The way of Wu
Saw Phaik Hwa's martial arts prowess grounds her and gives her strength, balance and power. By Corinne Kerk
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SAW PHAIK HWA
SMRT CEO
PASSING IT ON
Ms Saw started teaching about five years ago and now conducts four classes a week at the Singapore Jian Chuan Tai Chi Chuan Physical Culture Association on Hong Kong Street.
THE air is thick with incense and the would-be martial arts disciple kneels in front of an altar, before offering himself as a devoted tudi (disciple) to his sifu (teacher). Suddenly, an enemy barges in and throws a heavy punch at the white haired sifu who calmly repels him without even moving a whisker. 'This,' says the sifu, 'is the way of Wu style taji quan.' This may be more reminiscent of Kung Fu Panda or pugilistic TV shows of old, but it's hard to fight off such images when speaking to Saw Phaik Hwa - fifth generation sifu of the Wu style taiji quan; teacher of many; faithful tudi to Grandmaster Wu Yan Hsia; and president and chief executive officer of Singapore's biggest rail network operator, SMRT Corp.
The lady who sports red-tinged short cropped hair is simply not to be messed with. Yes, she might deny you entry on the MRT train, but more frighteningly, she can easily toss you across one of its carriages should you bring some nasty smelling durians or suspicious-looking backpack on board. It cannot be ruled out that knowledge about her martial arts prowess helps oil tough negotiations when, say, Ms Saw is in disagreement with contractors working on the MRT's Circle Line.
Indeed, it was kungfu films that first captured the 54-year-old Singapore permanent resident's imagination during her childhood years and drew her to martial arts. While she grew up playing all kinds of sports, including hockey and squash, her passion was in martial arts. She has been a student of many forms since she was a 15-year-old growing up in Kuala Lumpur. In particular, she specialised in taekwondo - for which she has a second dan black belt - and taiji.
The lady who sports short cropped hair is not to be messed with. Yes, she might deny you entry on the MRT train. More frighteningly, she can easily toss you across one of its carriages should you bring some nasty smelling durians or suspicious-looking backpack on board.
Ms Saw eventually forsook all other martial arts - and sports - for the Wu style of taiji, which, unlike what most people imagine, is nothing like the slow motion moves associated with retirees in a park. She has practised this form of taiji quan for the last 16 years.
'It's one of the few traditional martial arts of China that has been passed down in its true essence,' explains Ms Saw of the Wu style taiji quan, which, like other forms of taiji, traces its origins to Zhang Sanfeng - a semi-mythical 13th century Taoist monk. 'It is a 100 per cent fighting form of taiji.'
Yet, unlike other forms of martial arts, taiji quan is about the innate ability to exert extreme force through a concentration of one's body weight. A key element is balance - the ability to control your centre of gravity well.
Without using any movement at all, practitioners are able to hua (dissipate) the force of an attacker and also repel him. 'Internally, I can absorb the force and return it. And by adding just a bit more force to what I absorbed from the attacker, I can throw him back. That's where the power generation is.'
Unfortunately, Ms Saw has no gratifying story about fending off attackers with some slick taiji moves. She did, however, once fell a burly man who pushed against her by simply standing her ground in taiji position.
Reverence for the art
Over the years, and as most of the older sifus passed away, the teaching mantle naturally fell onto the shoulders of the next generation of disciples, and that includes Ms Saw - the most senior of the fifth generation. Likewise, she acknowledges the dedication of her sifu and teachers, and so, feels it is her duty to pass on the ancient martial art.
Ms Saw started teaching about five years ago and now conducts four classes a week at the Singapore Jian Chuan Tai Chi Chuan Physical Culture Association on Hong Kong Street. She has two afternoon classes on Saturdays for students and one each on Monday and Friday evenings for disciples. Each lesson lasts about two to three hours.
While students pay a small fee to learn taiji, disciples are more serious learners who are taught advanced techniques. Consequently, they have to undergo a discipleship and traditional ceremony involving incense, altars, three kneels and nine bows. They also have to uphold the 12 tenets of discipleship, which includes reverence for the taiji founder, respect for seniority and diligence in training. Again, scenes from old Chinese martial arts films flash across your mind. Or triad ceremonies. But out of fear of being thrown across the conference table, you only mention the former.
'Yes, it is very much like that,' she says of the discipleship fraternity in Singapore, adding that many are professionals like doctors, lecturers and business leaders. 'We have a large and close family of brothers and sisters who share the same interest and traditional value system.'
A typical Saturday starts with a good massage in the morning (she has two regular masseurs who attend to her at home), followed by a light lunch. Then it's on to training. Thereafter, she conducts two back-to-back classes, each with 20 to 30 students, who could be 'as young as nine or as old as 90'. Sundays are her 'quiet time' - Ms Saw readily admits she needs her space and likes her solitude - which she spends eating at her favourite hawker stalls, reading, watching movies or Chinese opera and taking her two shih tzus out for a walk.
Of her dedication to taiji, Ms Saw says this complex art has a way of 'unveiling its secrets' under diligent training. 'There is always so much more that you can discover,' she explains. Apart from its health benefits as a form of exercise, taiji also trains one to 'focus and yet be thoroughly and innately' relaxed. 'Being in fighting form with ultimate calmness helps one have the right frame of mind and demeanour to handle the challenges at work.'
That said, the interview ends with Ms Saw giving you a warm smile and firm handshake before striding back into the hallways of SMRT's stately headquarters. Yes, sifu is definitely in the house.
