Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite
As a tribute to Sifu Wong Shun Leung, Gong Sau Wong: A Tribute by Eric Lilleør reveals various interviews with people who were directly influenced by his unparalleled mastery of martial arts and his simple philosophy of life. Readers get to see how Sifu Wong fought opponents, trained personally, and taught others from the perspectives of 25 of his students. Ernest, an interviewee, was one of the few foreign students who participated in Sifu Wong's successful Ving Tsun seminar in Beijing, China, in 1996. Another interviewee, Wan Kam Leung, narrates the time Bruce Lee challenged Wong to a fight after he called the fight scenes in Lee's movie "too flashy and unrealistic." Bristling with deeply insightful interviews and exclusive pictures and news stories, Gong Sau Wong: A Tribute depicts Sifu Wong Shun Leung's role in martial arts history and how his legacy lives on in different parts of the world.
A real life version of an epic Chinese movie! As someone who grew up watching action martial arts movies, I loved every bit of the book's vividly described scenes, including descriptions of the places where Sifu Wong taught Ving Tsun. One example is a rooftop illuminated by "the light from nearby streetlights and buildings". To learn from 25 people who benefited directly from one of Ip Man's top students and an influential figure to Bruce Lee is a priceless opportunity for martial arts enthusiasts. The interviewees are quite perceptive and knowledgeable as they share several thoughtful opinions on martial arts in today's world and in recent history. I would read Eric Lilleør's Gong Sau Wong: A Tribute again, without hesitation, for its hilarious stories, its valuable lessons on Ving Tsun techniques, and its wise and profound words of advice.