Bio - by Sifu George Reyngoudt

[jkinnear]

This is an unoffical biography complied and written by Sifu George Reyngoudt. Thank you George for all your hard work.

There are many stories about Grandmaster Willem Reeders, some no doubt true, some could be true but are unverifiable and some stories probably have some truth in them but are legendary creations. There are many people who have been touched by this man and each person has stories about Grandmaster Reeders unique abilities. Grandmaster Reeders shared many stories about his family and life with his students. He gave each person a part of his martial arts and his life. Either by design or just the path of his life, these people, grandmaster Reeders shared his life with, have pieces of an elaborate puzzle. It has been stated by his students that grandmaster Reeders created the broken mirror system. He gave to each of his students a piece of the mirror. Some of them were given more of the puzzle and others just a small unique part that is different than everyone else. Be that as it may, here is the story of Willem Reeders.

Willem Reeders? grandfather Karl Lodewygk was related to Willem the IV, prince of Orange and King of the Netherlands. As most royalty of the Dutch, Karl had relations to English royalty and was the Earl of the House of Wiedling. In the early 1800?s, Karl went on a trip to China as an emissary of Holland and to secure trading agreements on tea. While he was in Peking (now called Beijing), he met with the emperor and the royal court of China.

While in the court, his eye caught sight of a beautiful young woman, who was the princess Hap Kiem. She was related to the emperor. The princess Hap Keim?s mother was from the Royal Liu Family of southern China. The two met and fall in love. The Dutch nobleman asked the emperor and the Liu family elders for the hand of the princess in marriage and was basically laughed out of the royal court. The princess Hap Kiem went to her younger brother, Liu Leong Siong. Liu Siong, as he was often referred to, was a Shaolin priest and a great master of the martial arts. He was well respected from his skills as a warrior and was seen as one who would in time become one of the Liu family elders.

It was also noted that the Liu family was descendants from one of the five southern Shaolin masters that survived the destruction of the Shaolin temple system. Liu Siong was a master of the family Kuntao system, a deadly fighting system that is believed to be the highest level of the martial arts. It was only taught to Royalty and the emperor?s family. A second style of Gung Fu that was derived from Kuntao was taught to the emperor?s elite guards. Kuntao was stated as more of an attitude and spiritual power than a particular technique or system of techniques. Others say that it is a fighting system of lethal techniques comparable to no other martial arts. The emperor?s Kuntao was not shared completely with its entire members but for each royal family only the first adult male child of that generation learned the complete system. It was never share in its entirety outside the family even to this day. Individuals outside of the family had to be adopted into the family to continue training to advanced rank and the adoption had to be approved by the family elders.
Liu Siong adored his sister and liked the Dutch nobleman so he spoke with the family elders but made no headway with convincing them to allow the marriage. The princess Hap Kiem told her brother that she was going to marry Karl anyway. In the end, Liu Siong decided to help his sister and arranged for her and Karl to secretly leave China. Shortly after their departure, the Chinese royal court found out that Liu Siong had helped the couple to leave. Liu Siong had many friends and was notified that the court was going have him arrested. Some say that Liu Siong dove in the South China Sea and swam several days to catch up with the ship that his sister and Karl was on. Whether that was fact or legend, Liu Siong caught up with his sister and the Earl in Indonesia. Liu Siong resided with the newly married couple at the Wiedling family plantation in Java.

The Earl and princess settled in and began a family. They had a daughter who they named Christine. Christine later married to a wealthy civil engineer named Charles M. Reeders who lived in Indonesia. Their wedding was at the Wiedling estate and Christine wore a wedding gown hand-woven from a single thread at a cost of $10,000. The formal affair had a 1,000 guest.

Charles Reeders and Christine moved into the Wiedling estate in Java. They had several children, the oldest was a daughter named Adriana Engelina and the second born was the first-born son of the house of Wiedling. He was named Willem. Liu Siong decided that Earl and his extend relatives was his family now and Willem was going to be the one to learn the family martial arts. While at the Wiedling?s family plantation, Liu Siong saw the inefficiency of the compound guards and began teaching them Shaolin martial arts. He taught them the martial arts possible to reciprocate the Earl and his sister?s generosity or to help keep out unwanted intruders that may be assassin of the Chinese courts, probably a little of both. Needless too say, Liu Siong taught to the guards a very efficient and effective combination of Shaolin Chuan Fa and a lower level of the Liu family martial arts. Some refer to that fighting system as the lower system of the Royal Gung Fu that Grandmaster Reeders taught in later years.

