Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Zhou Tong (archer)

Zhou Tong was the archery teacher and second military arts tutor of famous Song Dynasty general Yue Fei. Originally a local hero from Henan, he was hired to continue Yue Fei's military training in archery after the boy had rapidly mastered spearplay under his first teacher. In addition to the future general, Zhou accepted other children as archery pupils. During his tutelage, Zhou taught the children all of his skills and even rewarded Yue with his two favorite bows because he was his best pupil. After Zhou's death, Yue would regularly visit his tomb twice a month and perform unorthodox sacrifices that far surpassed that done for even beloved tutors. Yue later taught what he had learned from Zhou to his soldiers and they were successful in battle.

With the publishing of Yue Fei's fictional 17th-18th century biography, '''', a new distinct fictional Zhou Tong emerged, which differed greatly from his historical persona. Not only was he now from Shaanxi; but he was Yue's adopted father, a learned scholar with knowledge of the , and his personal name was spelled with a different, yet related, Chinese character. The novel's author portrayed him as an elderly widower and military arts tutor who counted Lin Chong and Lu Junyi, two of the on which the ''Water Margin'' is based, among his former pupils. A later by noted Yangzhou storyteller not only adds Wu Song to this list, but represents Zhou as with supreme swordsmanship. The tale also gives him the nickname "Iron Arm", which he shares with the executioner-turned-bandit Cai Fu, and makes the bandit Lu Zhishen his sworn brother.

Various wuxia novels and folk legends have endowed Zhou with different kinds of martial and supernatural skills. These range from mastery of the bow, double broadswords, and to that of Wudang hard qigong and even x-ray vision. Practitioners of Eagle Claw, Chuojiao and Xingyi commonly include him within their lineage history because of his association with Yue Fei, the supposed progenitor of these styles. He is also linked to Northern Praying Mantis boxing via Lin Chong and Yan Qing, the adopted son of Lu Junyi. Wang Shaotang's folktale even represents him as a master of boxing. However, the oldest historical record that mentions his name only says he taught archery to Yue Fei. Nothing is ever said about him knowing or teaching a specific style of Chinese martial arts.

Zhou has appeared in various forms of media such as novels, comic books, and movies. His rare 20th century biography, '','' serves as a sequel to ''The Story of Yue Fei'' because it details his adventures decades prior to taking Yue as his pupil. He also appears in a novel concerning one of his fictional . He was portrayed by three different actors in a string of black and white Yue Fei films produced in the 1940s and 1960's, one of which featured a ten year old Sammo Hung as the . Veteran martial arts actor Yu Cheng Hui, who played the sword-wielding antagonist in Jet Li's '''', stated in a 2005 interview that he has always wanted to portray Zhou in a film.

History


Mention in Yue family memoirs



On his deathbed, Yue Fei's third son Yue Lin asked his own son, the poet and historian Yue Ke , to complete Yue Fei's memoirs. This two-part memoir was completed in 1203, some sixty years after the general's political execution, but was not published until 1234. It was later rewritten in 1345 and published in the Yuan Dynasty's dynastic chronology '''' under the title '''' . Zhou’s mention in Yue Ke’s memoir was only briefly summarized in the Yuan rewrite. It reads, "He learned archery from Zhou Tong. He learned everything and could fire with his left and right hands. After Tong's death, he would offer sacrifices at his tomb."

Western Washington University history professor Edward Kaplan explains Zhou was a "local hao" .

Historical and scholarly sources spell his personal name as , meaning "same or similar". However, the Yue family was much too poor to afford military lessons for their son, so, Yao Dewang, the boy's maternal grandfather, hired Chen Guang to teach the eleven year old how to wield the . Yao was very surprised when his grandson quickly mastered the spear by the age of thirteen. Zhou was then brought in to continue Yue's military training in archery. Dr. Kaplan describes Zhou as the "most important" of the two teachers.

A section of the ''Jin Tuo Xu Pian'', the second part of Yue Ke's original published memoir, describes one of Zhou's archery lessons and reveals that he took other children as his pupils:

"One day, T'ung gathered his pupils for an archery session and to display his ability put three arrows in succession into the center of the target. Pointing to the target to show grandfather , he said: 'After you can perform like this, you can say you are an archer.' Grandfather, thanked him and asked to be allowed to try. He drew his bow, let fly his arrow and struck the end of T'ung's arrow. He shot again and again hit the mark. T'ung was greatly amazed and subsequently presented to grandfather his two favorite bows. Thereafter grandfather practiced still more he was able to shoot to the left and right, accurately letting fly the arrow as he moved. When he became a general he taught this to his officers and men so that his whole army became skilled at shooting to the left and right and frequently used this technique to crush the enemy's spirit."

The last sentence of the passage is similar to one from the ''Biography of Song Yue, Prince of E''. It mentions how after the tutor's death, Yue taught what he had learned from Zhou to his soldiers who were victorious in battle. Dr. Kaplan's states this happened just prior to Yue's entrance into the army and that the entire event served as a symbol for Yue's "entrance into responsible manhood." but Yue would have been eighteen in that year since he was born on "the fifteenth day of the second month of 1103." The author of the original source material was using age calculation, in which a child is already considered one year old at birth. Since Yue joined the military shortly after Zhou's death, a relative time frame can be given for when he passed away. During the early months of 1122, the Song empire mobilized its armed forces to assist the Jurchen in confronting their common enemy, the Liao Dynasty. Therefore, it appears that Zhou died in late 1121, before the call to arms was issued.

Fiction



Zhou Tong's fictional life story can be pieced together from two sources: '''' and ''''. ''The Story of Yue Fei'' is a fictionalized retelling of Yue Fei's young life, military exploits, and execution. It was written by a native of named Qian Cai , who lived sometime during the reigns of Qing Dynasty and Emperor Qianlong. A dating symbol in its preface points either to the year 1684 or to 1744. It was deemed a threat by the Qing emperors and banned during the Qianlong era. In the novel, Zhou is portrayed as an elderly widower and Yue's only military arts tutor. The General's historical spear master Chen Guang is never mentioned. Zhou teaches Yue Fei and his sworn brothers military and literary arts from chapters two through five, before his death.

In the writing of his novel, Qian Cai used a different character when spelling Zhou's given name.

