Sifu (Teacher) Robert Smith has been training in martial
arts since 1968. He is an instructor
of Authentic Ving Tsun Kung Fu and has been teaching since 1978. Sifu
Smith was introduced to Ving Tsun by Rex Aperauch and they trained under
Grandmaster Moy Yat.
Sifu Rex Aperauch, Grandmaster
Moy Yat, and Robert Smith
Sifu Rex Aperauch and Robert Smith
Sifu Robert Smith and
Grandmaster Moy Yat
Sifu Smith's Sigung (Sifu of his Sifu) was Yip
Man, known
to many throughout the world as grandmaster of today's Ving Tsun. Since his
introduction to Ving Tsun in 1957, Moy Yat spent a great deal of time with Yip
Man living the Kung Fu life and learning about the intricacies of the Kung Fu
system. After Yip Man's death in 1972, Moy Yat moved to New York City where he
taught Ving Tsun for years to come. Although Moy Yat died in 2001, his legacy
as a Kung Fu master continues to prevail and a great number of his students
continue to teach across the globe.
Grandmasters Moy Yat and Yip Man
In order to preserve the quality of the Kung Fu, it is very
important that the system continue to be handed down without modification,
unchanged by our own ideas. If even the smallest of changes are introduced
into the system, the Kung Fu will become diluted over time. It is in this way
that a true and effective martial arts system can be washed away and lost
forever. The quality of Ving Tsun taught by Sifu Smith is
very high due
to the fact that he has left the system unchanged and teaches it just as it
was taught to him by Rex Aperauch and Moy Yat. Moy Yat in turn, taught
the system as it was
taught to him by Yip Man. It is in this manner that Ving Tsun can withstand
the test of time...what a great way to honor the founders of the system!
