Comments on: A Brief History http://jameswingwoo.com/2000/12/01/brief-history/ James Wing Woo - Sifu Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:14:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Bill Hanson http://jameswingwoo.com/2000/12/01/brief-history/#comment-4514 Bill Hanson Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:14:16 +0000 http://jameswingwoo.com/?p=86#comment-4514 I was an on again off again student of James Wing Woo in the 1980's. The truth is that I was never really very good, but it helped me a lot psychologically with my confidence. I get migraines, and the prescription interferes with working out. Plus I'm basically lazy, although I did about 3 years of karate and judo in San Francisco as a young teenager. I spent about 15 years in India with a guru. I had a problem in a cafe near Bangalore. I was arguing with a women who sat down next to me and lit a cigarette practically right under my nose. Then the owner, who was kind of a bully, started giving me a hard time. He grabbed me by my left shoulder. I went down into my stance and did a counter clockwise move around his left arm with mine, pushing my open palm into his chest. He took a wild swing which missed me. That was about it. 4 days later, my friend Daniel came by and said, "You know, you broke that guy's arm!" The funny part is that for years after that, whenever his wife saw me on the street, she would smile at me so sweetly. I was an on again off again student of James Wing Woo in the 1980′s. The truth is that I was never really very good, but it helped me a lot psychologically with my confidence. I get migraines, and the prescription interferes with working out. Plus I’m basically lazy, although I did about 3 years of karate and judo in San Francisco as a young teenager. I spent about 15 years in India with a guru. I had a problem in a cafe near Bangalore. I was arguing with a women who sat down next to me and lit a cigarette practically right under my nose. Then the owner, who was kind of a bully, started giving me a hard time. He grabbed me by my left shoulder. I went down into my stance and did a counter clockwise move around his left arm with mine, pushing my open palm into his chest. He took a wild swing which missed me. That was about it. 4 days later, my friend Daniel came by and said, “You know, you broke that guy’s arm!” The funny part is that for years after that, whenever his wife saw me on the street, she would smile at me so sweetly.

]]> By: ROBIN http://jameswingwoo.com/2000/12/01/brief-history/#comment-3606 ROBIN Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:39:04 +0000 http://jameswingwoo.com/?p=86#comment-3606 Anthony, I see that some time has passed since you commented on my post. My apologies. I live on the western slope of CO, sometimes in Hotchkiss and at others in Basalt. The extent of my connection with Sifu Woo is all of my training with Bob Cook and my brief visit to Sifu Woo's school a few years ago. As described above, this influence has been and continues to be profound. And you? Anthony, I see that some time has passed since you commented on my post. My apologies. I live on the western slope of CO, sometimes in Hotchkiss and at others in Basalt. The extent of my connection with Sifu Woo is all of my training with Bob Cook and my brief visit to Sifu Woo’s school a few years ago. As described above, this influence has been and continues to be profound. And you?

]]> By: Lance Volk http://jameswingwoo.com/2000/12/01/brief-history/#comment-1754 Lance Volk Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:44:38 +0000 http://jameswingwoo.com/?p=86#comment-1754 When I got out of the Navy in 1981, I trained with Jimmy Woo 3 times a week, by far the best one hour workout you can get. My plastic bottom shoes and his freshly waxed floors, made balance of utmost importance. You were wringing wet by the time the class was over, he taught me to breath, and as we drank our tea, he would tell us to go to Chinatown and "look for trouble" for extra training. He would recommend movies from the Shaw brothers, and when I started going their four times a week, he taught me the meaning of endurance as he always seem to pit me against someone larger than myself. I felt as though I betrayed him when I went to Florida to work for my uncle. I shall remember his teachings as long as I live. He is amazing! When I got out of the Navy in 1981, I trained with Jimmy Woo 3 times a week, by far the best one hour workout you can get. My plastic bottom shoes and his freshly waxed floors, made balance of utmost importance. You were wringing wet by the time the class was over, he taught me to breath, and as we drank our tea, he would tell us to go to Chinatown and “look for trouble” for extra training. He would recommend movies from the Shaw brothers, and when I started going their four times a week, he taught me the meaning of endurance as he always seem to pit me against someone larger than myself. I felt as though I betrayed him when I went to Florida to work for my uncle. I shall remember his teachings as long as I live. He is amazing!

]]> By: Top Tae Kwon Do Forum http://jameswingwoo.com/2000/12/01/brief-history/#comment-373 Top Tae Kwon Do Forum Sat, 02 Apr 2011 22:48:41 +0000 http://jameswingwoo.com/?p=86#comment-373 The last one I discovered was a Taekwondo Forum wherein they seem to now have a very busy and expanding forum, however , the factor which struck me was the reality that they have 5th and 6th level experts in the forum which are all too prepared to reply to queries with out coming over all high and mighty unlike several user discussion forums I have saw. The last one I discovered was a Taekwondo Forum wherein they seem to now have a very busy and expanding forum, however , the factor which struck me was the reality that they have 5th and 6th level experts in the forum which are all too prepared to reply to queries with out coming over all high and mighty unlike several user discussion forums I have saw.

