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Pak Mei History |
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Grandmaster
CHEUNG
Lai-Chuen
(1882-1964)
The 4th Head of
Pak Mei Kung Fu |
Grandmaster CHEUNG Lai-Chuen came from Huizhou of Guangdong in
China. When Grandmaster CHEUNG was young, he learned three
types of martial arts seperately from three different sifus:
Sifu LAM Shek of Vagabond style, Sifu LEE Mong of Huizhou LIs
family style, Sifu LAM Hap of Boluo Lams family style. It
was told that Grandmaster CHEUNG also learned Pak Mei (White
Eyebrow) martial arts from the Zen-Buddhist Jook Fat Wun
(Legendary story: Pak Mei martial arts was created by the
Great Monk Pak Mei, who went to the Emei Mountain and practised
the Shaolin martial arts which he studied from the Shaolin
Temple in the old days. The Great Monk Pak Mei passed his
martial arts to the Zen-Buddhist Kwong Wai, and then Kwong Wai
passed it to Jook Fat Wun).
Having great result in martial arts studies, Grandmaster
CHEUNG served as the Martial Arts Instructor in both Yantang and
Whampoa Military Academy, and also established the Lai Chuen
Chinese Martial Arts Society in Guangzhou during 1912.
Grandmaster CHEUNG mastered and integrated the martial arts
styles he had learned, then he founded "Pak Mei Pai" which was
officially named later. The Great Monk Pak Mei is titled
as the First Head of Pak Mei Pai, the Zen-Buddhist Kwong Wai is
titled as the Second Head, the Zen-Buddhist Jook Fat Wun is
titled as as the Third Head, and Grandmaster CHEUNG is the
Fourth Head (Non-Monk). In 1949, Grandmaster CHEUNG
migrated Hong Kong together with his family members and some of
his disciples, thus the Pak Mei (White Eyebrow) Kung Fu is
allowed to be passing and spreading in Hong Kong. |
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Introduction of
Pak Mei Kung Fu |
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Pak Mei (White Eyebrow) Pai is one of the Southern Chinese
martial arts styles which emphasizes the Short Bridges kung fu,
and it mainly focuses on closing the distance for powerful short
hands combat. The fighting rhythm and tactics of Pak Mei are
quite offensive that the method of the hands is flexible, fierce
and explosive, as well as the track of the hands is continuous
and unpredictable. In Pak Mei, there are some signature hands
techniques: Phoenix Eye Punch, Eagle Claw, Tiger Claw, Stab
Palm, Push Palm, Rush Punch, Whip Bridge, etc... and it mostly
uses the Non-T and Non-pigeon toed shape as a Triangle Stance for
steps moving and pressing, together with the hands movements for
pursuring, grabbing and striking the opponent. There are also
some sayings of knack in Pak Mei: "The two hands shall not be
returned and shall be changed anytime, press the steps and move
your bridges then your opponent can have nothing to
do", "When there is a bridge, walk on it(or walk under it).
If
there is no bridges, create your own bridges".
The Methodology of Pak Mei Kung Fu strives for Three Shapes
"Circle．Flat．Thin" in body structure, Four Flows
"Swallow．Spit．Float．Sink" in body mechanics, Six Strengths
"Neck．Shoulder．Waist．Back．Hands．Feet" in body coordination,
and Eight Techniques "Whip．Chop．Pull．Crash．Bounce．Twitch．Twine．Rush" in hands methods.
In the Hand forms of Pak Mei, the Straight Step form is
considered as an important basic form from the beginning. The
poem: "Straight Step form is to build Strength, the Swallow．Spit．Float．Sink are all
included. If you want to enter the gate
of Pak Mei and to seek its skills,
you shall first pay efforts on Straight Step form".
Regardless of gender, every normal Pak Mei practitioners would
practise both internal & external ways, and if they understand
the methods, as well as practise often, they would gain strength
from healthy mind, body & spirit. |
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Writer: Sifu Bill NG, the President of Bright Dragon
Martial Arts Association
(Year 2022) |
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KWOK's lineage
Pak Mei Kung Fu |
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Master
KWOK
Chi-Cheong
(Birth year: 1911)
The 5th Generation of
Pak Mei Kung Fu |
Master KWOK Chi-Cheong was born in Nanhai of Foshan, located
in Guangdong of South China, and he was one of the earliest
indoor disciples of Grandmaster CHEUNG Lai-Chuen, the 4th Head
of Pak Mei (White Eyebrow) Kung Fu. In 1928, Master KWOK
has already started to teach Pak Mei Kung Fu in Foshan, and at
age 18, he served as the Martial Arts Instructor in Guangzhou
Military. During the War Resistance, Master KWOK was
appointed by Grandmaster CHEUNG to establish the Second Branch
of Lai Chuen Chinese Martial Arts Society in Guangzhou.
Because of the chaos of war, Master KWOK finally migrated Hong
Kong.
In 1960s, Master KWOK established his Pak Mei school in Lai
Chi Kok, located in Kowloon of Hong Kong, and his active
disciples were/are: YIP Chi-Sum, HUNG Ming, WONG
Yan-Cheung, NG Yun-Wah, LI Shek-Lin, LO Kwai-Sang, CHENG
Wai-Shing, CHUN Shek-Choi, etc... Besides, KWOK Chun-Yau (Kuo Cheng-Yu),
the son of Master KWOK, was the action movie's actor of the film
companies in 1970s. |
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Master
LI
Shek-Lin
(Birth year: 1949)
The 6th Generation of
Pak Mei Kung Fu |
Master LI Shek-Lin is one of the Hakka people from Huiyang, located in Guangdong of South China,
and he migrated Hong Kong in 1960s. In 1968, Master LI started
to learn Pak Mei (White Eyebrow) Kung Fu & Dit da at Master KWOK
Chi-Cheong's school, and soon he has already
become the indoor disciple of Master KWOK, as well as the Assistant Instructor to assist
his senior KWOK Chun-Yau for
teaching Pak Mei Kung Fu.
After studying martial arts for over half a century, Master LI
was elected to become the First Chairman of Hakka Kung Fu
Culture Research Society, and his active disciples were/are:
HO Shau-Kee, LAM Lai-Hing, LO Bing-Kwan, CHAN Wai-Ming, CHAN
Hei-Wai, LAM Hok-Ho, Bill NG, WAN King-Yeung, etc... |
[ Further
Reading... ]
.:: Pak Mei (White Eyebrow) Kung Fu - Hands & Weapons
．Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Class
set up by Bright Dragon Martial Arts Association ::.
Proxy: Uechi Ryu International Karate-Do Association (Hong Kong Branch)
- Since year 2022 -
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