Articles

Si-Fu Rachel Del-Brocco Interview Blitz Mag

By Jeremy Ta'kody

Published in Blitz Magazine, July 2003

Q/ First of all Rachel, thanks for your time.

My pleasure.

Q/ To begin with, what inspired you to begin training martial arts?

How were you introduced, and where did you begin training? I have always liked the martial arts from a very early age. However, I never had the opportunity to do it because I was playing competitive softball for Qld. & was also throwing the Javelin. I think I still hold the record for U16 Javelin throwing. I was throwing at the time with the likes of Joanna Stone & was beating her. However, I gave it away & Joanna went on to represent Australia at the Olympics. My interest in martial arts was sort of kindled when I met my husband in Sydney. At first, I did not know he was training in the martial arts, but knew he was doing security at nightclubs. He (Alfredo) was also training full-time & living at the Sydney Academy, & it wasn't until he asked me to see where he lived that I realized that this was something I also wanted to do. Alfredo was adamant that if I was going to start training that I had to train for myself because I really wanted to do it & not because of his involvement in the martial arts. Alfredo was also assisting Si-Jou Rick Spain with a few classes during the week & he was also adamant that I did not participate in any class that he was conducting. He specifically said, "If you want to train, you have to be a student of my instructor, Si-Fu Rick Spain". So the rest was history. I started training at the Combat Centres Sydney School in Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills in 1992.

Q/ Who have been your greatest influences, and how have they influenced you?

My husband is a very hard taskmaster. When he puts his mind to something he goes for it 'hammer & tong'. He has been an important influence, but our relationship has always been husband & wife, except on the training floor, then it was teacher & student. Si-Jou Rick Spain has also been instrumental in influencing my martial arts career, especially having the privilege to train under his guidance & to gain the benefit of his wealth of personal & proven training routines, fight methodology & his extreme research, testing & due diligence into anything he sets his mind too. They both have been heavy influences on the way I approach my training, the way I teach & structure classes & the way I just balance my life between being a mother of two children, full-time instructor & partner to my husband, Alfredo.

Q/ What are some of your career highlights?

Probably winning the Australian Light Heavyweight Kung Fu titles in Melbourne in 1995. I had no previous tournament experience other than heavy sparring sessions with guys & my husband. Alfredo was adamant that I did not spar train with females. He told me that fighting is not gender specific except for the predatory tactics, they are usually gender specific. I flew down to Melbourne for the experience & progressed to the final defeating the previous female champion who incidentally had several more years on me as far as martial arts training were concerned. In 1996, I decided to defend the title after rumors that several female martial artists wanted to 'take my scalp'. I trained harder this time, breaking a toe 1-week before the tournament. The toe was bandaged up & we went to Melbourne again. On the day we found no women competitors in the Light Heavyweight division. They had all moved up or down a division, presumably to not face me. I was really annoyed, but the organizers said I could fight in the Heavyweight division. So, I fought with a broken toe & won the heavyweight title. There were also fight promoters from the USA & they wanted to sign me up for female boxing in the USA, which was just taking off. Alfredo said he would support me in whatever decision I made. I started to train after a month off, but found this time around I was feeling weak & lethargic after a run or bag workout. I ended up visiting the doctor & was informed that I was pregnant! My pregnancy changed my focus away from a competitive fight career.

Q/ You take an active role in the running of the Queensland Headquarters. Can you explain some of your insights on teaching the system? (Maybe describe how classes are conducted for a beginner, intermediate, advanced etc.)

Firstly, we are dedicated to each & every student that joins. Secondly, we believe in the System that we teach. We do not teach a style. A style is a single solitary martial arts system. The System we teach comprises of Wing Chun Kung Fu, Brazilian Ju Jitsu, Boxing & Kickboxing & Weapons training & defense. It is a System. Also, Wing Chun was a hybrid system to begin with, taking the best elements from various Chinese Kung Fu styles & integrating it under one, Wing Chun. I also have assistance from my husband who conducts all senior classes, Kickboxing classes & instructor 'Gold Belt' classes. He assists with the intermediate & beginner levels & the Brazilian Ju Jitsu classes. I also take allot of the private tuition & teach the BJJ (because I love it!). Si-Jou Rick Spain is always ever only a phone call away for any assistance whether it be technical or otherwise. We also have a very high caliber of junior & assistant instructors whose ideals are that of the Organizations. They also believe in the student & the system. Besides the teaching component, I also diligently run the administrative & financial side of the School while Alfredo covers the marketing & advertising components. It is a partnership, & we both juggle our commitments around our children's interest first & foremost. All Kung Fu classes contain elements of stand up, clinching & takedowns, along with the traditional components like Chi Sao drills, Wooden Dummy training, Forms & combat & self-defense drills. Bag & pad work is an important component along with sparring & conditioning drills. The BJJ is strictly done to the Will Machado BJJ curriculum. The kickboxing is heavily influenced by Muay Thai (Alfredo loves this!) & western boxing training & conditioning. Overall, it is a well balanced mixed along with the weapons training, & seems to work well & be enjoyed by all students of our Organisation.

