Niel Willcott Interview

During the weekend of April 5th and 6th, Tai Sifu Niel Willcott, President and Technical Director of Hung Sing Martial Arts and one of the most prominent figures in Europe within Choy Li Fut Kung Fu and Yang Tai Chi, was once again in Spain, conducting various seminars on both disciplines in Zaragoza. These seminars were organised by Sifu Jaime Nieto, his representative and head of Hung Sing Martial Arts in Spain.

Over the course of two intense days, Tai Sifu Niel Willcott demonstrated his mastery of Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi, showcasing his excellent teaching skills. He conducted engaging seminars on basic saber training, pushing hands, and combat techniques of Choy Li Fut. During a brief break from the seminars, we sat down to chat with him, resulting in this interview that provides insight into one of the most important figures in Europe in the realms of Choy Li Fut and Yang-style Tai Chi.

Q: You have the privilege of being a closed-door student of Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong, one of the highest-ranking Masters in the world for both Choy Li Fut and Yang Tai Chi, with a standing invitation to learn directly from him at his home. What does this mean to you, both personally and martially?

A: As a martial artist, finding the right Master is one of the most challenging aspects. The connection between Master and student is crucial. To reach advanced levels, you need to convince someone to share their knowledge and information with you. This shouldn't necessarily be a commercial transaction, but often it is. My relationship with Grandmaster Wong is different. He is dedicated to teaching me, and I am sincere in my desire to learn from him. There will always be differences of opinion between Master and student, but we both aspire to pass down the art to future generations. This is what unites us. The bond I share with my Master is a privilege, and I'm deeply grateful for it. Few people have had this opportunity.

Q: Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong conferred upon you the title of Tai Sifu. Only four people in the world hold this honor. An instructor can only achieve it by mentoring two of their students to attain senior levels within the Plum Blossom International Federation. Can you briefly describe the training system in your School?

A: It's essential for me to be there to teach. I try to teach as many classes to my students as I can, regardless of their level. We have many instructors, and having assistance is essential for the school's growth. But I've seen school owners stop teaching because others could do the work. In my school, I strive to be a strong reference point for my students, as they all need to build a solid martial foundation through self-training. I look for moments to be available for each student, correcting and guiding them in the best way for their progress. I encourage this attitude in all instructors and assistants in the Hung Sing schools. This is for the preservation and promotion of the Arts.

Q: You've embarked on an ambitious project to spread Choy Li Fut worldwide, expanding your School to multiple countries across all continents using modern information technologies. This has allowed Choy Li Fut to reach unexpected places. What do you think is the future of martial arts practice and instruction?

A: I'm very open to new technologies and excited about the future of martial arts. People need to change how they view martial arts. Often, styles try to preserve their Kungfu as if they were ancient museum pieces. Kungfu isn't a frozen moment in time; it's alive and needs to grow. That approach seems strange to me. I have no intention or desire to dress like a Chinese gentleman from the 19th century or shave my head and wear a monk's robe. I'm not Chinese, nor am I a monk. However, something is lost if we don't embrace the culture and traditions inherent in Kungfu. The other route is to modernize the style: change the language, wear modern training attire, stop working with weapons, and cease practicing forms. This results in a simple and effective style that's no longer authentic, becoming mixed martial arts under a different name. I believe that social media is the best way to preserve and develop Kungfu. We must use modern tools to our advantage without compromising the authenticity of our styles. Imagine looking back 1,000 years to the Shaolin Temple, observing the monks practice and fight. This would enlighten many Kungfu practitioners. While not entirely possible, ancient manuscripts and texts provide an insight. Embracing modern technology is necessary to preserve Kungfu for future generations.

Q: In addition to Choy Li Fut, you've extensively studied other martial arts such as Judo, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Jiu Jitsu. How has this experience with other martial arts influenced your understanding of Choy Li Fut?

A: I believe the first thing a new martial arts student should do is explore. It's challenging to have a perspective on martial arts without exposure. Caution is necessary. Each style has its own selling strategy. Many schools will try to turn you into a customer. If you see yourself as a customer, how can you become a martial artist? I've tried many styles and learned different ways of doing the same thing. But the journey is about finding the right Master more than anything else. My Master's knowledge and philosophy, his dedication, and attention to detail are what attracted me. Due to this, I've learned a lot from him. I can see the beauty and power of the style I now teach and convey that level of detail to my students. Finding the right Master is paramount. I have a Master who sees students as the future of the style, not just customers.

Q: Your virtual martial arts school features over 400 instructional videos, providing an excellent reference for anyone to learn Choy Li Fut and Taichi Chuan at any time. But some say it's impossible to learn martial arts from a video. What is your response to this?

A: Is it possible to learn to play the piano from a video? Yes, but you need a piano to practice. All you need is a training partner. If you're learning a traditional form, you can do it well with a video; sometimes even better. I had a student who was away from me for six months. Six months later, using only the videos from the virtual school, he surpassed his classmates. He worked with the videos for four hours daily and trained hard on the basics. His classmates, on the other hand, only attended classes once a week. Videos also provide an opportunity to learn the art for those who can't attend classes. This is a positive thing. Learning from a video is better than not learning at all.

Q: You've collaborated with Grandmaster Doc-Fai Wong to recover lost Choy Li Fut forms using manuscripts, while also giving your organisation a modern and dynamic image. What does tradition mean to you in the martial arts world today?

A: A system is deemed traditional when its combat techniques, training system, and tactics are passed down from Master to student over generations. Like Choy Li Fut. Tradition is the legacy, what's passed down. And tradition needs to be a living thing. A system must evolve and adapt. Of course, that doesn't mean abandoning the past. Respect for our history and both past and current Masters must always be present; without them, Choy Li Fut wouldn't exist. It's also essential to uphold a certain ethic and code of conduct within and outside of the Kwoon