History

 A Short Description & History of 'Gung-Fu'

A Short Description of Gung Fu

by Si-Fu Frank Lee

Gung-Fu is the name of a fighting art that was developed by the Buddhist Monks of ancient China, and is the forerunner of all modern-day martial arts. Although the word, "Gung-Fu", cannot actually be literally defined in English, its theory and practical applications are well understood in any language.

 Gung-Fu is a method of self-defense that enables one to utilize one pound against fifty pounds because it does not direct power against power. The Gung-Fu student or practitioner employs circular motion with the mainstay of power directed from the waist (Use of the waist is not characteristic of all styles, but of many northern Chinese styles such as Buck-Hawk-Pai).  In turn, this system will knock the opponent off balance, and then to his defeat.

In early China, the Buddhist monks were not allowed to carry weapons, and so the original purpose of Gung-Fu was for the monks to have a way to defend themselves, from wild animals, while on their travels. This may seem absurd, but an animal is as vulnerable to pain as any human being.

During the days of the ever-changing tyrannical dynasties, many of the common people came to learn from the monks, in order that they may protect themselves from persecution from the tyrants' soldiers. All weapons were confiscated from the people to help prevent another coup.

The different styles of Gung-Fu varied accordingly to the different environments and ideas of its developers. Most styles were derived from the movements of different animals in their plight for defense from other wild would-be predators. This is how the systems were developed.

Because of its history, Gung-Fu has been developed into the most perfected art of self-defense. All possible moves of attack and defense are anticipated, therefore a good "Gung-Fu Artist", can easily defend himself against one or more adversaries.

A Short History of Pak Hok Pai
by Si-Fu Frank Lee

The origin and development of the white crane style of gung fu can be attributed to the monk Sheng Long Jeung-Lou. This Buddhist monk had already spend over half his life time in the Sil-Lum Temple learning and perfecting that style of fighting before he left the monastery and lived alone in the forested mountains of northern China.

One day after he had finished his meditation in the woods and was returning home, he chanced to come across a fight between a tiger and a white crane. The monk watched and wondered as the frail bird countered the tiger's savage attacks with a light fluttering of its wings. As the tiger tired, it was the Crane who began to attack, with sharp thrusts of its long beak to the tiger's eyes. Finally, the crane succeeded in blinding the tiger, which then fell off a cliff to its death.

The monk, already well trained in fighting asked himself how a small bird could defeat a tiger many times its strength and size. He then began to study the movements of the white crane and adopted them for fighting. However, since man cannot fly, he decided to use the rapid steps of the monkey. Therefore, Buck Hawk Pai actually consists of two styles or from the waist up - simulation of the white crane and from the waist down, the graceful footwork of the swift monkey.

After years of studying his newly developed system, he then introduced it to his Gung Fu Brothers. Through friendly criticisms and experimentation, the system improved greatly.  Fascinated by this new technique, the already learned gung fu men were willing to follow master Sing and become his disciples. His success is attested to by a thousand year’s existence of the white crane party.

Within this period of a thousand years, numerous famous masters had emerged, such it was the late master Ng Siu Chung that made Buck Hawk Pai well known in all of South and West Asia through his legendary encounters with other gung fu masters. From then on, Master Ng had became the head man of all White Crane System in Asia.   Although he is no longer with us, the name Ng Siu Chung will live on for all eternity.

Editorial Note

by Tom Haber

Other stories of the origin of Tibetan White Crane have the same fundamental elements.  A seemingly fragile, yet elegant, crane is attacked by a powerful aggressor and defeats his foe with fast and decisive strikes.  Many stories recount the battle between an Ape and a Crane rather than the tiger and some say how it was A Da Tuo, not Sheng Long who witnessed the encounter.

The style was originally called "Lions Roar" and many people refer to this classical beginning.  Eventually the name was changed to Tibetan White Crane.  In some cases, a master has evolved the Art form to reflect his own adaptations.  Hop Gar and Lama Pai are two such variations which are similar but different from Pak Hok Pai.  Pak Hok Pai is believed to be the closest in form to the original Tibetan White Crane. 

Over the millennium, other, more recent styles of Gung Fu have been influenced, at least in part, by Tibetan White Crane. As such, Tibetan White Crane is one of the oldest and "purest" martial arts styles.  Further, Tibetan White Crane should not be confused with Fukien White Crane.  The only thing these two arts share in common is the name "white crane".  They are two very different art styles.