Q/ What obstacles does Wing Chun or Kung Fu in general face over the next decade?

I personally feel there are numerous Schools out there just teaching choreography. They have no real understanding of street fighting or competitive fight training, which is evident in the way they try to teach their students to stand & move. These same Schools have no real understanding of human movement again evident in their training drills. These same Schools are also the first ones to criticize grappling & groundfighting & to profess they have 'anti-grappling drills'. Yes, we also have anti-grappling drills but are not going to be ignorant to the fact that you still need to be familiar with the pavement. I don't think any martial artist out there wants to find themselves on the ground in a street confrontation, BJJ exponents included, but it is always better to be familiar than naive. So, we teach a System of proven combat, a mixed martial art. Yes, there will be those who get into the illusion of fantasy & the mystic of martial arts training & will be content thinking that they can defend themselves against a violent situation without ever really testing themselves both physically & mentally. Again I think it happened last year where a group of Chinese martial arts exponents went to Thailand to fight some young up & coming Thai boxers. I was told that the Thai's basically 'flogged' the Chinese Kung Fu exponents. Allot of other Wing Chun schools also look at our approach to Wing Chun as 'odd' or not 'conforming' to what everyone else is doing. I feel they forget that Wing Chun, other than being a hybrid system, was & should still be an evolving system. I think Tony Robbins summed it up best when he said the definition of madness is: "If you continue to do the same thing over & over again & expect a different result". I feel that all Kung Fu styles need to continue to evolve & especially the Wing Chun fraternity. If they don't, they will be left behind over the next 10 years.

Q/ What is your favorite piece of equipment?

A live breathing, conscious, calculating & experienced training partner! Next to this the Wooden Dummy.

Q/ What are your thoughts on forms? Do you have a favorite pattern?

The forms or as we like to refer to them the 'sequence of movements' are just that. A sequence of movements. They are likened to shadow boxing but in a pre-determined sequence. They are essentially for the training of muscle memory, co-ordination and as well as the old grey matter between the ears (i.e. retention of the sequence). The Wooden Dummy is again simply a sequence of movements & I enjoy being able to unleash some shots on a training apparatus that is not going to complain that you hit it too hard.

Q/What are the key elements for self defense training?

Firstly, a compliant training partner. From here we train our techniques & drills in this format: 1/ predetermined. 2/ full contact. 3/ full-depth. 4/ full-speed. 5/ random. Students as they gain experience progress through these formats. Obviously, novice training involves allot more predetermined work & senior training involves allot more full-contact, full-speed, full-depth & random elements. From here, multiple opponent scenarios are also addressed & drilled along with grappling & groundfighting & weapons defense.

Q/ What are 5 key concepts of Wing Chun?

The way we teach it: 1/ A good defense is a good offense. 2/ never underestimate your opponent, & train accordingly & for the unexpected (hence: grappling, groundfighting, kickboxing etc. being integrated into Wing Chun curriculum). 3/ being ambidextrous. Training to use & co-ordinate both sides equally. 4/ Touch Reflex (Chi Sao) drills. 5/ Simultaneous Blocking & Striking drills.

Q/ What should a gold belt (equivalent to 2nd degree Black Belt) mean to those aspiring to achieve one? What should those that already have achieved their gold belt be thinking about?

Students aspiring to achieve their Gold Belt must realize that their training does not end or cease at this point, but rather it is the beginning of a new phase of their training with equally the same end result sense of satisfaction & achievement. I have witnessed too many Gold Belts reach this short goal only to give it away for no thought through reason. From my personal conversations with my husband, Alfredo, you learn so much more post Gold Belt & 2 years training at Gold Belt level far exceeds the development & gains on your average 5-year attainment of Gold Belt, & I would have to agree. Those who have already attained their Gold Belt & are still actively training within the System should be goal setting them towards their first master level grading. We have another 7 Master level belts to achieve post Gold Belt. It would be likened to Karate. A Gold Belt is a first degree black belt, while the subsequent Master Levels are likened to associate Dan's on a Black Belt. On this, Gold Belt students should be thinking how far they have come & not how much further they have to go. By this I mean, that the post Master Levels should be goals to strive for & not deterrents or excuses to quit.