At the age of four, young Willem began his martial arts training as well as his formal education in private school for the wealthy Dutch families living in Indonesia. Being Dutch and part Chinese, he got into a number of fights with both the Dutch students at the school and on the way home with the other Indonesian children that would pick fights with him. His older sister was given charge of mending his clothes after he returned from school. Sister would have to repair his clothes almost daily. She was glad when her younger brother started to get more efficient at defending himself.

When master Reeders reached the age of 12; his great uncle began taking his nephew to a Shaolin Temple in China. Young Willem would train at the temple for 100 days then return back to Indonesia to continue his academic schooling. He would return every year for a 100-days of training at the temple until he was 21 years old. While at the temple he was taught the Shaolin fighting arts, Buddhism, and Chinese medicine. He also was one of 6 students (some say it was 11 students) to be taught an ancient healing/combat exercise that was much like Tai Chi Chuan. This exercise originally came from a Tibetan Buddhist temple. Master Reeders was the only one among the group of students that completed the training. Master Reeders had to go to Tibet to perform the exercise to finish his training and was approved by the temple masters. In later years master Reeders taught this exercise to his students. (Some call it Tibetan Tai Chi for lack of a better term. But it is probably an ancient Nata (Kata) of Indian Warrior Class that was used in martial training. )

Master Reeders learned empty hand fighting techniques and then was taught the Chinese weapons of martial arts. His favorite weapon was the titjiu, which is the same weapon that is called the Sai in Okinawan Karate.
Liu Siong was a renowned master of the martial arts and well-known in Indonesia for his Kuntao. He was blinded in his later years when he was attacked by a number of assailants (possible assassins from China but other say they were a group of Silat masters). One of the attackers threw broken glass in his eyes (a low deceitful act that was no doubt done to minimize master Liu Siong?s abilities to defend himself) and blinded master Siong. This only made the situation deadly and it is stated that Master Liu Siong killed all of the attackers in flurry of lethal techniques (a deceitful act repaid).

During these years, young Willem?s uncle, Liu Siong trained his nephew in both Shaolin Chuan and Kuntao. Uncle Liu Siong told his nephew Willem, if a practitioner of another system confronts you, it is best to know that system so you can fight against it. Liu Siong also encouraged his nephew to learn all the martial arts that were available to him. Master Reeders had met Ernest ?Nes? De Vries in Siam during World War Two and became good friends. Nes De Vries was a student of Mas Djut, who was a Pukulan Master and Willem and Nes De Vries started sharing some fight techniques. Ernest de Vries did not care much for the Forms of the system and was more interested in fighting. According to Grandmaster Reeders, Nes De Vries was a fierce fighter and few could match his skills. Grandmaster Reeders felt much the same way about Forms and loved learning useful fighting techniques. Nes De Vries taught Master Reeders much of the Pukulan Pak Serak fighting system. Nes then introduced Master Reeders to his teacher, Mas Djut and the two studied together with the Pukulan master. Through Nes De Vries, Master Reeders met the de Thouars brothers, William, Paul, Maurice, and Victor. The de Thouars brothers were the nephews to Nes De Vries. Also during this time, Master Reeders learned a number of the other another Indonesian fighting system of Penjak Silat from several other masters. Some of the masters were Leo Sjel, Lion De Riearere, Theo Schrijn, the Soverbier brothers, Puk and Mancho, Tji Petjut, Abu Saman, and Suro Djawan. Master Reeders later studied Shotokan Karate, Judo, and Shorinji Kempo at the Budokan in Japan.

Liu Siong and Master Reeders stopped going to the Shaolin Temple at the time the Japanese invasion of China. At that time, Master Reeders joined the Dutch Navy and was assigned to a naval ship to defend the coast of Java. While he was in the Dutch Navy, he did some boxing. Master Reeders used the boxing name of ?Baby Marchini? because his mother did not want him fighting in his underwear. Master Reeders could not convince his mother that boxing trunks were not his underwear so the boxing name became his path around the issue. He won all his bouts except one. He was fighting a Boxer that was know for fighting ?dirty? and during the match while in a clinch the boxer elbow Master Reeder in the side of his head and knock ?Baby Marchini? out. Master Reeders demanded a rematch. The boxer knowing of Master Reeder?s martial skill initially refused. Master Reeder assured the boxer and his manager the he was not out for revenge. So they agreed to a rematch. In the first round of the second fight, Master Reeders traded several punches with his advisory then stepped back and side kick the boxer in the throat, dropping him to the mat. Master Reeders was disqualified but was smiling as he left the ring.

