Grandmaster Marcos Hourneaux: Sixty Years of a Kung Fu Journey

(With Grandmaster Marcos Hourneaux and his sons. 
On the left, Si Fu Ulisses, and on the right, Si Fu Markinhos.)

Recentemente tive uma oportunidade muito especial: estar ao lado do Grão-Mestre Marcos Hourneaux, de seus familiares e de sua Família Kung Fu, por ocasião da celebração de seus 60 anos de Jornada Kung Fu.

Na mesma ocasião, ocorreu também o lançamento do livro O essencial em artes marciais, de autoria do Professor Rogério Tadeu Poian.

Além de tudo isso, pude estar acompanhado de meu discípulo Daniel Eustáquio, entendendo que aquela seria também uma excelente oportunidade para que ele presenciasse um momento tão significativo para um praticante de artes marciais.

Essa oportunidade nasceu de uma conversa com o Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura, durante um retorno de carro após um almoço em São Paulo. Comentei com ele que vinha reassistindo entrevistas de profissionais das artes marciais chinesas de São Paulo em podcasts, com o objetivo de obter uma compreensão mais clara das pessoas que compõem essa comunidade. Enquanto destacava trechos que julgava particularmente interessantes, o Grão-Mestre Leo, meu Si Gung, me interrompeu e perguntou se eu estaria em São Paulo no dia 06.

Respondi que sim, em razão de uma prova que realizaria no dia seguinte. Foi então que ele me perguntou se eu gostaria de representá-lo naquela celebração, uma vez que precisaria estar nos Estados Unidos devido às comemorações do aniversário de Madame Helen Moy, sua Si Mo, além de todos os demais compromissos que orbitam essa data tão significativa, na qual sua presença era esperada.

Aceitei prontamente o convite. Dias depois, seguimos então, eu e Daniel, no carro em direção a Santo André . Daniel, como de costume, adormecendo quase imediatamente ao iniciar uma viagem mais longa. Chegamos mais cedo do que o previsto e aproveitamos para nos sentar em um local agradável, onde tomamos um café tranquilamente até o horário do evento. 

Recently, I had a very special opportunity: to be alongside Grandmaster Marcos Hourneaux, his family, and his Kung Fu Family, on the occasion of the celebration of his 60 years of Kung Fu journey.

On the same occasion, the book The Essential in Martial Arts, authored by Professor Rogério Tadeu Poian, was also launched.

In addition to all this, I was accompanied by my disciple, Daniel Eustáquio, understanding that this would also be an excellent opportunity for him to witness such a meaningful moment in the life of a martial arts practitioner.

This opportunity arose from a conversation with Grandmaster Leo Imamura during a car journey back after lunch in São Paulo. I mentioned to him that I had been rewatching interviews with Chinese martial arts professionals from São Paulo on podcasts, with the aim of gaining a clearer understanding of the people who make up this community. As I highlighted excerpts that I found particularly interesting, Grandmaster Leo, my Si Gung, interrupted me and asked whether I would be in São Paulo on the 6th.

I replied that I would, due to an language exam I was scheduled to take the following day. It was then that he asked whether I would like to represent him at that celebration, as he would need to be in the United States for the birthday celebrations of Madam Helen Moy, his Si Mo, in addition to all the other commitments that surround such a significant date, at which his presence was expected.

I promptly accepted the invitation. A few days later, Daniel and I set off by car towards Santo André city. 

Daniel, as usual, fell asleep almost immediately once the longer journey began. We arrived earlier than expected and took the opportunity to sit in a pleasant spot, where we enjoyed a coffee calmly until the time of the event.

(With Daniel, shortly before the event began.)

Eu havia almoçado com Daniel e com seu irmão Lucas antes de partir para Santo André. Em determinado momento, Lucas me perguntou a razão daquela viagem. Eu poderia oferecer inúmeras explicações, mas acredito profundamente que, quando não somos verdadeiramente apaixonados pelo que fazemos, acabamos buscando razões racionais para justificar cada passo. Quando amamos aquilo que fazemos, seguimos o coração.

Amo as artes marciais desde criança, e estar ali representava uma honra dupla: presenciar uma data tão significativa para uma lenda das artes marciais chinesas no Brasil e, ao mesmo tempo, representar o Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura.

Sentado ao lado de Daniel, por vezes me perdia em pensamentos. Em um desses momentos, me lembrei de quando, ainda entrando na adolescência, comprei duas revistas sobre Bruce Lee em uma banca qualquer de Rocha Miranda, no subúrbio do Rio de Janeiro, e voltei para casa folheando as páginas animadíssimo.

E agora eu estava ali: um Mestre ao lado de seu discípulo, representando o Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura, em um marco tão importante da trajetória do Grão-Mestre Marcos Hourneaux.

Em momentos assim, a vida parece simplesmente incrível.

I had had lunch with Daniel and his brother Lucas before leaving for Santo André city. At a certain point, Lucas asked me the reason for that journey. I could have offered countless explanations, but I deeply believe that when we are not truly passionate about what we do, we end up searching for rational reasons to justify every step. When we love what we do, we follow our hearts.

I have loved the martial arts since childhood, and being there represented a double honour: witnessing such a significant date in the life of a legend of Chinese martial arts in Brazil and, at the same time, representing Grandmaster Leo Imamura.

Sitting beside Daniel, I would occasionally drift into my thoughts. In one of those moments, I remembered when, as I was entering adolescence, I bought two magazines about Bruce Lee at an ordinary newsstand in Rocha Miranda wild neighborhood, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro where I was born, and returned home excitedly flipping through its pages.

And now I was there: a Master beside his disciple, representing Grandmaster Leo Imamura, at such an important milestone in the journey of Grandmaster Marcos Hourneaux.

In moments like these, life simply feels incredible.

Fiquei sentado em um lugar de honra, ao lado de outros dignatários, e fui anunciado pelo Si Fu Marcos Hourneaux(filho), a quem a comunidade marcial carinhosamente chama de “Markinhos”.

Sentado ali, pude assistir a um vídeo profundamente emocionante que retratava a trajetória do Grão-Mestre Marcos Hourneaux. O material reunia momentos e relatos de seus sessenta anos de jornada. O Grão-Mestre virou sua cadeira para acompanhar a exibição, e a sala permaneceu em absoluto silêncio durante todo o vídeo.

Em diversos momentos me emocionei , e sei que outras pessoas também se emocionaram, entre elas o próprio Daniel, que posteriormente me compartilhou esse sentimento. No meu caso em particular, aquele vídeo despertou uma sensação muito clara de como a vida passa em um piscar de olhos. Me dei conta disso ao imaginar o que poderia estar passando pela mente do Grão-Mestre naquele instante. Talvez ele já tivesse assistido àquelas imagens muitas vezes, mas certamente nunca naquela configuração e naquele contexto específico. Ali estavam reunidos amigos, familiares, discípulos e convidados, todos presentes para celebrar uma história na jornada kung fu.

Lembro agora de algo que o Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura havia compartilhado comigo recentemente, durante uma caminhada até uma loja para comprar chocolates para seus pais. Ao nosso lado estava o Mestre Senior Washington Fonseca. Naquele momento, teria comentado o Grão-Mestre Leo: “Se for para escolher, o processo é muito mais importante…”

Ele se referia ao fato de que, muitas vezes, praticantes buscam de forma desenfreada títulos, certificações e alcunhas. Não que esses títulos não tenham seu valor , eles têm , mas o processo, o dia a dia, a construção silenciosa e constante, é o que verdadeiramente sustenta uma jornada.

E sentado naquele sofá, assistindo àqueles registros em vídeo de uma vida inteira dedicada às artes marciais, fui profundamente tocado. Aquela experiência me marcou e me inspirou ainda mais a não desistir. Quando eu piscar os olhos, se estiver vivo, talvez seja eu a recordar minha própria jornada de sessenta anos… quem sabe.

Por isso, é preciso fazer valer cada dia.
Um dia. Uma vida.

I was seated in a place of honour, alongside other dignitaries, and was introduced by Si Fu Marcos Hourneaux, son of the Grandmaster with the same name, whom the martial community affectionately calls "Markinhos" (Little Marcos in portuguese).

