In Memory of Grandmaster Prof. Dr Keith R. Kernspecht

KEITH R. KERNSPECHT THE MEASURE OF A MAN June 28, 1945- November 25, 2024 by Jose M. Fraguas “It should however give pause for thought if what we do is pleasing to all; because this is a sign that it is not good; the outstanding is only for the few.” Baltasar Gracian.- In every generation there are a handful of exceptional people who alter the course of history, touching the lives of thousands in countless ways. Sifu Kernspecht was such a man. Although traditional in his fundamental principles of life, he always displayed a seemingly unlimited imagination and an ever-changing persona — yet he did not only change with the times, he changed the times. His meritorious contributions to the art of Wing Chun changed the way the world trained and studied the Chinese Martial Arts. His deep academic foundation in conjunction with his German pragmatism gave him the perfect blueprint to completely change the history of the art of Wing Tsun. His connection in the 70s with Yip Man’ student – the Grandmaster Leung Ting – revolutionized the way the art was structured, taught and expanded throughout the world. Grandmaster Leung Ting had the “pieces” of the art, but Sifu Kernspecht assembled them together in a cohesive structure, polished them and gave form to an extremely efficient combat “masterpiece”. This Kung Fu “masterpiece” was the technical base of E.W.T.O. (European Wing Tsun Organization). During the late 70s and the decade of the 80s, E.W.T.O. had the higher standards for the art of Wing Chun/Ving Tsun/Wing Tsun around the world. The most fierce, dangerous and efficient fighters belonged to E.W.T.O. A new generation of students and instructors that changed the world of Kung Fu and Martial Arts forever. Sifu Kernspecht has been one of the most influential teachers in my life. I found in him a man whom I could trust and learn from; a man in whom the profound wisdom of the East was matched with the pragmatism of the West; a man in whom burned a brilliant passion for life and a never-ending thirst for Martial Arts and universal knowledge. Life is a matter of will, not of destiny — the choices we make dictate the life we lead. Sifu Kernspecht, as a “warrior” was living proof of that and, without a doubt, he will remain treasure for the world of Wing Tsun. Even death can be viewed in a positive manner. During one of the several interviews I did to Sifu Kernspecht – during my training at the Langenzell Castle – we talked about the ‘art of dying’, how the old Samurai warriors used to approach death and how he would like to be remembered. To my surprise, he took me to his studio and pulled a book from his personal library and read to me a quote from Henry Scott Holland, who was a professor of divinity at Oxford University: “Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way you always used. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, and think of me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without the ghost of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant…There is absolutely unbroken continuity. What is death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I’ll be waiting for you – for an interval – somewhere near just around the corner.” Sifu Kernspecht passing reminds us of the brevity of life. What matters most is that we live our lives purposefully and he lived his life to the fullest, pursued his goals and ideals with a warrior’ spirit and held on to his faith and believes right to the very end. He was a very special link to the past history and future of the Wing Tsun, a master’s Master. In the meantime…I am certain that he will be waiting for me around the corner. Auf Wiedersehen Sifu. Jose M. Fraguas