When the Japanese invaded Java, his ship was sunk in a harbor and Master Reeders, along with a number of his shipmates taken prisoners. Young Willem resisted capture and according to the story about the incident, after the ship went down, Master Reeders was picked up in the harbor by a Japanese Naval ship. Once onboard, Master Reeders started fighting with the crewmen and it took 12 Japanese soldiers to subdue Master Reeders. Before the war, Master Reeders completed his formal academic education and had a degree in civil engineering. Young Willem was transported to Burma to a Japanese work camp and force to help design and build a bridge. Master Reeders finally escaped from the work camp and then work with the underground resistance. He returned to the bridge he had helped build and destroyed it. He would help and participated in a number of covert operations during World War II blowing up other bridges. While working with the resistance, he was given the nickname of ?The Red Ant? because he was such a fierce fighter. He would often go on raids to free prisoner from the work camps. It was told that master Reeders would distract prison guards and lead them away from the camp then kill them.

After WWII, he was involved in the Indonesian fight for independence. Being Dutch/Chinese, he was on the Dutch government side and after Indonesia got its independence, he returned to Holland for a period time then left the family wealth behind and moved to Toronto, Canada. This was in the late 1950?s and there were very few people that shared the martial arts in those days. At that time, Master Reeders was well known in the Chinese and Indonesian martial arts circle as a master of the arts. He met Master Sam Wong and started working out at his Mu Dong Martial Arts school in Toronto. Grandmaster Wong and Grandmaster Reeders became good friends and together developed a Chinese martial art federation called Chunghwa Kung Fu Hui.

At that time in the 1950?s, the non-Chinese were taught one aspect of the martial arts and the Chinese were taught the ?real stuff.? Master Reeders did not care for that type of treatment of people who wanting to learn the martial arts and began teaching to who ever he felt deserved to learn whether they were Chinese or not. He left Toronto and opened a school in Erie, Pa. He then later moved to Jamestown, N.Y. and upon getting to Jamestown he open a school there.

During Master Reeder?s years in western New York, many advanced gung fu sifu and karate sensei would go to master Reeders for special training. Master Reeders held an advanced black belt in Shotokan karate and a black belt in judo. Because of Master Reeders? in-depth knowledge of the Chinese martial arts, he could brake down the karate into its Chinese roots and give a more clear and deeper understanding of its techniques.

During this time, Bruce Lee contacted Master Reeders. Bruce Lee wanted to know about Master Reeders? Gung Fu and especially his Kuntao. At the time, Bruce Lee was developing his own system of fighting of which he called Jee Kun Do. Bruce Lee had learned about Master Reeders from his senior student, Dan Inonsanto, who knew of Master Reeders? expertise in Chinese and Indonesian fighting arts. Master Reeders was invited to visit Bruce Lee in California. While he was visiting Bruce Lee it was believed that he showed Mr. Lee the very efficient effectiveness of Kuntao. On there first meeting, Master Reeders asked to see some of Bruce?s technique. Mr. Lee started moving around and threw punch at Master Reeders. At Bruce?s amazement, Master Reeders caught the punch with his hand in mid movement. Bruce asked Master Reeders, ?How did you do that?? Master Reeders smiled and responded, ?Oh, I learned that at Shaolin Temple when I was 12.? Bruce Lee had several meetings with Master Reeders over several months. It is unknown how much Master Reeders taught Bruce Lee about Kuntao but there are a number of similar aspects in Jee Kun Do to Kuntao. No doubt, if Master Reeders did teach Bruce Lee Kuntao it was done in secrecy and he was probably told not to tell where he was taught it.

Master Reeders taught mostly fighting techniques, which were Chinese Gung Fu and Silat. Some individuals were taught Master Reeders? family Kuntao in private. In the early years, there was a Form taught that was called the Point Form. It consisted of four shorter forms that were put together to make one long form. The form was believed to be a Penjak Silat form but it is unknown what Silat system it came from. The first part was the 4 point Form, next is the 6 Point, 5 point, and 3 point. In the in later 1960?s, Master Reeders taught several forms that were the bases of the self-defense techniques of the system. One was called Hoc Chan, a bil gee form (finger strike) that emphasized one finger striking in a whipping strikes and simultaneous blocks and strikes. Another bil gee form called Ho Chan, emphasizing spear hand techniques with a low crescent kick to the leg called a dragon?s tail kick. A third form called Kweetang was taught. Kweetang was a form that came from the Kweetang Silat system. It is believe that the Kweetang Form is a number of shorter fighting technique exercises (Langkas) of the Kweetang Silat system. There were several other forms that Master Reeders taught to different individuals that were from different Chinese and Indonesian martial arts. Pak Soy (Slap Block), which is also called Bok Sai by some, is a short form that was often referred to as a family form. From his years of training in different martial arts, Master Reeders knew hundreds of different katas and forms and each person got a little something different for Master Reeders.