Q/ (How) do traditional teachings have a place in today's society?

I think the traditional martial arts qualities of family, honor; humility, loyalty, integrity, respect etc. have always been a part of a martial artist ethics and protocol. I think these teachings have a definite place in today's society if not mores.

Q/ What direction will martial arts take over the next decade?

I think that more & more martial arts styles are going to evolve into martial arts Systems. By this I refer to your earlier question & I feel mixed martial arts are going to be the norm.

Q/ Do you believe in the existence of Chi, and have you ever seen anything that has convinced you of the internal power of martial arts?

Yes, Chi just means 'air'. Breathe as energy is prevalent in all living forms. Chi training is just the better use & understanding of internal energy or air. I have witnessed my husband use pressure point striking & use his development of Chi with devastating results to a couple of unlucky individuals. The use of Chi is also prevalent in the healing side of the 'dark side' & accupressure & acupuncture are well accepted into our western society today both publicly & by elements of the medical profession. I had the privilege of learning accupressure healing under the auspices of Grandmaster William Cheung several years ago. I have also seen Si-Jou Rick Spain do some simply amazing things, which I don't want to elaborate here, but I saw him hit this guy from a very short blow so hard that this poor guys feet left the ground for at least six feet before he landed on his backside with broken ribs. Later in conversation with Rick, I asked him how he developed so much power in that very short strike & he replied that it was specific 'Chi training & development'.

Q/ How important is weapons training (Why)? At what level should a student undertake the study of weapons?

We teach weapons from a very early beginner stage. Again, it is familiarity, leaving no stone unturned. Weapons defense & the correct use & control of a weapon are paramount to any serious component of martial arts System. You just need to read your weekend newspaper & assaults, stabbings, home invasions; car rage etc. is & has been on the increase for some years. With the concerns of the world political climate over the past 17 months, I know of people who are very seriously, looking at their family & personal safety & security. If this means arming yourself or preparing yourself within the confines of the law, then this is happening & weapons training & familiarity are most definitely important.

Q/ How can martial arts prepare students to face life?

Well, no matter what activity, some people just cannot organize or control their lives. They wake up one day, look at themselves & go 'where has the last 10years gone?’ Too many people also live on the edge of their means. Martial Arts training can endeavor to instill patience & perseverance through good days & bad, good months & bad months, good years & bad years. Goal setting & attainment also form an important part of our curriculum & we are heavily into with our students. The Training should help to develop the moral fiber & intestinal fortitude along with a winning attitude as opposed to a negative, closed mind, defeatist attitude. And by closed mind I mean those who are naive or reluctant to explore other training Styles & methodology i.e. grappling & groundfighting or to just simply sit down & take a look at themselves in the mirror & to see if they really do know everything. I think the day you think your style or system is better than anyone else’s, is the day you should shoot yourself in the head. A style or System is only as good as the determination & understanding of the person training it or the psychological & fitness levels of the person applying it. Our Organisation motto is “Keun Yao Sum Fut.” (Phonetic pronunciation) Which translates “the fist comes from the heart”. This ‘war cry’ is no different to other war cries Such as “the eye of the tiger” or “its not the size of the dog, but the size of the fight within the dog”. Fighting is pure ‘heart’, nothing more, nothing less & the size of the ‘heart’ transcends all styles & all Systems.

Q/ What are your personal goals, and how do you intend to achieve them?

To just enjoy my training & the students & friends & family around me while it lasts. One day we are all going to be six foot under & life is not a practice run, nor should you skimp, go in ill-informed, not do your due diligence & research or take shortcuts on any goals you try to achieve for yourself. It is one day at a time. One training session closer. If you set training goals & you miss out on training sessions, not through fault of injury, then what motivates me that there is someone else out there training to potentially 'kick my arse'.

Q/ What is the greatest gift that training can give you?

Sense of achievement & satisfaction & just the total healthy body, mind, spirit feeling. Training is for yourself & if you don't make the effort to do it, no one is going to do it for you. There are no magic pills or potions. Just hard work & Alfredo is always telling the students that the definition of Kung Fu simply means hard work.

** Footnote: Rachel recently was the first female student of Combat Centres Australia to grade & achieve her Blue Belt in Brazilian Ju Jitsu (equivalent ranking to Black Belt). The grading was a 2 hour grading conducted by Si-Fu Rick Spain, President of Combat Centres Australia & former full-contact World Invitation martial arts champion.