personal Experience
A Visit to Taishan: Kung Fu, Heritage, and a Remarkable ‘Si Gong‘
Last week, a good friend from France came to visit. He’s a huge Kung Fu enthusiast and had previously done his master’s degree in Brazil. As part of his trip, he was planning to visit his Si Gong (Kung Fu grandmaster) in Taishan (台山). Since it’s not far from where I live, I decided to tag along for the experience—and I’m so glad I did.
His Si Gong is 76 years old, but you honestly wouldn’t guess it—he looks like he’s in his 40s. Seriously. He’s the third generation in the lineage of the legendary Wong Fei Hung (黄飞鸿), and now he teaches students across seven generations. That means his students’ students are already teaching. He specializes in Hung Ga, a traditional Southern Chinese martial arts style.
We spent some time chatting at his home in Taishan, and the conversation took an unexpected turn—turns out he holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Canada, and even worked in the U.S. in the early ’70s. But back then, he felt that engineering just wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life. So he turned back to his roots—teaching Kung Fu and supporting the local Chinese community, especially during times when racial bullying was more prevalent. Oh, and did I mention? He also practices traditional Chinese medicine.
It was a fascinating day full of stories, history, and culture. Big thanks to Si Gong for the incredible meal in Taishan!
Also, a quick shoutout to Taishan itself—such a beautiful town with tons of Western-style buildings. I learned it’s known as a hub for overseas Chinese, which gives it this really unique vibe. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area. (AI-assisted)