how to fix them.

“This is very unprecedented so we just have to take it day by day,” Mimi said.

Mimi constantly balances the needs of the business with the concerns she has for her family. Her sister, mother and father fall into the at-risk category for the coronavirus. She said she feels better knowing they are safe while she is working. Her family may be absent from the school but that doesn’t stop them from contributing. Mimi’s mom records tai chi classes from home.

With the Orange County stay-at-home order in effect, Wah Lum will continue with their online classes.

“We will not reopen until it is safe to do so,” Mimi said.

The school depends on students’ membership to support the service-based business. While the virtual classes keep them afloat, it’s unclear what the future may hold.

But even in a pandemic, those closest to Mimi have faith in her coordination behind the scenes.

“We are very lucky that we have someone like Mimi who’s very good at handling problems and looking at solutions,” said Oscar Agramonte, 40, Mimi’s husband and a Wah Lum instructor.

When he is not helping out with kung fu and tai chi classes, Agramonte leads a kickboxing and sparring class. He also has his own associated fitness program called “Control Your Health.”

A UCF graduate, Agramonte got his certification to be a physical trainer while teaching at Wah Lum and realized he could do one-on-one training as a full-time job. He recently made the decision to move his classes online but has found teaching virtually to be a challenge.

“I’m so used to talking to people in person,” Agramonte said. “I feel very relaxed. And when I’m doing it virtually, the energy levels is just different.

“I have to project more. I have to draw the energy out. And I don’t have an instant reaction as to whether they’re giving me that energy back.”

Agramonte is hopeful that with time, the process will get easier.

“It’s harder for me right now because it’s a little bit newer,” he said. “The longer that we get into this quarantine type of situation, the benefit will be that we’ll get better at it.”

The move to online classes poses an obstacle as to how almost 50 students will learn detailed kung fu forms from one screen. In a face-to-face setting, there are separate areas for different classes to take place at once.

“I think you can do [kung fu] on virtual,” said Jeremy Rose, 41, a student for 10 years and a UCF alumnus. “It’s just going to be harder when you’re trying to give so many people something at the same time.”

With one week of virtual classes under her belt, Mimi feels good about the future of online training. There are still some technical things she’d like to improve but she said it was “pretty successful overall.”

She said she appreciates that the students continue to support Wah Lum and how positive they have been with the virtual experience.

“The best thing is that we can still be connected,” Mimi said. “It was a really beautiful thing to see that everyone’s in their home and we’re all still participating in the same kung fu classes.”

After the students say goodbye to the instructors and the Zoom classes sign off, Mimi stays at the school a little longer to work on scheduling and communicating with staff members. After she leaves for home, the temple is truly empty.

Plunged in darkness, the Wah Lum Temple rests, grateful for another day to spread its message of fitness, culture and community.

Why women should practice kung fu: my real life application

November 26, 2017March 18, 2024Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog

I have been asked about teaching a ‘women’s self defense’ seminar over the years, and I always decline because in all honesty, I don’t ever feel like I am a true authority on the subject. Yes, I have done kung fu my entire life. Yes, I have done sparring class. Yes, I have been taught self defense. However, I do not practice fighting on a daily basis or apply my kung fu in a combat environment as often as I would like to. I never like to pretend I am an expert in something I am not, so I usually shy away from the request for a women’s self defense class.

The main focus of my martial arts training has always been its expression as an art form, preserving the cultural tradition, health, philosophy and self defense application. I always hated the question “Have you ever used kung fu in a fight?” because as a traditional practitioner, my goal was always to avoid a fight. Learning to deflect and avoid confrontation is kung fu to me. I know some people may scoff at this and say “yea, but if you were attacked those things aren’t important.” They would argue that knowing how to physically fight and defend yourself is the most important thing. I disagree. I do agree at the end of the day, a woman should be able to defend herself physically, and have the tools to harm an attacker. However, I am also realistic in the fact that an average female is at a disadvantage to a male in size, weight, and strength. Don’t get me wrong … I am all about girl power, and anything he can do I can do better… but nature can’t be overlooked.