Sitting there, I was able to watch a deeply moving video portraying the journey of Grandmaster Marcos Hourneaux. The material brought together moments and accounts from his sixty years of practice. The Grandmaster turned his chair to follow the screening, and the room remained in complete silence throughout the video.

On several occasions I found myself deeply moved, and I know that others were as well, including Daniel, who later shared this feeling with me. In my particular case, that video awakened a very clear sense of how life passes in the blink of an eye. I became aware of this as I imagined what might have been going through the Grandmaster’s mind at that moment. Perhaps he had already watched those images many times, but certainly never in that configuration and within that specific context. Friends, family members, disciples and guests were all gathered there to celebrate a life devoted to the Kung Fu journey.

I am now reminded of something Grandmaster Leo Imamura had shared with me recently during a walk to a shop to buy chocolates for his parents. Senior Master Washington Fonseca was with us at the time. On that occasion, Grand Master Leo would remarked, “If one has to choose, the process is far more important.”

He was referring to the fact that practitioners often pursue titles, certifications and distinctions in an unrestrained manner. It is not that such titles lack value, they certainly do have it, but it is the process, the daily practice, the silent and constant construction, that truly sustains a journey.

And there I was, seated on that sofa, watching those video records of an entire life devoted to the martial arts, and I was profoundly touched. That experience left a lasting impression on me and inspired me even more not to give up. When I blink my eyes, if I am still alive, perhaps I will be the one recalling my own sixty year journey. Who knows.

For this reason, every single day must be made to count.
One day. One life.

Na oportunidade, antes do início do evento, tivemos total atenção do Grão-Mestre Marcos e do Professor Rogério Tadeu (foto acima). Eu e Daniel pudemos ouvir suas considerações a respeito do cenário das artes marciais no Brasil ao longo dos tempos.

O Professor Rogério, que lançava seu livro naquela tarde, fez questão de presentear o Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura com um exemplar. É importante destacar que algumas páginas da obra fazem menção à trajetória do Grão-Mestre Leo. Por esse motivo, fiz questão de compartilhar a novidade com os membros do Grande Clã assim que retornei a São Paulo.

On that occasion, before the beginning of the event, we received the full attention of Grandmaster Marcos and Professor Rogério Tadeu(photo above). Daniel and I were able to listen to their reflections on the martial arts landscape in Brazil over the years.

Professor Rogério, who was releasing his book that afternoon, made a point of presenting a copy to Grandmaster Leo Imamura. It is important to note that some pages of the work make reference to the journey of Grandmaster Leo. For this reason, I made sure to share the news with the members of the Grand Clan as soon as I returned to São Paulo.

(Si Fu Markinhos and I)

Gostaria de destacar também o momento em que finalmente conheci o Si Fu Markinhos Hourneaux. Eu já conhecia seu irmão, Ulisses, mas com Markinhos foi a primeira vez que nos vimos presencialmente, após mais de vinte anos de interação pelas redes sociais.

Me lembro do Grão-Mestre Marcos Hourneaux ter comentado algo com o Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura, durante uma entrevista ao canal Kung Fu Life, que o Grão-Mestre Chiu Ping Lok (carinhosamente conhecido como Mestre Lope), ao executar uma forma, realmente incorporava o animal em questão durante a performance. Ele teria dito algo nesse sentido. Após ouvir esse relato, passei a buscar seus vídeos com outro olhar e fiquei profundamente impressionado com sua elegância e o quanto ficava compenetrado.

Da mesma forma, fiquei muito impactado ao assistir aos vídeos dos irmãos Hourneaux(filhos do Grão-Mestre Marcos), que sempre realizam demonstrações de grande intensidade e presença. À primeira vista, Markinhos parece mais reservado do que Ulisses, mas quando ambos se apresentam, fica evidente o trabalho ímpar desenvolvido pelo Grão-Mestre Marcos com seus filhos.

No retorno, chamei a atenção do Daniel para esse ponto: é fundamental sermos capazes de representar bem aquilo que estudamos a qualquer momento. Muitas vezes, o praticante se permite treinar por anos em um nível mediano ,ou até abaixo disso , fazendo apenas o mínimo necessário. Não devemos nos contentar com isso. Quando chega o momento de chamar o nosso Kung Fu, se ele não tiver sido devidamente cultivado, nada virá.  

I would also like to highlight the moment when I finally met Si Fu Markinhos Hourneaux(photo above). I already knew his brother Ulisses, but meeting Markinhos in person happened for the first time after more than twenty years of interaction through social media.

I recall Grandmaster Marcos Hourneaux commenting to Grandmaster Leo Imamura during an interview on the Kung Fu Life channel that Grandmaster Chiu Ping Lok, affectionately known as Master Lope, when performing a form, truly embodied the animal in question during the performance. He said something to that effect. After hearing this account, I began to watch his videos with a different perspective and was deeply impressed by his elegance and by how focused and absorbed he appeared.

In the same way, I was greatly impacted when watching videos of the Hourneaux brothers, the sons of Grandmaster Marcos, who consistently deliver demonstrations of great intensity and presence. At first glance, Markinhos appears more reserved than Ulisses, but when both of them perform, the exceptional work carried out by Grandmaster Marcos with his sons becomes unmistakably clear.

On the return journey, I drew Daniel’s attention to this point. It is essential to be able to represent well what we study at any given moment. Many practitioners allow themselves to train for years at an average level, or even below that, doing only the bare minimum. We should not be satisfied with this. When the moment comes to call upon our Kung Fu, if it has not been properly cultivated, nothing will emerge.

(Daniel and Grandmaster Marcos Hourneaux)

Aquela tarde foi muito importante para mim , e também muito emocionante. Eu, que ainda estou recomeçando a minha jornada, pude presenciar o belo trabalho construído pelo Grão-Mestre Marcos, com seus filhos e netos presentes, algo que naturalmente me levou a refletir sobre que tipo de futuro desejo construir.

No entanto, mais importante do que qualquer outra coisa naquela tarde, foi ter comigo o meu discípulo Daniel (foto acima). Gostaria, é claro, que todos os demais estivessem presentes, mas a presença de Daniel teve um significado especial. Um rapaz de Barbacena que passa todos os dias comigo e que, nos últimos três anos, vejo mais do que a minha própria mãe. Daniel iniciou sua jornada aos oito anos de idade, e quis muito que ele pudesse ver de perto alguém que começou ainda mais jovem do que ele, e que atravessou, com firmeza, todos os percalços do caminho.

Quando estamos tão no início da jornada quanto Daniel, é natural que surjam questionamentos: se não estaríamos “perdendo tempo”, deixando de viver como outras pessoas da mesma idade, em vez de nos dedicarmos com tanta profundidade à jornada do Kung Fu. Quis que Daniel estivesse ali naquela tarde para ver pessoas que se mantiveram apaixonadas pelas artes que praticam ,não por uma semana ou um mês, mas por décadas.

Ao final, Daniel estava empenhado em voltar a São Paulo para, em seguida, retornar ao Rio e estar presente no aniversário da avó da família de sua namorada. Afinal, a vida precisa de equilíbrio.

 O que Daniel aprendeu naquela experiência, eu ainda não sei dizer. Mas, na viagem de volta, ele não dormiu no carro , como costuma sempre fazer.

That afternoon was very important to me and also deeply emotional. I am still restarting my own journey, and being able to witness the beautiful work built by Grandmaster Marcos, with his daughter and sons and grandchildren present, naturally led me to reflect on what kind of future I wish to build.

However, more important than anything else that afternoon was having my disciple Daniel with me, as shown in the photo above. Of course, I would have liked all the others to be present as well, but Daniel’s presence held a special meaning. He is a young man from Barbacena city (deep countryside of Brazil) who spends every day with me and whom, over the past three years, I have seen more often than my own mother. 

Daniel began his journey at the age of eight, and I very much wanted him to be able to see up close someone who started even younger than he did and who, with firmness, overcame all the obstacles along the way.

When we are as early in the journey as Daniel is, it is natural for doubts to arise. We may wonder whether we are wasting time, choosing not to live as others of the same age do, instead of dedicating ourselves so deeply to the Kung Fu journey. I wanted Daniel to be there that afternoon to see people who have remained passionate about the arts they practise not for a week or a month, but for decades.

