Testimonials

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM MARTIAL ARTS

I have trained in several traditional martial arts. I have also studied several others. I have seen the revival of mixed martial arts. I have also studied the Buddhist and Taoist traditions underlying many of the martial arts. I am 40 years old at this writing. Here is what I have learned:

Your martial arts must be about more than punching, kicking, submitting, footwork and fighting. Although there may be an infinite number of techniques to be learned, the endless pursuit of techniques, or perfection in training and execution, or opponents, is a path that leads nowhere. Martial artists on that path will never quench their thirst, become frustrated, and ultimately quit. How many 70+ year-old martial artists do you know? Chances are not many – primarily because their martial art experience was focused on styles and techniques. In order for your martial arts to be complete and endure throughout your life, it must include more than punching and kicking, it must include health, internal training, and philosophy.

Your martial arts must be YOURS. Do not follow the crowd, or a martial arts master. You are your own best instructor. You can and should be your own master. You can spend a lifetime learning the martial arts of others. But this leads to the endless pursuit of techniques or forms. You can learn a lot from others, but ultimately you have to define your own way of training. Do not be afraid to explore or develop your own "forms" and your own understanding of your body.

Your martial arts must somehow connect your body and mind and spirit. In fact, that should be the sole goal of your martial arts training. If you simply want to be able to defend yourself, then techniques are good to study. If you simply want a health exercise, then forms or conditioning are good to study. If you want to be a fighter, then techniques and competition are good to train. If you want all of these things, then you must train in all these things. But this training is focused on the body. This type of training does not connect the body and the mind and spirit. In order to make those connections, you must be deliberate and considerate about every aspect of your martial arts training. Every movement you make in the ordinary course of your day (every step) must be deliberate and treated like part of a form you created. Every breath you take in the ordinary course of your day must be deep and feel the same as the same breath you take when you face and engage an opponent. Every technique that you train must be calm – but your mind must focus on imagining and visualizing the requirements for perfect execution, and your body (heart, lungs, muscles) must simulate (body imagine) explosive execution. The training of every technique must be very slow and deliberate. Training a technique fast or with power does not permit the mind and body to understand and absorb the technique. If you deliberately try to execute a technique with speed or power, you miss the point. Your body needs to execute the technique without deliberation – only then will your body's true power and speed be expressed. The best martial arts teacher is the one that helps you help yourself and helps you to discover your own martial arts identity.

If you can connect your body and your mind and your spirit, they can enhance and support each other. Once this connection is made, when you body is weak, your mind and spirit can make it strong. When your mind or spirit are weak, your body can make them strong. Your martial arts training should try to make this a subconscious connection. Most martial arts training focuses solely on the training the body. Your martial arts training should include yoga, tai chi, meditation, prayer, charitable service, compassion for others, rest, diet, humility. If you train in all these areas as rigorously as you train your body, the connection will happen. Your martial arts training should include the study of the philosophies that underlie and understand the connection between the mind and the body. Good examples of such philosophies include tai chi, yoga, meditation, zhang zhuang, zen, Taoism, etc. But there are countless other philosophies that incorporate the concept of the connection between the mind and the body. There is no ancient Chinese secret to be learned – there is only your own martial arts identity to be discovered.

Sparring is essential for training. Sparring teaches humility and vulnerability. You should seek to lose every sparring match. If you win, you have imposed your will, and by imposing your will, you become deaf to the movements and strategies of your opponent (because you are too busy imposing your will to satisfy your ego). It is better to lose, even if you have to hold back. Because losing forces you to listen to what you did right, and what you did (or could have done) wrong. For me, the only thing that sparring tests is my ability (or inability) to stay calm and regulate my breathing under stress and allow my martial arts to express itself unencumbered by fear of anxiety. I accept pain and defeat as the outcome, then I can engage my opponent calmly and without fear – and allow my body to act and react freely.

