Wah Lum Tam Tui in NYC

[aesop]

Hello All!

I have recently moved to New York City and am searching for a teacher. For the last year and a half I have practiced Wah Lum Tam Tui in Maine with truly excellent sifu: devoted to the art, challenging and traditionally-minded. I really have come to love this style (I have some other random martial arts experience) and would like to continue, but it's certainly more important to me to have a wonderful teacher. I haven't been able to turn up anyone teaching Wah Lum. Any advice from the New Yorkers out there?

Thanks,
aesop

[TenTigers]

ok, I got an idea. In Chinatown, on the corner of Canal and Bowery, by the big Buddhist Temple, there is a bus company, Chung Wah, and I think a few others. They run buses back and forth to Boston for very reasonable rates. You can go twice a month and train in Boston Wah Lum. I am saying this because you seem to have your heart set on Wah lum. Then, you can find trainng partners here and work on hands on drilling and sparring.

[Yao Sing]

Or, check with the Lama Pai guys. From the little I've seen it's not too far off from some of the Wah Lum moves (no Mantis though) so it should be a fairly easy transition.

I was really hoping to investigate this further but haven't really had the opportunity. Maybe you could check it out and give me your impression. How far did you get in Wah Lum?

[TenTigers]

um yeah. or kendo.

[mickey]

Hello aesop,

I agree with TenTigers. You can do that or ask your Sifu about distance learning to see if he is agreeable to it.

mickey

[Shaolinlueb]

there is a lot of kung fu in NYC, go find something new.

there is xing yi, 7*, lama pai, hung gar, xing yi, eagle claw to name a few. i would love to have a great xing yi or hung gar teacher in the same city as me.

[doug maverick]

dude u said xing yi twice.lol

[Shaolin Dude]

one of my kung fu sister's comes back to Boston Wah Lum to train at least once a month. She lives in nyc

[yu shan]

There ya go, you have a training partner in NYC. My advice to you is, maybe it is time to see what is on the other side. With only 1.5 years in, your still in the infant stages of training. NYC has a lot to offer. Trust me on this look around.

[doug maverick]

there probably i a wah lum teacher in nyc. but he probably doesn;t advetise and you gotta know someone to get in(yes there are actually school's still run like that in chinatown) my advice to you is look around at all the plethora of kung fu we have in new york

[woliveri]

Wah Lum is worthless.. Don't waste your time, you should go learn Karate instead.

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Ha ha ha.. :D:D:D


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Just kidding.


Really though, there should be some good kung fu in NYC.. Even some internal stuff there.

[doug maverick]

well some of the best internal in the country is right here in nyc, you got william cc chen(arguably the best exponent of yang style in the west) you got ren guang yi, li tai liang, david bond chan, rudy cury, the list goes on forever

[Bruce W Sims]

Is the execution of TAM TUI actually so very different from tradition to tradition? Most of the material I have seen looks rather similar. Is this perhaps more of a cultural or political problem? Thoughts?

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[woliveri]

I agree with Doug, there's gotta be some great internal MA in NYC for sure.

[TenTigers]

Wah Lum Tam Tui system, is not the same as the Tam Tui set that many are familiar with. Just as Ying Jow was combined with Fan Tze to create Ying Jow P'ai, but there is no resemblance to Fan Tze forms, it has elements in it to round out the system.

[yu shan]

I`m trying not to open a can of worms... but from what I gather the tan tui part of WL is based on the famed "seeking leg kicking" which can be seen thru-out their forms. WL does not do the 12 roads of tan tui, they do not know them. So it is a combination of jut sow mantis, tan tui seeking legs and choy lee fut.

[mantid1]

I was once told that there were different styles of tan tui. I think it was four different styles. The tan tui in wl was supposed to be from one of the most difficult styles....mainly because of the leg work. Could be bs...who knows..

I think wl is a nice style....but if your in nyc why travel. I am sure you can find a style you like just as much and it may be just down the street.

You have many great opportunities to study...I would check out what is in your area. You could still make a trip or two a year to your old teacher to learn some new material.

[Zhang Yong Chun]

Honestly, I've spent a small fortune traveling to China and Tibet these past few years, soaking up all this knowledge...

...and in my hometown, I realize, there is a *wealth* of talent, right here in Manhattan.

The distance learning to Boston is a pretty good suggestion; but there are other treasures to be found right off of Canal St.

You just have to know how to ask.

[doug maverick]

and who to ask

[Yao Sing]

Just go into a Chinese restaurant and start a fight. Whoever kicks your butt beg them to take you as a student. Repeat as needed. :D