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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Sifu Meng, back center, owner of Sifu Meng's Kung Fu Academy, yells out words of encouragement to his students during practice while instructor Tony Ley, left, holds a kick bag.
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A true master practices Kung Fu in Cupertino
Sifu Meng has been honing and teaching for years
By KAREN KABILING
His real name is Sheng Meng, but everyone calls him Sifu Meng. It has become his first name.
The Chinese word "Sifu" translates roughly as "teacher" or "master." Some Kung Fu instructors call themselves "Sifu" without the proper training, but there's no doubt that Meng deserves the title.
As a child born in Canton, China, Sifu Meng dreamed of one day becoming a Kung Fu movie star. The youngest of six children, his father and brother began teaching him Northern and Southern Shaolin at the age of 3.
The traditional "old-style" and the contemporary training incorporated the five animal patterns, leopard, tiger, snake, dragon and crane, and a variety of weapons that included broadswords, kwan-do, spear, staff and nine-sectional whip.
Sifu Meng was selected among the top few martial artists to represent China in its National Professional Wu Shu Team when he was 12 years old.
More than 10 years of training paid off when he was selected to become a member of the elite Canton Professional Wu Shu Team.
There he practiced and learned first hand from more experienced martial artists and masters, and it paid off. At the age of 20, he had competed in and won four national all-around competitions.
Sifu Meng explains that in China Kung Fu is a much more serious matter than one might believe.
He attended Canton Sports College, a prestigious university for martial arts instructors, typically for the most elite.
After graduating, Sifu Meng went on to Hong Kong where he starred and choreographed in several major Kung Fu movies.
In his first movie, Zen Master 6, he had the lead role. It was his first, but not his last.
"I felt it would lead to the next movie," Sifu Meng said.
At the age of 24, he traveled with the Canton National Wu Shu Team to several European countries, including Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, France and England, to perform in exhibitions and compete in tournaments.
Sifu Meng was asked to stay and teach at the martial arts' professional team in Europe and traveled from one country to another every six months to teach to a wide array of students.
By the early '90s, he moved to the United States where he met West Coast Tae Kwon Do Grand Master Ernie Reyes and became his weapons and Kung Fu instructor.
In addition, he also instructed the advanced students in the West Coast Tae Kwon Do Masters Club. Soon he began to broaden his movie career into American films.
Sifu Meng assisted Reyes and his son in the Hollywood movie Surf Ninjas by choreographing the fighting sequences in the film. He also played the role of Major Snee in the movie.
To Sifu Meng, movies meant more than just being on camera. Making movies brought a "starring title" that people looked up to, Sifu Meng said. It provided a sense of achievement, and it made people want to learn.
"A movie is like a title," he said. "And Kung Fu helps you get that title."
Sifu Meng has kept this idea going by opening Sifu Meng's International Kung Fu/Wu Shu Academy in Cupertino, Milpitas and Oakland.
Michelle Owen enrolled her son, Ronald, into the Cupertino school in January of this year and said she already plans to extend it for two more years.
"He likes watching Kung Fu movies, like Jackie Chan," Own said. "Now he has some form when he moves."
Thirteen-year-old Karen Low has been with Sifu Meng's school for more than three years.
The big smile on her face was enough to show her enthusiasm, and all she could say about it was, "It's fun."
She said she has already experienced competing in tournaments and won a few medals, but she hopes to reach higher levels.
Children as young as 3 join Sifu Meng's classes, and he says anyone can join.
There are a number of specials fit for every individual, whether it is on a trial basis or geared toward the 15-year plan.
Sifu Meng says in his teaching he emphasizes the five factors Kung Fu teaches: form, fighting, self-defense, sparring and respect.
Kung Fu has played such a significant role in his life, he has difficulty finding the right words to explain it.
He says American movies in the past decade have misinterpreted the art of Kung Fu, but today's films are much more accurate, not confusing the different Asian martial arts.
"Kung Fu is like a waterfall flowing down from one high end to the bottom because it is smooth and graceful," he explained. "Karate is more like rain dripping down a house taking choppy steps from one point to another."
Sifu Meng says he hopes to open more locations in San Francisco and Sacramento, and he wants to open up a restaurant to mix healthy eating with Kung Fu.
With the way his life is going, the possibilities seem endless.
His Kung Fu style is so broad that if they made a movie based on his technique it would be a combination of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Who knows if a movie like that would ever go into production, but nothing compares to seeing it live and in-person.
Sifu Meng's Cupertino school is at 1265 Kentwood Ave. (on De Anza Boulevard and Highway 85) and is open from 3:30 to 9 p.m. For more information, call 408.257.9228.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
