In memory of Peter Coker Sifu "The Silent Warrior"

I write this article in the hope that masters and disciples will be inspired by the man, my friend, brother and disciple, Peter Coker.

I met Peter Coker around thirteen years ago, at the second school I opened for the Simon Lau Martial Arts Academy in Edmonton Green, North London. Peter, like myself, was originally a Simon Lau student, and followed me merely because at the time it was more convenient, my school being closer to where he lived in Tottenham.

The word 'Hoksaang' ( student ) in Chinese terminology is a person who partakes in some kind of study. This term is rarely used to describe the relationship between a master and his protege. One would never say, 'I am a student of Master So-and-So.' Rather, one would say, 'I am a follower ( or disciple ) of Master So-and-So.'

'Tou dai', or 'hok tou' are Cantonese used to describe the individual as an apprentice learning the Master's skills - rather like a Jedi in the Star Wars movies. The relationship between master and apprentice is a special one. For martial art traditions still exist, even in this modern world.

From the time I knew him, 'Brother Peter' as I called him, was the epitome of a tou dai. Where many students have come and gone, disciples like Peter 'The Rock' Coker, have deviated neither to the left or to the right, have uplifted, built up and complemented their sifu ( 'master' ) and their Wing Chun brethren.

Fellow students admire such disciples. Their skills are unsurpassed and respected because they emulate the master so closely. Even in the master's absence he is in a sense still with them, since the master's co-worker and apprentice has everything in hand.

Standing in for the master is never a chore for a disciple since he has the same passion for the art as his sifu. No money changes hands and his actions are inspired simply through a love for the art and his sifu.

The master's co-worker treats younger students with care and attention - as if they were his own. The tou dai has no desire to take what is not his, knowing there can be one master. This was the calibre of my Brother Peter.

A Family

We had to re-establish ourselves in 1990 when The Wing Chun School was formed and we were no longer under the Simon Lau Martial Arts Academy. Top class fighters from among us were sent into WAKO and BKBU Kick Boxing tournaments because we were only interested in full-contact bouts. We came away unbeaten.

Peter retired as an unbeaten BKBU full-contact champion and alonside him were fellow students Jerome Caprice, Calixtus Marcel, Ian Morris, Winston McKenzie, Kola Fajimolou, among others. These took care of the school. The si-hings ( 'elder brothers' ) dealt with any troublemakers who came to the school ( trust me we had our full share! ).

The whole Wing Chun School gathered around Christmas time for our annual meal. Peter, through his one-liners and practical jokes, was the life and soul of the party. He did not attend our annual gathering for the first time last year, and was sorely missed.

A Friend

I began teaching Wing Chun at the Third Space in London's West End, during May last year ( 2000 ). Peter still managed to come to training and assist me with the classes despite having lost a lot of weight. Even thought he was in much pain, he still made it down - just to be among us.

Training more than the teaching, I guess, was his life. I remember that he still had plans - though these came to be known over some of the last days any of us saw him. "Sifu, I want to open a school for you when I get back"

This suprised me because Peter had never expressed a desire to open his own branch. I spoke to him on the phone a few weeks later because it had been a while since I had last seen him. He told me, "Sifu, I'll be back. Don't worry!"

A week later I received a call from Lewisham Hospital. "Hi Sifu! I'm at Lewisham Hospital. I'd really appreciate a visit from you and some of my brothers. Please bring some books on Wing Chun or Combat for me."

On my first visit I was amazed to find Peter with a skipping rope, books on Wing Chun, handgrips and all. I was also told he had been spotted doing dips on the Zimmer frame provided ( one he chose never to use as it was intended ). I remember that he retained his wit and warrior mind throughout.

Peter continued to focus his mind on training even when he had but a few days left. And as for me, his sifu, how could I have known that the last day I visited Peter would be the last day I saw him alive.

Although our sifus inspire us, few have disciples who inspire us, but Peter was one who did. Everything he did involved Wing Chun. Even his closest friends, outside of Wing Chun and his family, did not realise how good he was because he never boasted about it.

So what is the point of this article?

There are two reasons behind this article. Firstly, I want my students past and present to know about Peter Coker in the hope it may inspire them. Secondly, I want the world to know of those who, like Peter, go un-noticed because glory is not their ultimate goal in martial arts.

So I say to those sifus reading this: if you have such a student - then never take them for granted.

Brother Peter was a priceless gem who can never be replaced.

In Loving Memory of the Late Peter Coker who died aged 34. 1st November 1966 - 23rd September 2001