At one point, the Hung Loc Gung Fu School came down to Master Reeders? school to participate in a demonstration. When they saw what the students were doing, they were amazed that Master Reeders had showed them those Chinese fighting systems. The students were told that they should count themselves lucky because the level of martial arts they were shown was not taught to just anyone especially non-Chinese.
He also felt strongly about what and whom he taught to people and that his students maintained a humble and respectful attitude. Master Reeders taught separate classes in Pukulan, an Indonesian fighting art. He taught two forms of Pukulan, Tjiminde (cha-min-dee) and Tjikalong (cha-kaw-loong). Tjikalong was considered the female system (yin) and Tjiminde the male system (yang).

In 1972, Master Reeders was being plague with sinus problems and was told by his doctor to move to the southwestern part of the USA if he wanted any relief from the infections. So without much notice, master Reeders and his family packed up their belonging and moved to Albuquerque, N.M. At that time, he left the school to one of his senior students and promoted several others to continue teaching in Western New York. Several of his senior students, he gave the right to teach to what master Reeders called the ?Liu Seong Royal Gung Fu.? Couple of his senior students found out that he was moving to New Mexico and packed up and moved also. They felt that wherever their teacher went, they went too.

Master Reeders settled into his new home in Albuquerque, N.M. and start teaching Gung Fu, Silat, and what was called Tibetan Tai Chi out of his home from many years. In the 1980?s master Reeders opened a school in Albuquerque. Master Reeders lived in Albuquerque up until his passing into the next life in 1990. Some say he still is here, influencing his teachings, visiting his students and family, and teaching us all the lessons of life.

[kungfujoe]

originally posted by Christoph

From what i understand, Master Reeders was not connected to the "house of orange' and was not Dutch royalty.

There is or was a connection to Portuguese royalty at some point in the past and his family was responsible for a construction in Spain, a castle or monastery i believe, that is no longer 'in' the family and exists merely as a historical note.

I am a little sketchy on the details, but i am sure there are others who know more...

peace.

mbar

Does anyone have any further information on this subject?

Peace

[kungfujoe]

originally posted by Christoph

Thanks for the information Mike.
Peace
Chris

[gallenbenson]

Hello,
It was nice to find this forum online dedicated to GGM Reeders. I was fortunate to have studied with GGM Reeders in Albuquerque, NM. The year would have been 1973-74.
I took private lessons from Lui Seong five nights a week, for about a year. It has been interesting viewing websites talking about his background and the styles he knew, and taught. Some of it rings a bell, and some doesn't. He 'always' told stories , about himself, his past, or sometimes stories related to the technique being taught.
At the time, I was under the understanding that I was learning Shaolin Kung Fu from him. His son was about 8 years old at the time, and I was aware that he was supposedly the only one who would learn Kun Tao. He was a problem child at school regarding fights he was getting in, and it appeared that he might not be allowed to learn the system. Regardless, it was knowing about this withheld information, that was part of the reason I moved on.
Now in hindsight, and from reading other people's info about KunTao and such, I am not sure what all I learned. I am more convinced that some of the material was perhaps from that system.
The main focus was on technique. Most of that was tiger and ape, although there were a lot of other animal techniques he taught at the lessons. I learned a single 'set' of a praying mantis form, based on my body type at the time. I learned an elbow boxing form called Bok Sai, and a type of what I would call qigong. I don't know how to spell the qigong exercise form. My best attempt would be "Tai Sau". It was an isometric type qigong. It also was a 'theorey', employed in expressing/training technique. I always had to start my lesson doing a complete set of that, which was quite exhausting, then usually technique. One technique, over and over for a few hrs every night. He often would sit on a chair, and drum, to energize the move.
I saw his senior students here and there, but never really met them. I would imagine that Grand Master Sykes was one of them.
He stressed learning Kung Fu, if one was physically able. He also taught Tai Chi, and something called Pukala(sp?) , I believe and Indonesian form similar to Tai Chi. My understanding was, that he preferred Kung Fu, spoke highly of Kun Tao, and taught tai Chi or this other system to people who couldn't handle the physical demands of the kung fu he taught. He was also teaching iron palm technique and training. The only weapons we worked on were sai's and machette.
I have very fond memories of Lui Seong. He was my first encounter with authentic kung fu. I still maintain a connection to a "piece" of what I learned, and often pay respects to his memory and spirit.
There is too much to write about this amazing master and all the stories I heard. As I said, I was surprized to find this forum honoring him. If there is interest, I will try to contribute what I remember, here and there.
Respectfully,
gallen

[Jerry Martin]

Hello and welcome to the forum Gallen.