In the end, Daniel was keen to return to São Paulo and then travel back to Rio in order to be present at the birthday of his girlfriend’s grandmother. After all, life requires balance.

What Daniel learned from that experience, I still cannot say. But on the journey back, he did not fall asleep in the car, as he usually does.

การกลับมาของสาย Moy Yat สู่ BOPE เมือง Rio de Janeiro

   

เมื่อวันที่ 8 พฤศจิกายน ที่ผ่านมา ภายใต้คำเชิญของ Senior Master Fabio Gomes และด้วยความเห็นชอบของ Grandmaster Leo Imamura ผมได้เข้าร่วมงานสนับสนุนการฝึกของหลักสูตร 44th Tactical Actions Course (CAT II/2025) ที่จัดขึ้นที่หน่วยปฏิบัติการพิเศษ BOPE ซึ่งเป็นหนึ่งในศูนย์ความเป็นเลิศด้านยุทธวิธีที่ได้รับการยอมรับมากที่สุดในโลก ตั้งอยู่ในเมืองรีโอเดจาเนโร ประเทศบราซิล

ทีมของพวกเรายังประกอบด้วย Commando Marcelo Alves ผู้มากประสบการณ์จากกองพันปฏิบัติการพิเศษที่ 1 ของกองทัพบกบราซิล เราได้รับการต้อนรับด้วยความเป็นมืออาชีพ ความเคารพ และความอบอุ่นอย่างยิ่งจากทั้งเจ้าหน้าที่และผู้เข้าร่วมหลักสูตรทุกนาย

การได้มีส่วนร่วมในกระบวนการฝึกภายในหน่วยที่เป็นสัญลักษณ์ของความเป็นเลิศ วินัย และความกล้าหาญ ถือเป็นประสบการณ์ที่ทำให้ผมภาคภูมิใจในเส้นทางอาชีพของตนเองอย่างมาก แต่ผมอยากแบ่งปันมุมมองเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับประสบการณ์ครั้งนี้

ตามที่ Grandmaster Leo Imamura เคยอธิบายไว้ ในวัฒนธรรมจีนดั้งเดิมมีหลักคิดว่า “1 = 3” หมายความว่าอย่างไร?
หลักการนี้สะท้อนว่า กิจกรรมหนึ่ง ๆ เช่น การนำเสนอ Ving Tsun System สาย Moy Yat ในบริบทพิเศษเช่นนี้ จำเป็นต้องมีการเตรียมตัวอย่างลึกซึ้ง ดังนั้น “ช่วงเวลาเดียว” นี้จึงขยายออกเป็น “ก่อนเหตุการณ์”

ด้วยแนวคิดเช่นนี้ ผมได้ประชุมล่วงหน้าหลายวันกับ Senior Master Fabio Gomes และศิษย์ของผม Daniel Eustáquio เพื่อวางแผนอย่างละเอียดสำหรับงานที่จะดำเนินการในช่วง 4 ชั่วโมงของการฝึกกับผู้เข้าร่วม CAT II/2025 ที่ BOPE

พื้นฐานของงานทั้งหมดอยู่บนแนวคิดเรื่อง “Noi Lik” (內力) หลายคนตีความคำนี้ว่าเป็น “พลังภายใน” แต่แนวทางของเราคือการอธิบายว่าเป็น ความสามารถในการรับพลังจากภายนอกเข้าสู่ภายใน และใช้พลังนั้นอย่างชาญฉลาดเพื่อให้เกิดประโยชน์สูงสุด กล่าวคือ การใช้พลังงานที่คู่ต่อสู้ส่งมาให้เป็นประโยชน์ของตนเอง

“คำว่า ‘ศิลปะ’ ในคำว่า ‘ศิลปะการต่อสู้’ หมายถึงอะไร? หมายถึงการจับ การใช้ และการจัดวางทุกองค์ประกอบผ่านการเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อสร้างประสิทธิภาพในทุกรูปแบบที่เป็นไปได้”

ด้วยเหตุนี้ เป้าหมายของเราจึงเป็นการส่งเสริมให้ผู้เข้าร่วมมีทัศนคติที่เหมาะสมต่อสิ่งที่ไม่คาดคิด — ซึ่งเป็นองค์ประกอบที่เกิดขึ้นอย่างต่อเนื่องในการปฏิบัติการที่มีความเสี่ยงสูง

คำถามที่ยังคงอยู่คือ: หลักการนี้จะถูกนำไปใช้ในทางปฏิบัติได้อย่างไร?

ก่อนที่จะกล่าวถึงวิธีการทำงานของเรา ผมอยากแสดงความขอบคุณอย่างจริงใจต่อ Grandmaster Leo Imamura ผู้ซึ่งด้วยความมุ่งมั่นของเขาได้นำ Ving Tsun System สาย Moy Yat มาสู่บราซิลในปี 1988 ความริเริ่มอันมองการณ์ไกลนี้ทำให้ผู้เชี่ยวชาญอย่าง Senior Master Fabio Gomes — รวมถึงตัวผมเอง — ได้มีโอกาสสำคัญเช่นครั้งนี้

ระหว่างรับประทานอาหารกลางวันก่อนเริ่มกิจกรรมหลัก เราได้ข้อสรุปว่าจะใช้ Ving Tsun Experience Programme เป็นพื้นฐานด้านวิธีการสำหรับงานในครั้งนี้

Ving Tsun Experience เป็นโครงการที่ได้รับแรงบันดาลใจจากวิสัยทัศน์ของ Patriarch Moy Yat ออกแบบมาเพื่อให้ผู้คนจากหลากหลายสาขาได้สัมผัสระดับสูงของระบบกังฟู ข้อเสนอนี้ตั้งอยู่บนคุณลักษณะสำคัญของ Ving Tsun System โดยคำนึงถึงลำดับขั้น รูปแบบ และประเภทของความชำนาญ จึงเป็นประสบการณ์ที่ค่อยเป็นค่อยไป เข้าถึงได้ง่าย และยังคงยึดมั่นในประเพณีศิลปะการต่อสู้แบบดั้งเดิม

ดังนั้น เราจึงเสนอให้ผู้เข้าร่วมใช้สิ่งที่เราเรียกว่า Strategic Foundational Configuration หรือก็คือ ทุกกิจกรรมในวันนั้นจะเริ่มต้นจากการจัดวางเชิงยุทธศาสตร์ขั้นพื้นฐาน ฝึกเป็นคู่ เพื่อให้แต่ละคนสามารถคำนวณล่วงหน้า — อย่างแม่นยำ — ถึงปัจจัยทั้งหมดที่เกี่ยวข้อง และจัดการสถานการณ์เพื่อให้ปัจจัยเหล่านั้นเป็นประโยชน์กับตนเองมากที่สุด

ผลลัพธ์คือ ชัยชนะไม่ได้เป็นจุดหมายปลายทาง แต่เป็นผลลัพธ์ตามธรรมชาติและคาดการณ์ได้จากความเสียสมดุลของคู่ต่อสู้ ซึ่งเกิดขึ้นจากการกระทำเชิงยุทธศาสตร์อย่างมีสติ

หลังจากรอบแรก ๆ ผ่านไป ก็มีสัญญาณสำคัญที่บอกว่าเราอยู่บนเส้นทางที่ถูกต้อง ในช่วงหนึ่ง ผู้เข้าร่วมคนหนึ่งสามารถดึงแขนของตนออกจากสถานการณ์ในการฝึกที่กำหนดไว้ แสดงให้เห็นถึงความใส่ใจไม่เพียงต่อขั้นตอนเชิงยุทธศาสตร์เท่านั้น แต่ยังรวมถึง — ดังที่ Senior Master Fabio Gomes เน้นในเย็นวันนั้น — ความตระหนักรู้ต่อผู้อื่นด้วย

ด้วยความประหลาดใจ เขาอุทานว่า:

“มันง่าย!”

