On Tuesday night, I was surfing the web, reading all the tributes for passing of Eddie Van Halen. Being active in the music scene for over thirty years, many of my friends were sharing their personal memories of working with him. I worked many of his shows too. Van Halen was my generation so many of my non-industry friends were also mourning. Then I saw posts about Grandmaster David Chin’s passing and thought, “Wow, Eddie is in good company.” GM Chin had a great love of music. While I don’t remember every discussing Van Halen, we had many great chats over the SF music scene.We bonded over music, and San Francisco too, not just martial arts.

Years before we ever met, GM Chin owned a restaurant club in San Francisco. He was a chef and a musician – a foodie who could play mean set of congo drums having jammed with Santana's band and others back in the day. He lived in SF, where we had both left our hearts, during one of its most romantic periods. I can still see the gleam in his eyes when he recounted tales about what nightlife in our city by the bay was like in those years.

And man, GM Chin knew food. He often came through California because he still had friends and family here. We'd go to lunch at some hidden Chinese joint, sometimes right smack in my own neighborhood, because he knew the chef's specialties. Once went to this hole-in-the-wall that was only a block from my home in Fremont that I hadn’t even noticed before. He ordered in Chinese and was often dishes I'd never experienced - eating out with him was always a culinary journey. Later, after I went pescatarian, he was always mindful to get some special dish just for me.

Apart from his tremendous legacy in Kung Fu and Tai Chi, GM Chin played a pivotal role in the most notorious Kung Fu duel in American history Bruce Lee versus Wong Jackman. GM Chin was one of the last surviving people that was actually in the room where it happened. Grandmaster Wong Jackman passed away in 2018 so now the only other remaining witness that we know for certain who was there is Linda Lee Cadwell, and she’s biased. The duel was legendary. It’s been depicted in movies and comics and even now, over a half century later, the outcome is a Rashomon, hotly debated by people with different perspectives, none of whom were actually there.

As for the match, GM Chin served a critical role as the messenger. He delivered the challenge to Bruce and, according to several accounts, he was the person originally designated to face Bruce. However, the challenger was changed to GM Wong since he and Bruce were both the same age. It’s a tantalizing to ponder how history might have changed had GM Chin answered that call. I've heard David tell his view of the fight several occasions - a few times in a very unguarded manner over late night libations. GM could drink - so could his students - and so could I. All those years working in the music industry gave me a very special set of skills that have served me well in the martial world. Some of the best lessons come out of drunken style Kung Fu, as well as some of the best stories.

Gigi Oh, our Publisher Emeritus, remembers GM Chin fondly. “I got to know him on our 10^thAnniversary Gala in 2002. Sifu Lily told him to come. He came all by himself and later on we go to know each other. He was always very supportive of our events and even brought his students. He was an old school traditional master - very hard to find now. They live like a family. They train like a family. Train a lot of wude (martial virtue 武德). Only a few left like that.”

I wrote our July+August 2006 cover story on GM Chin Keeping Secrets: Grandmaster David Chin's Legacy of Hop Gar Rebels and Guang Ping Tai Chi Revolutionaries. He was always exceedingly kind to me, making sure I had a seat at the table. Whenever the old masters got together, he always was held in high respect. Most of the time, Chinese banquets are held at round tables. Nevertheless, GM Chin was invariably the head of those tables, by not by desire. His wisdom commanded respect in a humble unassuming way. He was highly respected in the Wulin because his Kung Fu was superb, and he was happy to demonstrate if asked. 

I would cross paths with GM Chin and his students at Wulin gatherings like Master Loretta Wollering’s Zhang San Feng Festivals or Master Jimmy Wong’s Legends of Kung Fu. I saw him last year in Florida at the 50th Anniversary celebration of Lee Koon Hung Kung Fu. He had aged since I had last seen him having survived some major operations. And yet, he was still in command of that table, eager to jump up and demonstrate despite the admonitions of his disciples who tried to keep him safe.

Another testament to GM Chin is his disciples. His students were all strong –many full-contact fighters and in fantastic shape, and yet very respectful and loyal. I'm very fond of his group. They have good wude and for me personally, that’s the most important thing when it comes to martial arts. Good skills in evil hearts make villains. What the world needs now are heroes. And a true hero must have wude.  GM Chin’s surviving pupils are engaged, genuine and polite. Several are good friends. I’m so saddened for them and for their loss, for all our loss.  They just don’t make them like Grandmaster David Chin anymore.