I wonder if we will every find out how many people were personally taught by GGM? I wish I had the honor to just have met him let alone learn from him. I respect and admire the humility with which you present your history and would love to hear any other stories from that time.

Where are you located? Do you still train and if so, in what discipline?

Again welcome, take off your coat and stay awhile.

Peace, Jerry

[gallenbenson]

Hi Jerry,
I am located in Minneapolis, MN.
I stopped practicing fighting technique a number of years ago. Most of my background was in Wing Chun, Yuen Kay Shan style. I learned iron shirt qigong at that time, and I still practice that, for health. About 15 years ago I left an active martial arts practice to pursue medical and spiritual forms of qigong. I still find some of the martial qigong very effective in regards to health and longevity. I mostly do healing work these days.

I see the structure of your forum a bit better now. As this is the biography thread, I will add a bit of what I was told by GGM relative to this. I share this as best my memory serves me! It was a long time ago.
" As I mentioned, I had private lessons with GGM , usually 9-11pm at night. His wife was often there , collecting the money for the lesson! GGM didn't seem interested in that part. My understanding was that she was Dutch royalty, or perhaps a princess??? His marriage to her, involved him in the Dutch marines in WWII. He mentioned the term shanghai'd, as something springing from this interaction between this family Dutch/Chinese thing.. He always spoke highly of his grandfather, Lui Seong(sp?). This might sound wierd, but I believe his father had something to do with wrestling, and Russia. I don't know if he actually was Russian,,,or what. Russian wrestling technique??? He spoke of a family argument one night between family members about technique and power. His grandfather ended the conversation, by putting his two fingers(sword fingers) through the 2" teak table . In the time of GGM, there were still bandits roaming around the Chinese country side. GGM said that most people who knew kung fu, also mastered a weapon. He said his grandfather's weapon, was his two fingers. In one of the old photos one can find online , where he is with his Dutch friend (DeVrie's?), in his youth, ,,,both of them squaring off with his grandfather, I believe you can see his grandfather brandishing those two fingers. I believe it was something he developed after becoming blind. He was attacked at one point by bandits, and blinded by powdered glass, thrown in with an "cobra" eye striking technique that he showed me with the story. He said his grandfather managed to defend himself and beat off his attackers. Shortly after the attack, his grandfather began a practice of taking his clothes off, showering, or getting wet, and developing great sensitivity of touch and feeling, being blind. He spoke of him as an extremely effective fighter, and those sword fingers as very deadly.
He also spoke highly of the monks in the Shaolin temple. He said they were more or less untouchable. One would be asigned to you, almost like a drill sargent, and constantly surprize you, pop out from behind a door whatever. You could train in the temple in just the martial aspect. The Buddhist training was separate and optional. ( In my lessons he would teach in reference to Confuciousm) He said, especially in the weapons training, that every once in awhile, someone would get tired, and get killed in the practice with live weapons. It sounded like hours of dodging spear points etc.. The monks may have come to his house too, as his family was royalty.
I heard mention of Bruce Lee only once. It was not good, and it was at the time of his death. I believe GGM was connected to some grape vine,group of masters, that had something to do with Bruce Lee's demise. Some long distance technique. I know Lee offended an element of traditional teachers by claiming his own system, or something like that. Again, I only repeat as I recall..
He told me an elaborate story about the war. Too long to get into for now.
A bit diifferent than what I read.
The sai was his favorite weapon, again, as far as I know. He had very heavy ones that you would practice with, and these special bladed ones that were very light, were the actual weapon. I recall him speaking about the special alloys of metal in Chinese swords being this light flexible steel.
I remember practice with the heavy sai's. He would then open his closet door, grab a machete, and say, " now do what I showed you, and don't pay any attention to what I do." He then proceeded to attack with the machette, and I did the moves! I would hear the clink of the blade on the sai's, and tried to ignore the fact he was swinging a machette at me.
As you entered his house, it was bare of furniture. The larger front room of his house was just for training. The walls and ceilings were all knicked up from weapons practice. There were a few pictures on the walls of Sam Wongs school in Toronto, whom he also spoke highly of.
GGM was greatly effected by the war. He told me he spent several years in Amsterdam after the war, somewhat reclusive. He was still quite reactive to any surprize sounds or unexpected entries to his house. Not someone you would want to sneak up on! I always made myself known when I entered the house. He spoke a few times about his eyes. A telling look that was sometimes all it took to win a fight . Once I accidentally came into the house more unannounced. He was practicing some knife techniques with his senior students, he obviously didn't want me to see. I recall him doing the technique with this student, and looking at me , at the same time. It was 'so' fast, that the air in the room seemed to change,,,the atmosphere..., and I got a bit dizzy and had to catch my balance, just as an univited observer. Something about the sequence of events and experience seemed supernatural. I was promptly banished to the kitchen, to wait for 'my' lesson. He was private about what he taught, and to who. I remember some lessons I had, where he woudl put his son in his room so he couldn't watch. That, more so, so his son wouldn't adapt a technique and use it on another kid. He had been suspended from school for fighting.
later,
gallen

[Shifu Chunjin]

Hi All,

Just a few notes on Master Reeders' Dutch ancestry.

