Sifu Michael visit Sibok Rocco & The Ambrose Academy of Wing Chun Do Gung-fu
On July 1st, Sifu Michael had an opportunity to visit Sibok Rocco, Liz, and the rest of the Ambrose Academy of Wing Chun Do Gung-Fu in Livonia, MI near Detroit.
"I had a really great time! Sibok, Liz, (Instructor-in-Training) Jeff Maletz & his daughter Haley, and David Ambrose welcomed me in my afternoon arrival to a great chinese restaurant that they frequent. I got a chance to really get to know the Ambrose family and the Maletz family before classes started later on that evening.
They are really welcoming and great people! I was very impressed to hear of David's work in getting into stuntwork for film, and hearing that Jeff has started taking up Barefoot running; something I apparently got him curious in since I've been doing it since April of 09 (and it was cool to hear that one of the students that I unfortunately didn't get to meet, also wears Vibram Five Fingers for training...I wore my Brown/Walnut Classics for this visit).
And it was great to get to know both Sibok Roc and Liz in areas other than just the martial arts and the business of the industry.
Later on I got to meet a student of theirs who though he said it was an honor to meet me...I really think it was more of an honor to meet him! His name is Dom (I can't remember his last name). To me he is an inspiration because he is someone I hope to be like in the future. At soon to be 80 years old he is actively training in WCD, salsa dances, and does plenty of other activities and carries himself with a sense of youth that would make one really question of he's going to be 80! Just a great guy, and proof that age has nothing to do with ones ability to do self-defense. Too many times I hear people tell me 'I'm too old to train in any type of self-defense or martial arts', but LOOK at Dom...he's proving that that's not true...You're never too old, or too young!
I also had
an opportunity to watch Sibok Roc's advanced kids class and see some really focused young individuals training well. Following that I got to train and touch hands with Sibok's advanced class and meet one of the two first Women Black Belt of Wing Chun Do, Donna Smith.
"I had a really great time! Sibok, Liz, (Instructor-in-Training) Jeff Maletz & his daughter Haley, and David Ambrose welcomed me in my afternoon arrival to a great chinese restaurant that they frequent. I got a chance to really get to know the Ambrose family and the Maletz family before classes started later on that evening.
They are really welcoming and great people! I was very impressed to hear of David's work in getting into stuntwork for film, and hearing that Jeff has started taking up Barefoot running; something I apparently got him curious in since I've been doing it since April of 09 (and it was cool to hear that one of the students that I unfortunately didn't get to meet, also wears Vibram Five Fingers for training...I wore my Brown/Walnut Classics for this visit).
And it was great to get to know both Sibok Roc and Liz in areas other than just the martial arts and the business of the industry.
Later on I got to meet a student of theirs who though he said it was an honor to meet me...I really think it was more of an honor to meet him! His name is Dom (I can't remember his last name). To me he is an inspiration because he is someone I hope to be like in the future. At soon to be 80 years old he is actively training in WCD, salsa dances, and does plenty of other activities and carries himself with a sense of youth that would make one really question of he's going to be 80! Just a great guy, and proof that age has nothing to do with ones ability to do self-defense. Too many times I hear people tell me 'I'm too old to train in any type of self-defense or martial arts', but LOOK at Dom...he's proving that that's not true...You're never too old, or too young!
I also had
an opportunity to watch Sibok Roc's advanced kids class and see some really focused young individuals training well. Following that I got to train and touch hands with Sibok's advanced class and meet one of the two first Women Black Belt of Wing Chun Do, Donna Smith. 
I also got to meet her husband, and Instructor-in-Training/Black Belt, Paul Smith. Both really great people who have the wonderful joy of knowing they're whole family is better prepared than most for self-defense because their kids were all in the advanced class that I watched earlier, also ranking in Jr. Black Belt, and Jr. Brown Belts!I also have to mention that it was great to meet all the students I've already met through Facebook and train and touch hands with them and give any advice I could
to help them with whatever they wanted me to help them with. It was both a pleasure and an honor.Hopefully I'll be able to make more trips out there, and hopefully longer ones in the future! The Ambrose Academy is lead by the great leadership of both Sibok Rocco & Liz Ambrose, and it shows in the fabulous community that they have there! That energy alone is cause enough for them being deserving of the award in the past and hopefully in the future of "Nickelodeon's Parents Pick Award for Best family martial arts school in the Detroit, MI area."
Thanks for having me, and welcoming me Ambrose Academy!"
- Sifu Michael
Sibok Rocco had this to say about Sifu Michael's visit:
"Michael, your generosity as an instructor and secondary and willingness to share your knowledge excited and inspired my students. I was watching a mature instructor, no fear, no ego, ocmpletely open, willing to share and grow. I look forward to your next visit. WCD is in good hands on the West Coast.
Your visit inspired so many people. Imagine how my students felt when they touched hands with such a skillfull and insightful WCD Instructor AND he actually lives 2,000 miles away. It was like finding a long lost brother. They loved you. You represent and have showed them the next level of Wing Chun Do in which they now aspire to achive. Thank You."
Labels: Ambrose Academy, Barefoot Running, Sibok Rocco Ambrose, Sifu Michael Banaag, Vibram Five Fingers, Wing Chun Do
posted by Structural Self-defense Club, LLC at
7:36 PM
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