Do I think I could defend myself against someone within my weight, size, and skill level? Yes. Do I think I could fight off a couple 6′ 3″ 250 lb guys attacking me? I certainly would put up a good fight, but probably not. Furthermore, if my attacker had a fire arm or other weapon, I would certainly be at a disadvantage. This is not a kung fu movie. However, I liked to believe that my kung fu training has taught me to have heightened awareness of my surroundings, ability to detect potential danger, and the ability to react quickly in a stressful environment. I know many are scoffing at these ideas as well.

I unfortunately finally had a live test of this theory. This past week, I was sleeping in my room and heard a loud noise that woke me up. I thought it was O in the kitchen and remembered that I wanted to remind him to take some boxes to the Temple. So I left the bedroom and went down the hall to find a man in a hooded sweatshirt running through my house. When he turned his face, I saw that he had a full face mask on and at that moment I knew it was not O. In reflection, I believe that my adrenals kicked in and I went into offensive mode. It was fight-or-flight and my instinct was to fight. I changed my stance (albeit I was in my fluffy bathrobe, and was probably the least threatening I have ever looked), started yelling at him to get out, and advanced forward. He ran away from me, slammed the sliding glass door onto the ground, and ran out the back. I then proceeded to barricade myself in the room closest to the street and dialed 911. The police arrived within 5 minutes, but were on the opposite side of the street. I had to direct them to the correct house, asked them to come in, and clear the home because I did not know how many people were in the home or if he had returned with a weapon. Even under the duress, I was able to give concise directions, describe the thief, and felt confident in the interaction we had. I did not pursue him out the door because I did not know what was waiting around the corner, and knew he must have had some tool or weapon to break the glass. I was not trying to be a hero in this scenario, which I truly believe was the smartest choice I could have made. When people asked if I ‘would have’ used kung fu on him, I tell them I did use kung fu. I didn’t have to fight, but I was defensive when I needed to be, and offensive when I needed to be. I held a confident posture, I yelled loudly and pointedly (enough to make him run in the opposite direction of the woman he outweighed and was larger than). I secured myself in a safe room and called for help. I gave clear directions when I saw the police was at the wrong house. I was able to tell them what direction he headed, what he was wearing, and general details about his appearance. In this stressful situation, I did not freeze, I did not get emotional, and as a result, I am alive. I attribute this to my kung fu training. So have I ever used kung fu in a fight? Yes.

To hear more about this, subscribe to my podcast as I will be discussing it on there soon. I HAVE ALSO MOVED THE BLOG TO: www.sifumimichan.com

Birthdays!

November 3, 2017November 3, 2017Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog

Even though we don’t get a true Autumn here… it always feels like the leaves are falling on me! October 12th is my father’s birthday, October 31st is my mom’s birthday, and November 2 is the anniversary of the temple. This is a busy time for me! I always get overwhelmed and am worried about what to do for the celebrations, not sure what gifts to get for my parents… and I usually start planning about a year away. So last year, I already knew that this year we would be celebrating my dad’s birthday in England, and my mom would be having a huge bash for her 70th milestone! This means I had to do something ‘low key’ for the 37th anniversary of the Temple. By low keyI mean having something with only about 100 people… this is low key! We are having a lecture, book signing, and ‘Celebration of Food’ at the Temple tomorrow. I’m excited. I have been talking about this ‘Celebration of Food’ idea on my podcasts, and feel that it is just what the doctor ordered. I’ve been frustrated at the divisiveness of this country lately. Especially since I just returned from visiting the hallowed grounds

of the D-Day beaches, Normandy American Cemetery, and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. I was so proud to be American as I walked through these places thinking about what our country was fighting for, and the sacrifices that were made. I feel that we have become so angry with one another now that we forget how alike we are. I truly believe everyone has something in common. Yes, we are all human, yes we all breathe air, etc. but the one real commonality that I see people unite over is food. More often than not, we as humans don’t just eat to live, we live to eat! My wishful thinking is that if the world could participate in a huge potluck and respect each others’ culture through the sharing of food, then we could all be friends. Hopeful? Naive? Maybe. However, I can still dream and partake of all the delicious meals people will be bringing tomorrow. I promise to share some photos after the event on our Facebook page.

