Seminar with Grandmaster LILY LAU, 24.5 - 3.6.2008
A week with Grandmaster Lily Lau
The established yearly visit of our Teacher in Greece took place from the 24th of May till the 3rd of June. Her reception took place in the new school of the system, where the Eagle Athletic Club of Galatsi is based. Sifu Lily saw the results of the work done during the last years, in a demonstration commenced by the new students of Christos Papachristos and continued by the older and more advanced students of Dimitris Doukas. Throughout the next days, Sifu showed to the advanced students, during individual lessons, a Taolu with fan (moy fa sin) that excited all those who watched it with its beauty and strength. The individual lessons were a gift by Sifu to her students, in order to express her satisfaction to see that her system, Lily Lau Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu, has strong roots in Greece, after the opening of a new school. In return, the students gathered money to support the victims of the earthquake in China.
During the main seminar, that took place in the weekend at Thisseion Lofts (Peiraios Str.), the Teacher started teaching the double form for fist of 108 movements, while she showed to the advanced students (brown and black belt) the difficult Da Lin Wan Kune Taolu.
The Teacher placed great emphasis on Qigong Ba Duan Jin. This famous Qigong, widely known as “The Eight Pieces of Brocade”, is an exercise of internal development; it was given this name because its movements are considered to be beautiful and exquisite like fine silk. Historically, some attribute the development of these exercises to the famous General Yeuh Fei, who lived during the 11th century A.C. and is considered to be the creator of Eagle Claw. Others believe that the roots of these exercises can be traced even earlier, in the era of the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.C.).These eight elements constitute an ideal exercise to preserve one’s health, to cultivate and develop one’s energy and vitality and to recover in case of illness. Through everyday practice, the tendons are strengthened, the meridians are cleared, the smooth function of the internal organs is achieved and nervous and sentimental balance is attained.
The exercises constitute one unit and are usually practiced as a whole. Nonetheless, each element induces some particular benefits: the first element balances the internal organs; the second strengthens the heart and the lungs; the third adjusts the function of the spleen and the stomach; the fourth facilitates the cure of injuries; the fifth tones up the kidneys and the reproductive organs; the sixth calms the nervous system; the seventh proliferates endurance and the eighth aids the recovery from illness.
The practice of Qigong is an integral part of Kung Fu, and we are very lucky that every year Sifu Lily Law shares her precious knowledge with us.
The chief instructor of the system in Greece, Doukas Dimitris, who had been taught the same Qigong during another seminar in the past, had the chance to appreciate once again the importance of being taught by a “real” teacher. Sifu Lily Law, stretched out with great persuasion, as she was talking out of her own experience that this series of exercises helps to recover from injuries and to maintain a good health, as the everyday practice contributes to the prevention of illness. Illuminating yet another side of the Kung Fu practice, she advised all her students to practice these exercises before training and reassured them that after a while they will clearly notice an improvement.
Moreover, this year’s visit had another aspect. After the respective exams, Sifu Lily Law gladly assigned:
• the black belt to Kougia Sofia
• the black belt 1st degree to Papachristos Christos, instructor of the Eagle Athletic Club of Galatsi
• the black belt 3rd degree to Dimitris Doukas, her student and chief instructor of the system in Greece
This rare occasion gave the opportunity to all those who attended the exams -which were open for all- to watch a very impressive show. Sifu congratulated the three of them, one by one, and stretched out that her students abroad rarely manage to reach such a high level. “It is not easy to get the black belt from me”, she said smiling. We note that Sofia Kougia is being practicing Kung Fu for more than eight years, while she is the only woman of the system that has a black belt. Moreover, Dimitris Doukas had to practice for more than seven years to pass to the next level.
Following the Teacher’s seminar is an experience that gives to every student -even to the beginners- a fresh motive to continue their practice. The eagerness of Sifu Lily Law to spread the Eagle Claw, as she learned it by her father, Late Grandmaster Lau Fat Mang, as well as her enthusiasm when she manages to transmit something new to a student are overwhelming. The Chinese say that the source of learning is the heart; in order to learn or teach something, one must love it. Sifu Lily Law and the relationship she builds with her students is a live example of these words.
Black Belt for Sofia!
On the 30th of May 2008, the black belt exams took place at A.S.K., by Grandmaster Lily Lau. After nine years of daily practice, Kougia Sofia, assistant instructor of the club, passed successfully the exams, and obtained the black belt. Sofia is the only woman who has acquired the black belt of our system.
Brief CV
Kougia Sofia was born in Argos, on the 26.12.1975.
She studied Sociology in the Panteion University (Athens). She acquired her degree in 2002. Currently she works at a publishing house.
In 1999 she started practicing Lily Lau Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu with Dimitris Doukas. In 2005, she succeeded in the exams of the Hellenic Wushu Kung Fu Federation, acquiring the Wushu Instructor Diploma of 3rd grade.
Since 2006, she is assistant instructor at the Athletic Club of Kerameikos.
In 2008 she took the black belt of the Lily Lau Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu.
Since 2003 she has been participating in the championships organised by the Hellenic Wushu Kung Fu Federation, gaining a lot of distinctions.
She has been also practicing Yang Tai Chi Chuan of Huang Sheng Shyan and she has followed all the seminars of Sifu Lars Larsen organised by A.S.K.