ปฏิกิริยาโดยธรรมชาตินี้ — การเปลี่ยนสิ่งที่ยากให้กลายเป็นสิ่งที่ง่าย — มีการกล่าวถึงไว้แล้วในตำรายุทธศาสตร์จีนโบราณ ซึ่งระบุว่า ผู้วางแผนที่แท้จริงจะได้รับแต่ชัยชนะที่ง่ายเท่านั้น

อย่างไรก็ตาม ต้องเข้าใจก่อนว่า “ง่าย” ไม่ได้หมายถึงปราศจากความท้าทาย แต่หมายความว่า เมื่อถึงเวลาที่ความสำเร็จเกิดขึ้น มันไม่จำเป็นต้องใช้กลวิธีอันซับซ้อนหรือความพยายามของมนุษย์อย่างหนักอีกต่อไป เหมือนผู้นำที่แม้จะประสบความสำเร็จ ก็ไม่ได้รับเสียงปรบมือ เพราะคุณสมบัติด้านยุทธศาสตร์ที่แท้จริงมักมองไม่เห็นในสายตาคนทั่วไป

ในช่วงเวลาเรียบง่ายนั้น การที่เขาเอ่ยความรู้สึกของตนเองออกมา ทำให้ผู้เข้าร่วมได้สัมผัสแนวคิดดังกล่าวผ่านร่างกายของเขาเอง เป็นช่วงเวลาที่ทำให้ผมรู้สึกประทับใจอย่างลึกซึ้ง — และอดไม่ได้ที่จะยิ้มต่อความกระจ่างที่เกิดขึ้นจากท่าทางเล็ก ๆ นั้น

 

ในเย็นวันนั้น ผมได้สัมผัสไม่เพียงแค่เหตุการณ์สำคัญในเส้นทางอาชีพศิลปะการต่อสู้ของตัวเองเท่านั้น แต่ยังเป็นช่วงเวลาแห่งการเปลี่ยนแปลงในฐานะมนุษย์คนหนึ่ง ผมรู้สึกขอบคุณอย่างลึกซึ้ง เพราะตั้งแต่เริ่มฝึกเมื่ออายุสิบห้าปีมาจนถึงขณะนั้น — ในวัยสี่สิบสองปี — ผมได้เดินบนเส้นทางที่ยาวไกลและมีความหมายอย่างยิ่ง

งานทั้งหมดที่ทำร่วมกับผู้เข้าร่วม ไม่ได้ตั้งอยู่บนคุณสมบัติส่วนบุคคลของทีมเรา หรือความสามารถในการต่อสู้ แต่ตั้งอยู่บนสิ่งที่ผมเข้าใจว่าเป็นสิ่งที่ Grandmaster Leo Imamura เรียกว่า “ความสอดคล้องอันลึกซึ้ง” (profound coherence)

พวกเราทุ่มเทอย่างหนักในการออกแบบแต่ละกิจกรรม และสร้างแต่ละขั้นตอนเชิงยุทธศาสตร์ โดยตรวจสอบให้แน่ใจว่า หากวิธีแก้ไขปัญหาใดในช่วงหนึ่งละเลยคู่ต่อสู้ วิธีนั้นจะใช้ไม่ได้ผลในขั้นต่อไป — เปิดโอกาสให้ผู้เข้าร่วมค้นพบด้วยตนเอง โดยไม่จำเป็นต้องได้รับการแก้ไขโดยตรง กระบวนการเช่นนี้ก็เป็นสิ่งที่เราวางแผนไว้ล่วงหน้าอย่างรอบคอบเช่นกัน

ความตั้งใจของเราคือให้ผู้เข้าร่วมสามารถเคลื่อนไหวในฐานะ “นักวางยุทธศาสตร์” — ผู้ที่สามารถใช้ศักยภาพที่ซ่อนอยู่ในสถานการณ์ให้เกิดผลลัพธ์สูงสุด ด้วยการใช้พลังงานน้อยที่สุด

ผ่านการเคลื่อนไหวเหล่านี้ เราต้องการสื่อว่า ปัจจัยชี้ขาดไม่ได้อยู่ที่ความตั้งใจดีของแต่ละคน แต่อยู่ที่ “แนวโน้มตามธรรมชาติ” ที่เกิดขึ้นจากวิธีการจัดโครงสร้างของสถานการณ์ต่างหาก ด้วยเหตุนี้เอง ผู้เข้าร่วมจึงสามารถตีความใหม่การใช้แขน ขา และร่างกายของตนเองตามตรรกะของ Ving Tsun System และสัมผัสศักยภาพที่ค่อย ๆ ปรากฏขึ้นจากการจัดวางเชิงยุทธศาสตร์เบื้องต้น — หรือ Strategic Foundational Configuration

หลักการนี้เปรียบได้กับการปล่อยก้อนหินกลม ๆ จากยอดเขา: เมื่อการเคลื่อนเริ่มต้นขึ้นแล้ว เส้นทางตามธรรมชาติย่อมนำไปสู่ผลลัพธ์อย่างหลีกเลี่ยงไม่ได้
ด้วยเหตุนี้ เมื่อผู้เข้าร่วมตระหนักถึงสิ่งที่เกิดขึ้นด้วยตนเอง เขาจึงอุทานว่า:

“มันง่าย!”

ประโยคเรียบง่ายนี้ได้ถ่ายทอดอย่างลึกซึ้งถึงประสบการณ์ที่แท้จริงของแนวคิดที่เราต้องการสื่อ

สิ่งสำคัญที่ควรกล่าวถึงคือความมุ่งมั่นของ Senior Master Fabio Gomes (ตามภาพด้านบน) ผู้ซึ่งตลอดเกือบสามทศวรรษที่ผ่านมาได้เผยแพร่ Ving Tsun System ในสภาพแวดล้อมที่มีความเป็นเลิศสูงและมีความเฉพาะทาง ผลงานของเขามีส่วนโดยตรงต่อการเสริมสร้างชื่อเสียงของ Ving Tsun System ภายในบริบทที่ต้องอาศัยความเชี่ยวชาญทางเทคนิคและยุทธศาสตร์ — ผลลัพธ์ของความซื่อสัตย์ต่อวิสัยทัศน์ส่วนตัว และเส้นทางที่กำหนดด้วยความทุ่มเทและมุมมองระยะยาว

ตลอดช่วงเวลาสี่ชั่วโมงของกิจกรรม Master Fabio ได้แสดงให้เห็นถึงภาวะผู้นำที่โดดเด่น นำทางทีมของเราอย่างมีความเชี่ยวชาญยิ่ง อย่างไรก็ตาม ย้อนกลับไปยี่สิบห้าปีก่อน ผลลัพธ์ที่ปรากฏชัดในวันนี้ยังดูห่างไกลมาก เส้นทางนี้เตือนให้เราตระหนักว่า ในศิลปะของยุทธศาสตร์ “วิธีการ” และ “ผลลัพธ์” ไม่ได้ถูกกำหนดไว้อย่างชัดเจนเสมอไป แต่เป็นแนวคิดเรื่อง “แนวโน้ม” และ “ความมีประสิทธิผล” ต่างหากที่มีบทบาทสำคัญที่สุดในกระบวนการพัฒนาระดับสูงใด ๆ ดังที่ Master Fabio มักกล่าวไว้ว่า:
“จงเชื่อมั่นในกฎเกณฑ์ของสิ่งทั้งหลาย”

เช่นเดียวกับความมุ่งมั่นของเขา ความเคารพที่ Master Fabio มีต่อแต่ละขั้นตอนเชิงยุทธศาสตร์เพื่อให้บรรลุเป้าหมายก็มีความสำคัญไม่ยิ่งหย่อนไปกว่ากัน การปฏิบัติตามขั้นตอนเหล่านี้ด้วยวินัยเป็นเงื่อนไขจำเป็นของความสำเร็จ แต่สิ่งที่ทำให้เขาแตกต่างอย่างแท้จริงคือ “คุณค่าภายใน” ที่ปรากฏในทุกการตัดสินใจและทุกการกระทำ

ดังที่ศาสตราจารย์ François Jullien ยกตัวอย่างไว้อย่างชัดเจนว่า:

“แม้ก้อนเมฆจะหนาทึบเพียงใด หนอนก็มิอาจใช้มันเป็นที่พึ่งเพื่อบินได้ — แตกต่างจากมังกร”

ด้วยเหตุนี้ เราจึงเข้าใจว่า Senior Master Fabio Gomes เป็นผู้ที่มีความเหมาะสมอย่างแท้จริงกับงานลักษณะนี้ — ผู้ซึ่งเส้นทางชีวิตไม่เพียงสร้างแรงบันดาลใจ แต่ยังสะท้อนจิตวิญญาณเชิงยุทธศาสตร์และแก่นแท้ของ Ving Tsun System สาย Moy Yat อย่างแท้จริง

ผมชื่อ Thiago Pereira และผมขอถ่ายทอดประสบการณ์ของตัวเองอย่างถ่อมตน ทั้งก่อน ระหว่าง และหลังช่วงเวลาพิเศษนี้ รวมถึงกิจกรรมหลังการฝึกที่จัดขึ้นร่วมกับ Master Fabio Gomes และ Mr Marcelo Alves

A new disciple for GM Leo Imamura and Prof. Vanise Almeida.