The other major stress this weekend has been the 100 guest list formal birthday party that I’m planning at my parents house. I’ve gutted the interior and transformed it into a ballroom. Linens, centerpieces, champagne welcome, and a buffet station with a 10 course meal lies ahead. (as if we wouldn’t have eaten enough that day) Some people have said I am crazy to have 2 main events in 1 day. They would be right. (However… I have done this many times before… holding a tournament and a huge stage production the same day anyone?) I like to pride myself in my logistical prowess, and my strong event planning skills… while both events will be incredible, I am feeling the effects. We just returned from the Grand Opening of Wah Lum of Germany less than 2 weeks ago, had a big Parent Day Show for the kids class right when we got back, and then jumped into planning for all the events this weekend… I’m stressed. I admit that I can’t handle it as well as I did in my extreme youth. I’m grumpy, I’m tired, and I’m frustrated! My parents and I have different planning methods, that often clash and I have had to make adjustments over the years. As I get older, I get more stubborn…and I think it’s safe to say the same goes for them! It can be a nightmare to try to work it all out, but in the end I remember one of the most important things in life is gratitude, and it leaves me with these questions:

How lucky am I that I have parents that are around with soooo much energy to drive me bananas?

How lucky am I to have the opportunity to throw a 70th birthday party for my mom and celebrate the 37th anniversary of the Wah Lum Temple all on the same day?

Pretty darn lucky.

A day in the life of Grandmaster Chan

July 10, 2017Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog, Tai Chi

img_1089-2 O always tells people if they want to lose weight just follow around Grandmaster Chan for one day. That is definitely one way to burn calories. A day in the life of Grandmaster Chan consists of waking up before the sun and working in the sun, often until it goes down. Grandmaster Chan enjoys his time in the garden and tending to his fish. Whenever he goes on vacation, one lucky person is given the task of watching over his fish and plants. No one wants this job. All will be going well, and then right before he is due home, suddenly a plant or worse, fish dies! It is a nerve racking time for us back home and we have been known to try and resuscitate fish! No CPR or anything, but we were taught to push the fish through the water, as it moves the water through the gills. We have saved a few this way.

Back to a day in the life of Grandmaster Chan.

He is a creature of habit. He wakes up goes to the Temple to bisan, and makes his breakfast. (usually oatmeal and coffee) While water is boiling or the oatmeal is cooking he will start clearing things around the kitchen. After his breakfast he starts his outdoor routine. If you have ever been around the Temple in the morning or mid day, you might catch him doing any of the following: building fences of bamboo, clearing leaves or garbage from the Temple grounds, planting new trees, or even on the roof clearing the gutters. I am not very happy about that one! Depending on what area needs his attention he makes his way there and never asks for help. As a matter of fact when you try to help it often ends up being a bit of a fight…and who wants to fight with a Grandmaster of kung fu? At that point just volunteer to take care of the fish.

A question I get asked a lot is: Does he still practice kung fu? And my answer: every day. Maybe I haven’t ‘seen’ him doing right hand stick or 36 hands this week, but I see him using a broom (stick) to sweep the floors everyday, and I watch in awe as he moves up and down in a squat or to a side to side while cooking, cleaning, chopping, or clearing the grass…just like a form. He is constantly moving, and constantly working…. working hard = kung fu.

Juggling

June 9, 2017June 7, 2017Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog, Tai Chi

Nope. I can’t juggle. I actually can barely catch a ball. However, I do juggle tasks and priorities all the time. Same goes for my personal training, unfortunately sometimes it has to take second or even third place in line of what needs to get done.

