When I began to learn WingTsun together with a Hapkido colleague in 1988, I had no idea that this fighting style would also bring me so much success in Hapkido. At first I only did WingTsun training for fun, in addition to my Hapkido training, and at first I thought WingTsun was just another style of fighting, and nothing special. I trained with my training partners as if I were learning a hard style. During Lat-Sao we ended up with black-and-blue arms and thought this was the right way. In fact we thought we were the only ones who were doing it right, as the others never bruised their arms to this extent.
At some stage I realised that the purpose of WingTsun is quite different. As time went on, my Si-Hing Heiko Martin acquainted me with the principles of WingTsun and I began to train differently. He showed me the great importance of softness and giving way in WingTsun.

One day my Si-Hing Heiko Martin asked me whether I would like to become a WingTsun instructor, and I agreed. In agreeing I also committed myself to learning more WingTsun. The more WingTsun I learned, and the further I progressed in the training programmes, the more my Hapkido began to change as well. Because I began to incorporate the WingTsun principles into my Hapkido, I gained more and more attention from my Korean instructor. Eventually he took me to Korea with him, where he introduced me to other Korean teachers. These gave me lessons in more advanced Hapkido techniques and Korean weapon techniques, but it was always the WingTsun principles that enabled me to progress.

I steadily continued to develop, and my Hapkido became increasingly effective and efficient. In 2003 I was awarded the 8th Dan in Hapkido and was appointed as the European representative. My Korean Hapkido teacher thought I should found my own Hapkido style, however I would not do this for reasons of loyalty, as I feel honour-bound to both styles and teachings. I have a great deal to thank both fighting styles for - Hapkido and WingTsun – and this is especially true for all my teachers.

It is because WingTsun in particular has contributed so much to my success that I awarded my Sifu Keith Ronald Kernspecht the 6th Dan in Hapkido on 01.02.2004, as a token of my friendship and gratitude.

I can only emphasise urgently that the principles taught in WingTsun are of benefit to any other martial arts style.

Josef Schoop

8th Dan Hapkido, 3rd TG WingTsun