I think I see what you mean when you say a book could be written about the meaning of real kung-fu, Sifu Kevin.

Well, it's certainly an interesting question. I should add here, that one should consider the historical context, the era in which a Master trained. You see today we have universities where one can study philosophy, art, and science; so perhaps in the modern era a Kung-fu school is not the best place to study such subjects. Two thousand years ago there wasn't an ambulance on every corner, so skills like bone setting and wound healing, for example, were a necessary skill for practitioners of martial arts of the time. Today one could be sued or prosecuted for attempting to heal our students, so it is safer and more convenient for both parties, to just call an ambulance.

Furthermore, does one live during a period of war or peace? During a period of civil unrest or war the focus surely must be on raising an army quickly, providing warriors with weapons and the skills to handle them, not concerning them with art and science. Once conflicts have been resolved there are those who mature, who see beyond the superficial aspects of fighting and begin to explore the deeper forces of Kung-fu. War is a time for warriors. Peace is a time for scholars, for art, for science, for philosophy, and for understanding that Kung-fu is not just about fighting, but about longevity, health, and quality of life, for example.

Such peaceful studies are personal journeys, whereas fighting or warfare is in the public eye, so to speak. This is, I believe, one reason why, in the olden times, many practitioners kept their skills secret, only practising within the family, or binding followers by the swearing of a blood oath, since public knowledge of ones martial abilities could easily get one killed. This has happened many times in Chinese history. So in the context of fighting skill, I, personally, think of Wing Chun as a concealed weapon.

Keeping such skill concealed requires loyalty. A kung-fu school is like a family. Social engineering has divided families. Loyalty, the most valuable asset a student could posses in his relationship with his teacher and his fellow students, is no longer valued. Some students study for a short time and then cut ties with their seniors, mistakenly believing they don't need them anymore. Then they demand loyalty from their followers in turn. How can they expect loyalty, when they themselves cannot give it? So we have a breakdown in society and in the family, and in the kung-fu family. I believe it is a combination of these things I have spoken about that make it difficult for one to learn real kung-fu.

As to 'Mastery'. It is my understanding that merely learning Kung-fu, becoming proficient at Kung-fu, winning a Kung-fu tournament, or beating someone in a fight does not mean that one has 'mastered' Kung-fu. Mastery is striving for excellence. It is a very personal journey. It is about self, and in Wing Chun I believe that to begin to understand mastery one needs to practise Siu Nim Tao everyday.