When the Sifu Test was approaching, I was in kung fu mode 24/7. I even visualized my forms before sleeping! Not that I don’t practice my kung fu consistently, but as I have mentioned in previous posts, my year is scheduled out according to my work schedule, and I go from there. This weekend, O is at a 4 day fitness summit learning a bunch of fun fitness things. So for these few days, the priority is taking care of his fitness clients and coaching his classes. At the same time, I also have to make sure that the kung fu and tai chi classes are covered, as we also have most of our instructors out of town on vacation. This is actually pretty easy, because it was scheduled a while ago. The tough part is when a wrench is thrown in my perfectly planned schedule. This is what often happens with my personal training and wellness habits. I admit there are times when I have run myself so ragged, it was a detriment to my health! I do not recommend this. When someone tells me they have kids or too much work that prevents them from eating right or working out, I always ask: What is it they always say on the plane? (What? No one listens to the safety talk right?) Well I do, and they say: Put your oxygen mask on before assisting others! This is so true. How can I expect to help my family, cook for O, teach my students, and get work done if I am not taking care of myself? I am basically writing this out to remind myself that it is important to eat, sleep, work out, relax, and enjoy life. So how do I do it? Juggling! I basically make sure that the priorities are always being rotated. (It’s the only juggling I think I’ll ever be able to do)

In tai chi we teach the philosophy of the yin and yang, the balance to life. single whip I try to follow this principle with every little thing. If I am on the computer too much, I set a timer to walk away and get off the screen. If I am eating too many delicious foods, I make sure that I am working it off at kung fu, walking extra on vacation, or making better choices the next day. If I am feeling guilty from eating delicious foods, I remind myself that it is ok, and reiterate to myself that I can enjoy it… and feel good about it. I am sure you will notice by now that I talk about food and eating a lot. Good food brings me joy! So think about what brings you joy, accept it, be thankful for it, and then keep on juggling.

Breakfast doesn’t have to be boring!

May 19, 2017May 12, 2017Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Sifu Mimi's Blog

Those who know me, know I am a foodie. What is a foodie? By definition: a person with a particular interest in food; a gourmet. Yes, that’s me! In previous posts I discussed eating around the world and all of the exotic foods I enjoy. In this post, I thought I would get a bit more practical and answer some of the questions I most often get. Other than how do I make my almond cookies, other questions usually revolve around the ‘most important meal of the day’ …breakfast. Most people I know have a love and hate relationship with breakfast. The ones who love it, including me, usually want pancakes, waffles, french toast, or all of the delicious, but not quite so healthy morning choices. O and I were discussing how backwards it is to have those foods first thing in the morning, since they are bound to slow you down. So instead, I made blueberry pancakes the other day from scratch for Brinner…Not that eating it at Brinner is any better, but we are focusing on breakfast ok!?

There is nothing wrong with enjoying a nice Sunday brunch now and then, but logically, we all know eating those delicious treats in the morning are not the best choices. O coaches clients on fitness and wellness, and although he doesn’t meal plan, he teaches the basics: eat more protein in the morning, lots of leafy greens throughout the day, and try to make the ‘best’ decisions that make you function properly. It really isn’t rocket science. We all know what is good for us, we just prefer to have someone tell us it is ok to have fried chicken and waffles in the morning. Well, you can, but if losing weight, building muscle, or staying as healthy as possible is your goal, then choosing fried chicken and waffles probably won’t get you there, and you know it!

It can be really overwhelming to think about making breakfast especially since we have the least time to prepare it. O often suggests his clients ask me about breakfast food ideas. The biggest complaint I get is being tired of eggs. Eggs are the go to breakfast protein. I admit, that is mine too! However, even I get tired of eggs or often don’t have time to make eggs when I’m in a rush. Smoothie? Protein shake? Great choices, but been there done that too.

Here are some ideas for AM protein and the best part is that breakfast is ready to eat in less than 5 minutes! (Caveat: it does take having these items in your fridge ready to go)

Lettuce with smoked salmon and side of fruit — I like to drizzle olive oil, lemon juice, or a homemade organic Sriracha flavored mayo that I have on hand to spruce it up.
Almond butter or hummus on celery sticks — with the almond butter you can add raw cacao nibs and get the healthy tasty version of peanut butter cups (minus the chocolate, minus the peanut butter, minus the sugar and bad fat)
Greek yogurt parfait – add nuts, berries, ground flax seed, chia seeds – get creative and eat it in a half cantaloupe — I personally don’t love cantaloupe, but the “experts” say it is the most nutritious fruit.
Smoked salmon over watercress with avocado — again, top off with your favorite healthy dressings to add flavor
Smoked salmon, cucumber, and greek yogurt wasabi wrapped in seaweed — I make greek yogurt wasabi by just adding a hint of wasabi into it and some lemon juice!