Saw Phaik Hwa's martial arts prowess grounds her and gives her strength, balance and power. By Corinne Kerk
Email this article
Print article
Feedback
SAW PHAIK HWA
SMRT CEO
PASSING IT ON
Ms Saw started teaching about five years ago and now conducts four classes a week at the Singapore Jian Chuan Tai Chi Chuan Physical Culture Association on Hong Kong Street.
THE air is thick with incense and the would-be martial arts disciple kneels in front of an altar, before offering himself as a devoted tudi (disciple) to his sifu (teacher). Suddenly, an enemy barges in and throws a heavy punch at the white haired sifu who calmly repels him without even moving a whisker. 'This,' says the sifu, 'is the way of Wu style taji quan.' This may be more reminiscent of Kung Fu Panda or pugilistic TV shows of old, but it's hard to fight off such images when speaking to Saw Phaik Hwa - fifth generation sifu of the Wu style taiji quan; teacher of many; faithful tudi to Grandmaster Wu Yan Hsia; and president and chief executive officer of Singapore's biggest rail network operator, SMRT Corp.
The lady who sports red-tinged short cropped hair is simply not to be messed with. Yes, she might deny you entry on the MRT train, but more frighteningly, she can easily toss you across one of its carriages should you bring some nasty smelling durians or suspicious-looking backpack on board. It cannot be ruled out that knowledge about her martial arts prowess helps oil tough negotiations when, say, Ms Saw is in disagreement with contractors working on the MRT's Circle Line.
Indeed, it was kungfu films that first captured the 54-year-old Singapore permanent resident's imagination during her childhood years and drew her to martial arts. While she grew up playing all kinds of sports, including hockey and squash, her passion was in martial arts. She has been a student of many forms since she was a 15-year-old growing up in Kuala Lumpur. In particular, she specialised in taekwondo - for which she has a second dan black belt - and taiji.
The lady who sports short cropped hair is not to be messed with. Yes, she might deny you entry on the MRT train. More frighteningly, she can easily toss you across one of its carriages should you bring some nasty smelling durians or suspicious-looking backpack on board.
Ms Saw eventually forsook all other martial arts - and sports - for the Wu style of taiji, which, unlike what most people imagine, is nothing like the slow motion moves associated with retirees in a park. She has practised this form of taiji quan for the last 16 years.
'It's one of the few traditional martial arts of China that has been passed down in its true essence,' explains Ms Saw of the Wu style taiji quan, which, like other forms of taiji, traces its origins to Zhang Sanfeng - a semi-mythical 13th century Taoist monk. 'It is a 100 per cent fighting form of taiji.'
Yet, unlike other forms of martial arts, taiji quan is about the innate ability to exert extreme force through a concentration of one's body weight. A key element is balance - the ability to control your centre of gravity well.
Without using any movement at all, practitioners are able to hua (dissipate) the force of an attacker and also repel him. 'Internally, I can absorb the force and return it. And by adding just a bit more force to what I absorbed from the attacker, I can throw him back. That's where the power generation is.'
Unfortunately, Ms Saw has no gratifying story about fending off attackers with some slick taiji moves. She did, however, once fell a burly man who pushed against her by simply standing her ground in taiji position.
Reverence for the art
Over the years, and as most of the older sifus passed away, the teaching mantle naturally fell onto the shoulders of the next generation of disciples, and that includes Ms Saw - the most senior of the fifth generation. Likewise, she acknowledges the dedication of her sifu and teachers, and so, feels it is her duty to pass on the ancient martial art.
Ms Saw started teaching about five years ago and now conducts four classes a week at the Singapore Jian Chuan Tai Chi Chuan Physical Culture Association on Hong Kong Street. She has two afternoon classes on Saturdays for students and one each on Monday and Friday evenings for disciples. Each lesson lasts about two to three hours.
While students pay a small fee to learn taiji, disciples are more serious learners who are taught advanced techniques. Consequently, they have to undergo a discipleship and traditional ceremony involving incense, altars, three kneels and nine bows. They also have to uphold the 12 tenets of discipleship, which includes reverence for the taiji founder, respect for seniority and diligence in training. Again, scenes from old Chinese martial arts films flash across your mind. Or triad ceremonies. But out of fear of being thrown across the conference table, you only mention the former.
'Yes, it is very much like that,' she says of the discipleship fraternity in Singapore, adding that many are professionals like doctors, lecturers and business leaders. 'We have a large and close family of brothers and sisters who share the same interest and traditional value system.'
A typical Saturday starts with a good massage in the morning (she has two regular masseurs who attend to her at home), followed by a light lunch. Then it's on to training. Thereafter, she conducts two back-to-back classes, each with 20 to 30 students, who could be 'as young as nine or as old as 90'. Sundays are her 'quiet time' - Ms Saw readily admits she needs her space and likes her solitude - which she spends eating at her favourite hawker stalls, reading, watching movies or Chinese opera and taking her two shih tzus out for a walk.
Of her dedication to taiji, Ms Saw says this complex art has a way of 'unveiling its secrets' under diligent training. 'There is always so much more that you can discover,' she explains. Apart from its health benefits as a form of exercise, taiji also trains one to 'focus and yet be thoroughly and innately' relaxed. 'Being in fighting form with ultimate calmness helps one have the right frame of mind and demeanour to handle the challenges at work.'
That said, the interview ends with Ms Saw giving you a warm smile and firm handshake before striding back into the hallways of SMRT's stately headquarters. Yes, sifu is definitely in the house.