Cheguei com a Srta. Nan Satornlug, com o GM Leo Imamura e com os pais dele ao restaurante China Lake, onde o Gino Ribeiro aguardava na entrada junto da Mestra Cristina Azevedo. Naquele momento, Gino era candidato ao discipulado com o Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura e com a Professora Vanise Almeida, as lideranças do Grande Clã Moy Yat Sang. Ele nos conduziu até uma sala reservada nos fundos do restaurante, onde havia uma mesa preparada para nós.

Havia também uma porta de vidro de correr e, do lado de fora, uma singela mesinha com alguns bancos feitos de um material que lembrava porcelana, um pouco de vegetação em um jardim e o meu clima favorito: nuvens negras e céu cinzento. O vento aumentou e, de repente, começou a chover, o que tornou o ambiente da sala ainda mais acolhedor.

A Professora Vanise Almeida estava a caminho, acompanhada da esposa do Gino, a Sra. Andrea Ribeiro O convite para que eu estivesse naquela mesa havia ocorrido alguns dias antes. Recebi uma mensagem — do agora Si Suk Gino — enquanto eu estava a caminho de São Paulo. Preferi não responder imediatamente, pois queria aproveitar a oportunidade para tirar algumas dúvidas com o GM Leo Imamura antes de aceitar.

Naquela mesma noite, enquanto nos acomodávamos na nossa querida pizzaria Zi Tereza com a família do Mestre Sênior Paulo Camiz, o GM Leo comentou algo como: “Parece que o Gino mandou uma mensagem para você sobre o almoço.”
Respondi prontamente que havia visto, mas que ainda não tinha respondido. Quando ele perguntou o motivo, expliquei que queria falar com ele antes.

Assim, apenas na tarde do dia seguinte, enquanto o Grão Mestre estacionava o carro em frente ao restaurante Golden Plaza, ele me perguntou sobre o que eu queria conversar. Fiz uma pergunta inicial, mas o que realmente importava era o que se desdobrava dela:

“...Tendo exatamente isso em vista, qual seria a minha contribuição lá (no almoço)?”

I arrived with Miss Nan Satornlug, Grandmaster Leo Imamura, and his parents at the China Lake restaurant, where Gino Ribeiro was waiting at the entrance together with Master Cristina Azevedo. At that moment, Gino was a candidate for discipleship under Grandmaster Leo Imamura and Professor Vanise Almeida, the leaders of the Moy Yat Sang Grand Clan. He led us to a private room at the back of the restaurant, where a table had been prepared for us.

There was also a sliding glass door and, outside, a small table with a few benches made of a material that resembled porcelain, a bit of vegetation in a small garden, and my favourite kind of weather: dark clouds and a grey sky. The wind picked up and, suddenly, it began to rain, which made the atmosphere in the room even cosier.

Professor Vanise Almeida was on her way, accompanied by Gino’s wife, Mrs Andrea Ribeiro. The invitation for me to be at that table had come a few days earlier. I had received a message — from the now Si Suk Gino — while I was on my way to São Paulo. I chose not to reply immediately, as I wanted to take the opportunity to ask Grandmaster Leo Imamura a few questions before accepting.

That same evening, as we settled into our beloved pizzeria, Zi Tereza, with the family of Senior Master Paulo Camiz, Grandmaster Leo said something like: “It seems Gino sent you a message about the lunch.”
I promptly replied that I had indeed seen it, but had not yet responded. When he asked why, I explained that I wanted to speak with him first.

Thus, only on the following afternoon, as the Grandmaster parked the car in front of the Golden Plaza restaurant, did he ask me what I wanted to talk about. I began with an initial question, but what truly mattered was what unfolded from it:
“...Keeping exactly that in mind, what would my contribution be there (at the lunch)?”

(GM Leo pede que eu compartilhe um pouco sobre do que se tratava 

aquele almoço com seus pais e a esposa do Si Suk Gino)

(GM Leo asks me to share a bit about what that lunch
was about with his parents and Si Suk Gino’s wife.)

Nesses dias, pude conversar com Si Gung sobre como eram os convites de Baai Si no passado e sobre o momento em que ele tomou consciência da importância de não convidar alguém a fazer o Baai Si, mas sim de criar as condições para que a própria pessoa pudesse fazer o pedido. Assim, enquanto andávamos de carro, pude compreender um pouco mais de como as coisas eram antigamente, das necessidades e dos equívocos daquela época, e de como isso acabou gerando certos mal-entendidos sobre este tipo de convite, em um momento mais recente.

Ao estacionarmos o carro em frente ao Golden Plaza, Si Gung comentou que apenas o fato de eu estar presente no almoço já era importante — ou, pelo menos, assim eu entendi. A conversa não avançou muito naquele instante, mas voltando ao almoço para o convite do Si Suk Gino, sentado ali à mesa, naquele momento tão significativo. Posso afirmar sem sombra de dúvida que aquele foi o ponto alto da minha viagem e um dos três momentos mais marcantes de todas as viagens que já fiz. Em meio a um clima que alternava entre leveza e sobriedade, a comida ia chegando, e então o GM Leo Imamura pediu que a Mestra Cristina fizesse a abertura na condição de apresentadora formal (Gai Siu Yan) do Si Suk Gino Ribeiro(Foto seguinte)

Acredito ser importante destacar a escolha da Mestra Cristina, pois o Si Suk Gino teve contato com muitos outros Mestres — eu incluso — e poderia ter escolhido qualquer um de nós, mas fez questão de escolhê-la. A Mestra Cristina é alguém que tenho tido a oportunidade de conhecer cada vez mais e, em todas as nossas interações, sua atenção está sempre voltada para o todo, com um cuidado especial voltado ao zelo. Humildemente, considero que essa foi uma escolha muito acertada da parte do Si Suk Gino. Ele já parte de um ponto favorável ao ter alguém como ela oferecendo suporte em sua trajetória.

In those days, I was able to speak with Si Gung(Grandmaster Leo) about how Baai Si invitations were handled in the past, and about the moment when he became aware of the importance of not inviting someone to do the Baai Si, but rather creating the conditions for the person themselves to make the request. Thus, as we drove, I was able to understand a little more about how things used to be, the needs and misunderstandings of that time, and how this eventually led to certain misinterpretations regarding this type of invitation in more recent times.

When we parked the car in front of the Golden Plaza, Si Gung remarked that the very fact that I was present at the lunch was already important — or at least that is how I understood it. The conversation did not progress much at that moment, but returning to the lunch itself, regarding Si Suk Gino’s invitation, sitting there at the table in such a meaningful moment, I can say without a shadow of doubt that it was the highlight of my trip, and one of the three most remarkable moments of all the journeys I have made. Amid an atmosphere shifting between lightness and sobriety, the food arrived gradually, and then Grandmaster Leo Imamura asked Master Cristina to begin the proceedings in her role as the formal presenter (Gai Siu Yan) of Si Suk Gino Ribeiro (next photo).

