I am thrilled to announce that two of our Red Tiger Martial Arts students, Alex Wohl and Nikky Hernandez, proudly represented our school and the art of Shaolin Wing Chun as part of Team USA at the inaugural Wing Chun World Championships, held at the historic Southern Shaolin Temple. It was a dream that came true, to be able to visit the exact birthplace of our martial art, as well as congregate, fellowship, and compete with practitioners from around the world.
A special thanks to Grand Master Benny Meng for his tireless dedication in uncovering the true history of Wing Chun and promoting its rich tradition. Recently, the Chinese government officially recognized Wing Chun as an intangible cultural treasure, acknowledging its deep roots in the newly renovated Southern Shaolin Temple in Fujian province. It was an incredible honor to contribute to the return of Wing Chun to its birthplace after a 350-year absence, and to be a part of the 1st tournament ever to be held on Shaolin Temple grounds in its 1500 year history. In a monumental decision, “Shaolin Wing Chun”, the art that Grand Master Meng uncovered through his research, and currently teaches, has been formally recognized as a standalone lineage by the Wushu Federation and the Shaolin Temple. The Meng’s Shaolin Wing Chun organization also had the largest delegation of representatives; VIPs, judges, athletes, etc., second only to the hosting Chinese national team.
I also want to express my deepest gratitude to my Sifu, John Lambert, who set me on this martial arts journey over 16 years ago. His guidance has been invaluable.
The Meng’s International Shaolin Wing Chun family proudly earned 42 medals out of a field of 170 competitors, with Team USA bringing home 36 of those medals. Among the highlights, Red Tiger’s own Nikky Hernandez claimed 1st place gold in her division for Chi Sau sparring, while Alex Wohl secured 4th place overall in Chum Kiu.
Beyond the competition results, the true reward was the opportunity to connect and share experiences with Wing Chun practitioners from diverse lineages across the globe. I was also deeply moved by the warmth and hospitality of the people in both the People’s Republic of China and the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong.