''Iron Arm, Golden Sabre'' was written by Wang Yun Heng and Xiao Yun Long and published in 1986. During their journey, Zhou recommends that Yue run the horse to test its speed. Yue spurs the horse on leaving Zhou in pursuit. When they reach the village gate, the two dismount and Zhou returns to his study where he feels hot from the race and removes his outer garments to fan himself. But he soon falls ill and stays bedridden for seven days. Then the book describes his death and burial:

"...his phlegm bubbled up and he died. This was on the fourteenth day of the ninth month in the seventeenth year of the Reign of Xuan He, and his age was seventy-nine ... Buddhist and Taoist Priests were asked to come and chant prayers, for seven times seven, namely forty-nine days. Then the body was taken up to be buried beside the Hill of Dripping Water."

Yue lives in a shed by his grave through the winter and in the second lunar month of the following year, his martial brothers come and pull the building down, forcing him to return home and take care of his mother.

The quoted death date is not only unreliable because the book is fiction, but also because the '''' of lasted only seven years and not seventeen. Although ''The Story of Yue Fei'' states Zhou died shortly before Yue took a wife, he historically died ''after'' Yue married. But Zhou comments that his "old wife" died and his "small son" was killed in battle against the after leaving with the bandit Lu Junyi to fight in the war. In '''', his wife is named Meng Cuiying and his son is named Zhou Yunqing . He defeats Meng in a lei tai martial arts contest and wins her as his wife. But she is shortly thereafter kidnapped by the wicked monks of the Stone Buddha temple. Both Zhou and Meng eventually defeat the monks with their combined martial skills and later marry at the in Hubei province.


Zhou Yunqing first appears as a fierce, impulsive young man who rides his horse into the thick of enemy encampments wielding a long spear. He later dies in battle against the Liao Dynasty. After his son's death, Zhou retreats to the for a long morning period. He later takes seven year old Yue Fei as his adopted son and sole heir years after the boy's father drowns in a great flood:

"I see that he is clever and handsome and I, an old man, wish to have him as my adopted son ... He need change neither his name nor his surname. I only want him to call me father temporarily so that I can faithfully transmit all the skills I have learned in my life to a single person. Later, when I die, all he has to do is to bury my old bones in the earth and not allow them to be exposed, and that is all."

However, after comparing events from ''The Story of Yue Fei'' and a account of Yue's life from the sixteenth century ''Popular Elucidation of the Restoration of the Song Dynasty'', literary critic C.T. Hsia concluded "that his father did not die in the flood and that, although Yueh Fei showed almost filial regard for the memory of his teacher Chou T’ung 同 , the latter had not been his adopted father." Despite the addition of popular legends, Xiong Damu , the author of this work, relied heavily on historical chronologies including Zhu Xi’s ''Outlines and Details Based on the T'ung-chien'', Yue Ke’s family memoir, and the Yuan Dynasty’s official '''' to write his story. describes Zhou thusly,

"He was beyond the age of fifty, he was more than fifty, and standing upright he measured about eight feet. His face had a golden tan, arched brows, a pair of bright eyes, a regular head form, a square mouth, a pair of protruding ears, and under his chin there were three locks of beard, a grizzled beard. On his head he wore a sky-blue satin scarf, and he was dressed in a stately sky-blue satin coat with a silken girdle, a pair of wide black trousers without crotch and satin boots with thin soles."

Heroes and religious masters with above normal height are a reoccurring theme in Chinese folklore. For instance, his student Wu Song is said to be over nine feet tall in the same folktale. In '''', the General simultaneously duels with two other warriors vying for first place in a military exam; one is nine feet tall and the other is eight feet tall. A Hagiography of the Taoist saint Zhang Daoling states he was over seven feet tall.

When Zhou is vocalized in "," he speaks in "Square mouth public talk," which is a manner of speaking reserved for martial heroes, highly respected characters, or, sometimes, lesser characters that pretend to be an important hero. Square mouth public talk is actually a mixture of two forms of dialogue: ''Fangkou'' and ''Guanbai''. ''Fangkou'' is a manner of steady, yet forceful over pronunciation of dialogue that was possibly influenced by . ''Guanbai'' is monologue and dialogue that is sometimes used for "imposing heroes." This mixture of styles means Zhou Tong is treated as a highly regarded hero.

In her analysis of Yangzhou storytelling, B?rdahl noted that the aforementioned tale about Zhou and Wu Song uses different forms of dialogue for both characters. Wu speaks square mouth utilizing standard mandarin without rusheng . On the contrary, Zhou speaks squaremouth using the , which ''does'' utilize rusheng syllables. Therefore, she believes “square mouth dialogue should at least be divided into two subcategories, namely the Wu Song variant—without rusheng, and the Zhou Tong variant—with rusheng."

Students


Water Margin bandits


:''See also: ''

The ''Water Margin'' is a Ming Dynasty about one hundred and eight demons-born-men and woman who band together to rebel against the lavish Song Dynasty government. Lin Chong and Lu Junyi, two of these bandits, are briefly mentioned as being Zhou's previous students in ''The Story of Yue Fei''. They are not characters within the main plot, though, as both are killed by "villainous officials" prior to Zhou becoming precept of the Wang household.

Zhou's portrayal as their teacher is connected to a reoccurring element in Chinese fiction where and Song Dynasty heroes train under a "celestial master," usually a Taoist immortal, prior to their military exploits. C.T. Hsia suggests the mold from which all other similar teachers are cast is Gui Guzi , master of the feuding strategists Sun Bin and Pang Juan, from the tale ''Latter Volume of the Spring and Autumn Annals of the Seven Kingdoms''. But in adopting this format, Qian reversed the traditional pattern of "celestial tutelage" since Zhou is written as a human, while his students are reincarnations of demons and the celestial bird Garuda .


Although Lin and Lu have been connected to Zhou since the Qing Dynasty, Wu Song did not become associated with him until Wang Shaotang created a 20th century folktale in which the . Zhou teaches Wu the "Rolling Dragon" style of swordplay during the constable's one month stay in the capital city. This tale was chapter two of Wang's "Ten chapters on Wu Song" storytelling repertoire, which was transcribed and published in the book ''Wu Sung'' in 1959.

Wang’s tale portrays Zhou as an aging with "a fame reverberating like thunder" throughout the underworld society of Jianghu. He is also given the nickname "Iron Arm" , which carried over into the title of his fictional biography ''Iron Arm, Golden Sabre''. Furthermore, Zhou shares the same nickname with Cai Fu, an executioner-turned-bandit known for his ease in wielding a heavy sword.

Because of his association with these bandits, Zhou is often confused with the similarly named bandit "Little King" . He later dies under the sword of Li Tianrun, an officer in the rebel army of Fang La. So, the connection between both Zhou's is by the English of their name only.

