It would not be long before we disciples would learn about flexibility when it came to our roles as Chen Family members. Our lives would be ticking right along in our daily rhythms when the call would come. “Hallo?” This is Chen Xiao Wang. Of course, this was a thrill! We chatted about our lives, catching up on the status of our families and schools and weather in our towns as you would with any relative. He spoke enough English that even with a thick accent we could get the gist. It was friendly and lively. And inevitably the seeds of the next adventure would be planted.
In August of 2007 Chen Xiao Wang called all his disciples and more to travel to the Czech Republic. He had arranged a Duan Wei exam (ranking) with the Chief Wu Shu (martial arts) examiner of the International Wu Shu Federation in China and an accompanying seminar. It is common knowledge that Chen Xiao Wang got out of China and immigrated to Australia in the 80’s. Though he had travelled the world teaching Taijiquan and become famous, none of his students had yet tested for rank within the WuShu Federation. We were to learn upon arriving that this event was the first.
Before we were to learn all this, we made our plans and quickly. The event was in November. My joints and immune system were still suffering but I got the go-a-head from my doctors as long as I was careful. We Americans met in Prague for a wonderful bit of site-seeing (Allison! That Monastery Beer!) It was November and the city void of tourists. It was magical. We then jumped on a train and traveled through the compelling country whose wide vistas were dotted with farms and communist era architecture. We arrived in a couple of hours into a therapeutic spa town, Luhačovice. If memory serves, around 100 students from all over the world travelled in. We overran that lovely town. I suspect the locals and other holiday makers had no idea what just happened to their quiet village.
We were excited to be there though the stress of the event was much more than the disciple ceremony! We were all there to prove ourselves. Not to each other really, but to the Committee, for our teacher. It was his chance to show them and by association, show China, the quality he had been developing over the past 20 years of spreading his family’s art. We were to take a written exam then demonstrate our empty hand form and a weapons form.
For 2 days we sat in translated lectures about the history of Chinese Martial Arts. We furiously took notes. In between Chen Xiao Wang taught Six Healing Sounds Qigong which didn’t have much external movement; the best exercise we got was walking the beautiful street between the stadium and our hotels. So, between travelling, jet lag and the stress we were all fairly ramped up by the time we sat for the written test. It must have been translated into all the languages there – I’m not recalling that detail. Somehow, we passed and then it was on to the demonstration.
We had also been practicing for this in between lectures and classes. We scattered ourselves all over the gym, mentally sequestering and emotionally steeling ourselves for the impending demonstration of skill. We jammed ourselves into the tight hallways of our hotels in the early mornings and late evenings. There were only a few weapons available that our host, Vit, had brought in from his school so we passed them around, getting the best size we could.
When it came time for the exam, we all lined up outside the small test room. It was hot and sweaty with anxiety and anticipation. As our turn came, we entered in threes. Depending on who was demonstrating we also crammed in to watch. That small room was stuffed full of people wanting to see Jan Silbertorff. As our turn came, we stood staggered in front of the Examining Board, consisting of Chen Xiao Wang, the Chief Examiner, our host Vit, and several other high-ranking officials from the Wu Shu Committee. We saluted, stepped left, raised and lowered our arms.
It was over fast. In fact, we didn’t spend much more than three minutes, if that, showing our forms. Later that day, or the next, we got the results of our test, which ranged from third Duan to 6th. I remember a couple of days before the test Chen Xiao Wang asking us what we wanted to test for. We said 3rd. He said, “why don’t you try for 5th.” Indeed, everyone in our American group was awarded 5th. Jan Silberstorff was the only person awarded a well-deserved 6th. (In the ranking system, 6th - out of 9 - is the highest you can test for. From then on higher rank awards are based on your contributions to the art).
The rest of the workshop was fun. Chen Xiao Wang taught the Erlu (Pao Chui). All the stomping, fajin practice and excruciating form correction was just what we all needed. After the workshop we had another day in Prague before returning to the states. From then on, Grandmaster’s relationship with the Wu Shu Federation and China grew and flourished. Chen Xiao Wang now lives back in China.
This workshop seeded another turning point that would also evolve and flourish: we met David Gaffney & Davidine Sim.
Collage of the Event. Thanks a lot to Allison Helm for most of these pictures.
De-stressing in Prague with our Rick Steves guide, Sharka.