We got news from ANYDA and Jeanluc Lesueur sensei mrs. Wang Yu Fong has passed away recently on the 14th of March and at 92 years of age.
Like many other older Chinese m.a. masters and continuing in the footsteps of her famous father O-sensei Wang Chang Zhai - called China's National Fist- she has known her hardships. Especially during the Mao regime, when during an attack by young red radical Mao followers a gang tried to rob the house and tried to molest her. She defended herself and the house bravely and made the gang withdraw, but got hurt so severly in one kneejoint...she always kept problems.
She was a brave and open women and we could talk with her frankly.
We had met her already before in France when she came teaching Yi-Chuan at Jeanluc Lesueur's dojo. We visited her later in 2003 at her home in Beijing, when we went there to make a movie about the martial arts and its practitioners. See the interesting movie made by Eline Flipse called 'Eat your Enemy' (uitg. Boeddhistische Omroep Ned.) ...in which several other special teachers were interviewd and depicted also, like master Li Yuan Ju and Otake Risuke.
Still a handsome lady with a cerain dignity, she spoke frankly with me about our roots...like the challenge master Sawai had with her father...and how Sawai sensei became his student and frequented the Wang family.
She knew everything well about this period and spoke begninantly about Sascha san (Sawai sensei) and how he supplied them with food, when there was a crying shortage.Anyhow a relieving sound for me hearing all this from somebody so close...especially as many modern Chinese m.a. people mostly show a tendency to describe sensei in a negative way!
We stayed a whole day with her and the Yi-chuan group, who invited us for lunch together.
A good and very inspiring moment in my life and and a very nice encouter with the pure roots of Yi-
Chuan or Ta Cheng Chuan. Above you see us both exchanging news and interesting stories. At left you can witness us with her daughter and son...both practicing Yi-Chuan and also in a medical way, as therapists. A nice family, a very interesting meeting with Wang Chang Chai's daughter and grandchildren in Beijing december 2003 and a good memory of this very special women in the martial arts.