]]> By: Anthony Cirocco http://jameswingwoo.com/2000/12/01/brief-history/#comment-217 Anthony Cirocco Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:30:47 +0000 http://jameswingwoo.com/?p=86#comment-217 Ms. Waters: I studied under a student of Sifi's in California many years ago. What I learned became a significant part of who I am today (I hope). I now live in the greater Denver area. I am not familiar with Bob Cook, but was curious to find out where in Colorado are you located and what is the extent of your connection to James Wing Woo and his school. Best Regards, Anthony Ms. Waters:
I studied under a student of Sifi’s in California many years ago. What I learned became a significant part of who I am today (I hope). I now live in the greater Denver area. I am not familiar with Bob Cook, but was curious to find out where in Colorado are you located and what is the extent of your connection to James Wing Woo and his school.

Best Regards,
Anthony

]]> By: Robin Waters http://jameswingwoo.com/2000/12/01/brief-history/#comment-9 Robin Waters Sat, 10 Jul 2010 18:49:38 +0000 http://jameswingwoo.com/?p=86#comment-9 James Wing Woo is legendary in our Colorado study with Bob Cook. Not a class goes by that Sifu's name isn't mentioned or expressed in one form or another. His teachings inspire us from afar and contribute profoundly to our learning. I had the honor and pleasure of studying with Jimmy Woo in LA a few years ago for a couple of weeks. The experience was indescribable, like going back to the roots, the essential skeleton and sinews of all that we are doing. Bob studied with Sifu decades ago for countless hours and many years and his immense respect and appreciation for this phenomenal teacher of the ancient arts translates to us all. James Wing Woo is legendary in our Colorado study with Bob Cook. Not a class goes by that Sifu’s name isn’t mentioned or expressed in one form or another. His teachings inspire us from afar and contribute profoundly to our learning. I had the honor and pleasure of studying with Jimmy Woo in LA a few years ago for a couple of weeks. The experience was indescribable, like going back to the roots, the essential skeleton and sinews of all that we are doing. Bob studied with Sifu decades ago for countless hours and many years and his immense respect and appreciation for this phenomenal teacher of the ancient arts translates to us all.

]]> By: john deluna http://jameswingwoo.com/2000/12/01/brief-history/#comment-8 john deluna Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:26:00 +0000 http://jameswingwoo.com/?p=86#comment-8 I started my Martial Arts journey in 1964 with the Ed Parker schools. I transitioned to the James Wing Woo Chinese Martial Arts program in or about 1968 under the instruction of John (Gus) Hoefling. Sifu Hoefling's school was in Hermosa Beach California. After a year of intense study, Gus started sending me up to Sifu Woo's school in Hollywood. We wore leather bottom boxing shoes. Jimmy would wax and polish the cement floor. If you could not control your balance, you would end up on the floor. I know because I landed there on a couple of occasions. You always needed two tee shirts to get through the workouts. The skills you learned were transitional. Every move was broken down to it's biomechanical roots. Absolutely the best instruction available. I started my Martial Arts journey in 1964 with the Ed Parker schools. I transitioned to the James Wing Woo Chinese Martial Arts program in or about 1968 under the instruction of John (Gus) Hoefling. Sifu Hoefling’s school was in Hermosa Beach California. After a year of intense study, Gus started sending me up to Sifu Woo’s school in Hollywood. We wore leather bottom boxing shoes. Jimmy would wax and polish the cement floor. If you could not control your balance, you would end up on the floor. I know because I landed there on a couple of occasions. You always needed two tee shirts to get through the workouts. The skills you learned were transitional. Every move was broken down to it’s biomechanical roots. Absolutely the best instruction available.

]]> By: Albert Savedra http://jameswingwoo.com/2000/12/01/brief-history/#comment-2 Albert Savedra Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:24:31 +0000 http://jameswingwoo.com/?p=86#comment-2 I studied James Wing Woos style from Richard Kaplan in Berkeley. My dad sent me to LA 5156 Hollywood Blvd when I was 14 to study from James Woo. It was the experience of a lifetime...slippery concrete floors, hot studio, hot tea to quench your thirst...I should have stayed there for 10 years to study. I still love martial arts today and have my kids involved. I go to SF on weekends to watch classes but dont have the time to study now. If I can get my kids engaged in evening classes I will restart my martial arts career at 50 years old...thanks to James Wing Woo I studied James Wing Woos style from Richard Kaplan in Berkeley. My dad sent me to LA 5156 Hollywood Blvd when I was 14 to study from James Woo. It was the experience of a lifetime…slippery concrete floors, hot studio, hot tea to quench your thirst…I should have stayed there for 10 years to study. I still love martial arts today and have my kids involved. I go to SF on weekends to watch classes but dont have the time to study now. If I can get my kids engaged in evening classes I will restart my martial arts career at 50 years old…thanks to James Wing Woo

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