Sifu Peter Berman Yee
Sifu Peter Berman Yee has been practicing martial arts for over 28 years, the past 25 of which have been dedicated to traditional Tang Fong Hung Ga kung fu. He also has a background in Wing Chun, Shotokan Karate, and Tai Chi Chuan. Sifu Berman Yee is the fourth senior Yut Sut and highest ranking disciple of Grandmaster Frank Yee and was recently awarded the rank of 7th Dan. Sifu Peter Berman Yee was also the first American to be accepted into the Yee's family lineage at the New York, Chinatown Yee Fong Toy Association and their world headquarters.
After years of competing and medaling in many regional and international tournaments, Sifu Berman Yee decided to dedicate himself to teaching and passing down the art of Hung Ga. opened the Brooklyn branch of Yee's Hung Ga to pass down his knowledge to the next generation. He has been operating the Brooklyn Branch in Park Slope for the last 15 years. Throughout that time, his students have consistently medalled in both regional and international tournaments.
In 2001 Sifu Berman Yee and his family were honored to perform with a team in China at the opening ceremony of the Wong Fei Hung museum in Fu San, Kang Dong where his picture is placed permanently as a fourth generation lineage holder from Wong Fei Hung. In addition to running his own school, Sifu Berman Yee has given seminars at Hunter College in New York and taught for the Jackie Robison Youth Center.
Sifu's Thoughts on Training
“There is no substitute for hard training in any of the fighting arts. In Hung Ga, the training of the horse stance (sei ping dai ma), is our most basic and most essential skill. This is not to say that our hand and arm bridges (kiu sau and gin kiu) are not very important skills in our system, but the horse stance is without a doubt the cornerstone of the Hung system.
Students must understand and embrace this theory in order to develop their skill. A saying passed down from my elders embodies my point 'No horse stance ability equals no ability! No horse stance equals no root and no body connection.' Root refers to the strength and stability of one's legs, directly effecting the ability to generate and control power; body connection is the feel you must have to execute a technique with the proper timing, and the force generated from the shifting of stance. Without either, the average person can't knock the skin off a pudding. Fancy kicks and acrobatic skills do have their place, but if Hung Ga should be the art you choose to study, you must remember that horse stance training is our number one skill.
Hung Ga has achieved worldwide recognition for its devastating power. Little wonder that we also have a reputation for dedicated stance training. Any good teacher of any style will tell you that without thorough and consistent training of the basics, your techniques will be empty. With our foundation, the generation and delivery of power is the fruit of our labor.”
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