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Sifu Sunny So
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Sifu Sunny
So
Internationally Respected Lineage Guardian, Chartered Engineer, and Martial Researcher; A Scholar-Warrior dedicated to the scientific preservation of the Tang Family's rare internal legacy. He bridges the gap between ancient tradition and modern physics, transforming the martial arts from simple combat into a profound path of structural mastery.
The Dual Dragon of the Apennines
Sifu Sunny So (So Chi Kong) represents a unique archetype in the anthropology of Chinese martial arts: the "Scholar-Warrior" who bridges the gap between disparate worlds. A modern professional and highly credentialed mechanical engineer by trade, he has applied the rigorous analytical frameworks of structural physics to the somatic transmission of Kung Fu.
He stands as the "closed-door" disciple (Guan Men) of the late Grandmaster Tang Yik, the renowned "King of the Long Pole" (Gwan Wong). Unlike the itinerant martial artists of the past, Sifu So has maintained a rigorous professional career alongside his martial cultivation, a bifurcation that has allowed him to preserve the Tang Yik system without the commercial pressures that often dilute traditional arts.
The empty-hand techniques are merely the pole techniques performed without the weapon. To manipulate the tip effectively, you cannot use the shoulder muscles alone; you must connect the pole to the dantian. Once mastered, the practitioner's punch carries the same 'whole body' weight as a pole strike.
A Lifetime of Mastery
Numbers tell only part of the story, but they reveal the magnitude of dedication required to achieve true mastery across multiple authentic lineages.
60
+
Years of dedicated martial arts study
(Began training at age 13 in the 1960s)
50
+
Years of continuous teaching experience
(Instructor since 1976)
5
Master Ranks across Chinese & Japanese Systems
(Tang Yik Weng Chun, Shitoryu, Shorin-ryu, Goju-ryu, Inoue Ha)
1
Last "Closed-Door" Disciple
(The final lineage holder of Grandmaster Tang Yik)
The Pilgrimage
Follow the extraordinary journey of a dedicated Hong Kong engineer who would become the final closed-door disciple of the legendary 'King of the Long Pole,' traversing the worlds of Japanese Karate and Chinese Kung Fu in search of the authentic science of the Eternal Spring
1950s
Early Life & Origins
Born in Macau; moved to Hong Kong at the age of nine.
1960s
The Call to Martial Arts
At age 13, began formal martial arts training, immersing himself in traditional disciplines with unwavering dedication.
1976
The Beginning of Teaching
Commenced his career as a martial arts instructor in Hong Kong, a role sustained for over five decades.
1970s–1980s
The Foundation (Karate Mastery)
Established himself as a high-ranking master of Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate. This period forged a somatic foundation of structural integrity, distance control (Ma-ai), and rigid skeletal alignment.
- Achieved 6th Dan in Shorin-ryu Karate (Renshi level).
- Served as Coach for the Hong Kong Karate Team (Kumite) and Director of the HK Polytechnic Martial Arts Club.
1980s
The Transition to Internal Systems
Seeking to break the "ceiling" of external power and investigate the historical "source code" of Karate, he transitioned to Chinese Kung Fu. At age 24, he began his formal study of the Weng Chun system under Grandmaster Tang Yik.
1990s
The Transmission
Accepted as a "closed-door" disciple (Guan Men). He received the complete transmission of the Tang Yik system, including the "internal" engines (Hei Gung), tendon conditioning, and the "Six-and-a-Half Point Pole".
2000s
The Research
Engaged in active research into Fujian White Crane (Yong Chun Bai He) to verify the biomechanical DNA of Weng Chun. Collaborated with Grandmaster Lee Kong and Sifu Sergio Iadarola to map the connections between the two systems.
Present
Lineage Guardian & Technical Authority
As the Co-Founder of the International Weng Chun & White Crane Association alongside Sifu Sergio Iadarola, Sifu Sunny So serves as the primary technical advisor and lineage guardian for the Eternal Spring Institute. He continues to guide the institute's curriculum, ensuring the transmission of the "Eternal Spring" remains authentic, scientifically sound, and deeply rooted in the Tang family legacy.
The Masters’ Circle
Sifu Sunny So’s disciplined journey brought him into contact with some of the most respected masters in the history of Okinawan Karate and Weng Chun, each contributing to his profound understanding of martial physics and the authentic transmission of these arts.
The Lineages of Mastery
The Weng Chun Lineage (Southern Shaolin)
- The Core Transmission ( Lineage Holder)
- Inoue-Ha Shito-ryu Keishinkai (Rank: 7th Dan (Kyoshi))
- Shito-ryu Karate (Rank: 7th Dan)
- Shorin-ryu Karate(Rank: 6th Dan (Renshi))
- Goju-ryu Karate (Rank: 5th Dan)
- Zhangzhou White Crane system(completed)
The Master's Philosophy
Beyond techniques and forms, Sifu Sunny So’s teaching embodies a rigorous analytical philosophy that transforms not just physical movement, but the understanding of biomechanical reality.
Beyond the External
One of Sifu Sunny So’s most significant contributions was the scientific verification of the "source code" linking Tang Yik Weng Chun directly to its Fujian White Crane ancestors—validating the "Four Elements" mechanism through structural engineering. Separately, through decades of dual-mastery in Japanese and Chinese systems, he formulated a pedagogy that demystifies the "soft" internal arts using the "hard" laws of physics. His teachings extend far beyond external choreography, emphasizing the development of the "rattan stick" body, the precise application of torque, and the structural integrity of the Long Bridge. "Most people search for mystical energy in their practice. I strip away the mysticism to reveal the physics, bringing out the real internal engine that relies on leverage and tendon strength—the structural cultivation that transforms the body into a connected unit is crucial."
"My mind doesn't just memorize forms—it analyzes the engineering behind them, verifying their mechanics against the laws of physics to distinguish genuine transmission from empty movement."
Weng Chun is not just about fighting. It's about understanding the geometry of the human frame, the transfer of mass, and the efficiency of motion. When you truly understand the Long Pole, you understand the fundamental principles of connection, grounding, and leverage that apply to every physical interaction.
Learn from a Living Master
Now is your opportunity to study with one of the most knowledgeable Wing Chun masters alive today. Whether online or in person at our Madeira sanctuary, Sifu Sunny’s teachings will transform your practice.