Kung fu nosh-up ~ 14 Oct 2018

Left to right:

Rachel, Shereen, Kevin, Moo.

Photographer: Beau

Left to right: 

Anthony, Brendan, Ange, Red, Shereen, Kevin, Beau, Rachel.

Photographer: Moo

Foreword to "The Invincible Man"

How is it that Kevin Earle can pay me a brief visit and leave me with enough to work on for the next year or two? How is it that he can make a couple of simple observations in training that set me on a path to greater understanding and depth? How can there be “nothing new to learn” – as he writes in this manual – yet he always has something valuable to teach me? 

I first met Kevin in the latter part of the 90s when he visited Dunedin for a training workshop. I was a student at the local kung fu club, and Kevin was the founder and chief instructor of Earle’s Academy, the pre-eminent Ving Chun Kuen kung fu school based in Christchurch. Although it might be accurate to say that his reputation preceded him, I had no more than a sketchy second-hand knowledge of him. 

With first-hand knowledge came the realisation that there was much more to this kung fu method than I had experienced up till then. With seemingly little effort, Kevin demonstrated to me that I was missing something. His undeniable depth and superiority in Ving Chun Kuen left me feeling both inspired and dissatisfied. 

In terms of where I was currently training, I realised I had progressed as far as I could go. What’s more, that point had been reached some time ago. And so I made the decision to “up sticks” and move my entire household to Christchurch so that I could join Earle’s Academy. 

What did I find there? 

I found many of the things Kevin writes about in this manual: I found the essential idea that binds the elements of Ving Chun Kuen together. I found out about the cultivation and control of force. I found concepts that could be brought to life through diligent training. I found signs that pointed towards important destinations without detailed instructions on how to get there. 

Above all, I found a deeply knowledgeable and experienced teacher who continues to have an enormous influence on my expression of kung fu. 

And further, it’s the way in which Kevin guides me that helps to explain why he can pay me a brief visit and leave me with enough to work on for the next year or two. He observes, he suggests, he demonstrates, he imparts knowledge, he influences – but he does not tell me what to do. He leaves me in charge of my own progress. 

Now, even given all that, I would be remiss if I did not mention possibly the most important part of my connection with Kevin, and that is in the way he inspires me. In handing down his Ving Chun Kuen method, he has given me a gift. Like the master in Matthew 25:14, he expected me to develop my talents, and develop them I have. Pivotal to this development is how I have derived ongoing inspiration from him. 

In my twenty years of training so far, there have been times when I’ve been discouraged. There have been times when I have been tempted to devote the energy kung fu requires to other pursuits. There have been times I have wanted to bury my talents in the ground and let them vegetate. In looking back, I won’t underestimate the importance of my sifu (my teacher-father) in acting as a living example of continuing progress and growth. For as surely as I grow in power and skill, Kevin pulls ahead of me that much more. 

Eight years ago, living back in Dunedin, I picked up the phone and rang Kevin. I rang him to ask him something. I believe I felt slightly anxious before making the call. I had come around to the idea of opening my own kung fu school, and I asked him if he would give me his blessing to do just that. His response was essentially, “Of course! What took you so long?” This really is the highest compliment I can pay him, that I would ask another man permission to do something. 

In my own school over the years, I have taught many people kung fu and self-defence. Most of the students that have walked through my door have been content to scratch at the surface layers of kung fu; in effect, to learn how to fight. A rare few have demonstrated the desire and motivation to go on a deeper journey with me, to grow the five talents I have given them into ten. Through their own initiative, these senior students begin to become more self-reliant, more introspective, more imaginative, and more dedicated. So, in some ways, they parallel my own journey; but, more than that, they tap into the ongoing inspiration provided by my own instructor. 

And they start to get a sense of their real potential… 

This manual is about realising your potential. It is for the Ving Chun Kuen practitioners who are approaching a rarefied stage in their training, that of integrating the three forms at the level of practical combat. As you will discover in the pages that follow, wooden man training is essential in this process of consolidation and refinement. You will also discover that although there is “nothing new to learn”, there is a distinct advantage in having the words and ideas of Kevin Earle close at hand as you tackle this challenge on your kung fu journey!