Breakfast doesn’t have to be boring, and it can be ready in less than 5 minutes. I’m basically using this post to hold myself accountable and make sure that I go grocery shopping to have good breakfast choices on hand, so I get my protein in the morning too! I’m sure O would approve.

The kids are all grown up!

May 5, 2017September 26, 2024Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog

When people ask me how long I have been teaching, and I say over 25 years, I often get a confused look. Perhaps because I look so young! ha. I wish!

I often think about age and experience and realize those two numbers represent entirely different things. Just because someone is ‘older’, doesn’t make them more experienced in things they haven’t practiced. Just because someone is ‘younger’, doesn’t mean they don’t have experience. Reading those lines back is confusing, but basically… you know, the old saying: don’t judge a book by its cover!

I have the perfect story for this that dates back to… oh maybe 18+ years ago. I was attending the Yee’s Hung Ga tournament in New York, and had brought my students with me. My friend was a male Sifu from Yee’s and we went to meet an uncle of one of my students. When we arrived, the uncle immediately ran over to my friend and shook his hand exclaiming how happy he was to meet his nephew’s Sifu. Embarrassed, my friend said, “No, no, I’m not his Sifu, she is his Sifu.” The uncle did a double take, because as you can imagine this was about 18 years ago, so I looked even younger (lament), and I was a she, not a he!

2017-sifu-weekend-151 — 2017 Test Weekend – Lady Sifus

I always laugh at these situations, and don’t get too offended, because this is the stereotype I have dealt with my whole life. I am really proud that in the Wah Lum system there are several female Sifus and a good number of female kung fu practitioners. My father is always really proud of this fact as well. *Girl power!*

Post instructor certification weekend, I’ve been doing a lot of ‘thinking about the old days’. Perhaps this is because I had 2 students from my earlier demo teams testing together this year. (Matthew Martin of Wah Lum of Raleigh and Hiep Dang of Wah Lum of Portland) It was a double take for me to watch them both testing together after all these years. This was Matt’s 3rd test and Hiep’s 1st test. I cannot believe how quickly time goes by. On top of it all, they were fight partners and teammates for a long time. I never imagined they would both be testing to become a Sifu and that they would even produce students of their own one day. As I don’t have biological children, I imagine this is what a parent feels like when their kids are all grown up! I’ve been through so much with these guys, been to their weddings, been through hard times… and now they have decided to follow the path of becoming a Sifu. They have chosen to propagate and share Wah Lum with others. I am proud.

I am really proud of the growth of the entire Orlando branch of the Wah Lum tree, the students that have studied with Sifu Tu Truong and I at the Temple. Torsten Landau of Wah Lum Germany, who has been spending his summer training with us for the past 9 years. Last but certainly not least, Oscar Agramonte, my husband who has taken the word partner to another level with being not only my husband, but my partner in Wah Lum. (not an easy task)

I look forward to watching them grow as instructors and meeting their students. I look at all the members of the Wah Lum family and am overwhelmed by the growth of this tree with so many branches. All from the seed that my father planted. He took the teachings of his Master and brought it to the USA to share with the world. I like to remind my students that they are part of something so much bigger than just the classroom they are standing in. Somewhere in the world there are others lining up to ‘bisan‘ and start their kung fu class just as they are. How cool is that?

What is a Sifu?

April 25, 2017April 25, 2017Sifu Mimi ChanCulture, Kung Fu, Sifu Mimi's Blog

Some people ask me what my typical day is like? Nothing about my life seems very typical, but I do have a routine. Usually, my routine is filled with the thought of show planning, trip planning, or scheduling for the Temple. However, on the ‘off season’ (who am I kidding, there is never an off season at Wah Lum) I do have some conventional days.

