(The following Q&A's were taken from April's National Teacher's Association Newsletter)
I heard that Jimmy Woo was a member of the Chinese Mafia. Do you know if there is any truth to that rumor? DLR, Chicago, ILL.
Bill Hulsey answers: This one will be treading on some thin ice, but here goes. Jimmy was brought in at a very young age to work for his uncle as a collector. Jimmy's uncle was a powerful and dangerous high-ranking member of some gang or Tong (also called Triads) in Mainland China.
The Tong's had existed for over two thousand years in China, and were originally an underground resistance organization working against the conquering warlords or the government, and to protect the weak. That's not to say all the Tong's were good guys, or that they were pure of heart. Many were in it for the money, and the power as well.
The Tongs' had an unusual position in Chinese Society. Some of it was good, and some of it was bad. In some cases poeple joined the Tong for the business connections, and the protection that it provided. There were Tongs' that aided Dr. Sun Yat Sen in his overthrow of the Manchu government. And Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek is reported to have been a member of the "Green Gang", a very old and powerful Tong, prior to becoming the leader of Nationalist China before the Communist take over.
Jimmy used to refer to his uncle as being like Al Capone. Woo would say this in an uncharacteristically cold tone, that gave me the impression that his uncle wasn't a man to be messed with. I believe that Woo's uncle, and many others were killed during the Japanese occupation of China prior to the U.S. involvement in World War II. And, I'm sure that Jimmy's connections at the time were responsible for assisting in getting Woo the passport that helped to get him out of China during that time period.
I also heard rumors that Jimmy, traveled back into China during the war, as a military intelligence scout, to gather information about the Japanese occupation. If this were true, then I'm sure that Woo' "connections" would have been a great help to him at that time. I cannot either confirm or deny this information. Again it is a rumor.
In all my years of studying from Jimmy, I found him to be a warm hearted and friendly person. Reference to him being part of a "mafia" cast a dark shadow over the past of an amazing and wonderful person. Try to understand what the world, and in particular, the Chinese cultural was like at the time period we're discussing, prior to making any judgments about his character. At the same time, it shouldn't be considered an endorsment that you or anyone else should get involved in a gang.
I keep reading different answers to the correct age and date of birth for Jimmy Woo. Do you know Jimmy Woo's correct birthday? EJ, Redondo Beach, CA.
Bill Hulsey answers: Nobody knows the exact date of birth for Jimmy Woo, including himself. I asked Jimmy about his age, and he told me that he didn't know when he was born or how old he was. Jimmy was born in Hawaii, I believe in 1904. At the time large numbers of Chinese were brought over to Hawaii to work at converting swamp land into sugar cane fields, including Jimmy's parents. Hawaii was not a state of the US at that time, and record keeping of migrant workers was not conducted. That, and the Chinese themselves did not recognize birthdays in the same way that Westerners would. Instead they measured by the Astological charts. So in the Chinese custom at that time, a child could be born during the last few days of one year, such as the Year of the Tiger, and when the New Year started, he would be considered two years old, even though he was born only a few days earlier. It was Chinese custom for everyone to celebrate their birthday on the New Year.
Combine that with the fact that Jimmy came to this country with an illegal passport in the name of a younger cousin who had died, and was about ten years younger than Jimmy. Then Woo, fearing deportation, tried to maintain the illusion that he was this younger cousin, and tried to "adjust" his age accordingly. A few of us who understood the complexity of the problem, would only quietly chuckle to ourselves when Jimmy would answer inquiries about his age by saying he was 63. You see, we knew Jimmy to be 63 years old, for about ten years! When Jimmy passed away in 1991, I believe that he was about 86 to 87 years old.
My question involves breathing during a form. Which is the correct way, nose breathing or mouth breathing? I've been told that nose breathing is correct, but I have a hard time not breathing through my mouth. What am I doing wrong? LN, Garden Grove, CA
Bill Hulsey answers: Both ways of breathing are correct. But they're used in different circumstances. Slower moving forms, such as Tai Chi, stress the nose breathing method, mainly because it is believed that Chi energy flows in certain directions along specific meridians. And that slower, deeper breathing through the nose, with the mouth closed, and the tongue pressed against the roof of the mouth complete the flow of Chi. However, faster moving forms, such as those taught in Kung Fu, require air to be brought into the lungs at a faster rate than can be supplied by nose breathing. So, in the style of forms that you are performing mouth breathing is needed to bring in the oxygen that you require.
