|
Professor Wai Yue Choy, a great grandmaster of tai chi chuan, has left this world to join his ancestors. We are all immeasurably richer for having had him n our presence for these many years. Even though I only met the Grandmaster a fw times, each meeting left an indelible impression. What one always first noticed was his eyes, shining, and filled with love, warmth, humility, acceptance, and compassion. You couldn’t help but feel better about yourself and the world just by being in his gentle presence. He was always a true gentle man.
Yet, he was capable of powerful deeds. The first to unite the usually divided southern California tai chi chuan community many years ago, he brought people from diverse orientations together for a common purpose: to seek balance and health through the practice of the art. Putting aside petty differences to unite for the common good was something he effortlessly
demonstrated through example. Never demanding, always inviting, was his modus operandi.
Still, in spite of his constant demonstration of the highest values of the internal arts, some others failed to see. I was at a large tai chi event sponsored by his own organization last year, and Professor Choy, even though recently ill, graced the event with his presence. As he sat in his wheelchair in the front row, on stage the current hierarchy yammered on
about one thing or another, never even bothering to acknowledge his presence.
While I don’t know if the grandmaster noticed or cared, I certainly did. So, as his son began to wheel him away to take him home after a time, I stopped him,
got down on my knees before him, and took both of his hands in mine. Looking into his eyes as his son translated, I told him how much he had done for the tai chi community, how deeply we respected him and the many contributions he had made to the art and the community, and that we were forever grateful to him. He smiled and squeezed my hand, saying simply, “thank you”. It was to be the last time I saw him
alive.
Great Grandmaster Choy could literally melt a glacier with his smile. His very presence has been known to cause hardened martial artists to break down into tears
as he showered them with his loving heart. The famous martial artist, kenpo grandmaster Ed Parker stated that the ultimate purpose of the martial arts was the cultivation of patience, tolerance, humility, and self restraint. Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate said that the cultivation of character was far more important that the cultivation of mere technique. And Morihei Uyeshiba, legendary founder of Aikido, considered by many to be the greatest martial artist of the 20th century said, “The martial arts are based on love”.
The truly great practitioners know this and live this. Yet, the saddest quote I ever heard was also from Uyeshiba who said, just before he died, that when he looked behind himself, he only saw his shadow, there was no one following him.
I hope we can all become the shadow following the shining example set by Great Grandmaster Wai Yue Choy. To do so, we must always remember the perennial virtues of respect, compassion, nonjudgment, and love. I’ll smile when I remember our few encounters, as if basking in the glow of his warm embrace.
The night before he died, I was sitting with Master Bill Rosary, Prof’s Choy’s chosen successor, and for some reason felt moved to discuss the Professor. I reminded Bill of how fortunate he was to have received his training from Prof Choy and reminisced about their times together. It’s almost as if Master Choy heard us and knew it was now ok to move on. He died merely hours later, peacefully in his sleep.
So, thank you Great Grandmaster Choy, I and we, will never forget you. Whenever I practice or teach tai chi chuan, I will remember you and your gentle and undeniable spirit. You remain the shining example of what it means to be a true master, not only of tai chi, but a master of oneself, a real man, and a true human being.
|