Yue Fei



'''' comments Lu Junyi is Zhou's last student prior to taking on seven year old Yue Fei and his three sworn-brothers Wang Gui, Tang Huai and Zhang Xian . He teaches them literary and military lessons on even and odd days. The novel says Yue is talented in all manners of "literary and military matters" and even surpasses the skill of Lin and Lu. After Yue acquires his "Supernatural Spear of Dripping Water", Zhou tutors all of his students in the , but each excels with one in particular; Yue Fei and Tang Huai, the ; Zhang Xian, the Hook-Sickle spear and Wang Gui, the . All of them learn the skill of archery in addition.

Books written by modern-day martial artists make many claims that are not congruent with historical documents or current scholarly thought. For instance, Yang Jwing-Ming says Zhou was a scholar who studied martial arts in the Shaolin Monastery and later took Yue as his student after the young man worked as a tenant farmer for the official-general Han Qi . However, history Prof. Meir Shahar notes that unarmed boxing styles did not develop at Shaolin until the late Ming Dynasty. He also states that Ji family memoirs and Qing Dynasty records suggest Xingyi was created hundreds of years after the death of Yue by a spearplayer named Ji Jike . In addition, the appearance of Han Qi in the story is a chronological anachronism since he died nearly 30 years before Yue's birth. Yue historically worked as a tenant farmer and bodyguard for descendants of Han Qi in 1124 after leaving the military upon the death of his father in late 1122, but he learned from Zhou well before this time.

Eagle Claw Grandmasters Leung Shum and Lily Lau believe "Jow Tong" was a monk who brought young Yue to the Shaolin Monastery and taught him a set of hand techniques, which Yue later adapted to create his ''Ying Kuen'' . Liang Shouyu states practitioners of Emei Qigong believe Yue trained under Zhou as a child and competed to become China’s top fighter at an early age. Their lineage story dictates Zhou also took Yue to a "Buddhist hermit" who taught him said qigong style. Northern Praying Mantis Master Yuen Mankai says Zhou taught Yue the "same school" of martial arts as he did his ''Water Margin'' students and that the General was the originator of the praying mantis technique "Black Tiger Steeling Heart."

Martial arts




There is insufficient historical evidence to support the claim he knew any skills beyond archery. Contemporary records never once mention Zhou teaching Yue boxing. Wang Shaotang's folktale even represents him as a master of boxing. This combination of various schools refers to an eighteenth century martial arts manual that describes the gathering of at the Shaolin Monastery that supposedly took place during the early years of the Song Dynasty. Lin Chong and Yan Qing are listed as two of the eighteen masters invited, which means their skills of and are treated as two separate schools, instead of one. But he believes Mantis fist was created during the Ming Dynasty, and was therefore influenced by these eighteen schools from the Song. He also says Lu Junyi taught Yan Qing the same martial arts as he learned from Zhou.

Very few references are made to the people who supposedly taught martial arts to Zhou. In '''', he learns as a child from a Shaolin master named Tan Zhengfang. Practitioners of Chuojiao claim he learned the style from its creator, a wandering Taoist named Deng Liang.

In popular culture





Zhou has appeared in various kinds of media including Novels, comic books, and movies. Apart from ''The Story of Yue Fei'' and ''Iron Arm, Golden Sabre'', he appears in a novel based around his , Jin Tai. Li Ming, and Jing Ci Bo. Jing starred alongside a ten year old Sammo Hung, who played young Yue Fei. Veteran martial arts actor Yu Cheng Hui, who played the sword-wielding antagonist in Jet Li's '''', stated in a 2005 newspaper interview that he never shaved his trademark beard, even at the request of movie producers, because he wanted to portray Zhou in a future film. He went on to say "He is an outstandingly able person from the northern and southern Song Dynasties and many ''Water Margin'' heroes are his disciples. This person is very important in the martial arts and many people want to portray him in films."

Wu Xianhui

Wu Xianhui was a famous Chinese martial arts teacher in the White Crane Kung Fu style. He came to Naha in 1912 to teach the White Crane Kung Fu style in Japan.

Also known as Go Kenki in Japanese. Go Kenki taught in Naha in the evening, and was a tea trader by profession. Among know friends and students are Kenwa mabuni of Shito ryu karate and Chojun Miyagi of Goju ryu karate. It is thought that Go Kenki had a major impact on these styles, among others. He is sometimes credited with bringing the Bubishi to Okinawa.
Source:

Bubishi. Patrick Mccarthy ISBN-10: 0804820155
Bubishi Gerorge Alexander ISBN: 0963177516

Wong Yan-Lam

Wong Yan Lum was a student of Sing Luhng. After his death, wong left Guangdong and began a very successful armed bodyguard/escort business. Travelling and meeting new people had often given him the opportunity to share and exchange his rare Kung-Fu with others.

Years later, a homesick Wong Yan Lum returned to Guangdong with the intention of opening a Kung-Fu school and teaching others the art of Lama Pai. He decided to issue and open challenge to any martial artists in the area and boasted that “none could beat his kung-fu.” He erected a fighting-stage referred to as a ''Leitai'' in the center of town. Over the next three days, a tireless Wong Yan Lum fought over 150 martial artists styles and skill levels. Most matches were over in less than 10 seconds, with Wong being victorious in every match, his reputation grew rapidly and he immediately opened up his “Lama Pai” school.

As a result of his fighting skill, he was recruited by a revolutionary group whose vow was to restore the Ming Dynasty to power. Wong Yan Lum agreed to join and the “Guangdong Sahp Fu” were formed, they included famous Kung-Fu masters such as “Begger” Sue, Tiit Kiu Saam and Wong Kei Ying . The Tigers were each ranked in order of their fighting ability, Wong Kei Hung was ranked 5th, while Wong Yan Lam held the number one position, Wong Yan-Lum was perhaps the best fighter in all of Canton during the late 1700s and early 1800’s.

Most practitioners of Hung Gar are unaware that Wong Yan Lam shared techniques with Wong Fei Hung’s father, Wong Kei-Ying, in the Lama Pai style. Lama Pai techniques are evident in both the Tiger Crane form and the 5 Animal/5 Elements forms of Hung-Ga. In turn, Wong Kei-Ying shared the Hung family’s 5 animal techniques which led to Wong Yan-Lum’s creation of Lama Pai’s Ng Ying Kyuhn .

