葉希聖 先生簡述
葉希聖 ，廣東省東莞縣茶山鎮超朗鄉龍頭葉屋人，一九三Ｏ年〔農曆六月十七日〕出生，少小 好武，技涉 南北，然所學仍混沌未開，可說是 「難得糊塗」也！五十年代初，在一舊書攤上，偶得一書，名曰「內外功拳術秘訣」，一九二八年版，「香港拳術研究社」出版，書分上下兩卷，上卷題為「意拳正軌」，乃王薌齋老先生所輯寫，內容 盡是拳學要義 ， 乃拳學之至寶也，由是心焉嚮往 ，盼能習得此拳。然而，香港可有斯技乎？於是多方打聽，尋尋覓覓，無時或已，十年下來，消息何處？一日，猛然想起老朋友邱師傅，他在上海理髮店工作，接觸外省人多，可能有些眉目，遂過訪之，果然不失所望，得悉有一外省人，是王薌齋老先生親傳弟子，能隨意發人跌坐於指定之理髮椅上，屢試不爽。邱師傅是鳳陽派名師，也是我十 多年拳友 ，他在場親眼目睹，自是真人真事也！你道此人是誰？他就是後來成為我恩師的韓星垣先生也。此是六十年代初之事：我經由「三人轉 介 ，三叩師門」。幸得恩師納入門牆之下，親炙意拳之奧秘。當年恩師之授拳地址是九龍元州街三十三號二樓中華 傳道會頌恩堂〔今已不存在〕。
「 眾裏尋他千百度，驀然回首，那人卻在燈火闌珊處！」正是我當年尋師的寫照。
一九六六年十 二月四日 ，尖沙咀金巴利道二十四號三樓新館開幕，我也轉移到新址習拳。不過，此時之我，得蒙恩師錯愛，以「因人施教」，「個別傳藝」的方式，啟發我之愚鈍。記得其中最苦學，最得益而又最難忘的日子，那就是恩師還是獨居的日子，他給我一條門匙，囑咐我早上來喚醒他（事實許多時他還是「元龍高臥」的），然後師徒二人上天台練拳。既畢，我們一起 去東英大廈 翠園酒樓飲早茶，之後他往飛鵝山替他的病人治病，而我則走自己的路。下午一時後，我又再到拳社練拳，稍後，恩師亦由飛鵝山回來，對我又再多加指點，如是者日復一日，那時正值酷暑天時，練得全身濕透連地板也弄濕了，那光景可說是苦樂參半，苦的是皮肉筋骨，樂的是拳技得益！
恩師教我 拳技之地方有好幾處，除了在拳社授拳以外，還有舊漆咸道公園、九龍公園和油麻地砵 蘭街 116 號二樓。
恩師也愛與 我談拳 ，我手上拿著「 意拳正軌 」和「習拳一得」，他輒喜給 我闡釋並加上示範，他 誨 我孜孜不倦，面上還帶著一絲絲的笑容。晚上有空，我也喜歡上拳社坐坐，但我是「坐而不練」的，我只是藉此訓練自己的觀察能力，能否看得出同學們練拳時 的錯與對；看看恩師教拳時 的動與靜，聽聽 恩師授拳時的一言半語。這一切一切，都能給我意拳的養份，正所謂「旁觀者清」也，所以，在一眾師兄弟中，看到我練拳者，不足十人。
七十年代初，恩師幾番囑我設館授拳，我因無暇而婉卻。其後有好幾位師弟，如唐海泰、鄭焯興、聶華智等 ，因拳社的授拳時間不合適，要求來我家練拳，我稟告 恩師首允 ，然後「代師傳藝」，學費則上繳。論語曰：「有事弟子服其勞」，這是理所當然的。
一九七七年，恩師第二次赴美傳薪（這次一去半年）。住在三藩市僑領李卓先生家裡，李先生有一位在美國土生土長的侄兒，認恩師為誼父，當年他要來香港結婚，預算要上好幾個月。行前恩師囑咐他要找我學拳。半月後，恩師來電問他有否來找我，我回說未見其人，恩師將他住的酒店房號告訴我，要我去找他，後來我掛了個電話給他，說明原委，約定翌日早上九時在九龍葛量洪師範學院停車場會面，因那個時期我每天都在那兒練拳的，當時還有兩位由我「代師傳藝」的師弟張志雲和姜生在場。我們二人交談 片刻， 知他 曾習兩 派功夫和氣功，到香港後即隨某名師習某拳。他隨後問我 習意拳多久， 我回 說不多久，他說可否試試，我說 Ok ，於是我們就接上了手… … （過程不說了，反正是意拳的老套，說多了就會變成「老土」），不如讓他自己說吧 ：「 Very wonderful ! Very wonderful ! 」只聽得連續兩聲驚呼。試手後他隨即要明天來跟我學拳，並說不再學其他拳了。我勸慰他說 ︰ 「某拳也是名拳，你可以繼續學，我不會介意的，如果你定要跟我學，我也樂意教你」。後來，他還是放棄了某拳，轉而跟我 學意拳 。此一役也，我無負恩師所託，成功地交了滿分的功課！
有一天，那是下午時分，我和柯廣聲師弟正在練拳，恩師走過來對我們說：「如果有人問你們學的是甚麼拳，你們告訴他是 --- 意拳 、（說話頓一頓）正軌。意思是說，是「意拳的正軌」。
一九八三年一日十八日，恩師「息勞歸主」，他彌留時師母和師弟柯廣聲與及我隨侍在側，目送他走完人生最後一程！
一九八五年初， 師伯 韓星橋 ( 樵 ) 先生在「珠海幹部療養院」開設「意拳培訓中心」，我也有參與 ， 蓋盻多擷取更多意拳的寶貴東西，以充實自己也。學兩年多以來，我從韓樵先生所提出的「各取所需」的指引下，獲益不少，後因 工作繁忙而告退，良可惜 也！
一九八七年七月，香港意拳學會成立，我是學會創會人之一，也是學會之會務監督，第二屆開始任歷屆副會長，師弟霍震寰先生任歷屆會長。
一九九一年 , 我加 入 「香港精武體育會」為董事，並同時設 立意拳班，培訓意拳愛好者 ，我班歷年來學生人數眾多，可見意拳在香港擁有相當多的愛好者。
對於 發揚意拳 ( 大成拳 ) ，我不敢自以為有功，卻深感自己有責，所以在此垂暮之年，趁著還有些微剩餘價值，作出小小貢獻，直至春蠶絲盡，冀無愧於心耳！
Brief Bibliography of Master Yip Hei Sing (self-narrated)
I was born in Longtouye House, Chaolang Village, Chashan Town, Dongquan County, Guangdong Province, China in 1930, on 17th June of the Lunar calendar. I had a craving for martial arts since I was young. Though I had learned Chinese martial art of Northern and Southern style, martial art was something beyond touch to me in those days.