Another way to look at it may be, that you simply need to slow down your forms, if you want to be able to perform the entire form while breathing through your nose. And if you want to do a faster form, then you will need to breathe through your mouth.
Is there a specific name for the hollow spot of the throat directly below the Esophagus? We have a couple of lessons that require us to strike at the target, but the description seems a little long and I want to know if there is a better term for this spot. JM, Lakewood, CA
Bruce Nettles responds: Yes there is a term for that specific target, unfortunately it's worse than the long-winded description. If I have all my anatomy terms correct, the name is: the Suprasternal space, directly above the Suprasternal notch. However, since that really isn't much help, let me pass on the term I reveived from a doctor of acupuncture. He refers to that particular body cavity as the "Tiantu".
We practice forms in order to pass on to the next belt level at our school. Do forms have any real application besides the "dance" aspect? DK, San Diego, CA.
Bill Hulsey answers: I believe that forms are one of the most important and misunderstood facets of Kung Fu. Forms serve so many purposes that I could easily devote several articles on the subject, but let me just touch on a few here. Forms help to develop power and balance. They are a good form of exercise, both internal and external. You can feel the external benefits while you move through a form, however, at the same time the twisting motion is massaging all your internal organs. Woo told me once, that this internal massage would bring all of your internal organs up to 100 percent efficiency, and was therefore very important to your overall good health.
Some forms have hidden purposes to the movements that are practiced. Many practitioners of Kung Fu were persecuted in China in olden times, and weren't allowed to train for combat that involved the use of weapons. So sometimes certain combinations of movements used in a form would look innocent, but in reality were really a way to keep skills sharpened, and ready for use against the oppressors.
Forms are also where we begin to develop our abilities to fight multiple opponents. And where we begin to learn about the transitional movements that are important in fighting more than one opponent. In fact, there are some old schools of Kung Fu that believed that the student should be taught forms first and then move on to fighting techniques later.
Do you believe that Jimmy Woo's life experiences contributed to his skill level, and his mental focus? And can I achieve that same level, and how? DS, Long Beach, CA
Bruce Nettles answers: It's amazing to think about the time when Jimmy was born. He was born during the last decade of what was Imperial China, during the Ch'ing (Qing) dynasty. He was in Mainland china during the time that Nationalist China was created. He was there when the Chinese Communist Party was in it's beginning, and was driven northward, and into the hills. He was in China during the attack from Japan and the start of the Sino-Japanese war. He grew up in what had to be one of the most hostile and politically uncertain environments possible. Those same conditions no longer exist anywhere in the world. Certainly that life experience molded him, and gave him reason to develop his capabilities. You can only hope to be the very best that you can become, and the best way to get there is to practice. Remember that Woo spent over seventy years of his life involved with Kung Fu.
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Past Q & A
I heard that Frank Woolsey never studied from Jimmy Woo, and that Frank made up everything he taught. Is this true? AH, Long Beach, CA
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Bill Hulsey answers: It's funny how many questions that there are about Frank Woolsey. Frank closed the doors to his studios over twenty-five years ago, and still, over a quarter of a century later, Frank is a number one question on many people's minds. It just goes to show, how much of an impact Frank made to Kung Fu San Soo. |
But, to answer your first question, Frank did learn from Jimmy Woo from the time he was thirteen years old. How do I know this to be true? Because I asked both Frank and Jimmy Woo about it. Somewhere in the early sixties they parted ways. And this separation is where so much misinformation, and false information was created.
Now, on to the second part of your question: No, Frank did not make up the lessons he taught. He and Jimmy sat down and drew up a series of lessons, and a system for teaching. In fact, I have a copy of one of Frank's first business cards that he had printed when he opened his first studio. And on that card, Frank states that he was a member of the Jimmy H. Woo Association. I also talked with Jimmy Woo about the subject, and he verified the fact that he and Frank had a teaching system worked out.
I have heard a lot about Ah-Soo lessons 1-45 and the Basic 45. Can you explain what the difference really is? JM, El Paso, TX
Bill Hulsey answers: The basic 45 is exactly what it says it is. It is simply 45 Basic lessons, with poorly defined targets. (Left to ribs, right to ribs, left to ribs, etc.). It also has limited stepping and pivoting and has little regard for power blocking. Ah-Soo, on the other hand is much more sophisticated. Ah-Soo does incorporate powerful horse stances and combines them with powerful blocks and explicit striking targets. (Left roundhouse one knuckle punch to the spleen, right roundhouse one knuckle punch to the kidney, and left one knuckle punch to the apex of the heart). For more information see my article on Building the Complete Fighter.
