BUJUTSU Nov / Dec 2005 - Grand Master Henry Sue Master of Masters.

In the next edition of Bujutsu Magazine, we will be publishing the second part of this exclusive interview with one of this generations Grand Masters - Henry Sue 9th Degree. Look out for it in your local newsagencies January 2006.

Year 2005, 45 years of training, Graded 22 Masters, expert in Kung Fu, expert in various forms of Tai Chi, Grand Master of 17 sub branches, over One Thousand students, friends include diplomats also current and past deputy prime ministers. He is inspired, disciplined, successful, dynamic, charismatic, thoughtful, philosophical, dangerous, soft, he is 9th Degree Grand Master Henry Sue and at sixty years old still trains daily.

Born Canton China 1946, 1957 eleven years old migrated to Australia, at the age of 15 commenced training under Natilus Yuen, achieved Red Belt 1966, returned to Hong Kong trained with Grand Master Ip Shui, achieved 7th Degree Gold Belt from Grand Master Natalis Yeun, the founding father of Australian Tong Long (Southern preying mantis Kung Fu). In 1995 achieved 9th Degree Gold Belt, Grand Master level awarded from Grand Master Ip Shui, as the principal of the Chinese Kung Fu Academy Grandmaster Henry Sue trained and moulded exceptional masters.

In 2002 the links to the Shaolin Temple were cemented at a grand reception headed by the celebrated Shaolin Monk, Dut Verno Grandmaster Sue attended the Shaolin temple with fourteen Masters, and reestablished their connection with the long lost style of Tong Long.

Today, Grand Master Sue is the teacher of "Masters" or "Sifus". To become a Master of Tong Long means that a student has earned his or her Red Belt. A Red Belt signifies a level of achievement where the Kung Fu practitioner understands the fundamentals of Kung Fu as well as being a qualified fighter competent, ready and able to represent the style. Such a level will have taken at least 8 to1 0 years of training and enables the practitioner to become a 'Sifu' in their own right

Red Belt level one or 1st Degree can be a very humbling experience. After years of hard training, learning forms and weapons and experiencing fighting, the Master is suddenly struck by the realisation that their knowledge of Kung Fu is actually at a relatively basic level when judged against the knowledge yet to learn from a 9th Degree Grand Master. This is when the real training begins and students realise why Grand Master Sue is the Master of Master's.

A Master is an expert of certain skill. A Master of Master's therefore can be nothing less than a person that possesses extra ordinary skill and knowledge to the highest level.

Grand Master Sue now discusses the concept of internal and external energy with the Red Belts, for it is now that the real training at Master level begins. Firstly, Grand Master Sue encourages the student to reconfirm and to enhance their existing knowledge and then leads the masters to expand their mind with new forms and fighting techniques., The physical power that the master is capable of generating is finely tuned. Previous forms and techniques are given new meaning, the generation of power is multiplied, the fighting techniques become more subtle and direct and movements become smaller while energy output increases.

By constantly reviewing and seeking new knowledge about Kung Fu, Grand Master Sue has kept the art alive. By adapting and evaluating aspects of the Masters training and through his own relentless study of the art, Grand Master Sue has ensured that Tong Long has evolved to become a living art that meets the demands of the 21st century.

Grand Master Sue's own direction has taken him on a journey of discovery. He talks much about the secrets of internal energy, soft and hard energy (Yin and Yang) and the virtues of Chi-Gung training. Much of this comes as a result of his own deep knowledge of not only the essentials of Tong Long but a mastery ofTai Chi.

To all his students, he appears a bottomless pit of knowledge, so it is of some surprise when he claims, "I am still learning new techniques and principles of fighting". Many are amazed that Grand Master Sue's strength and power appear to be increasing as he grows older, a claim that some 'hard' fighting styles can not comprehend.

We asked Grand Master Henry Sue why Tong Long? "Tong Long's unique combating feature is to control and hit at the same time. When I first took interest in learning or choosing a martial art, it was not for exercise or fitness. I was looking for an art that could be used effectively to protect myself and my family.

That is why I chose Tong Long Kung Fu. Tong Long is known for its practical, short distance striking. It is a fast changing, non-retreat aggressive fighting style.

It is easy to teach a student Kung Fu patterns of movement and weaponry and make them look good which in turn make them into performers. On the other hand it is a very difficult task to train a student into a skilful fighter. To train a successful fighter is very time consuming - you may sayan entirely different 'ball game'. That is why many martial artists lack confidence after receiving their Black Belt. All that has been learnt is a basic knowledge of forms and weaponry, with different levels of energy output and very little knowledge of fighting techniques and defeating an opponent."

What are the responsibilities of a Grand Master teaching Masters? "To reach Master Level in Tong Long is a very intensive training regime of 12 gradings covering a time period of at least 8 to 10 years. After a student has reached this level, it is my responsibility as the Grand Master (9th Degree) to 'fine tune' all that they have learned. Each has their own uniqueness and I must find the way to nurture each of them into the 'ultimate fighter'. Their bodies are trained to be highly sensitive and react automatically with the correct response in any given situation. This can be likened to a computer being loaded with all the information and, when a key is pushed, the correct response is immediately

presented. If a person has to think about how to approach a fight, they are not a fighter - they are a performer. It is my responsibility to train their hands to move as an automatic reflex action, and to energize their bodies with 'Chi Gung', to equip their bodies with the 'Iron Jacket' and the internal energy. During a fight, the attack and output of energy must be precise and powerful, and as fast as the reflexes can react; there is no time to think."

How long does it take to train such a person? "That all depends on the dedication, training and capabilities of each student. Each Master is an individual and a truly unique Kung Fu practitioner. Each Master will develop their own unique interpretation of a movement and their own timing."