I believe it is important to highlight the choice of Master Cristina, as Si Suk Gino had interacted with many other Masters — myself included — and could have chosen any one of us, yet he made a point of choosing her. Master Cristina is someone I have had the opportunity to get to know more and more, and in all our interactions her attention is always directed towards the whole, with a particular care for diligence and refinement. Humbly, I consider this a very well-made choice on Si Suk Gino’s part. He already begins from a favourable position by having someone like her offering support along his journey.

Nem o GM Leo Imamura nem a Professora Vanise tentavam preencher os momentos de silêncio à mesa com algum tipo de conversa para entreter ou cativar. Muito pelo contrário: em determinado momento, enquanto fazia uma pausa para comer, o GM Leo perguntou: “E você, Andrea, tem alguma dúvida que gostaria de perguntar a mim ou à Professora Vanise?” — disse ele, dirigindo-se à esposa do Si Suk (no canto esquerdo da foto acima). Naquele instante, interpretei que o GM Leo estava dizendo algo como: “Estou disponível para você; se ainda assim preferir não perguntar nada agora, estarei disponível novamente em outra oportunidade.”

Dessa forma, o almoço seguia sem grandes acontecimentos extraordinários. Ali, ao vivo, pude perceber todo o excelente trabalho da Mestra Cristina como Gai Siu Yan, mas também o trabalho de mais de um ano realizado pelo GM Leo, pela Professora Vanise e pelo próprio Si Suk Gino, que, com o suporte de sua esposa, souberam cultivar todas as oportunidades oferecidas pelas Lideranças do Grande Clã até chegar aquele momento. Tudo havia sido construído de maneira tão cuidadosa nos períodos que antecederam o almoço que talvez tenhamos vivenciado exatamente aquilo que a Professora Vanise sempre nos alerta: tratar esses encontros no transevento como momentos de celebração.

Tudo parecia harmônico. Em certo ponto, a Professora Vanise começou a contar sobre quando aprendeu a fazer bolos e passou a prepará-los para os aniversários dos filhos. Andrea a ouvia com um sorriso no rosto, assim como a Mestra Cristina. Si Gung comia em silêncio, assim como o Si Suk Gino. Ao meu lado, o pai do Si Gung ouvia o que sua esposa lhe dizia. A Srta. Nan colocava mais pimenta na comida. Observando tudo aquilo, percebi que tudo estava tão em harmonia, tão apropriado, que, sinceramente, não havia nada mais a ser dito naquele momento que não uma simples conversa sobre bolos.

Assim, o “fantástico”, o “emblemático”, o “histórico” tornavam-se desnecessários… e eu podia ali presenciar um Je Si Yi, que, em uma explicação breve, é como chamamos esse tipo de refeição dentro da Dimensão Kung Fu.

Neither Grandmaster Leo Imamura nor Professor Vanise made any attempt to fill the silent moments at the table with conversation meant to entertain or captivate. Quite the opposite: at a certain point, while pausing briefly from eating, Grandmaster Leo asked, “And you, Andrea — do you have any question you would like to ask me or Professor Vanise?” — he said, addressing Si Suk’s wife (on the left-hand side of the photo above). In that moment, I interpreted Grandmaster Leo as saying something like: “I am available for you; and if you still prefer not to ask anything now, I will be available again on another occasion.”

In this way, the lunch unfolded without any great or extraordinary events. There, in person, I could perceive not only the excellent work of Master Cristina as Gai Siu Yan, but also the work of more than a year carried out by Grandmaster Leo, by Professor Vanise, and by Si Suk Gino himself, who, with the support of his wife, had cultivated all the opportunities offered by the Leadership of the Grand Clan up to that moment. Everything had been constructed with such care in the period leading up to the lunch that perhaps we were experiencing precisely what Professor Vanise always reminds us of: treating these encounters within the event itself as moments of celebration.

Everything felt harmonious. At one point, Professor Vanise began telling the story of when she learnt to bake cakes and started making them for her children’s birthdays. Andrea listened with a smile, as did Master Cristina. Si Gung ate quietly, as did Si Suk Gino. Beside me, Si Gung’s father was listening what his wife was saying to him. Miss Nan added more chilli to her food. Observing all of this, I realised how harmonious and appropriate everything was, to the point that, honestly, there was nothing more fitting to be said in that moment than a simple conversation about cakes.

Thus, the “fantastic”, the “emblematic”, the “historic” became unnecessary… and I was able to witness a Je Si Yi, which, to put it briefly, is what we call this kind of meal within the Kung Fu Dimension.

Quando nos demos conta, já era hora de nos despedirmos, e o GM Leo, junto da Professora Vanise, deu por encerrado aquele almoço. Todos se despediram; abracei a Si Taai, cumprimentei os demais e, já no carro, enquanto a chuva caía lá fora, me atrevi a perguntar ao GM Leo Imamura como ele se sentia, depois de vinte e cinco anos, ao ver o resultado do Programa Ving Tsun Experience naquele nível, materializado na jornada do Si Suk Gino até aquele almoço.

“Por que 25 anos?”, ele perguntou.

Comentei que estava apenas arredondando para dar um tom dramático. Ele respondeu apenas: “Ué…”.
Então completei dizendo que estava realmente impactado pela simplicidade do almoço e pelo fato de não haver qualquer necessidade de uma fala ou frase marcante da parte de Si Gung. Não sei se você, que está lendo, consegue captar plenamente o espírito da coisa, mas coloquei propositadamente fotos muito parecidas neste artigo para que você pudesse ter um pouco da sensação que eu tive: um cenário no qual quase nada é evidenciado, e ainda assim tantas coisas acontecem — ou se revelam como resultado.

Minha empolgação era tamanha que comentei que o Si Suk Gino encontraria não apenas Programas amadurecidos, como bem pontuou a Si Taai, mas também um Si Fu e uma Si Mo muito mais amadurecidos, conforme eu compreendo. Disse ainda ao Si Gung sobre a importância de instrumentos do Programa — como os Seminários de Tutorização, os Encontros sobre o Domínio e a Visita Oficial — ocorrerem com ele, e não comigo. Dessa forma, meus alunos poderiam ter contato com um Si Fu já amadurecido através de sua pessoa, sem precisarem aguardar o meu amadurecimento. 

Na verdade, ao terem contato com o nível de Provimento de Vida Kung Fu promovido pelo GM Leo, sempre utilizando o Sistema Ving Tsun como substrato, eles poderão inclusive me ajudar a receber, de maneira ainda melhor, os futuros membros da nossa Família — e esses, por sua vez, farão o mesmo no futuro.

Foi realmente um momento muito especial. Desde segunda-feira, volto a ele com frequência. Minha capacidade de escrita não alcança plenamente aquilo que vivenciei ou acredito ter compreendido, mas foi uma oportunidade única de enxergar até onde pode chegar um trabalho bem feito. E esse trabalho ainda está apenas começando.

Estes são dias de grandes aventuras.

When we realised it, it was already time to say our goodbyes, and Grandmaster Leo, together with Professor Vanise, brought the lunch to a close. Everyone took their leave; I hugged Si Taai, said farewell to the others and, already in the car while the rain fell outside, I ventured to ask Grandmaster Leo Imamura how he felt, after twenty-five years, seeing the result of the Ving Tsun Experience Programme at such a level, embodied in Si Suk Gino’s journey up to that lunch.

“Why 25 years?” he asked.

I explained that I was simply rounding it up to give it a more dramatic tone. He replied only with, “Well…”
So I went on to say that I was genuinely struck by the simplicity of the lunch and by the fact that there was absolutely no need for any significant speech or impactful phrase from Si Gung. I don’t know if you, reading this, can fully grasp the spirit of it, but I intentionally included several very similar photos in this article so that you might have a little of the sensation I had: a setting in which almost nothing is highlighted, and yet so much is happening — or being revealed as a result.

My enthusiasm was such that I remarked how Si Suk Gino would encounter not only programmes already matured, as Si Taai had pointed out, but also a Si Fu and a Si Mo who were themselves far more mature, as I understand it. I also told Si Gung about the importance of the Programme’s instruments — such as the Tutorship Seminars, the Meetings on the Domain, and the Official Visit — taking place with him, and not with me. In this way, my students would be able to come into contact with an already-mature Si Fu through his person, without having to wait for my own maturity.