My martial arts training includes the training of techniques. But more importantly, my martial arts training seeks to connect and support a healthy mind and body. When this connection is made and cultivated, every movement and breath becomes an expression of my martial arts understanding. I fear no combat situation because, since every movement and breath is an expression of my martial art, I have essentially trained in every movement and accepted every outcome. I know my body will deliver the culmination of my training, including the techniques, the footwork, and the energy. More importantly, my body will be unimpeded by anxiety or fear because my mind and spirit have already accepted every outcome. You will either understand this article, or you will not. In either case, you must find your truth for your self. Meanwhile, hard beats none. Soft beats hard. None beats soft.

-- (by an anonymous student of Sifu Lambert)

Hung Fa Yi has improved my life on several levels. The focus on making everything modular without loosing view of the whole (Gak Mat Ji Ji, Know everything in a given bound) has had the greatest impact. I have been conditioned to look at everything in my life, break it down into easily handled parts, and work with it on my terms. My health has also been greatly influenced. I've acquired an exercise routine that I can do anywhere, required no equipment, doesn't consume all of my free time, and provides continually improving results. I have learned breathing exercises to increase my lung capacity and also help me relax. As simple as relaxing sounds, it becomes a very important thing when it comes to combat, which brings me to my final point. The combat concepts covered in Hung Fa Yi have brought me to understand combat in a more quantitative manner. It's less about applying force, and more about applying the right amount of force at the right time in the right place. It's more about taking ground and defense from your opponent. I have learned techniques and concepts that I have applied in real experiences and worked very well. These tools are simple, direct, practical, and, most importantly, EFFECTIVE. Together these different influences on my life have been very substantial and are the reasons why I will continue to train in Hung Fa Yi.

-- John Kilburn

It was about three years ago when I was introduced to Wing Chun Kung Fu. I met my wife’s best friend’s fianc_ Mike and at that time I had no intention of taking martial arts. However, I was searching for something to complete my life and challenge me to be a better person. While playing Mortal Combat on PS2 I stumbled across a character that was doing Wing Chun. Mike was surprised by this, and it sparked a conversation about the kung fu he was studying. I was quickly intrigued by the things he was telling me. He started explaining economy of motion and center line theory to me and of course I wanted to learn more. We started to get together once or twice a week to practice and to my surprise I caught on pretty quickly, and I knew that we were going to need a place to train. While searching the internet for a place to train I found Master Meng's Site through google. It must have been fate that there was a Wing Chun school in Cincinnati, less than fifteen minutes from my house. When I contacted Sifu Lambert he was very polite and I set up a time for Mike and I to go up to train. I signed up immediately and started to practice with Sifu twice a week and every day at home. The benefits from my training have made me a stronger person in all aspects of life. I began to see things more clearly and started to improve myself as a whole. I have noticed that my stamina is twice what it was before and I feel great. Focusing on the task at hand became my goal and even my home life got better. No longer did I say, 밃h, Ill get that in couple of days_ or struggle to keep up with my daily routine. I now enjoy spending time with the family and getting my job done more efficiently. Studying with Sifu Lambert, and learning that you must give 100% at kung fu, at work , and home requires you to learn how to balance your life and that knowledge to me in priceless.

-- William Linton

I am 39 years-old and have five children. I am training to improve my health and stamina - so I can live a long active life with my family. I am also training in hand-to-hand combat. I am also training to improve my philosophy about life. Thus, for me, my training is deep and complete because it covers my health, my philosophy, and my combat readiness. I have trained in tae kwon do and "Yip man" lineage wing chun kung fu. I appreciate what I know about hung fa yi wing chun because it is based on principles rather than techniques (but it has techniques too). The Hung Fa Kwoon of Cincinnati is a place where I can train in the areas that matter most to me. We don't just practice punching and kicking. I can train my breathing or health movements (like tai chi). I can train combat techniques and strategies. I can train in realistic combat in all ranges (long, close/trapping, ground). If you are an experienced martial artist, and want to try something new, maybe improve your internal training and health, or maybe improve your combat training, you should come by the Kwoon - and meet Sifu Lambert.

-- Nick Schmelzer

Learning HFY has greatly increased my understanding of combat. In only a few months the training has made me stronger and much more likely to be able to defend myself in a street fight.