In the late 1960's Master Reeders was given the title of Count by his Dutch Royal family the Weiling. This happened while he was here in Western New York. It was a big to do in which Master Reeders' sister came from the Netherlands to present it to him. The local newspaper did an article about his life and Dutch ancestry. It spoke of his relation to one of Willem the V's three children. Willem the V had three children, Frederick Willem, who became King. Willemina Christina, who married and had several children (none named Karl Ludwick). And a third named Karl George (I like his second name of George, good name). Karl George had no "register Royal" marriages. He was a military man and was known to have spent much time in Asia. Is Karl Ludwick a misquote and it was real Karl George? Hard to say or verify but the article only states that Master Reeders' Grandfather was one of the sons of Willem the V.
In my research the only Karl Ludwick I found was one that married one of Willem the V's father, Willem the IV's daughters, Christina and they had several children. Perhaps this Karl Ludwick had a second wife after Christina passed on to the next world. But this Karl Ludwick die in the mid 1800's so it is hard to say. I suspect it was Karl George but that is only my quess.
AS from the Spanish/Portugal connection, Master Reeder's first wife was of Portugal Royal ancestry. The were married in Indonisea I believe but for clarification on that Master Reeders' son Richard could answer those question.
But as far as Master Reeders Dutch ancestry, he was related to the House of Orange but it is not openly recognized.

Zaijian,
George
The House of Reyngoudt

[vmijjg91]

Do you know if the News Paper article is available on line. I would love to read the original article and make it part of my archives.

Thanks,

Joe

[Shifu Chunjin]

Mike,

It is confusing because there is little information about both Master Reeder's Dutch and Chinese families.
But I will try to answer to what little I know.
As for Weidling, it is a typing error. It is Weiling.
And yes in my search on Weiling lead me to Weiling as English in origin but the English and Dutch Royalty are very closely related. The king of the Netherlands traces their ancestry through English Royalty back to William the Conqueror. There was a lot of intermarriages between the English and Dutch Royals throughout the centuries.
As for what I wrote in the Bio, I was basing it on what I found about Karl Ludwick Weilburg-Runkel, who was the son in law to Willem the IV. Was he master Reeders grandfatrher? I am not sure or was there a Karl Ludwick II? Karl Ludwick die in the late 1700's so if master Reeders relation traces back through this Karl Ludwick it was probably one of their children. Which would make Willem the V an Uncle.
The article stated that Master Reeders great grandfather was Willem the V. The article also stated that Willem the V had three sons. Willem the V had three children but only two were sons that lived.
After I wrote the bio, I found out that Willem the V really had five children. four sons, one which die at birth and another that for whatever reason is unname in the geneology of the House of Orange-Nassau.
I did some checking and my last post was not quite correct with the names of Willem the V's children. (I was trying to remember from memory). His daugther was Frederika Lusie Willemina and she married Karl George August.
Willem Frederick the I (he succeeded as King) and Willem George Frederick are the other two sons. The unnamed son only live one day before diing which is probably why they did not name him. So it is not very clear who master Reeders' grandfather was and how he was related to the House of Orange-Nassau.
I had an e-mail coorespondence with Richard Reeders and he did not have any more info than I did. But he did know about his mother's royal heritage.
If anyone has further info please jump in.

Zaijian,
george

[gallenbenson]

Hi Mike,
It was his father I was referring to, not his grandfather. I just have a vague recollection about this, that mainly stemmed from a very clear memory of this one story concerning a family discussion in GGM's home about what technique/style is the most powerful , or something like that.. I recall 'something' about wrestling/Russian/or Russian wrestling/ father...
The whole point to his telling this story, was to talk about his Grandfather's weapon, being his sword fingers, and how prominent they were in his Grandfather's technique. That in reference to how practioners who knew kung fu, also mastered one weapon.
GGM mentioned keeping his favoring weapon, those sai's(I forget the more specific name) over his fireplace where he lived in China. He said you could see them from the front gate to his house, through the doorway. It was a warning to anyone thinking of intruding. As i said, he lived at a time where bandits still roamed the country side. -gallen

[Shifu Chunjin]

Hi Gallen,

Just curious, is Gallen your first name or last?
WHat I know of Master Reeders' father is only a little. His name was Charles A. Reeders. He was Dutch and his family was wealthy and through my coorespondence with Master Reeders' son Richard, he informed me that the Reeders family owned a furniture factory in Sealand, Netherlands. But the factory was lost in the floods of 1953. He was a civil engineer. Not much know more than that.