In fact, by coming into contact with the level of Kung Fu Life Provision promoted by Grandmaster Leo, always using the Ving Tsun System as its foundation, they will even be able to help me receive the future members of our Family in an even better way — and those, in turn, will do the same for those who come after them.

It was truly a very special moment. Since Monday, I keep returning to it. My ability to write does not fully reach what I experienced or believe I understood, but it was a unique opportunity to see how far well-executed work can go. And this work is only just beginning.

These are days of great adventures.

 

The Moy Yat Lineage Returns to Rio’s Elite Police Squad (BOPE)

  

On 8 November, at the invitation of Senior Master Fabio Gomes and with the consent of Grandmaster Leo Imamura, I took part in the support work provided to the 44th Tactical Actions Course (CAT II/2025), held at the Special Operations Battalion (BOPE), one of the world’s most respected centres of excellence, based in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Our team also included the Commando Marcelo Alves, a veteran of the 1st Special Forces Battalion of the Brazilian Army. We were received with exceptional professionalism, respect, and warmth by both the officers and the course participants.

One could simply state that participating in a training conducted within a unit that symbolises excellence, discipline, and courage was an experience that fills me with pride in my professional journey. However, I would like to share a few further reflections on this experience.

As Grandmaster Leo Imamura has previously emphasised, in classical Chinese culture there exists the principle that “1 = 3”. What does this mean?
It signifies, for instance, that an activity such as this — applying the Ving Tsun System of the Moy Yat lineage in such a unique context — requires profound preparation. Thus, this “unique moment” unfolds into a “pre-event”.

With this understanding, I met several days in advance with Senior Master Fabio Gomes and my student, Daniel Eustáquio, to plan in detail the work to be developed during the four-hour session with the CAT II/2025 participants at BOPE.

All of the work was founded on the notion of “Noi Lik” (內力). Although many interpret this concept as “internal energy”, our approach was to present it as the capacity to internalise an external force and to use it intelligently and advantageously — in other words, to employ the energy provided by the opponent for one’s own benefit.

“What does the word ‘art’ signify in ‘martial art’? It is to capture and to employ, through gesture and the arrangement of things, every possible form of efficacy.”

Accordingly, our intention in conducting this study on “Noi Lik” (內力) was to encourage an appropriate attitude in the face of the unprecedented — an element that is ever-present in high-risk operations.

Hence, the reflection remains: how may this principle be transformed into concrete practice?

Before commenting on how we carried out this work, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Grandmaster Leo Imamura, who, through his determination, brought the Ving Tsun System of the Moy Yat lineage to Brazil in 1988. This visionary initiative has made it possible for professionals such as Senior Master Fabio Gomes — and myself — to experience opportunities as meaningful as this one.

During the pre-event lunch that preceded the activity itself, we concluded that we would use the Ving Tsun Experience Programme as the methodological foundation for our work.

The Ving Tsun Experience is a programme inspired by the vision of Patriarch Moy Yat, designed to enable individuals from diverse backgrounds to experience the high level of a Kung Fu system. The proposal is based on the defining characteristics of the Ving Tsun System, taking into account its phases, modalities, and types of mastery. In this way, it offers a gradual, accessible experience that remains faithful to the martial tradition.

Accordingly, we proposed to the participants that they adopt a Strategic Foundational Configuration. In other words, all the activities carried out that day would begin from an initial strategic configuration, practised in pairs, allowing each participant to calculate in advance — and with precision — all the factors involved, and to conduct the situation so that these factors became fully favourable to them.

Thus, victory would not be an end in itself, but rather the natural and predictable consequence of the opponent’s imbalance, provoked through conscious strategic action.

After the first rounds, a significant indication arose that we were on the right path. At a certain point, one of the participants managed to free his arm during one of the proposed exercises, demonstrating attentiveness not only to the strategic stages but also — as Senior Master Fabio Gomes emphasised that evening — to awareness of the other.

Surprised, the participant exclaimed:

“It’s easy!”

This spontaneous reaction — transforming what is difficult into something easy — is already foreseen in the classical Chinese treatises on strategy, which state that the true strategist achieves only easy victories.

It must be understood that “easy” does not mean devoid of challenge, but rather that, by the time success is achieved, it no longer requires tactical feats or great human effort. It is like the leader who, even upon attaining success, receives no applause, for genuine strategic qualities often go unnoticed.

In that simple moment, by verbalising his perception, the participant experienced the concept through his own body. It was something profoundly moving for me — impossible not to smile at the clarity revealed by that gesture.

 

That evening, I experienced not only a milestone in my journey as a martial arts professional, but also a transformative moment as a person. I felt profound gratitude, for since beginning my practice at the age of fifteen up to that moment — having just turned forty-two — I had travelled a long and meaningful path.

All the work carried out with the participants was not founded upon the individual qualities of our team, nor upon our combat ability, but rather upon something I understand as what Grandmaster Leo Imamura defines as “profound coherence.”

We dedicated ourselves intensely to the design of each activity and the construction of each strategic stage, ensuring that any solution adopted at one point, if it disregarded the opponent, would prove ineffective in the next — allowing the participant to realise this for themselves, without the need for correction. This dynamic, too, was carefully anticipated.

Our intention was that the participants, through movement, could act as strategists — capable of using the potential inherent in the situation to achieve maximum effect with minimal expenditure of energy.

Through these movements, we sought to convey that the determining factor is not individual goodwill, but rather the objective propensity that naturally arises from the way in which a situation is structured. Thus, by reinterpreting the use of their arms, legs, and body within the logic of the Ving Tsun System, the participants could experience this emerging potential from the initial strategic arrangement — the so-called Strategic Foundational Configuration.

This principle may be likened to setting rounded stones rolling from a mountain peak: once the movement has begun, the natural course of action leads inevitably to the outcome.
It was for this reason that the participant, upon realising it spontaneously, exclaimed:

“It’s easy!”

That simple phrase profoundly encapsulated the lived experience of the concept we sought to convey.

It is important to highlight the perseverance of Senior Master Fabio Gomes (pictured above), who for nearly three decades has been promoting the Ving Tsun System in environments of high performance and exclusivity. His work has directly contributed to enhancing the prestige of the Ving Tsun System within contexts of technical and strategic excellence — the result of his fidelity to his own vision and of a path defined by dedication and long-term perspective.

Throughout the four-hour session, Master Fabio demonstrated remarkable leadership, guiding our team with great mastery. Yet, twenty-five years ago, the results that are now visible still seemed distant. This journey reminds us that, in the art of strategy, means and ends are not always clearly defined; rather, it is the notions of disposition and efficacy that assume a central role in the development of any high-level process. As Master Fabio himself says: “Trust in the regulation of things.”

As important as his determination was Master Fabio’s respect for each strategic stage in pursuit of his objectives. To follow these stages with discipline is a necessary condition for success, but the true distinction also lies in the personal value that manifests in every decision and every action.

As Professor François Jullien exemplifies:

“However dense the clouds may be, a worm could not find support in them to fly — unlike the dragon.”

Thus, we understand Senior Master Fabio Gomes as truly called to this kind of work — someone whose journey both inspires and authentically represents the strategic spirit and essence of the Ving Tsun System of the Moy Yat lineage.

I am Thiago Pereira, and I humbly record my experience before, during, and after this singular moment, including the post-event held with Master Fabio Gomes and Mr Marcelo Alves.

Retorno da Linhagem Moy Yat ao BOPE do Rio de Janeiro

 

No dia 8 de novembro, a convite do Mestre Sênior Fabio Gomes e com a anuência do Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura, participei do trabalho de apoio prestado ao 44º Curso de Ações Táticas (CAT II/2025), realizado no Batalhão de Operações Especiais (BOPE), uma das instituições de excelência mais respeitadas do mundo, sediada na cidade do Rio de Janeiro.

Nosso time também foi composto pelo Comandos Marcelo Alves, veterano do 1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais do Exército Brasileiro. Fomos recebidos de forma extremamente profissional, respeitosa e calorosa pelos oficiais e pelos alunos do curso.