-- Rick Stewart

After my first visit to Meng's I knew that this was the place for me. A lifelong fan of martial arts, but never a practitioner, I was attracted to the practicality of the Shaolin Warrior program and it's comprehensive covering of martial arts basics, i.e. self defense that can be effective on the street or basic skills that can be effective in the ring. Also, the study of Martial arts theory, history, culture and internal medicine has helped nourish my mind, body and spirit, contributing to my overall health.

-- Paul Mason

Meng's Martial Arts of Cincinnati has been great for me, a learning experience I treasure so much. I have learned about philosophy, science, history as well as how to take care of myself and know my body. It all ties together in helping you to protect yourself and what is yours. I personally feel the information I am getting from this school are concepts you can apply to all aspects of life such as work and life style, not just fighting. Anyone can start to learn these concepts at any age and see the values in them to enrich their life. If you come see for yourself you will never regret it and be just as grateful as I am.

-- Michael (Mic) Harden.

Meng's Martial Arts of Cincinnati is a perfect place for anyone wanting to study martial arts. Sifu Lambert is extremely patient and helpful with his time. Since enrolling in his program I am in better shape and have more self-confidence, but not only are there physical benefits to joining Meng’s school, there are intellectual benefits. I have had numerous enlightening philosophical discussions in my relatively short time being here. Overall, if you're looking for all-around self-improvement this is the place for you.

-- Derek Bryant

The Shaolin Warrior program at Meng's Martial Arts of Cincinnati conducted by Sifu Lambert has separated itself from my other martial arts experiences in that it not only offers a complete self-defense package and internal health training, but also challenges students to learn about the traditions, lineages, philosophy, and roots of Wing Chun Kung Fu in order to discover their own path of experience. It quickly became apparent that Hung Fa Yi is not a sport and not for show, it is a deadly art honed over centuries by Masters with the sole purpose of survival driving its evolution. I look forward to each opportunity to work in class and at home to become a more focused, disciplined, and complete fighter.

-- Jeff Denny

I was invited to participate in a class at Meng’s Martial Arts of Cincinnati and meet the instructor, a few of his students and share in the class experience. The school is well organized; the entrance is gorgeous with a small fishpond, running water, stone walkway and even a space for meditation. As I entered the school from the rear parking lot, I experienced a peaceful calmness in my surroundings, which was enhanced as I entered the school. The entrance is well planned, open and formal; it demonstrates the thought that went into the school design and layout. I was politely greeted and offered instruction on how to enter the school; then introduced to a few of the students. The students are a reflection of the instructor, all of whom welcomed me. It was gratifying to acknowledge the students take pride in their school and place of training. In class, a senior student led in warm-ups, and then the instructor (Sifu Lambert) covered basic terminology, and brief history of Wing Chun. Students are expected to take notes, maintain a notebook and are encouraged to build their notebook based their own experience, to reflect and to acknowledge their growth in the Martial Arts. We then worked on martial training and technique (Wing Chun).

At Mengs’ Martial Arts, students are provided a unique set of tools used by ancient Shaolin. In our training, we learn history, terminology, physical execution, technique and application. We are encouraged to seek knowledge, practice what we have learned, strive to understand, be open-minded and grow as Martial Artists. A significant challenge and I understand it is a journey not a destination to be a Martial Artist.

-- Dave Brooks

It’s very rare to find a martial arts school with two masters with extensive experience working together towards a common goal. I, through a lot of personal research, had decided to train separately with these two masters and as fate has it they combined their knowledge and skill into one location. This school has as high level of instruction and integrity as is available in the martial arts world. I am fortunate to be a student and as is my son Blake.

-- Steven Levine, 3^rd Degree Black Belt, 2004 World Champion American TKD Association

Sifu John Lambert is an excellent instructor who focuses on the development of the body, mind, and spirit of his students. Meng's Martial Art's of Cincinnati is an excellent place to acquire the skills needed to improve your internal health as well as the skills required to effectively defend yourself.

-- Phil Holt