 

Anthony Revill

Chief Instructor, Southern Kung Fu

Dunedin, New Zealand

January 2018

The Invincible Man ~ a book by Kevin Earle

scan of front cover

THE INVINCIBLE MAN

Published this month (October 2018) in New Zealand, The Invincible Man by Kevin L. Earle is a Ving Chun Kuen kung fu training manual par excellence.

scan of back cover

Kung fu get-together and barbecue

Left to right:

Kevin, Brent, Beau, Anthony

14-10-2018

Kung fu training day and club dinner

Shereen and Kevin

(That's Rodney, Pete, and Brent in the background.)

16 Dec 2017

Photographer: Anthony

Rodney and Red

16 Dec 2017

Photographer: Anthony

Anthony and Kevin

16 Dec 2017

Photographer: Rachel

More photographs to come as I get hold of them...

New Year visit

New Year visit from my sifu, Kevin Earle, along with Ving Chun Kuen instructors Rapheal Stowers and Dave Sutherland.

Kevin and Raph

Anthony and Kevin

Dave, Brent, Chris, Ange, Raph, and Kevin

Photos: 6 January 2015

A couple of notices, and..... Kevin.

• My own sifu, Kevin Earle, was in town for one day on Thursday the 14th. I spent a bit of time with Kevin on Thursday morning, then he attended Thursday evening's class. Present were: Brent, Ange, Mike, Hadrian, David (Kevin's travelling companion and an old training partner of mine from way back), Rachel, Pete, Sean, Ben, newcomer Shane on his first night in class, and me. We so enjoyed having Kevin and David there. 
• Thursday, 21st of November will be the last time we train on a Thursday at our present hall. We will train on Wednesdays instead, the first Wednesday training night being 27th of November. So, from then on, our classes will be Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings, and Saturday afternoons. 
• As a one-off, there will be no training on Saturday, 30th of November. The landlord wants the use of the hall on that day.

Look who popped in...

... My sifu, Master Kevin Earle.

Saturday class with Kevin, Brent, Chris, Ange, Hadrian, Mike, Tony, Moo, and me.

Ange, Hadrian, Brent, and Mike.

Brent & Kevin.

Mike & Kevin.

Chris & Kevin.

Left to right: Chris, Kevin, Brent, Anthony, Hadrian, and Mike -- at Southern Wing Chun.

What a pleasure....

....to host a visit from my sifu, Master Kevin Earle.

He dropped in to see us during Thursday night's class, and I caught up with him again on Friday.

Our Saturday workshop with him officially started at 10:00am and ran till 5:00pm, with a break for lunch. 

I do believe he enjoyed himself!

Afterwards we all went out for drinks and dinner to wax lyrical about kung fu and other important subjects.

His trip down was a great opportunity for my students to meet him and benefit from his teaching and depth of knowledge.

On Sunday, Tony spent an hour or so in private instruction with Kevin. After that, Kevin and I went over a few things together, and I so appreciate his suggestions and insights.

Left to right: Anthony, Brent, Waz (Wanaka), Chris, Mike, Hadrian, Kevin, Marty, Ange, Steve, Daryl, Jes (Wanaka).

I made this picture of Kevin during the lunch break.

Hadrian

Anthony and Kevin.

Back row: Sam, Mike, Jes, Brent, Kevin, Ange, Chris, Hadrian, Steve.

Front row: Jasper, Waz, Simon.

Brent and Kevin.

Left to right: Jes, Kevin, Waz.

Ange and Kevin.

 Kevin's first visit to Southern Wing Chun 08-11-2012.
Some of the people at training that night, left to right:
Ange, Brent, Anthony, Kevin, Mike, Steve.

SIFU NET AND THE WING CHUN RIDDLE

 An article. 

"The internet is a goldmine of information about various kung-fu systems including Wing Chun kung-Fu, each promoting their own particular theories over the internet and through other media. With so much information now freely available surely, logic would suggest, it should be easier to learn kung-fu....."

Follow the link: 

WING CHUN NZ - OFFICIAL WEBSITE - Sifu Net

As discussed at training yesterday.