I’m going back to China, China, China… (LLCool J or Biggie anyone?) (ok, how about a little Soul II Soul…Back to China, Back to Reality…Yes, I am stuck in the 1980s and often 1990s)

For the past several years, we have been taking the Wah Lum pilgrimage to China with a team. For a while, we took a tour at least every 2 years (80s-90s).  After 2001 the tour was a record 60+ people, we took a well-needed break!  There were some sprinkled trips in 2005, 2007, 2010, until I found myself back in China in 2014 and 2016.  Now it’s 2018 and we are set for another round. (ding, ding)

This year I am leading the Wah Lum Delegation to the Zhengzhou International Shaolin Festival.  We have not attended this event since 2001.  Think of it as the Olympics of Kung Fu.  Thousands of competitors from around the world attend this festival and it kicks off with a massive performance in Dengfeng, China, home to the Shaolin Temple and its surrounding schools.

I’ll be sure to blog and podcast about the experience after the trip, but thought I would give you some insight into what goes into planning the trip.

I have been discussing the potential dates for the trip with my contacts in China since last year.  The government finally released the dates last month, and I quickly had to put together an itinerary, with deadlines this month to lock in competitors and delegation members.  This includes hours of planning and coordinating during China’s time zone = zombie Mimi.

I finally put together an incredible tour including competing in the festival, training at my Godfather’s school at Epo Shaolin, and most importantly returning to the roots of Wah Lum and where my father Grandmaster Chan grew up.  If you are really interested in learning more about that journey you must watch the award-winning film, Pui Chan: Kung Fu Pioneer (now on Amazon!).  I would love to hear your thoughts on the film, so please do share!

Back to China prep.  Now that the tour is locked, I have an application process to see who is worthy of taking this journey and representing the Wah Lum System.  It starts with a duel… sigh.  Sadly no duel.  However, I do require students to really think about what this trip means and emphasize that this is not a vacation.  They have to submit essays, interview, references, and audition if they want to perform.

This is the first year we have implemented this system.  Why now?  I’d like to explain a little about what the meaning of the trip should be to the student.

The goal of the Wah Lum China Tour is to maintain a strong relationship with our Wah Lum family in Shajing as well our Shaolin (Epo Wushu School) affiliates in China. In addition, we encourage students to learn about the ancestry, history, and roots of martial arts.  Over the past 35 years, Grandmaster Chan has developed excellent relationships with organizations in China that current and future Wah Lum generations are fortunate to benefit from.

Wah Lum has exclusive access to areas that are not open to the public, and delegation members are extended exceptional hospitality. A few of the experiences students will have include: exploring the most popular sights in China like the  Great Wall, Forbidden City, and the Shaolin Temple. They will also see places and attend events only Wah Lum delegation members have access to. Imagine lighting incense for Grandmaster Lee Kwan Shan at his graveside and receiving a welcome in Shajing by the entire city.

The experience truly is like no other.

Having said that… (Curb your Enthusiasm anyone?)  in the past, we have allowed any Wah Lum member or family member to attend and unfortunately have been embarrassed, disappointed, and frustrated.  NO bueno.  Being a member of the Wah Lum delegation is an honor and a privilege.

I work 24/7 while I am there.  Students who want to experience this phenomenal cultural exchange opportunity should take it seriously and should want to be there for the right reasons.  So yes, it is a lot more pre-planning work, but the hope is that the tour will be smooth sailing. (yea, right!)

I am probably making it sound like a chore, and honestly, it is, but being the ‘bridge’ between Wah Lum and Shajing and Shaolin is an important responsibility that I do not take lightly.  It is an honor on so many levels: I am fairly young, (although I don’t feel it) and I am a woman in a male-dominated culture (both Chinese and kung fu culture).

Since being taken as godchildren of Grandmaster Liang of Shaolin Epo, O and I have studied Mandarin, continued tours every 2 years, and work tirelessly to represent Wah Lum and my father to the best of our abilities.  I would like to continue this tradition and hope that future generations will respect and appreciate the bridge that has been built by Grandmaster Chan and Simu Suzy since 1982.  A bridge that so many have walked upon, but perhaps have not appreciated as much as they should.

Will you walk that bridge one day?  Who knows!?

** This post is Waaaaay longer than I anticipated and I realize I have so much to say about the meaning of our China trips — so will continue this on my podcast.  QUESTIONS? Email me to submit questions you might have about the China tours and I will be happy to include them on the show as long as they are appropriate!

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