George

[gallenbenson]

Hi George,
It is my first name. My last name is Benson. That said, you can see what I look like on my website, gallenbenson.com! My wife did a drawing of me that I use in my profile.

I included the memory of this Russian wrestling thing, as I wanted to share 'whatever' I recall, be it more or less accurate, as a contribution. I have a bit more to share, not a lot. Once I am done, I will probably fade back from whence I came!!

It is interesting to me, how much I did with him, that was all framed within Shaolin content, by him. I know now, and have for awhile, that some of the material was family style , but I couldn't specifically draw lines and separate out what is what, regarding many techniques. It seems to most of the people I see connected to his teaching, there is a heavier Indonesian influence, which I am quite sure I didn't engage with.
I also have distinct war time stories, but they seem different than what I read about that, and I am reluctant to go there. I would also be curious what the overall structure of his legacy is, in terms of 'recognized' teachers/schools. I've seen this Guy Savelli's site, who must of worked with GGM Reeders prior to New Mexico, and know of Arthur Sykes, the Tai Chi school people in NM, then the names here, and wonder how it all goes together! The group connected to this site seem to have a common language, style reference wise, and much of it is unfamiliar to me! Some is...
-gallen

[Shifu Chunjin]

Gallen,

Please feel free to post the stories of your interactions with Master Reeders and well as the stories he told you. Even if they maybe different or conflicting with the posted Bio of Master Reeders. Trust me, I claim no clear authenticity to anything posted in the Bio. Not that I don't believe what I have been told by others or what I have found or read, it is just that in all things of this nature, you put five persons in a room and have them discribe something that happened and you will get five similar but different stories of one event. It is just human nature.

Personally I would love to here your stories and the ones Master Reeders told you.
That Bio that is posted is only a portion of what I have documented in a on-going story of Master Reeders life. Right now I have about 16 pages written of the stories and information I have gathered on master Reeders training, his life, and family. And I would love to hear more. Understand I claim no authority or absolute accuracy of the stories. So please post your stories but if you do not feel totolly comfortable posting them you could e-mail me at acifa@frontiernet.net Trust me I would love to hear them as I think, so would others.
And to me the stories are nice and enjoyable but what is truly important is what Master Reeders passed on to us in training and technique. The stories are just nice to hear.
As for the "overall struture of the legency"........................Well,
you truly can not look at the Liu Seong system as a strutured system from school to school or try to structure it. Each school will have similar and some of the same techniques and Forms but they are also different. Some will have a Chuan Fa influence and others a more Kuntao and others Silat.

Mainly because Master Reeders trained many people in a number of martial arts. It is true that there is a a great overlap of what individuals were taught by Master Reeders but he taught different aspects of self-defense/combat/fighting to each individual. Those different aspects influence that individuals school and teaching.
To structure it into a particular format would be difficult and unproductive. The best way to look at it is like an extended family with brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers. All with a branch of the family tree.

As for you just fading away back to where you came, please do not do that, you are must welcome and as being a student of master Reeders, you are a part of this family, Liu Seong Gung Fu and are always welcome visit and speak. Just do it respectfully as I think you would.

Zaijian,
george

[vmijjg91]

I would like to add some information to the question of students of GM Reeders. Some of the first individuals to train in Kun Tao from Master Reeders beginning around 1960 were the following:

Robert Servidio
Art Sikes
Harry Zimmer
Artis Simmons
Ed Carter

Of these individuals the longest to train in Kun Tao and the one whom received the entire system from Master Reeders was Master Robert Servidio. Master Servidio passed on his knowledge to several individuals, the top student of his was Master Scott Young whom I study from. After 1965 Master Reeders stopped teaching pure Kun Tao. Guy Savelli started around 1964 as did Ed Seely and Ray Cunningham. After 1965 Master Reeders began teaching what he referred to as Tibetan Tai Chi.

My comments are not intended to disparage any individuals or discredit their claims. My intention is to state was has been relayed to me through my Kun Tao lineage.

I am sure Master Servidio has many stories of interest to the group. I will contact him and see if he is interested in sharing them on line. He has stayed very private and our school has remained a non profit.