Poderia simplesmente afirmar que participar de uma formação conduzida em uma unidade símbolo de excelência, disciplina e coragem foi uma vivência que me enche de orgulho em minha trajetória profissional. No entanto, gostaria de compartilhar algumas reflexões adicionais sobre essa experiência.

Como já ressaltou o Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura, na cultura clássica chinesa existe o princípio de que “1 = 3”. O que isso significa?
Significa, por exemplo, que uma atividade como esta — trabalhar com o Sistema Ving Tsun da Linhagem Moy Yat em um contexto tão singular — exige preparação profunda. Assim, esse “momento único” se desdobra em um “pré-evento”.

Com esse entendimento, me reuni dias antes com o Mestre Sênior Fabio Gomes e com meu aluno Daniel Eustáquio para planejarmos detalhadamente o trabalho a ser desenvolvido durante as quatro horas de atividade junto aos alunos do CAT II/2025 no BOPE.

Todo o trabalho foi fundamentado na noção de “Noi Lik” (內力). Embora muitos interpretem esse conceito como “energia interna”, nossa proposta foi apresentá-lo como a capacidade de internalizar uma força externa, utilizando-a de forma inteligente e favorável — em outras palavras, empregar a energia disponibilizada pelo adversário em benefício próprio.

“O que significa a palavra ‘arte’ em ‘arte marcial’? Captar e usar, por intermédio do gesto e da ordenação das coisas, toda a eficácia possível.”

Dessa forma, nossa intenção ao conduzir esse estudo sobre o “Noi Lik” (內力) foi estimular uma conduta apropriada diante do inédito, elemento presente a cada instante em operações de alto risco.

Fica, portanto, a reflexão: como transformar esse princípio em prática concreta?

Antes de comentar sobre como realizamos esse trabalho, gostaria de expressar meu sincero agradecimento ao Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura, que, com sua determinação, trouxe para o Brasil, em 1988, o Sistema Ving Tsun da Linhagem Moy Yat. Essa iniciativa visionária possibilitou que profissionais como o Mestre Sênior Fabio Gomes — e eu próprio — pudéssemos vivenciar oportunidades tão significativas quanto esta.

 Durante o almoço de pré-evento que antecedeu o evento em si, chegamos à conclusão de que utilizaríamos o Programa Ving Tsun Experience como base metodológica para o trabalho.

O Ving Tsun Experience é um programa inspirado na visão do Patriarca Moy Yat, que tem como propósito possibilitar que diferentes pessoas vivenciem o alto nível de um sistema de Kung Fu.

A proposta se baseia nas características do Sistema Ving Tsun, considerando suas fases, modalidades e naturezas de domínio, permitindo assim uma experiência gradual, acessível e fiel à tradição marcial.

Assim, propusemos aos alunos que assumissem uma “Configuração Fundacional Estratégica” . Em outras palavras, todas as atividades realizadas naquele dia se iniciariam a partir de uma configuração estratégica inicial em duplas, permitindo que cada participante pudesse calcular previamente e com precisão todos os fatores envolvidos, conduzindo a situação de modo que esses fatores lhes fossem plenamente favoráveis.
Dessa forma, a vitória não seria um objetivo em si, mas sim a consequência natural e previsível do desequilíbrio do adversário, provocado por meio de uma ação estratégica consciente.

Após as primeiras rodadas, surgiu um indício significativo de que estávamos no caminho certo. Em determinado momento, um dos alunos conseguiu desvencilhar seu braço em um dos exercícios propostos, demonstrando atenção não apenas às etapas estratégicas, mas também — como enfatizou o Mestre Sênior Fabio Gomes naquela noite — à atenção ao outro.

Surpreso, o aluno exclamou:

“É fácil!”

Essa reação espontânea — transformar o difícil em fácil — já é prevista nos tratados clássicos de estratégia chinesa, segundo os quais o verdadeiro estrategista alcança apenas vitórias fáceis.
Compreenda-se: “fáceis” não por falta de desafio, mas porque, no momento em que se concretizam, já não exigem mais proezas táticas nem grande esforço humano. É como o líder que, mesmo ao alcançar o êxito, não é aplaudido, pois as verdadeiras qualidades estratégicas muitas vezes passam despercebidas.

No singelo momento, ao verbalizar sua percepção, aquele aluno vivenciou o conceito através do corpo. Foi algo profundamente marcante para mim — impossível não esboçar um sorriso diante da clareza que aquele gesto revelou.

 

Naquela noite, eu vivenciava não apenas um marco em minha trajetória como profissional de artes marciais, mas também um momento transformador como pessoa. Sentia uma profunda gratidão, pois, desde que iniciei minha prática aos 15 anos de idade, até aquele momento, aos recém-completados 42 anos, havia percorrido uma longa e significativa caminhada.

Todo o trabalho desenvolvido com os alunos, não se apoiava em qualidades individuais de nossa equipe, tampouco em nossa habilidade de combate, mas em algo que compreendo como o que o Grão-Mestre Leo Imamura define como “coerência profunda”.

Nos dedicamos intensamente à elaboração de cada atividade e à construção de cada etapa estratégica, de modo que as soluções adotadas em um momento, caso desconsiderassem o adversário, se mostrassem ineficazes na etapa seguinte — permitindo que o próprio aluno percebesse isso, sem que fosse necessário apontar o erro. Essa dinâmica também foi cuidadosamente antecipada.

Nosso propósito era que os alunos pudessem através dos movimentos agir como estrategistas, capazes de utilizar o potencial da situação para alcançar o máximo efeito com o mínimo dispêndio de energia.

Por meio dos movimentos, buscamos transmitir que o fator determinante não é a boa vontade individual, mas sim a propensão objetiva que decorre naturalmente da forma como a situação está estruturada. Assim, ao ressignificarem o uso dos braços, das pernas e do corpo dentro da lógica do Sistema Ving Tsun, os participantes poderiam experimentar esse potencial nascente da disposição estratégica inicial — a chamada Configuração Fundacional Estratégica.

Esse princípio é comparável a fazer pedras redondas rolarem do pico mais elevado: uma vez iniciado o movimento, o curso natural da ação conduz ao resultado.
Foi por isso que o aluno, ao constatar espontaneamente, disse:

“É fácil!”

Essa frase simples sintetizou, de maneira profunda, a vivência prática do conceito que buscávamos transmitir.

É importante destacar a perseverança do Mestre Sênior Fabio Gomes(foto acima), que há quase três décadas vem promovendo o Sistema Ving Tsun em ambientes de alta performance e alto nível de exclusividade. Sua atuação tem contribuído diretamente para elevar o prestígio do Sistema Ving Tsun em contextos de excelência técnica e estratégica — resultado de sua fidelidade ao próprio sonho e de uma trajetória pautada pela dedicação e pela visão de longo prazo.

Ao longo das quatro horas de aula, o Mestre Fabio demonstrou notável capacidade de liderança, conduzindo nossa equipe com maestria. Contudo, há 25 anos, os resultados hoje visíveis ainda pareciam distantes. Essa trajetória nos lembra que, na arte da estratégia, o meio e o fim nem sempre estão claramente definidos; são, antes, as noções de dispositivo e eficácia que assumem papel central no desenvolvimento de qualquer processo de alto nível. Como o próprio Mestre Fabio diz: “Confie na regulação das coisas.”

Tão importante quanto a determinação, foi o respeito do Mestre Fabio a cada etapa estratégica em busca de seus objetivos. Seguir essas etapas com disciplina é condição necessária para o êxito, mas o verdadeiro diferencial está também no valor pessoal que se manifesta em cada decisão, em cada ação.

Como exemplifica o professor François Jullien:

“Por mais densas que sejam as nuvens, uma minhoca não poderia encontrar apoio nelas para voar — ao contrário do dragão.”

Assim, compreendemos o Mestre Sênior Fabio Gomes como um verdadeiro vocacionado para este tipo de trabalho, cuja trajetória inspira e representa, de forma autêntica, o espírito estratégico e a essência do Sistema Ving Tsun da Linhagem Moy Yat.

Sou Thiago Pereira e registro, modestamente, minha vivência antes, durante e após este momento singular, incluindo o pós-evento realizado com o Mestre Fabio Gomes e o Sr. Marcelo Alves.