Northern Feet and Southern Fists are considered a fortuitous mixture. Two strands of Kung Fu teaching, embodying distinctive tenets, viewpoints and histories, need to have to be reconciled. The next autobiographical sketch considers formative influences and key folks shaping my have vocation in Shaolin Martial Arts
Lineage & Lineal Descent
You need to actually know wherever you might be coming from and be capable to tell anybody who asks your Lecturers name & the design(s) you exercise (e.g. Changquan)! It is deemed far better however if you can name your Teachers’ Teacher- nearly anything else is nonetheless a lot more bonus points.Here are the two strains of teaching I’ve followed for the last 38 years!
Shaolin Toes
At’a, (Ao Tai) Common of The Ever Victorious Military, was also bodyguard of Captain Charles Gordon (afterwards Basic Gordon of Khartoum), for the duration of the T’ai Ping T’ien, typically referred to as the Boxer Rebellion and originated in Malysia. it is really virtually particular Malysian Grandmaster Leong and Grandmaster Chee, who relocated there, realized just about every other. Yap Leong, when young, lived near to Si Jo (Founder of Fashion) Leong Fu in Ipoh and is aware some intriguing anecdotes about him! What couple individuals realise is that Grandmaster Leong Fu was also Globe Middleweight Wrestling Winner for 3 consecutive a long time just before retiring undefeated–his Chin Na (seize and command system) have to have been amazing!.
Grandmaster Leong Fu taught Rex Jones, conference him while Rex served in the SAS (Specific Air Services) during the Malayan ‘Emergency’ (CE 1948-60) instructing him Ao Tai Dao (At’a’s Way) Jern Jing Kuen Fats (Elephant Fist Way) and other Changquan styles which includes its 5 Animal (Wu Xing) applications and considerably a lot more. Snake Form, the Introductory Sort of Hoan Lung Quan comes from listed here. The term ‘Emergency’ was utilised continually as insurer, Lloyds of London, would have refused to pay out compensation for ‘War’ injury! Sifu Jones became Leong Fu’s top pupil getting the tile and rank of ‘ ‘Flyiing Dragon’ (Fei Lung).
Si Gung Rex Jones founded Fei Lung Quan (Flying Dragon Modern society) and became my Sifu in 1972, remaining my instructor until he retired around 1992. The tattoo of a Red Dragon, with a one dot over it (mark of the no.1 Scholar) on my still left forearm, from when I grew to become Sifu, reflects Fei Lung Quan organization and composition as being considerably much more tha paper-based mostly. Hoan Lung Quan (Red Dragon Society) is effective in a related and related vogue. Rex also gave me my Chinese title ‘Wo Lei’ (The Fox) which I in some cases use in correspondence- or the Mandarin equal Hu Da Ge (Significant Brother Fox).
Shaolin Fists
Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong experienced various noteworthy lecturers (1) see “Kung Fu Secrets and techniques” Vols. 2-3) (2) and Si Jo Chee’s disciples contain Yap Cheng-Hai, Chan See-Meng and Yap Leong. I have been taught, really briefly, at a unforgettable seminar in London, by Yap Cheng-Hai, but finally (I am glad to say) activities followed a certain sample and I grew to become a ‘closed door’ scholar of Grandmaster Yap Leong. Yap Leong understood and spoke highly of both Leong Fu and Rex: “He is incredibly Fei Lung!” have been his 1st phrases to me about the latter–those who have satisfied him know Yap Leong is not addicted to idle compliments! Therefore, my ongoing gratitude to all my Instructors. Grandmaster Yap Leong welcomed me into ‘The family’ in 1993.
Other Teachers
I’ve also experienced other teachers: Shr Yanzi (Head of the Shaolin Temple Uk) for approximately 3 many years, Yang Jwing-Ming (albeit incredibly briefly), most notably John Gunning (Leong Fu disciple and Fei Lung Quan Senior Sifu) and, most recently, Master Wu in Beijing a short while ago (whence I intend to return for further coaching).All of these have been superb Teachers whose high benchmarks I strive to emulate to the best of my means
Modern Developments
Grandmaster Yap Leong has considering that Established Shaolin Fists Intercontinental with myself as a Founder Member and Technical advisor. Extended (and continuing) study with him in excess of the last 18 yrs has led me to further more qualify as Sifu in Qigong, bear Iron Shirt Education and develop my knowledge and consciousness of Kung Fu and Qigong kinds and units substantially.This has fundamentally motivated my Kung Fu and my training type, as has his HYL (Wellness, Youth & Longevity) Energiser Programme.Individuals wanting further understandings of interior energies and Nei/Wei Dan Qigong, an essential prerequisite for progress to greater Kung Fu grades and instruction concentrations, will locate this sort of structured multi-stage programmes of appreciable gain.
Originally intended to offer longevity, or everyday living extension on the battlefield, Kung Fu spilled above into everyday living in general. The Chinese Martial artists located they loved a for a longer time lifespan (3) via Kung Fu Schooling, a single in which they could achieve factors they hardly ever thought achievable. Therefore the popularity of Kung Fu as a ‘way of life’ and as a self-development instrument in China which has spilled around into the entire world at large.
All in all, so significantly, it can be been a circumstance otf ‘Nan Chuan: Bei Tui’ Southern Palms and Northern Feet. While this is deemed an suitable well balanced martial arts ‘diet’ by some–nothing at all could have been achieved devoid of those outstanding academics whom I have referred to in the system of this textual content except a undesirable dose of martial indigestion!
Notes and References
(1) He experienced six in all, covering a remarkable range of designs. I am indebted to ‘Toby’ who posted a thorough remark on an before model of this article in which attempting to abridge a passage from memory, inadvertently I said he experienced only three. He also pointed out that he was succeeded by his son Grasp James Chee who, I beleve, teaches in Australia,
(2) Available from Shaolin Way U.k. (see under)
(3) See, for example, Allsop, P. (2010) ‘250 Several years Previous and Even now Solid With Qigong: Chinese Herbalist and Martial Artist Li Ching-Yuen’ EzineArticles.com