"To know what you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease." - Lao Tzu
CHOI LAI FUT
CHOY LI FUT CHOI LEE FUT CHOY LAI FUT CHOY LAY FUT CHOI LAY FUT CHOI LEI FUT Cai Li Fo 蔡李佛 Contact Sifu Tom Ruckman via email at: fremontkungfu@sbcglobal.net
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What style of kung fu do we practice?
The root of all martial arts is believed to have been brought from India to China by a Zen Buddhist monk named Da Mo (aka Tamo or Bodhidharma). Da Mo lived in the 5th/6th centuries AD and visited the Shaolin temples of China. He taught the monks in China the 18 Lohan Kung (18 Buddha Hands ) for health of body, mind, and spirit. These 18 Lohan exercises evolved into the many styles of Kung fu. The most popular style of Kung Fu from the famous Shaolin system is Choi Lai Fut. Although the roots of the martial art are very old, Choi Lai Fut as a system was founded in 1836 by Chan Heung. He named it after his 3 main teachers, the Buddhist monk Choy Fook (蔡褔), and Li Yau-San (李友山), plus his uncle Chan Yuen-Wu (陳遠護). (Fut meaning Buddha, to honor the Buddhist background of his uncle and the shaolin temple) The system combines the martial arts techniques from both Northern and Southern Chinese martial arts. The style is external, and combines both hard and soft movements in its techniques, fighting, and forms, as well as many different weapons. Choi Lai Fut is known for explosive movements which enable you to block and strike at the same time. Many of the movements are based on the natural movements of animals, and the most well-known are the Shaolin Five Animals: the tiger, crane, leopard, snake, and dragon. What we hope the students will achieve? We hope that students of kung fu would strive for this “human achievement” with everything in their lives, not just athletics. Character, values, morals, respect, discipline, love, integrity, etc. are all along the path that God expects us to follow. And of course, through the practice of this martial art, not only will they gain the ability to defend themselves and their loved ones, but greater fitness, coordination, and balance valuable in all sports. And of course we want to have fun. |