I started athletics at the age of 7. Later Judo and Taekwon-do. I was asked to teach at the age of 15. I became an assistant trainer in both sports. Also national referee in Taekwon-do.
I was intro Read more
Sifu Vertommen trained under Robert Buggeman when Robert was studying the Wang Kiu lineage. Robert left the lineage and became a student of Victor Kan, and does not claim any affiliation with the Wang Kiu lineage. However, Sifu Vertommen did not follow Robert to Victor Kan. So he is still teaching the Wang Kiu for of Wing Chun, even though he has not taken a new Sifu within that lineage. This is why the lineage of Robert shows he is (accurately) a student of Victor Kan, but Sifu Vetrommen shows and claims the Wang Kiu lineage.
Ik ben zolang bij Sifu Robert ( Bob) Bruggeman gebleven tot hij mij vertelde, "ik weet niets meer, nu moet je gaan". Af en toe spreek ik nog met Sifu Wayne Yung. Hij kan mijn geloofwaardigheid staven. Tevens Sifu Martin Dragos en Sifu Siukee Wan zijn op de hoogte van mijn aanwezigheid in deze wereld.
I started athletics at the age of 7. Later Judo and Taekwon-do. I was asked to teach at the age of 15. I became an assistant trainer in both sports. Also national referee in Taekwon-do.
I was introduced to Wing Chun through a roommate during my military service. Later I met Sifu Robert (Bob) Bruggeman who became my teacher. After 2.5 years I was allowed to do an internship at Sifu Simon Lau in England. A year later Bob asked to open a school and asked me to leave with the words… “now you have to go, I don't know anything anymore”.
I asked him to write down what I had learned. This was very strange, because this normally does not happen. It was noted and thus began a manual that would take me 26 years. Shaolin Shifu Shi Heng Jin once asked, "why a manual"? “In order not to forget anything and not to benefit or disadvantage anyone… I will evolve and so I can also let the style evolve”.
My vision is still that Schaolin provides the best workouts and results. After I left Bob, I knew Wing Chun has a lot more to offer. I started to look for the how and why of each movement myself. Breathing, Qigong and various.
Although I always remained modest, told no one and never advertised, apparently I stood out. Was asked for various introductory lessons, training, demonstrations, competitions.
During my career I came into contact with several Masters who asked me to practice their style. I never accepted this and stuck with this style.
Some Masters stood out like the Chinese Sifu who gave me the name, “Fang Youwu”, GM William Cheung, Sifu Martin Dragos (Wing Tsun), Sifu Wayne Yung (Wing Chun), Sifu Shen Long (Shaolin) and others
What I never expected was that he would stand out to Shaolin Shifu Shi Heng Jin. Shifu personally came to my hometown to ask to work with him. We are still in touch.
I still teach Wing Chun and Qigong.