Martial Art Institute

Great Grandmaster Yui Choi

Grandmaster Yui Kil

Master Wai-Po Tang

During this period of Wu Shu training, Wai-Po was also learning some Wing Chun and other Kung Fu techniques from Peter Lok (his employer) and other associates.

These sessions were informal and private, normally at the back yard of the Chinese take away, where Wai-Po worked part time.

The part time wages was just enough to cover the expenses of travelling and costs to learn Kung Fu. But he endured hardship without support from the family. He sacraficed social life, and other youth activities for a strict and tough self-inflicted training regime.

It was around 1979/80 that Wai-Po saw an advertisement in the Richmond Upon Thames College - someone advertising a new Wing Chun class stating he was Bruce Lee's colleague.

Wai-Po went along to the introductory session and watched this master making extraordinary claims, which certainly impressed Wai-Po at the time. These claims of the master were that he could fight better than Bruce Lee, able to kick a person off the air at the length of a basketball court, and would challenge anyone including 'Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearnes, Marvin Hagler (they were some of the greatest boxers).

As a naive child, Wai-Po bought the whole lot and adopted the eastern cultural behaviour of 'Don't question the master just obey'. Wai-Po will not name this so-called master and refers to him as 'X' in the following passage.

Wai-Po trained diligently in Wing Chun for two years, and then became an instructor. He opened up his first school in Hounslow, Middlesex in 1983 at the request of Master 'X'.

This was what you call 'jumping into the deep end', it is the typical situation of drown or survive analogy. Wai-Po had no formal or informal training on how to teach, but his former instructor 'X' just told him to do so. Hence, more membership money for 'X' and increase size of his organisation.

Ironically, Wai-Po turned out to be the best instructor very quickly. Thus, it ended up with master X copying Wai-Po's teaching methods and training skills. Wai-Po succesfully increased the reputation of X's headquarters and its the satellite clubs. Although, Wai-Po took no credit for this until now, he was always seen as the torch for his colleagues in those days.

His reputation was so strong that he was selected to perform for a BBC martial arts documentary 'The Way of The Warrior' in 1983. Also, featured in a medical documentary 'The Living Body' in 1984.

After the showing of the BBC's Warrior, his former master X received tremendous amount of challenge-fights. This was due to master X's poor performance, and excessive bragging. This culminated into a very troublesome era.

Wai-Po was young and naive, and he was persuaded and manipulated by his former master X to engaged in some extremely brutal street fights with other martial artists- troublemakers.

It was during these trouble times that Wai-Po began to question his own training methodologies. He was amazed that the techniques he had learnt so diligently, did not really work. Wai-Po won all his fights predominantly by determination, aggression, and natural instinctive simple movements. He was disillusioned by this fact. Hence, Wai-Po became a self taught and a research student.

Although Wai-Po was still loyal to master X, he had to research secretly.

When the trouble was cleared, Wai-Po and his colleague never even got a thank you from this former 'x' master. Instead, his former master took all the prowess and glory, and yet did none of the fighting. Master X lied to everyone of his great achievements, at the same time verbally humiliated Wai-Po's and his colleague to make himself look great.

Wai-Po believed strongly in loyalty and he had tolerated unbearable treatments (being talked down to, and ridicule Wai-Po's teachings in front the class, and subjected him to mental bullying on daily basis) by his former master for 2-3 years. But it got to the extent where loyalty was seriously questioned and Wai-Po believed it was misplaced.

Hence, Wai-Po broke away from such an unpleasent relationship and moved onto great heights. A new chapter of his martial life, Wai-Po decided to go it alone.

Self-research were continuous and it produced great revelations. At the same time Wai-Po attempted to break into the film industry.

In 1986, the blockbuster movie, 'The Last Emperor' was in the pre-production stage. Casting director for the movie was Lucy Boulting but later changed. Wai-Po was selected for the possible lead role of the emperor. Hence, acting teacher Joan Washington, and agent Neil Toland, casting director Mary Selway assisted Wai-Po to accomplish this goal.

Unfortunately, it was a very demanding and long haul project, and Wai-Po did not fulfil his intentions. Then he moved town and started a health food business as well as a full time martial art gym in the south coast of England.

Master Wai-Po Tang founded the Martial Art Institute in 1986. Master Tang continued learn and research different disciplines. He tested his research and skills in the Far East, fighting in Thailand, Hong Kong and China. Master Tang came in contact with many prominent martial arts Masters and was very grateful to all those whom generously exchange knowledge.

In 1987, Master Tang went to Foshan, China where he met Great Grandmaster Yui Kil. Master Tang formally became a research student of Foshan Grandmaster Yui Kil since 1987.

Wai-Po was introduced to Grandmaster Yui Kil by Grandmaster Ip Chun. Wai-Po recalled Master Ip Chun as a very generous and knowledgeable man, and Wai-Po enjoyed his company during the trip to Foshan.

Master Tang received the highest traditional Kung Fu honour in 1988, awarded by Foshan Grandmaster Yui Kil. The rest just gets better and interesting. The integration of Foshan Wing Chun and Master Tang's development has brought about a brilliant unique approach to contemporary Wing Chun.

Master Tang's system and philosophy has stood the test of time, producing excellent artists, fighters, sport-fighters and successful recreational classes around the world.

Master Tang is now a renowned Kung Fu master, recognised as one of the best in the world. His teachings are innovative and sets the trends that others follow.

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