A normal day would be waking up around 8:00am, doing some exercises, making a fabulous breakfast, (have I mentioned I cook?), and then getting started on my ‘work’. A lot of people think all I do is teach kung fu. If it were that simple, I would be a stress free and happy individual. For those of you that own your own business out there, you know how much this entails. Looking at the bigger picture, I also have meetings and collaboration with the other schools in the Wah Lum system. Sometimes this includes traveling to different schools and doing seminars, shows, events, etc.

I could ‘complain’ about all the boring business work I have to do, but instead I thought I would share some of my reflection about the Sifu Test a couple of weeks ago. A lot of people think that the test is just showing your physical capabilities. The test is more than just an evaluation of your skills. Yes, we do a LOT of forms, weaponry, and application, however a deeper part of the test experience is the camaraderie, the philosophy sessions, and spending time learning more about one another.

I highly recommend anyone in the Wah Lum system read the RED philosophy book of translated lectures by Grandmaster Pui Chan. In this book, he reveals the SECRET OF KUNG FU! Just kidding. Well, not really. I’ve read the book several times, and each time I read it I learn something new. Whenever I read about the traditions or the philosophy of kung fu, I take away something new. When I read it in preparation for the test, the main passage that struck me this time, was the definition of a Sifu. Here’s an excerpt:

“It is possible for you to get married and get divorced several times in your life. However, once you become a disciple of your Sifu, the relationship is binding for the rest of your life….We know a lot of incidents in the karate circle where a guy get his black belt, then he leaves the school, has a quarrel with his instructor and open up his own school…. to the Chinese the relationship between a Sifu and his students is binding for the rest of his life. When you become a disciple, you promise to take care of your Sifu for the rest of his life…The same way as you would treat your own parents, that is how delicate and involved the relationship is between them.”

I’ve read this several times over the years, and each time I read it, I am a little sad. This was a lecture from the 70’s, and at that time, my father was just starting to develop advanced students. In the 1970’s, he had only seen examples of other styles that had disrespected their Sifu, and became self proclaimed Grandmasters of their own style. The worst part of the ‘creation of the own style’ isn’t just the disrespect and lack of true understanding of what being a kung fu practitioner is, but that they don’t actually ‘create’ anything. They are still using the teachings of Wah Lum and even doing the exact same forms. Some people think once they learn Wah Lum it is ‘theirs’ and they have the ‘right’ to do with it as they please. Kung fu is personal. Each practitioner has their own relationship with kung fu. While one certainly has the right to develop their kung fu or tries to be a better practitioner and person, one does not have the right to propagate and teach kung fu without permission from their Sifu. My father structured what was already an incredible kung fu system with the ability to grow. However, being as open as he was in teaching all who wanted to learn (many of you have seen this part of his story in the documentary Pui Chan: Kung Fu Pioneer) he also encountered those that would disrespect the system, the teachings, the lineage, and worst of all their Sifu. It is interesting to me that those that leave their Sifu think they know more than their teacher to the extent that they are now the Master! How little they seem to understand about traditional Chinese kung fu! Everyday we recite the teachings on the Wah Lum kung fu altar. I try to live by these principles in the classroom, but also in my daily life. And yet, there are some who just throw it all out the window and try to preach to others what they do not practice. I get so frustrated, and never understood how or why my father would continue to be so open, and how he could continue to share his beloved art after the repeated disappointments by students. He told me, “I know who I am, and what is right; they know who they are.” I am learning to accept this as ‘the way’ and the right way…but the other side of me wants to yell to the world who they are, and what they are. I am still learning. I am still a student. I will keep trying to practice control.

So, what does it mean to be a Sifu? My father always says, it is more than a certification, and more than just having students call you Sifu. I listen to his teachings and I learn more as time goes on. To me, being a Sifu is living by the principles instilled in me by my Sifu, and trying to uphold the true tradition. I will treat my Sifu as my parent and take care of him for the rest of his life. However, I know I am lucky, because I have the best Sifu of all time that actually is my parent.

Disclaimer: Remember, I do not claim to be a writer. Ignore and excuse grammar issues! Thank you!