Kung Fu instructor rises to rank of master
by KEATON T. DEPRIEST Cheektowaga Editor

Mandarino

In 1969, his friend offered to teach him karate.

Since then, Sif Norman Mandarino of Amherst has become devoted to his craft - kung fu.

Inspired by the teaching of his mentor, Master Wong Ting Fong, Mandarino wanted to be an expert in kung fu and to instruct others in the discipline.

The two worked together for years, teaching people the deep-rooted philosophy that is part of martial arts.

In July 2006, Mandarino, having fulfilled every condition required in the Right of Passage, was ceremonially given the rank of red sash master, which he said is one of the most valued honors he has received from his livelihood.

"This has been a very rewarding (career)," he said. "You develop a whole series of friends through martial arts."

In Chinese martial arts tradition, a person may assume the rank of master upon three conditions:

 The death of the master of the style.

 A living master no longer feels able to fulfill his responsibilities and retires.

 It is determined that a new style of kung fu has been created and acknowledged.

Under the tutelage of Master Wong, Mandarino was eligible to reach the rank of master following Master Wong's retirement in 1983, but Sif Mandarino did not accept because he did not feel he possessed enough wisdom or experience.

Currently, Mandarino teaches from his studio, Mandarin Kung Fu, in Cheektowaga, at the Maryvale Continuing Education building, 777 Maryvale Drive. Mandarino has been instructing others about the mental power and sheer discipline involved in martial arts.

"We are the last of the dinosaurs who teach the old style of martial arts," he said.

For the past 20 years, Sif Mandarino has been developing diverse and progressive teaching methods for his students. He said he has also devoted most of his life to analyzing the movements to help him better comprehend martial arts and thereby become an even greater teacher.

Reaching black-belt status, he said, requires a person to be at least 18 years of age because of tradition and maturity. He said that he teaches martial arts to people who want to learn not only self-defense techniques but the history and rules of kung fu.

"We teach a different style. This is the type of system in which a person should be dedicated to the training, to become the best at what they want to do," Mandarino said.

As an instructor for more than 30 years, Mandarino, 64, said he has learned a vast amount of wisdom from kung fu and martial arts.

"The most valuable thing martial arts teaches you is to become a better person," he said.

The Amherst resident said he currently has a small enrollment of approximately 60 to 70 students.

For more information about Sif Norman Mandarino, visit his Web site at www.mandarinkung fu.com.