What do you think of Frank Woolsey as a teacher, a fighter, and as a person?
Bill hulsey answers: Frank Woolsey was an excellent teacher. His goal was to turn ordinary people into street fighters, not studio acrobats. By combining his vast street fighting experience with the great art of Kung Fu San Soo, he did just that. His students include Masters Ron Van Browning, Al Rubin, Ted Sias, Dennis Kirby, Bruce Nettles, and of course myself.
His fighting ability was superb as over 300 over zealous adersaries quickly found out. Many people feared Frank and with good reason; he was among Jimmy's top students.
As far as the person himself goes, he was ruthless in many aspects of his life and very intelligent. He built an empire in a very short time teaching thousands of students and accumulated millions of dollars.
I have a copy of a video tape that I've been told is Frank Wooley. There's no title or credits, and it's obliviously someone's personal video because the film quality is bad, and there's even a scene of somebody's dogs. My question is, if this is Woolsey, and this is San Soo, why is what he is doing look so different from what I've been taught? This stuff looks vicious. JD, Las Vegas, NV
Bill Hulsey answers: Wow, this is becoming the Frank Woolsey column this time. I know the tape you're referring to very well. I have a copy myself. The give away is the dogs. This is a tape compiled of several smaller tapes, and then transferred to VHS format. From there, about a million knock off copies have been made, so I'm not surprised to see that someone in Las Vegas has a copy.
This was made by Dennis Kirby, back when Dennis was a brown belt, and I believe some of it was made after he made black belt. Back then, over twenty-five years ago, we didn't have video cameras, and Dennis filmed all of this on what was Super 8mm film. I'm glad he did, because Dennis archived some great stuff. And yes, those are his dogs. Dennis never intended that this film be made available to the mass market. It was made for himself and his friends to enjoy.
Dennis, like myself, started off learning Kung Fu from Frank Woolsey, and then continued our education with Jimmy Woo. We learned the way Frank learned, an older style of fighting before Jimmy started teaching the Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung method that you learned.
This older style utilized more should turn movements, powerful windmill blocks, different body dynamics that generated trmendous force behind blows.
So what you are seeing in that tape is a glimpse into the past.
What can I do to look better in a fight? I want to have people take notice of my style when I get in a fight. BE, Long Beach, CA
Bruce Nettles answers: This is a question that I have been asked several times in the past. I understand that you interested in having a certain flair that will command respect from others when you're required to be in a fight, and hopefully create a hushed awe from onlookers. Well, sorry, but I'm about to burst your bubble.
After having been in numerous fights in many countries and countless field conditions, I can tell you from experience that during a fight, the last thing on your mind is how good you look.
You're too busy blocking punches, knocking over furniture, slipping in the blood, or puke, and the beer. Mainly you're trying to keep your head in one piece, and knock the other guy down, to be at all concerned with your style.
Another aspect of Kung Fu is the fact that after months or years of training on your part, a fight will last only a few seconds. The first person to land a good powerful punch on tagert wins! And this is often the first punch you throw.
My guess is that you haven't been in very many fights since you've started studying Kung Fu, so let me warn you ahead of time about something. A fight will be over so fast, that you won't realize it. Chances are you'll react to the situation, knock the other guy out, and be standing there wondering what happened.
Believe me, the most important thing that you can practice is to train for a real fight, and to come out in one piece. If you do this, and when you get into a fight, being the winner in a fight will gain you the respect of at least two people, yourself, and the guy you've just dropped. And in the big picture these are the only two people that really count.
I have noticed that Jerry Petersons SCARS system is very similar to San Soo in many ways. Is SCARS and San Soo one in the same? LS, Chicago, IL
Bill Hulsey answers: I promoted Jerry Peterson, founder of the SCARS system, to black belt in San Soo right here in Bellflower, Ca. He is also a personal friend of mine. He went on to recieve his masters degree from Jimmy H. Woo. That is why similarities exist. Whenever Kung Fu San Soo is changed or modified it can no longer be called Kung Fu San Soo.
What is your personal opinion of Jimmy H. Woo? JPK, Newport Beach, CA
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Bill Hulsey answers: Jimmy was undoubtedly the greatest man I have ever known. It was a privilege and an honor just to be able to meet the man. Studying from him is among the greatest experiences of my life. I still miss him dearly and I imagine I always will. |