In the 50’s, I came across a book named Secrets of Internal and External Martial Arts in a bookstall that sold second-hand books. The book was published by the Hong Kong Martial Arts Research Society in 1928, and contained two volumes. The first volume titled The Way of Yiquan was written by the late Grandmaster Wang Xiangzhai. As the book revealed so many insights into martial arts, it was indeed an invaluable treasure. I longed for the art of Yiquan and hoped that I could learn it some day. But the problem was: Did anyone know this art in Hong Kong? In the following ten years, I earnestly looked for a Yiquan master, but to no avail.
One day, I suddenly thought of Mr Yau, an old friend of mine who worked in a Shanghai style barbershop. As he had met so many people from Northern China, he might have good news for me. I visted Mr Yau and was much delighted. He told me he knew a man from Northern China who was a disciple of Wang Xiangzhai. This man could send a person flying off the ground effortlessly and every time the person would land on a designated barber chair. Mr Yauwas a renowned master of Fengyang style martial art and a friend whom I had known for over 10 years. What he witnessed must be true! Guess who that man was? He was Master Han Xingyuan, who later became my teacher.
After being referred by three people and visited Master Han for three times, I was finally accepted by Master Han who later passed the essence of Yiquan on me. At that time, Master Han taught at Grace Church, 2/F., 33 Un Chau Street, Kowloon (the church no longer exists now). It was in the early 60s.
On 4th December 1966, Master Han opened a new school at 3/F., 24 Kimberly Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon. I followed him to the new training place. At that time, I was lucky enough to be chosen by Master Han who began to give private lessons to me.
The days I cherished most were those when Master Han still lived by himself. The trainings were so tough, but the benefits were so immense. Master Han gave me a key of his flat and asked me to wake him up everymorning (he was usually still sleeping when I arrived). Then, we would go upstairs and practise on the rooftop. Afterwards, we would go to Jade Garden Restaurant at Dong Ying Building to have dim sum for breakfast. After that, Master Han would go to Fei Ngo Hill to treat his patients, while I would deal with my own business. After one o’clock in the afternoon, I would go to the new school and practise by myself. When Master Han came back from Fei Ngo Hill, he would guide me with my practice again. Day after day, I sweated head over heels and even wetted the floor in mid summertime. The pain was on my body, but the gain was on my skill!