Wong Yan Lam, during his later years in Guangdong, also taught a number of students which each went on to head their own variant of the Lama Pai tradition. Among these students were Jyu Jik Chuyhn, Wong Hon Wing, Nhg Yim Ming, Lei Ying Chuen, Choi Yit Gung and Ma Yi Po.

For many years, Wong Hon Wing was considered Wong Yan Lum’s senior student and began teaching the art under the name “Haahp Ga” or Knight Style. “Haahp” translates to Knight which was the nickname which Wong Yan-Lum was often called. Wong Hon-Wing’s students began to practice and promote this new martial art.

Wong Shun Leung

Wong Shun Leung 黃淳樑 was born in 1935 and died in 1997. He was a Wing Chun stylist with some connections to Bruce Lee and Yip Man

Wong Lam-Hoi

Wong Lam-Hoi was originally from Guangdong and became a disciple of Sing Lung at age 28. Little is know about Wong Lam-Hoi’s prior Kung-Fu knowledge or skills. We do know that he trained with Monk Sing Lung for approximately 10 years, until his death in 1893.

Soon after the death of his teacher, Wong Lam-Hoi decided to spread the art and accept disciples. He taught many well known martial artists including: Nhg Siu-Chan 吴肇锺, Nhg Shi-Kai, Nhg Keng-Wen, Lei Shing-Kon, Dong Di-Wen, Nhg Gam-Tin, Cheng Tit-Wu, Leung Chi-Hoi, Lo Chiu-Kit, Chung Chan-Yung and Dang Ho. His most famous disciple was his senior student Nhg Siu-Chung. Nhg Siu-Chung decided to rename the style Baahk Hok Pai.

White Crane practitioners use many of the hand and weapon forms of the Lama Pai style. Many White Crane schools and Federations also practice additional forms. Most of these forms are smaller sections of larger forms which are used for training new student. As with most Chinese styles, every generation or so adds something to the style, usually based the other martial influences of the current teacher.

Wong Lam Hoi

Wong Lum Hoi 黄林开 is a master of Chinese martial arts from the Guangdong province of China.

Wong became a disciple of Sing Lung at age 28. Little is know about Wong's prior Kung-Fu knowledge or skills, except that he trained with Monk Sing Luhng for approximately 10 years, until his death in 1893.

Soon after the death of his teacher, Wong Lum Hoi decided to spread the art and accept disciples. He taught many well know martial artists including:
Nhg Siu-Chan 吴肇锺, Nhg Shi-Kai, Nhg Keng-Wen, Lei Shing-Kon, Dong Di-Wen, Nhg Gam-Tin, Cheng Tit-Wu, Leung Chi-Hoi, Lo Chiu-Kit, Chung Chan-Yung and Dang Ho. His most famous disciple was his senior student Nhg Siu-Chung. Nhg Siu-Chung decided to rename the style Baahk Hok Pai, or White Crane Style.

White Crane practitioners use many of the hand and weapon forms of the Lama Pai style. Many White Crane schools and Federations also practice additional forms. Most of these forms are smaller sections of larger forms which are used for training new student. As with most Chinese styles, every generation or so adds something to the style, usually based the other martial influences of the current teacher.

Tang Sang

Tang Sang was a wing chun practitioner, and a chief detective for the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. He was a student of Yip Man during the mid-60's.

Hong Kong Martial Arts Leader



Tang Sang began his wing chun training under Sifu Wong Chu who himself was a student of Sifu Leung Sheung. Later, for some unknown reasons Tang Sang was accepted as a private student of Yip Man.

Tang Sang later became one of the premier leaders in the Chinese martial arts community. In the mid sixties Tang Sang formed the "Hong Kong Chinese Martial Arts Association" . This Association was pivotal in the promotion of Chinese kung fu, even before Bruce Lee helped to popularize it worldwide after 1971. It was around this time that the Ving Tsun Athletic Association was formed by Yip Man with the help of Tang Sang and other senior students of wing chun.

Footage of Yip Man



Most notably, Tang Sang is responsible for the famous set of photographs of the late Yip Man performing the 116 wooden dummy techniques in 1967. These photographs were originally never intended for public consumption. During the late 60's very few people had access to these photos. It was also during this time that a 8mm film was taken of Yip Man performing the wing chun sets, including the wooden dummy and long pole techniques. This film was taken ''five years prior to the widely distributed film'' of Yip Man . This film was taken at a time when Yip Man was still in good health and could perform all the sets to proficiency . The current sole owner of this precious footage is Tang Sang's friend and WingTsun Leung Ting. For years it was speculated that this footage didn't really exist prompting Leung Ting to release two very short clips to the public.

Despite rumors to the contrary, this early video of Yip Man is NOT the video that Leung Ting purchased from Yip Man's sons. Leung Ting purchased the rights to the 1972 video which he used in his "Authentic Wing Tsun" video in 1984. This earlier footage taken by Tang Sang was never in the possession of either of Yip Man's sons. The only other person said to be in possession of this footage is Leung Ting's top student Keith Kernspecht.

Latter Years



As a chief detective during the sixties and early seventies, Tang Sang was regularly accepting "tea money" from local gangsters . It was not uncommon for police, especially those in a high ranking position to accept these bribes - corruption was a standard operating procedure for the Royal Hong Kong Police Force in the sixties and seventies. Tang Sang was fairly well off financially which may explain why he never had any wing chun students of his own.

In 1974 the Independent Commission Against Corruption or ICAC was formed to combat corruption in the police force. This may be the reason why Tang Sang retired from the police force and relocated to Taiwan. He spent the rest of his life in Taiwan, passing away in 1986.

References/Sources



''Roots and Branches of Wing Tsun'' by Prof. Leung Ting

''Ip Man: Portrait of a Kung Fu Grandmaster'' by Ip Ching

http://www.wingchun.hk.com/sifu_intro.htm

Tai Yuk

Tai Yuk was a Buddhist master who is credited with teaching Dragon Kung Fu to Lam Yiu-Kwai.

He was a monk at Wa Sau Toi, one of the many temples on the sacred mountain Luofushan.

Sun Zhijun

Sun Zhijun is a well-known present-day teacher of baguazhang, living in Beijing, China. Born in 1933 in Cheng Village, Shen County, Hebei Province, Sun began his baguazhang training under Liu Ziyang , disciple of Cheng Dianhua . Later, he also had the opportunity to study with Cheng Yousheng and Cheng Youxin in Beijing. Today, he has many disciples teaching his baguazhang around the world.

