Interview with Thommy Luke Böhlig

Con quella che segue, inizio a pubblicare le interviste che ho potuto fare ad alcuni dei Maestri più conosciuti del panorama del Wing Chun e del Weng Chun mondiale. Spero di fare una cosa gradita a tutti gli amici che mi seguono, perché sto cercando di mettere sul tavolo tutte le diversità insite in queste famiglie. Spesso si tratta solo di puro e semplice marketing, mentre altre volte ci troviamo di fronte a diversità tecniche anche profonde. Vi invito a segnalarmi Maestri di tutto il mondo da intervistare, in modo da rendere questo posto virtuale sempre più utile a tutta la comunità marziale. Vi abbraccio tutti! Ah, un'ultima cosa: le interviste saranno pubblicate quasi sempre in inglese, tanto sono molto semplici e di facile traduzione. Se qualcuno volesse una mano a tradurle, per me non ci sono problemi, basta chiedere.

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Today we meet Thommy Luke Böhlig. Böhlig runs the organization Wing Tsjun International (世界詠春拳組織) and is based in Germany. He gained a reputation as star of Inside Martial Arts TV, stunt-choreographer, book author, international seminar speaker and head of a multi-national Wing Chun association. He teaches the German city police and is best known for his effective, street-oriented fighting style, for his motivational seminars and for his effective work with instructors of other styles.

At what age did you become interested in martial arts?

I have been interested in the martial arts as long as I can think. When I was about 6 years old however, the only martial art in my town was Judo so my mother enrolled me at the local Judo Club. But that wasn´t exactly what I was looking for so I left after a short while. I was a fan of Bruce Lee and his movies so I wanted to learn kicks and fast punches. The whole idea of chinese Kung-Fu appealed to me. The student-teacher relationship in the movies, the hard training and code of honour, that´s what I wanted to become a part of.

When you started practicing Wing Chun Kung Fu?

Well, my oldest friend actually came across a poster that advertised The Foundation of Bruce Lee´s Fighting Style so for me it was no question that I had to go there. That was in 1991 when both of us were 15 years old. That´s how we ended up in a school of the EWTO which should become our home for the next 15 years.

Who were your Masters?

I was enormously blessed to train with the best fighters and teachers of the organization. Here are some names of SiFus that influenced me immensly: my own SiFu Keith Ronald Kernspecht, SiFu Emin Boztepe, SiFu Dirk Peffekoven, SiFu Hans-Peter Edel, SiFu Stefan Fischer, SiFu Uwe Giese and my friend and SiHing SiFu Thomas Schroen.

Who is now your Master?

In 2005 I decided to split from the EWTO and begin a cooperation with SiFu Allan Fong who I´m still in contact with and who officially accepted me as his ToDai (student). I reached the Master grade under him and learned the last programs of the system. I am independent but I travel a lot and train with various Masters from different organizations. That´s the beauty of the Wing Chun family. It´s a global network.

Do you have a work beyond the teaching of Wing Chun?

No, I have been a full-timer since 1995. However, we don´t only teach Wing Chun (or Wing Tsjun as I like to write it for marketing reasons) but I also developed a Kung-Fu program for children that is very successful and not only consists of Wing Tsjun techniques.

Also I teach law-enforcement personal and give violence prevention courses at public schools which in my opinion is a very important field.

The goal of these courses is to sharpen the awareness of the participants and to solve conflicts without having to go into a fight.

You founded your own association. Can you tell us what its characteristics are? What are the forms that are taught in it?

First of all we teach classical Wing Tsjun. In that sense we stick to the classic curicullum of Siu Nim Tau (little idea form), Chum Kiu (seeking bridge), Biu Tze (thrusting fingers), Mok Yan Chong (wooden dummy), Lok Dim Poon Kwun (6 1/2 point long pole) and Bart Cham Dao (8 cutting ways of the butterfly knifes).

Yet there are of course amendments that we have made. These are certain drills, applications and training methods to more effciently let the student reach the goal of mastering his or her Wing Tsjun.

You have been appointed Grand Master recently. From whom and how do someone become one?

Well, there are two ways to achieve the grade; the traditional way and the structural one. Traditionally one who produces a student who will become a teacher (in our case reach the so-called technician level) is called the SiFu.

One who finishes the system (as long as you can call it that since there is always so much more to learn) is called a Master.

And one who produces a student that becomes a Master is called Grand Master. This is the way that I took. My student SiFu David Martin Pascual reached the Master grade making me a Grand Master. I´m very proud of him.

The other way is simply that you belong to an organization with a working grading structure. In this case you work through the grades until you reach the level that is regarded the level of a Grand Master. Normally these levels require certain traditional aspects as well.

How many hours do you train?

Between 3 and 6 hours per day. When I´m not with my family then normally everything I do is related to the art. When I work at the WTI-head office then my mind is on WT and when I prepare seminars or travel then it normally has something to do with Wing Tsjun as well. But the daily training is something that I value most and what still gives me an unbelievable kick.

What are the fees to assess serious a course of Wing Chun?

The schools in my association charge between €45 and €90 per month for classes. It all depends where you live and how often you like to train.

Are you planning to come to Italy sooner or later?

Absolutely. I love Italy and will be over in Rome for a seminar in June.

I don´t have a representative in Italy yet, but my organization is growing rapidly at the moment, so that hopefully soon we will have schools in Italy too.

At the moment we are in 9 countries and spreading world wide.

Thank you for the interview, Thommy.

You are very welcome. Thank you.