Master Han taught me at several places other than the school, including the park on old Chatham Road, Kowloon Park and 2/F., 116 Portland Street, Yaumatei.
Master Han also enjoyed discussing martial arts with me. With the book of The Way of Yiquan and Attainment of Yiquan in my hands, Master Han would explain and demonstrateto me the true meanings of Yiquan. He always taught me with a tireless heart and a pleasant smile.
When I had time in the evening, I loved going to the school to just ‘watch’. I intended to train my power of observation and see if I could observe the rights or wrongs of other students’ practice. I also liked to observe Master Han’s movements and listen to his words when he gave lessons. All these nourished my Yiquan skills because ‘Lookers-on see most of the game’. Thus, less than ten students of Master Han had seen me practise in the school.
In the early 70’s, Master Han urged me several times to open a school to teach Yiquan. However, I could not do so because I was too busy. Some time later, a few juniors of mine like Tong Hoi Tai, Cheng Cheuk Hing, Nip Wah Chi, etc. found that the schedule of Master Han’s school did not fit their spare times and proposed to be trained by me at my home instead. Thus, with permission from Master Han, I taught them on behalf of my master.
In 1977, Master Han went to the United States to teach Yiquan for the second time (He went for half a year this time). He lived at Li Cheuk’s home in San Francisco. Li was a leader of the local Chinese citizens and had a nephew who took Master Han as his Godfather. At that time, Li’s nephew was going to get married in Hong Kong, and planned to stay in Hong Kong for several months. Before Li’s nephew left the States, Master Han told him to learn from me. Half a month later, Master Han called me and asked whether his godson had come to see me. I said ‘not yet’. Master Han then told me the room number of a hotel where his godson stayed and asked me to find him. Later, I gave the godson of Master Han a call, and invited him to meet me at the car park of Grantham Institute of Education at 9:00 a.m. the next day, where I practised everyday. When he came the next day, my Junior, Cheung Chi Wan and Keung Sang, whom I taught on behalf of Master Han, were also present. After chatting for a while, I knew he had learned two schools of Kungfu and Qigong, and was learning from a renowned martial artist in Hong Kong. He asked how long I had practised Yiquan. I replied ‘not long’. He then asked for a bout. I said ‘okay’. So we got into contact and … he just exclaimed, ‘Very Wonderful! Very Wonderful!’ (no need to repeat what happened because it was just another old Yiquan story). After the trial, he at once wanted to learn from me and quit all other schools of martial art. I consoled him and said, ‘the style that you are learning was well known. I don’t mind if you keep on learning it. But if you really want to learn from me, I am glad to teach you.’ Finally, he quitted what he was learning and started learning Yiquan from me. I was happy that I had not disappointed Master Han and fulfilled the task he assigned to me.
One day in the afternoon, when I was practicing with my junior Or Kwang Sing, Master Han came over and said, “Should someone ask what you are learning, tell him it is ‘The Way of Yiquan’ ”. What he meant was the right path of Yiquan.
On 18th January 1983, Master Han passed away. At his last moment, his wife, Or Kwang Sing and I were by his side. We saw him off for his last journey!
In early 1985, Master Han’s elder brother, Han Xingqiao opened the ‘Yiquan Training Centre’ in the ‘ Zhu Hai Government Officials Rehabilitation Centre’. I attended the training class there and hoped to absorb more valuable knowledge of Yiquan. I was trained under Master Han Xingqiao for more than two years and greatly benefited from his concept of ‘take what you need’. It was a pity that because of full occupant of my work, I subsequently stopped learning from Master Han Xingqiao.
In July 1987, the Hong Kong Yiquan Society was founded. I was one of the founders and a supervisor of the society’s affairs. Starting from the second session, I have been the vice-chairman,while Fok Zan Wan (also a student of Master Han, my junior) has been the Chairman.
In 1991, I became a director of the ‘Hong Kong Jing Wu Athletic Association’ and opened a Yiquan Class to teach people who love the art. My class has a large number of students since its commencement. This shows that many people like Yiquan in Hong Kong.
I am not trying to say that I have made contribution in promoting Yiquan (Dachengquan), but I deeply feel that I have the responsibility to do so. Now, in my old age, I determined to contribute my remaining days for the promotion of Yiquan!