Shaolin Feet and Shaolin Fists
Northern Feet and Southern Fists are considered a fortuitous combination. It is necessary to reconcile two aspects of the teaching of Kung Fu, which incorporate different principles, points of view and histories. The following autobiographical sketch considers the formative influences and key people who shaped my own career in Shaolin martial arts.
Lineage and Lineal Descent
You really should know where you come from and be able to tell anyone who asks you the name of your teachers and the style(s) you practice (eg Changquan)! It is considered better still if he can name the Master of his masters; anything else is even more bonus points. These are the two lines of teaching that I have followed for the last 38 years!
shaolin feet
At’a, (Ao Tai) General of the Ever Victorious Army, was also a bodyguard to Captain Charles Gordon (later General Gordon of Khartoum), during the T’ai Ping T’ien, often known as the Boxer Rebellion and originated in malaysia. it is almost certain that Malysian Grand Master Leong and Grand Master Chee, who moved there, knew each other. Yap Leong, when he was young, lived near Si Jo (Founder of Style) Leong Fu in Ipoh and knows some fascinating stories about him. What few people know is that Grandmaster Leong Fu was also World Middleweight Wrestling Champion for 3 years in a row before he retired undefeated – his Chin Na (grip and control technique) must have been amazing!
Grandmaster Leong Fu taught Rex Jones, and met him while Rex was serving in the SAS (Special Air Service) during the Malayan ‘Emergency’ (CE 1948-60) teaching him Ao Tai Dao (At’a’s Way); Jern Jing Kuen Fat (Elephant Fist Way) and other styles of Changquan, including its 5 Animal (Wu Xing) applications and much more. Snake Form, the Introductory Form of Hoan Lung Quan comes from here. The term ‘Emergency’ was used constantly as the insurer, Lloyds of London, would have refused to pay compensation for ‘War’ damage! Sifu Jones became Leong Fu’s best student and obtained the title and rank of ‘Flying Dragon’ (Fei Lung).
Si Gung Rex Jones Fei Lung Quan (Flying Dragon Society) and became my Sifu in 1972, being my teacher until he retired around 1992. Tattoo of a red dragon, with a single dot on top (student mark number 1 ) on my left forearm, from when I became Sifu, reflects the organization and structure of Fei Lung Quan much more than on paper. Hoan Lung Quan (Red Dragon Society) works in a similar and related way. Rex also gave me my Chinese name ‘Wo Lei’ (The Fox) which I sometimes use in correspondence, or the Mandarin equivalent Hu Da Ge (Big Brother Fox).
shaolin fists
Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong had several notable masters (1) see “Kung Fu Secrets” Vols. 2-3) (2) and Si Jo Chee’s disciples include Yap Cheng-Hai, Chan See-Meng, and Yap Leong. Yap Cheng-Hai taught me, very briefly, at a memorable seminar in London, but eventually (I’m glad to say) events followed a certain pattern and I became a “behind closed doors” student of Grand Master Yap Leong. . Yap Leong knew and spoke highly of Leong Fu and Rex: “He’s very Fei Lung!” were the first words he said to me about the latter: those who knew him know that Yap Leong is not addicted to empty praise! Hence my permanent gratitude to all my teachers. Grand Master Yap Leong welcomed me into ‘The Family’ in 1993.
other teachers
I have also had other teachers: Shr Yanzi (Head of Shaolin Temple UK) for about 3 years, Yang Jwing-Ming (albeit very briefly), most notably John Gunning (disciple of Leong Fu and Fei Lung Quan Senior Sifu) and, most recently Master Wu in Beijing recently (from where I intend to return for further training).
recent developments
Since then, Grand Master Yap Leong has founded Shaolin Fists International with me as a founding member and technical advisor. Extended (and continuous) study with him over the past 18 years has led me to further qualify myself as a Sifu in Qigong, undertake Iron Shirt Training, and greatly expand my knowledge and awareness of Kung Fu styles and systems and Qigong. This has fundamentally influenced my Kung. Fu and my teaching style, as well as his HYL (Health, Youth and Longevity) Energizing Program. Those desiring a deeper understanding of inner energies and Nei/Wei Dan Qigong, an essential prerequisite for progressing to higher grades of Kung Fu and levels of training, will find such multi-level structured programs of considerable benefit.
Originally designed to provide longevity or life extension on the battlefield, Kung Fu was extended to life in general. Chinese martial artists discovered that they enjoyed a longer life (3) through Kung Fu training, in which they could achieve things they never thought possible. Hence the popularity of Kung Fu as a ‘way of life’ and as a tool for self-development in China that has spread to the rest of the world.
All in all, so far, it has been a case of ‘Nan Chuan: Bei Tui’ Hands of the South and Feet of the North. Although this is considered by some to be an ideal balanced martial arts “diet”, nothing could have been achieved without those excellent teachers I have referred to in the body of this text, except a bad dose of martial indigestion!
Notes and references
(1) He had six in all, covering a huge variety of styles. I am indebted to ‘Toby’ who posted a detailed comment in an earlier version of this article where, trying to piece together a passage from memory, I inadvertently said I only had three. He also pointed out that he was succeeded by his son, Master James Chee, who, I believe, teaches in Australia.,
(2) Obtainable from Shaolin Way Uk (see below)
(3) See, for example, Allsop, P. (2010) ‘250 Years and Still Going Strong with Qigong: Chinese Herbalist and Martial Artist Li Ching-Yuen’ EzineArticles.com
