In
1988 he started training in Wing Chung with a friend from
work, Dr. Leo Lee, who taught him the first form, Siu
Lim Tau. "But," he complains, "I was never
really good at it; couldn't really get the sticky hand
(Chi Sau) going, because of my karate background. I found
it really awkward, until I met Eric Tuttle Sifu, who became
a good friend of mine. And he said, 'no problem; I'll
show you how to do it'. And he did."
This
alliance began in 1990, when Poon attended a seminar by
Jessie Glover (Bruce Lee's first student), hosted by Eric
Tuttle in Kingston.
It was also through Eric that Poon was introduced to Anthony
Mirakian Sensei, later becoming his representative in Canada.
He
calls the fees 'a token' for the year's training. They allow
him to cover costs and provide his students with guest trainers
to expand and reinforce their skills.
Why doesn't he open his own school then, with almost 30
years' experience, when he teaches four nights a week anyway?
No,
he says firmly. He's a programmer; that's what he does.
Karate, he insists, is his passion, not his income.
He
sites Sensei Wong as his inspiration, and remarks, "It's
pay-back time. If it wasn't for him," he says, "I
wouldn't be here." He considers. "I think that
is what Martial Art is all about."
(c) 1997 by Carol O'Connor September 1997
This biography profile was written by Ms. Carol O'Connor
who is a freelance writer.
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