[Shifu Chunjin]

vmijjg,

Please finish your post with your name (real name).
It keeps people honest.
I have seen and been to forums where people throw out statements and claims and accusations and then hide behind a internet name.
As a student of Master Scott Young, I know you have been taught well and I assume that you were to my school when Master Servidio and Master Young came to visit this past summer.
So if you can please post with your real name it would be appreciated.

Zaijian,
goerge reyngoudt

[vmijjg91]

Sorry I forgot to post my name: It is Joe Gionti and unfortunately I was not able to make it up to visit with Master Young and Master Servidio. They informed me about the visit, but I was unable to make it. I reside in Ohio and visit and talk with Master Young as often as possible.

[kungfujoe]

There's one big piece of this bio that seems to be missing - birth and death dates. I believe GGM Reeders was born in 1917, and know that he passed on in 1990, but what were his birth date and the date in 1990 that he passed on? I never thought of this until it came up in the talk page for the Liu Seong Kuntao article on Wikipedia. Once I saw that question brought up, it suddenly occurred to me that it was a piece of information that is in pretty much every biography, but it's a piece of info that's lacking from any bio I've seen of Willem Reeders.

[Iron Monkey]

From what i understand, Master Reeders was not connected to the "house of orange' and was not Dutch royalty.

There is or was a connection to Portuguese royalty at some point in the past and his family was responsible for a construction in Spain, a castle or monastery i believe, that is no longer 'in' the family and exists merely as a historical note.

I am a little sketchy on the details, but i am sure there are others who know more...

peace.

mbar

Salam, I am new to the forums, and I wish everyone the best. I am a student of one of Steven Ramsey. He trained with Robert Baker, who brought him to GM Sikes, who brought him to train with his teacher GM Reeders and his disciple GM Willy Wesel. So my teacher was with all of these guys training at the same time. He was very blessed anyways from talks with him and GM Sikes. Reeders is very connected with the House of Orange, he is a descendant. I am not sure who you are getting your information from. But what I can tell you is that the auto bio above is pretty accurate.

[fatgrasshopper]

Hello everyone! My name is Shane. I noticed when the subject of GGM Reeders' students came up I didn't see Master Carl Spitali's name. Master Spitali trained under GGM Reeders and was then referred to (forgive any mispelling) Yu Chin Wah by GGM Reeders. This was in Asia after Master Spitali served in Vietnam. I trained under two of his students in the 1990's. They were Sifu Lenny Howie and Sifu Darwin Harwood. Through my lessons I often heard GGM Reeders referred to as the "Red Ant". I've heard so many stories, the war, death matches, western New York (Jamestown). I never knew what was fact and what was legend, but I can say after doing some internal training I hesitate to doubt anything anymore.

[kungfujoe]

Hello everyone! My name is Shane. I noticed when the subject of GGM Reeders' students came up I didn't see Master Carl Spitali's name.

Welcome, Shane.

Mr. Spitale is listed in the thread about original students. There's also been quite a bit of discussion about one of his students, who you mentioned, Lenny Howie.

Take care

[Mike Z]

Does anyone have any info about when GGM Reeders taught in Erie Pa. and who he may have taught?

[Sebek]

Many great things have been said about GM Reeders, all worthy, fore he was a great teacher, with great students, but much has been left out and I can imagine why. I actually took the call of GM Reeders transitition for GM Sikes in 1990. I have trained in the fighting arts of GM Reeders for 40 years. The last 18 years of Grand Master Sikes life I was his private student, so many things were shared with me, that wasn't necessarily shared with everyone else, some things about GM Reeders & GM Sikes, I do know that internationally GM Sikes was Known as GM Reeders only student spiritually trained. For those that knew GM Reeders, knew he was a man who spoke his mind. He taught GM Sikes certain things for a reason, one of his statements was "he must return the art from which it came" GM Sikes taught me things about spiritual awareness, and the ability to do, that could have only been learned from a man like GM Reeders, I see some students are confused about what they really learned from him, and it wasn't the physical lessons that needed mastering. One of the lines GM Sikes should to tell me all the time, " I am here to open your mind to your spirit" and he did. I can never thank him enough for the spiritual lessons bestowed upon me, which showed why his skills were so far ahead most. GM Sikes students have to be a testiment to how great his teachings were, so since many haven't I will. The art is a living art, and must be kept alive from that point of view. There were two students that he raised to the level of Priest training one on the east coast and one on the west coast and that's the truth. GM Sikes constantly advanced the way techniques were done, which is what made it a living art, many, many students missed that part of his teachings. I learned the tai chi aspect, as well as the fighting techniques, and that of the Priest.