Yes Master

In Chinese culture, Sifu is a respectful form of address for an expert individual engaged in a skilled trade. The character 師 means "teacher" and the character 父 means "father". An apprentice addresses his teacher/master as Sifu.

In my 20 years of martial arts training, the 96 to 01 years were the most memorable because of my training under Sifu Wayland Li, the head couch of the Mongolian national team from 1985 to 1993 and the head couch of the Canadian national team in 1995, 1998 and 2003. Under his guidance, I went onto the 1997 Open Pan-Am Games and obtained a gold medal for sword routine and a silver medal for staff routine.

Although Sifu Li is a great couch, he is also quite the oddball. Here are some memorable class moments that illustrate his character.

Moment 1

I execute the perfect jumping tornado kick, enjoy my second of air time and land in a solid horse stance several feet away from Sifu Li who's resting on his stool.

Sifu takes a puff of his cigarette and sigh's quietly, Aiieeee...no good. He gets up, goes outside and smokes some more.

Moment 2

I attempt an aerial (cart wheel without hands) but fall on my butt.

Sifu: You no good. You jump! You no fall!

Me: I try sifu.

Sifu: You no try. You DO!

Me: It's hard sifu.

Sifu (sighs and puts down cigarette): Aiee...Not hard. Easy!

Sifu walks towards me and does an aerial effortlessly. He does not jump. He just twirls into the summersault.

Sifu: See! EASY! Sifu forty-fi year o! Sifu old! You no good. You lazy. You do push up.

Sifu returns to his chair and continues smoking. People who fail must perform pushups as punishment.


Moment 3

I sit beside Sid Momin in a lecture hall of an electrical engineering class.

Momin: I have this friend who trains with a crazy Sifu. The Sifu says crazy things like, Yor eye sleeping??!?? YOU NEED KUNG FU EYE! YOU SCARE PEEPOE!!!

I soon discover that Sid's friend trained under Sifu Li.


Moment 4

Phone rings, I pick up.

Sifu: Hello John?

Me: Hi Sifu! How are you?

Sifu: You no good! You lazy!

Me: I know Sifu.

Sifu: Why you no train yesterday?

Me: I couldn't train yesterday. I told you I can't go to Scarborough and make it for class at 5 am on a Sunday (I live in downtown). There's no subway that early in the morning on Sunday.

Sifu: YOU NO GOOD! YOU LAZY! Aiee...You come before Sunday morning, but why you no come now?

Me: Before I didn't have to work, so I could wake up at 2:30 am and take the Bloor Night bus. But it takes 2 hours to get to the club by bus. Now I have to work. No time to do that any more.

Sifu: Aiee...you lazy.

Me: I know.

Sifu: You come tommolo and do push ups.

Me: Ok Sifu.

Moment 5

Douglas (Doug) Chin, is one of Canada's best wushu athletes. He's won numerous gold, silver and bronze medals internationally, beating out many of Asia's best.

During training, Doug executes a decent jump kick with a sword, but he looses his footing on the landing. Doug is upset and drops his sword in disgust. Doug's actions offend Sifu Li because it is a sign of disrespect and it sets a bad example for the rest of the class.

Sifu: YOU ANGRY? YOU ANGRY I HURT YOU! I HURT YOU, YOU DIE!

Doug calms down and does pushups.


Moment 6

Sifu: John you tired?

Me: Yes Sifu, wushu is hard.

Sifu: You no good, you do push ups.

Moment 7

Sifu: John you tired?

Me: No Sifu. I can do more.

Sifu: No, dat ok. You go buy Sifu coffee.

Moment 8

A student practices.

Sifu: What you doing?

Student: Ah?

Sifu: You no power!

Student: I'm trying Sifu.

Sifu: You no good. You drive Sifu home.

Moment 9

It's the end of class. Every student has parents who come pick him or her up after class in their BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or some other fancy car. I pack up my stuff and proceed to the door to wait for my bus.

Upon leaving, I overhear Sifu talking to someone else's parent in a nearby room.

Parent: How come John's parents never watches him perform or comes to pick him up after class? I never met John's parents before.

Sifu: John live far. John parents working. John work really hard. John good boy.

** Originally published August 16, 2005