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