Besides traditional baguazhang, Sun has also taught baguazhang to modern wushu players for competition, training over 10 baguazhang national champions in the past 20 years.

Championships:

* 1. 1964 Beijing Martial Art Championship Champion
* 2. 1983 National Conventional Martial Arts Championship Champion
* 3. 2004 World Conventional Martial Arts Festival Champion

Coaching Achievements:
* 1982 Coached Beijing Municipal Women's Martial Art Team
* 1982 Coached at Eastern Municipal Martial Art Institute
* 1983 Obtained National Coach of Excellence's title
* 1983 2 Academic visits to Japan for Ba Gua Zhang exchanges
* 1992/93/2005 3 Academic visits introducing Cheng style Ba Gua Zhang to Singapore
* 2006 Coached Cheng style Ba Gua Zhang in Korea

Publications:
* 1983-86 Was appointed by the Chinese Wu Shu association, as an exclusive commissar of Cheng style to compile information on Cheng Style Baguazhang and weapons.
* 1990 Conventional Chinese Martial Arts VCD
* 1992 Ba Gua Zhang
* 1992 Cheng Style Ba Gua Zhang
* 1994; 2004 Swimming Body interlinked Ba Gua Zhang Book
* 2001 Swimming Body interlinked Ba Gua Zhang VCD
* 2005 Ba Gua Zhang Counter-Attack VCD
* 2005 Ba Gua Saber Counter-Attack VCD
* 2005 Elaborations on the Applications Of Swimming Body Interlinked Ba Gua Zhang VCD
* 2005 Hei Bei Xing Yi Boxing VCD

Sing Lung

Sing Lung, was a .

His name is more of a title that he was referred to by the Chinese monks. Sing Luhng traveled south to the Ding Wu San where he took shelter and became friends with the Buddhist monks of the Ding Wu Temple in Guangdong during 1865.

It seemed that Sing Luhng was much more interested in the propagation of his unique martial arts style, rather than any hidden political agenda. He decided to stay at the monastery for approximately 10 years before his death in 1893. He taught both monks and lay disciples his Lion’s Roar style. It is during this time that the style received it’s new name, Lama Pai , or style of the Tibetan Monk.

Sing Lung taught many individuals his art of "Lama Pai". It appears that only two his students are primarily responsible for taking the style and spreading it throughout China. These two students are Wong Lam-Hoi and Wong Yan-Lam . There were five other students who absorbed much of Sing Lung’s teaching as well. They are responsible for spreading the style to other parts of China, but for one reason or another, kept fairly secret about their teachings.

There seems to be a great deal of conflict between the relationship between both Wong Yan-Lam and Wong Lam-Hoi. Some seem to think they are blood-related brothers. Others claim that one is the other’s father. There is no evidence of either of these claims and as 'Wong' is certainly a popular surname, our story has these two individuals as classmates only. The characters for the last names “Wong” are different as well. However their relation, there is no dispute that these two men are primarily responsible for the propagation of Lama Pai Kung-Fu and the styles which it would give birth to.

Lam Yiu-Kwai

Lam Yiu-Kwai was the master responsible for the dissemination of Dragon Kung Fu.
He was born in 1877 in Huìyáng County in the of Huizhou in Guangdong Province, China.

From a young age Lam learned martial arts from his father and grandfather and, like them, he would eventually undertake training from masters on Luofu Mountain in neighboring Bóluó County, where he was taught by master Tai Yuk of the Wa Sau Toi temple, who knew the Dragon style.
He also learned the routines Saam Tong Gor Kiu from the Taoist Wong Lee Giu and Mui Fa Chut Lo from Ke Hing Ma.

Good friends since their youth in Huizhou, Lam Yiu-Kwai and the Bak Mei master Cheung Lai-Chuen later became cousins by marriage and opened several schools together.

Lam Yiu-Kwai married and had several children.

In the 1920s, he moved to Guangzhou, where he opened a number of Dragon style schools and met Mok Gar master Lin Yin-Tang, who became a friend with whom he had much in common.
Lin Yin-Tang was from the prefecture of Dongguan, which bordered both Huìyáng and Bóluó counties.
Like Yiu-Kwai, Yin-Tang studied at a temple on Luofu Mountain; in Yin-Tang's case, the Temple of Emptiness , where he studied meditation and traditional Chinese medicine.

After a stroke in the early 1950s, Lam Yiu-Kwai moved to Hong Kong for medical treatment where, after another stroke in 1965, he died in 1966.

He passed the art on to his students wu hua tai and Ma Chai and Tsoi Yiu-Cheung in addition to his sons Lam Chan-Gwong and Lam Wun-Gwong , who supervises the Dragon Sign Athletic Association in Hong Kong.

Lam Sai Wing

Lam Sai Wing , was a student of the legendary Cantonese martial artist, healer and folk hero Wong Fei Hung.

Early life


Lam Sai Wing was born in Nanhai district, Guangdong. He followed the customs of his ancestors and learned the traditional martial arts of his family, progessing to learning from Lin Fu Cheng, Wong Fei Hung and Wu Quan Mei. He was eventually considered an expert in Hung Gar Kuen , and may have also studied Fo Kuen .

He founded the ‘Wu Ben Tang’ in Guangzhou where he taught his martial arts.

Towards the end of the Qing dynasty, Lam gained first place at a large martial arts competition that took place at the Dongjiao ground, receiving a silver medal from as a token of recognition for his service and success.

Between 1917 and 1923, Lam served in the National Revolutionary Army of Fujian province as Chief Instructor in hand-to-hand combat.

Later life


Lam eventually moved to Hong Kong, where he started teaching martial arts. Together with his favorite students Zhu Yu Zhai, Zhang Shi Biao, Li Shi Hui, and others, he wrote three books on the the three primary forms of Hung Gar: gung ji fuk fu keun , fu hok seung ying keun , and tit sin keun .

Although his exact age is not known, Lam was over 80 when he died during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. Whilst conditions were difficult during the occupation, there has been no indication that the occupation contributed to his death.

Legacy


He and his students, which are said to have numbered over 10,000 during his life, are primarily responsible for popularizing the style in the 20th century. Some of his students became among the first actors and stunt people in the fledgling Hong Kong "kung fu" movie industry in the 1940s, including Lau Cham, father of action director and star, Lau Kar-leung, and Golden Harvest producer, Raymond Chow.

Portrayal in the media


Lam has been portrayed in film, including the 1991 film "Wong Fei Hung" , and by Sammo Hung in the 1979 film "Lam Sai Wing" , as well as many of the movies made about Wong Fei Hung.

