Today there are nine new Black sashes in the martial art of Bak Sil Lum (Northern Shaolin) style.
At an event hosted by Sifu Scott Jensen a contingent of his senior students were awarded black sashes, a solid rank requiring years of training. Each candidate demonstrated skills, starting with a set from the empty-handed division of the core ten roads. Next came demonstrations with single—then crossed—weapons, followed by controlled and free sparring among the honorees.
We saw a school with
tremendous internal support and offering a wide variety of skills. These skills, acquired over decades and inspired by the enthusiasm of Sifu Jensen, have been handed down with a real concentration of Wu De (Martial Virtue). Guiding this ceremony, Jensen and his wife, Rachel, awarded each participant not only a black sash but a Chinese name, a certificate of merit and two handwritten calligraphic scrolls.
Among the other surprises and presentations were a number of Bak Sil Lum forms we had never seen before, a special demonstration of a version of San Cai Sword, and the Sil Lum Partner fighting set performed by Erica and Pauline Bermudo. Student testimonials were honest, sincere and spoke of personal experience demonstrating just how effective martial arts can be, even in the non-
martial world.
As a special treat the event was attended by SiGong Wong Jack Man himself.
Sifu Jensen’s 10,000 Victories school offers classes in the San Rafael area. His curriculum includes Bak Sil Lum, Tai Chi, Xing Yi, Bagua weapons and internal training.
