Recently, CCTV-9 broadcast the fourth episode of the Secret of Chinese Kung-Fu, telling the story of Jeff Ale, an American who went to Foshan to learn Wing Chun from Yip Man’s apprentices.

   

从外国人的视角聚焦佛山功夫，能读出怎样的中国智慧？一起来看↓

What kind of Chinese wisdom can be read out from the perspective of foreigners regarding Foshan Kung-Fu? Lets take a look.

  

纪录片的主角杰夫·艾尔来自奥兰多弗罗里达，在美国大学攻读法学博士学位。一次偶然的机会，他在电影中认识到中国功夫咏春，并对此深深着迷。

The documentary’s key role, Jeff Ale, is from Orlando, Florida, and he is pursuing a doctorate in law in an American university. By a chance, Jeff Ale learned in the film about Chinese Kung-Fu Wing Chun and was fascinated with it.

 

2013年夏天，他来到咏春宗师叶问的家乡佛山，向叶问之子叶准拜师学艺。

In the summer of 2013, he came to Foshan, hometown of the Wing Chun Master Ip Man and studied martial arts from Yip Chun, the son of Yip Man.

学艺练武的过程并不容易。杰夫·艾尔练过举重，肌肉发达，力量出众。但咏春这样的中国武术，讲究借力打力，以柔克刚，需“从无力到有力”练起。初初练习咏春的杰夫·艾尔颇为不适应，甚至略显笨拙。

The process of learning and practicing martial arts was not easy. Jeff Ale has practiced weightlifting, so he is a muscle-bound and strong men. But the Chinese Kung-Fu Wing Chun lays stress on strength with softness and it needs to be practiced from “powerless” to “forceful". Jeff Ale was not used to it at first, and even appeared to be  clumsy.

面对困难，他没有气馁。在中国期间，资质平平的杰夫·艾尔将勤补拙，长期每天保持着8到12小时的练习量。最终，在向师傅和师兄弟的汇报中，获得肯定。

However, he was not discouraged in face of difficulties. In China, untalented Jeff Ale made up for his shortness by keeping practice for 8 to 12 hours every day. Finally, he got the affirmation when reporting to his master and senior apprentices.

在佛山习武期间，杰夫·艾尔不仅收获了武艺，还遇到不少值得敬佩的人，从中获得了中国智慧。

During the practice in Foshan, Jeff Ale not only learned martial arts skills, but also met a number of admirable people, from whom he gained Chinese wisdom.

 

在拜师的第一天，师傅叶准就告诉杰夫·艾尔关于功夫的目的和真谛，“功夫不是用来欺负其他人，而是用来保护自己和强身健体”。

On the first day of learning martial arts, Yip Chun told Jeff Ale about the purpose and true meaning of Kung-Fu. "Kung-Fu is not used to bully others, but to protect ourselves and build a strong body." 

作为咏春宗师后人，师傅叶准一直居住在香港的一个普通小区的普通住宅内，家居简朴，生活简单。师傅安贫乐道的生活让杰夫·艾尔认识到：师傅用他的精神记忆和生活方式影响着这个世界，这比注重物质更有意义。

As the apprentice of Wing Chun master, Yip Chun has been living in a common residential house with simple furniture in Hong Kong. Yip Chun’s spirit makes Jeff Ale realize that his master is influencing the world with his spiritual memory and lifestyle, which is more meaningful than focusing on material.

在纪录片最后，杰夫·艾尔到叶问宗师墓地进行拜谒。在肃穆的氛围中，他面对镜头说道，这次咏春学习之旅，让他收获了不少智慧，其中的体会和感悟，使他成为一个“更完整的人”。

At the end of the documentary, Jeff Ale went to Ip Mans cemetery for a visit. In the solemn atmosphere, he said in front of the camera, “This study trip of Wing Chun entrusts me a lot of wisdom, and it makes me a ‘more complete man’.”

功夫，是这座历史文化名城重要底色。佛山用行动证明，佛山咏春闻名世界！

Kung-Fu is an important characteristic of Foshan, a famous historical and cultural city. Foshan proves by its action that Foshan Wing Chun is famous all over the world!

   

(Eleanor)