Kwan Sai Hung

Kwan Sai Hung is the subject of the books ''Chronicles of Tao'' and is a Taoist Monk from the Zheng Yi sect of Taoism from the monastery. He is also a martial arts master.

Jyu Jik Chuyhn

Jyu Jik Chuyhn 朱亦傳 was born in the Toi-San district of Guangdong province and began his training in martial arts at an early age. Originally learning Hung Kuyhn and later Choy Lay Fut from a monk named Choy Ying. Choy Ying introduced Jyu Jik Chuyhn to Jaang Saan Ying, head Monk of the Clear Cloud Temple in Toi San.

Chuyhn studied a wide variety of martial arts under the tutelage of Jaang Saan Ying. Along with Choy Lay Fut, He was trained in other arts such as “Nam Ying Jao Kuyhnn” and “Ngok Fei Pai” . His training in these styles prepared him for what he would learn under both Wong Lam-Hoi and Wong Yan-Lam.

Chyuhn first learned Lama Pai under the direction of Wong Lum Hoi. Such an accomplished martial artist was Chyuhn that he learned all of Wong Lum Hoi’s Lama Pai hand and weapon sets in under 7 years. Towards the end of his training he sought out the teachings of Wong Yan Lum upon his return to Guangdong. He spent many years learning different forms from Wong Yan Lum until he completed the Lama Pai Style.

Notable students under Jyu Chuyhn were:

#Gong Kwan-San
#Lei Lun-San
#Leu Yuk-San
#Lei Sek-San
#Lei Chiu-San
#Jyu Wu-San
#Jyu Wan-San
#Lei Git-San
#Jyu Ching San
#Lei Wai-San
#Chan Tai-San

Jyu Chuyhn is survived by his 4th son, Jyu Maan Yueng who is a doctor living in Toi San, China. He is proficient in the Choy Lay Fut style of his father and still teaches at 70 years of age.

Jwing-Ming Yang

Jwing-Ming Yang started his martial arts training at the age of fifteen under the Shaolin Master Cheng, Gin Gsao . In thirteen years of study under Master Cheng, Dr. Yang became an expert in the White Crane style of Chinese martial arts. Dr. Yang studied Tai chi chuan under Master Kao Tao. Dr. Yang earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. While doing so he was already teaching Taijiquan to his fellow students. He worked four years in industry while founding Yang's Martial Arts Association in 1982. He has published dozens of books and DVDs covering his knowledge of the traditional Chinese Arts. The International Kung Fu Federation lists Dr. Yang as a Certified Kung Fu Master. Dr Yang has twice been awarded Man of the Year by Inside Kung Fu Magazine , and Kung Fu Artist of the Year by Black Belt Magazine .

James Wing Woo

James Wing Woo is a Chinese martial arts instructor who lives in the Hollywood, area. He has been teaching since 1960.

James Wing Woo was one of Ed Parker's main teachers. He was instrumental in the development of Parker's kenpo in the early 1960's. After an acrimonious split with Parker, James Wing Woo left with many of the Kenpo black belts to form his own school in 1962.

Huo Endi

Huo Endi was the father of famous martial artist Huo Yuanjia. Huo Endi was a well-known martial artist who served as a bodyguard for caravans travelling to the Northeast. In the 2006 film '''' he died shortly before his son rose to fame, but in reality he outlived his son by about seven years.

In popular culture


Huo Endi is portrayed in Jet Li's 2006 film ''''.

Hernan Fung

Grandmaster Hernan Fung is Head Instructor for Fung Academy-Jodoryu International C.R. He holds black belts 5th. - 8th. DAN rank in several systems including Choy Lai Fut-Kung Fu & Ryukyu Kempo - Jodoryu Karate/Kyusho jitsu .

He holds the following DAN ranks:

8th. DAN in Ryukyu Kempo-Jodoryu with Jodoryu International, 8th. DAN in Choy Lai Fut Kung Fu, 5th. DAN with Dillman Karate International & other master & grandmaster ranks in several different martial art systems.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Dong Hai Chuan

Dong Hai Chuan was a Chinese martial artist.

Background



Dong Hai Chuan brought Baguazhang into Beijing in the 19th century. He is regarded as a skilful martial artist and is believed to be the founder of Baguazhang.

The exact story of Dong Hai Chuan is hard to establish. In most accounts he is reported as coming to Beijing in 1852, where he began to teach Baguazhang. The style soon becoming popular in Beijing and the surrounding areas .

Students


Dong taught Bagua to several highly regarded martial artists, notably Yin Fu and Cheng Ting Hua. Their names are recorded at his grave .

Chen Weiming

''This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chen''

Chen Weiming 陳微明 was a scholar, taijiquan teacher, and author. He was also known by his name Chen Zengze 陳曾則, Weiming being his hao, a pen-name.

Chen came from an educated family with roots in Qishui, Hubei Province, China. His great-grandfather was a famous scholar; and his mother was skilled at calligraphy. As a boy, Chen prepared for the civil service exams by studying the Chinese classics, Chinese calligraphy, poetry, and essay-writing. He passed the mid-level exam of ''juren'' in 1902, and received a post in the Qing History Office. His two brothers also became scholars and authors.

Chen began to study the Chinese martial arts in Beijing under Sun Lutang , with whom he studied xingyi and bagua . He then began to study taijiquan with Yang Chengfu , grandson of Yang Luchan, founder of the Yang family lineage.

In 1925, Chen moved to Shanghai and established the Zhi Ruo Taijiquan Association.

Chen recorded Yang's teachings in three books under his own name: ''Taijiquan shu'' , ''Taiji jian'' , and ''Taijiquan da wen'' . These books are important not only for their content, but because they were among the first taijiquan books published for a mass audience. Chen also wrote several scholarly books under the name Chen Zengze. He wrote prefaces to Sun Lutang and Zheng Manqing's taijiquan books.

Though Chen did not create a large following through his teaching as did his classmates Dong Yingjie and Zheng Manqing , his books have remained influential and are important references about taijiquan in the early 1900s.

Sources


*Chen Weiming. ''Taijiquan shu'' . Section of commentary on the Taijiquan Classics translated in ''The Taijiquan Classics: An Annotated Translation'' by Barbara Davis, 2004. ISBN 1-55643-431-6.
* --- ''Taiji jian'' , Translated as Taiji Sword by Barbara Davis. ISBN 1-55643-333-6.
* --- ''Taijiquan da wen'' . Translated as ''T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen: Questions and Answers on T'ai Chi Ch'uan'' by Benjamin Lo and . ISBN 0-938190-67-9.
* ''Zhongguo wushu da cidian'' , 1990.

