School(s) in: Heide, Albersdorf, Büsum, Pahlen

School Owner since: 1999

Motto:

Live your life and respect your fellow human beings

Why did you start with WingTsun or Escrima?

I started judo at the age of ten. Then, in my early twenties, I took up Aikido, which was my great passion at the time. At the same time I learned from a Chinese master in parallel the TaiChi Chuan, the fighting form and namely the one with 64 movements. I also learned NeiGung, the abdominal breathing, from which the actual energy comes.
This energy work I find with great joy now also in iWT. For me, this closes the circle from when I started to now, to deepen and internalize this knowledge.
 Unfortunately, I first became aware of WT in 1993, when I was thirty-nine, through a press report. After the first class I immediately signed up, because I was enthusiastic about WT from the very first day. The direct and straightforward movements and the effectiveness did it to me.
After about six months I also started with Escrima. The fast handling with the rattan sticks exerted a fascination on me, by which I was impressed. I trained Escrima with great enthusiasm for the first three years. With reaching the WT exercise leader I began to teach own groups in WingTsun. Because of my self-employment in the trade, I had to stop with Escrima for the time being because of professional lack of time and the big distance of 60 km. After thirteen years break I started again with Escrima in 2010.

Why are you still doing WingTsun/Escrima?

In 2007 I quit my craft and since then I dedicate myself professionally to WingTsun. Thus, one of my dreams, namely to make my hobby a profession, has come true. I can thus devote my time fully to my passion WingTsun. WT keeps me mentally as well as physically young and fit. Teaching children, teenagers and adults also contributes to this. It lets me consciously and closely participate in the lives of my students. Through the conversations, new ideas always arise to creatively adapt the lessons to the situations or the problems that the students experience in everyday life, and thus to obtain workable solutions.

Why are you still doing WingTsun?

The fascination of WingTsun is still unbroken today. The development that has taken place, just in the time that I learn WingTsun, is simply the hammer. Through the knowledge that SiFu has gained with his research, and in which he lets us participate, modern WingTsun leads to what I have always been looking for and can now witness. It is the non-violence and effortlessness that I am so excited about.

An enormous change has also taken place in Escrima. In the beginning the precise handling with the sticks or the machete, today the powerful torso work, initially with the sticks to the medieval cutting and cloth weapons. In addition, the contemporary self-defense, which can also be implemented with everyday objects thanks to weaponry, make the Escrima of Master Bill Newman so attractive.

What was your standout WT experience?

On 06.12.2008 the appointment to Sifu and on 28.01.2015 the presentation of the certificate to the 5th master degree by my SiFu Prof. Keith R. Kernspecht were absolutely outstanding experiences for me.

What changed for you when you received the 1st HG or 5th MG?

Both events were and remain unforgotten. In the time where I prepared for the 1st HG (then 1st TG), which I passed in 1999, it was mainly about learning and implementing given techniques. The time after that, the time of rapid development from technique-oriented to modern and inner WT were and are revolutionizing. The teaching methods and ways of learning and practicing WingTsun at that time and today are worlds apart.
 That I was and am allowed to experience this development at first hand makes me a bit proud. The appointment as master was the icing on the cake. At this point a thousand thanks to SiFu that he gives us this fantastic access and makes it possible for us to get to know a new perspective of WingTsun.