JEREMY YEE
Since borrowing classic Shaw Brothers Kung Fu movies from my grandfather during my early youth, I’ve always had an interest in martial arts. I spent some time learning kick boxing, some generic Chinese Kung Fu and playing about with some western boxing, but didn’t know if I’d ever come across something which felt “right” for me.
In around 2001 I found Wing Chun and my journey began. My initial introduction to Wing Chun had an addictive effect on me, and I immersed myself in it for several years.
In around 2006, during a number of work trips to Australia, I started to explore the various Wing Chun on offer there. I eventually found myself in Sifu David Peterson’s Melbourne Chinese Martial Arts Club (MCMAC), and by chance, recognised a student there named Ben Tolmie, who had previously trained at the same school as me several years earlier. Ben spent time showing me differences between my approach, and that of David’s teaching of the Wong Shun Leung method. Along with being physically convinced of the effectiveness, the clear, concise, logical theory also made so much sense to me.
Armed with this exciting new theory and experience, I started to practice and experiment with it. Ben and I stayed in contact, and when visiting Auckland, he would generously help expand and refine my understanding of the Wong Shun Leung method. After a few more visits to David’s MCMAC, I moved to Melbourne.
I spent the year of 2008 at the MCMAC, re-training myself with a completely “empty cup” in order to eradicate old habits while absorbing the new. The culture within the school and teaching approach was refreshing, and in stark contrast to that of my previous school – the Wong Shun Leung method is all about each person reaching their full potential in the most efficient manner, and knowledge was freely shared between all levels.
Under the tutelage of Sifu David Peterson and Sifu Darren Elvey, my Ving Tsun improved quickly. Due to expecting our first child, my now wife and I decided to move back to Auckland at the end of the year so that we could be near family for the new addition and chapter in life.
Still deeply passionate about WSLVT, I soon assembled a small training group to teach, and continued to develop my own Ving Tsun. In late 2013, with the enthusiasm of one of our members, Tonie Pohatu, we reached out to Sifu Darren Elvey (who now runs Ving Tsun Combat Science in Melbourne), and in March 2014, Darren presented a highly successful two-day Auckland workshop, followed by another in 2015, then 2016.
Inspired by Darren’s comprehensive long-term understanding of the Wong Shun Leung Ving Tsun system, as well as his methodical and scientific approach towards understanding and improvement, Ving Tsun Combat Science Auckland was formed. With continual practise and refinement, plus on-going support from Sifu Darren Elvey, I aim to further my WSL Ving Tsun development, and coach all those interested to the best of my ability.