Chang Dsu Yao

Zhang Zuyao , or Chang Tsu-Yao was a teacher of martial arts. Second name 张成勳, Zhang Chengxun , Chang Ch'eng Hsün . He taught Meihuaquan, Taijiquan.

Biography



Chang Dsu Yao was born in Peixian in 1918-06-14 and died in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1992-02-07. He was the sixteenth generation of Meihuaquan.
He start to practise Meihuaquan at six years old and continue his training under the guidance of Liu Baojun.
In 1938, he came to Guilin to enter into the Military School for Officers. Here, Chang Dsu Yao met some important teachers, such as Chang Tung Sheng, and studied sets of different styles, such as Bajiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Fu Style. After graduation, he was involved in the anti-Japanese War first and before in Civil War with the faction of Jiang Jieshi against communists.
After the defeat of Jiang Jieshi, Chang Dsu Yao took refuge in Taiwan.
In Taiwan, he had a relationship with Cheng Man-ch'ing, Liu Yunqiao, Wu Tipang, Chang Wu Chen, and he taught in the Army and Police.
Chang wrote articles for ''“Wutan Zazhi”'', a magazine founded by Liu Yunqiao.
In 1974, Chang Dsu Yao retired from the Army and in 1975, he went to Bolognain Italy.
In 1977, he moved to Milan.
He had many students, including Chang Wei Hsin and Chang Yu Hsin , Xu Wenli, Maurizio Zanetti, Enrico Lazzerini, Roberto Fassi.

Chang School


In Italy, people referred to all of Chang Dsu Yao teachings as ''“Scuola Chang”'' or ''“Kungfu Chang”''. This school is divided in two sections : Waijia and Neijia.

*Waijia
*From Zhongyang Guoshu Guan 中央国术馆 di Nankin:
:Gongliquan 功力拳.
*From Meihuaquan 梅花拳:
:a set named Lianbuquan 练步拳, that it is an exercise simplified of Meihuaquan, created in Italy and that take the name of the famous set in Zhongyang Guoshu Guan;
:a set named "5 Shaolin" ;
"Digongquan" 地功拳 o "Ditangquan" 地膛拳;
:other meihuaquan sets ;
:pair exercise named "Boji" 搏击 in Italy, and in Cina and in Taiwan named Duida 对打.
*From Hongquan 洪拳:
:"Xiao Hongquan" 小洪拳;
:"Da Hongquan" 大洪拳.
*From Qixing Tanglangquan 七星螳螂拳:
:the set "Bengbuquan" 崩步拳.
*From Bajiquan 八极拳: "Danda shang jia" 单打上架
:a set from Yuejiaquan 岳家拳
:a set from Zui Baxianquan 醉八仙拳

*Neijia
*From Yangshi Taijiquan 杨式太极拳:
:Yangshi Taijiquan 108 shi 杨式太极拳108式;
:Tuishou 推手;
:Shanshou闪手;
:Qinna擒拿;
:Dalu 大捋;
:Sanshou 散手.
*FromXingyiquan 形意拳 dell' Hebei:
:Wuxingquan 五行拳.
*From Fu Zhengsong:
:Longxing Baguazhang 龙形八卦掌;
:Liangyiquan 两仪拳;
:Sixiangquan 四象拳.

*Qigong
In Chang Dsu Yao School there are three exercise named Baduanjin 八段锦. The first is classic baduanjin, the other two are modern Stretching.

*Weapons
After the graduation in Black Belt there are the study of many weapons and pair exercises with weapons. Also Weapons teaching is divided into Waijia and Neijia.
* For Waijia , this directory came from the book "Enciclopedia del Kungfu Shaolin":
:bang 棒;
:gun 棍;
:dandao 单刀;
:guai 枴;
:shuangjiegun 双节棍;
:guandao 关刀;
:qiang 枪.

Duilian Bingxie :
:Bang dui bang 棒对棒;
:Gun dui gun 棍对棍;
:Dandao dui bang 单刀对棒;
:Dandao dui gun 单刀对棍;
:Bang dui gun 棒对棍;
:Guai dui gun 枴对棍;
:Shuangjiegun dui bang 双节棍对棒;
:Gun dui shuangjiegun 棍对双节棍;
:Guai dui dandao 枴对单刀.

*For Neijia , weapons came from Yangshi Taijiquan:
:Taijidao 太极刀;
:Taijigun 太极棍;
:Taijiqiang 太极枪;
:Taiji tiechi 太极铁尺;
:Taijijian 太极剑.

Duilian Bingxie :
:Taijidao dui taijidao 太极刀对太极刀;
:Taijigun dui taijigun 太极棍对太极棍;
:Taijidao dui taijigun 太极刀对太极棍;
:Taijidao dui taijiqiang 太极刀对太极枪;
:Taijigun dui taijiqiang 太极棍对太极枪;
:Taijiqiang dui taijiqiang 太极枪对太极枪;
:Taijijian dui taijijian 太极剑对太极剑;
:Taiji tiechi dui taijigun 太极铁尺对太极棍;
:Taiji tiechi dui taijiqiang 太极铁尺对太极枪.

Video of Chang Dsu yao


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Video of Scuola Chang


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Chan Tai San

Chan Tai San was a Martial arts . Chan had often been referred to as one of China's "Living Treasures", and featured as such on a cover of ''Inside Kung Fu'' magazine.

Early years



According to a recorded interview conducted with Chan Tai San, he began his Kung-Fu training at the age of eight years old under Yee Hoi-Long, a stone mason who worked for the Chan family. Yee taught Hung Fist and "Hung Tao Choy Mei" . Hung Tao Choy Mei was the older name for what is now Jow Ga, a system combining strong Hung style fist work with active Choy style footwork. Chan learned from Yee for approximately six years.

At the age of 13, after the death of his father, he was sent by his family to the Clear Cloud Temple where he began training in Kung-Fu and Buddhism. He was primarily a student of Jyu Jik Chuyhn . Chan also was trained by Gaai Si Wu Song at the temple, at the temple, he trained mostly in the Choy Lee Fut Style.

At 17, Chan Tai San left the monastery to fight against the Imperial Japanese Army. He enlisted in a division comprising peasants, but also featuring some of the best traditional Chinese martial arts fighters of the time. While in the army, Chan Tai San trained with and served with Cheung Lai-Chung , Baahk Mo Jyu, nicknamed the "White Haired Devil" and many more.

Later years


After the war, he travelled the country meeting and training with more Sifu, like Mok Jing-Kiu and Chan Sai-Mo of the Choy Lay Fut style. He returned in his 40s to the Clear Cloud Temple and learned Lama Pai from Jyu Jik Chuyhn.

He devoted his entire life to training and promoting Chinese Martial Arts in China and abroad. In China, the respect the martial arts community had for Chan was evidenced by his many appointments to important positions. He was the coach of the Guangdong Province Martial Arts Demonstration Team from 1980–1982, a hand to hand fighting instructor for an elite Fut San military unit, member of the executive committee of the Toi San region martial arts association and a member of the national demonstration team.

Accomplishments


As a member of the national demonstration team, and during demonstrations at national level tournaments in the United States, Chan demonstrated skill in "internal martial arts" , iron palm and iron body.
These are examples of his Chi-Kung demonstrations:


Chan Tai San was one of the only instructors to openly teach the Lama Pai style, at the time he opened his classes to Americans there were only approximately five other public Lama Pai sifu in the world.

Chan Tai San is also mentioned in a 1987 article on the culture of lion dancing in Chinatown

Of interest may be that were taken over the span of more than a decade.

Chan's Choy Lay Fut, Lama Pai, Bok Mei and many other styles have been passed down to Sifus such as Stephen Innocenzi, Michael Parrella, , Chris Jurak, Steven Ventura, Steven H. Laurette, Ho Jih Yiu, and Carl Albright.

Sources


*Kungfu Wushu Winter 1995
*Kungfu Wushu Oct/Nov 1996
*Kungfu Wushu May 2000
*Kungfu Wushu June 2000
*Inside Kungfu Oct 1989
*Inside Kungfu Sept 1993
*Inside Kungfu Jan 1995
*Inside Kungfu Feb 1995
*Inside Kungfu Nov 1995
*Inside Kungfu April 1995
*Inside Kungfu May 1996
*Inside Kungfu Oct 1996
*Inside Kungfu Feb 1999
*Black Belt May 1997
*Grappling Dec 1997
*Martial Arts legends Oct 1995 -->

Chan Kowk Wai

Chan Kowk Wai was born in April 3 1936, at Taishan in the province of , China. He is well regarded as the major introductor of traditional Shaolin Kung Fu in Brazil, through the . His disciples have spread as far as the USA, Canada, Spain, Argentina and the Czech Republic, among other countries.

In September, 2004, Chan was awarded the 10th degree of the World Organization of Wu Shu & Kung Fu Masters from Vancouver, BC, Canada, in five styles: Northern Shaolin, Yang Taiji, Bagua, Xingyi and Hung Sing Choy Lei Fat . In the ceremony, Master Tat-Mau Wong of Choy Lei Fut, Vice-President of the USA Wushu Kung Fu Federation and Chairman for San Shou Full Contact, had high words to share: "Nobody needs to go to China to learn Kung Fu, for you have, here in Brazil, with Master Chan, Kung Fu of the highest level".

Kung Fu Styles



Chan teaches a broad curriculum of old-school kung fu styles. Most of them are :

* , the core martial arts system from the Buddhist Shaolin Monastery of Henan, in Northern China.

* , originated from the Islamic Hui people; 12 Roads version .

* Fist of , families Goose Victory and Northern Victory .

*

*

* , from the Buddhist concept of Arhat .

*

* , originated from the Islamic Hui people.

The taught by Chan are such:

* of Yang Family , from the Taoist concept of the Taiji .

* , from the I Ching concept of the Baji , originated from the Islamic Hui people.

* , from the Taoist concept of the .

* , from the Taoist concept of the Six Harmonies or Six Unions.

*

Kung Fu Lineage



Chan initiated his kung fu by the age of four with Chan Cheok Sing, who taught him Choy Lei Fat until he was 14. In 1949, with the constitution of the People's Republic of China, the young Chan moved with his family to Hong Kong, where he trained Shaolin Lohon with his uncle Ma Kim Fong. When Yim Sheung Mo too left the PRC, he stayed in Hong Kong with Chan's family and taught him the Northern Shaolin Style. Thus did Chan Kowk Wai inherit this traditional martial art system along with martial qigong , healing massage techniques, Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, Bajiquan and Tantui. Yim Sheung Mo also introduced the young Chan to Won Hong Fan of the Seven Stars Mantis Style, Ching Jim Man of the Eagle Claw Style and Master and renowned Doctor Yim You Chin of the Hung Sing Choy Li Fat Style, with all of whom he learned everything he could for roughly ten years.

In 1960, Chan moved to Brazil, where he co-founded the Chinese Social Center through which he taugh kung fu classes for twelve years. He also taught classes at the renowned Universidade de S?o Paulo for seven years. In 1973, Chan founded the China-Brazil Kung Fu Academy for which he is largely renowed today.

Personal Approach



Chan teaches the core Northern Shaolin hand sets in a different order than Ku Yu Cheong . The core ten sets are preceded by an introductory set. His methodology is propagated throughout the whole Sinobrasileira family.

Introductory set:
* 練歩拳 Steps and Fists Practice

The Five Lesser sets:
* 短打 Short Strike
* 梅花 Plum Blossom
* 穿心 Pierce the Heart
* 武藝 Martial Skill
* 拔歩 Uprooting Step / Long March

The Five Greater sets:
* 坐馬 Sit on the Horse
* 領路 Lead the Way
* 開門 Open the Door / Release
* 連環 Continuous Chain
* 式法 Pattern Method

Brendan Lai

Brendan Lai was a martial artist who studied and taught Northern Style Seven Star Praying Mantis Gung Fu.

Lai was born in Hong Kong and eventually became a disciple of the Seven Star Praying Mantis Gung Fu Grandmaster Wong Hon-Fun after studying that system for many years. In 1961, Lai came to the United States to attend college, and in his spare time, he worked very diligently to improve his skills. In 1967, he started teaching the Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung-Fu system.

In the late 1970s, he and his wife opened up a martial arts supply store in San Francisco, CA, one of the first of its kind in the U.S.

Brendan Lai was inducted into the "Hall of Fame" by both Inside Kung Fu Magazine and Black Belt Magazine , and was extensively covered by magazines and books.

In 1992 he formed the International Northern Praying-Mantis Federation and became its chairman.