Ching Lung/Tong Leong Kou Shu

Ching Lung Kou Shu
After ten years of training in Korean and Okinawan Karate, I felt something missing. Upon my arrival in Hawaii in 1976, I joined the (Tang Sho Dau, Shur Dau Kwai, Ching Lung Go Su Kwan), Green Dragon School taught my Mister K. Thomas. Following is the history and lineage of this school to the best of my recollection. Bear in mind that the Ching Lung School is southern Chinese “hard” boxing based on the five animal styles popular in Kwangtung, brought to Taiwan. Grand Master Hung Wen Hsueh’s family had resided in Kwangtung province for many centuries. Kwangtung martial arts are characterized by very rigorous and difficult physical training. Although many families considered their styles unique, they all trace back several hundred years to the Shaolin five animal style. With Mao Tse Tung s revolution in China many people immigrated to Taiwan, including Master Hung. Most of his family remained in China. Upon arrival in Taiwan, the then young master Liao Wu Chang, an exponent of monkey boxing (Ta Shen Meng), befriended him. Family commitments caused him to soon move up island however. Master Hung continued his training in martial arts, studying Shaolin boxing under the famed Kao Fang Hsien who had trained at the Shaolin temple. He also studied Taijiquan under Master Chen Man Ching, who was considered at that time to be the best Taiji master in Taiwan. Some relatives of master Hung in Taiwan include master Hung Yen Fung, an exponent of the Ta-Hao Jung Kou Quan, (invincible crane style), and master Hung I-Hsiang, of Hsing-I and Bagua. Master Hung took on an American student, Mr. S.L. Martin. Mr. Martin had a previous background in Okinawan and Japanese Karate, and in Judo. Master Hung put much effort into Mr. Martin’s training to allow him to represent him in the United States. Meanwhile, Mr. Martin’s good friend Mr. Manny Agrella was studying Mantis boxing from “Old Man” Wang. Upon their return to the United States they formed the U.S. Tang Sho Dau assn., teaching and sharing each other’s styles. Branch schools were opened throughout the East Coast, the south, the Midwest, and in Hawaii. Mr. Thomas, my instructor taught the Hawaii school. When he left Hawaii, the school was in the hands of the Senior, Miss Emilei Kim and myself. Several years later, I left Hawaii, and moved to Florida. Shortly thereafter, the organization (Ching Lung) met with turbulent times. I lost touch with Ching Lung at this point, as I moved to Okinawa Japan, but continued to train and teach what I had learned. Master Hung unfortunately passed on a few years back. Ching Lung is still led by Mr. Martin and his many students throughout the world, and Master Hung’s two sons, known in Taichung as the “twin tornadoes”. Both Master Martin and Master Hung’s two sons possess a high degree of skill. There are presently many people who have benefited from Master Hung and Lao Tsu Martins wisdom worldwide. On many military bases there are people involved in the Chinese martial arts that had their start in Ching Lung. Just to name a few, Ken Thomas, Chang K. Dow, Mike Stiegerwald, Linda Lake, C.J. Bledsoe, Mr. Blue, Glenn Sheridan, Tom Stiegerwald, Erin Reynolds, Danny Burgos, Emilei Kim, the Singletary bros., and myself.

In 1993 I began training with the Okinawa City Taijiquan Study Group led by Kotani,Chieko, Tsu Hako Sensei, and by Mr. Miyazato. This school is a member of the Japan Wu Shu Taijiquan assn., the training emphasizing perfection of technique, health, and sport competition. Kotani Sifu is a perfectionist. This increased training in the details of Taijiquan made a drastic improvement in my skills. While learning the details and principles of Taijiquan, I’ve discovered improvements in all of my martial arts, including my Shaolin style techniques. I must also give credit for ideas I’ve picked up along the way to other great teachers in the Japan Wu Shu Tai Chi federation, such as Kato Sensei, Ishihara Sensei, and Mishiro Sensei, who have visited us from mainland Japan and conducted Seminars. Most of what I picked up from their seminars echo’s training I received from Kotani Sifu. Our school, “Cha Chee Yo”, combines the total training I received from all of these teachers. Most of my “hard” style training is from Ching Lung, while my “soft” style training is from my various Taijiquan teachers. After my retirement from the Air Force in 1995, I returned to the Tampa bay area. For about a year I taught Taijiquan at Giles Martial Arts on Gandy blvd. We had occasional classes in the park at that time, but after appx. 1 year, we made the Ballast Point Park, our permanent home. The name “Cha Chee Yo”, meaning Tea Drinking Friends came about when Melody Ng, of the Gandy Dragon, (Our favorite after class hangout) nicknamed us this as we frequently stopped by for tea. The name stuck. I feel that it’s a more descriptive name than the often violent names schools in the U.S. often use. Shee Shee!

Most legends place the origin of Praying Mantis boxing with the founder, Wong Leong of Shantung province China, during the Ching dynasty. Legend has it that he came from a wealthy family and had a deep interest in Kung Fu from an early age. Being from a wealthy family, he could and did obtain top-notch instruction. After appx. 10 years of study, he considered himself quite good and traveled throughout China with his belongings in a “yellow sack”. This meant that he openly requested friendly matches with any martial artists he might come across. Wong Leong eventually visited a monk who was quite famous for his fighting skill. To his great surprise, Wong was quite easily beaten! He left the monastery in disappointment and started home. As the day was hot, he stopped and rested in the shade of a small tree. Disturbed by a noise in the branches above, he saw a mantis overcoming a large cicada. Surprised to see the mantis overcoming a much larger insect, Wong captured the mantis, imprisoning it in a small cricket cage. Irritating the mantis with blades of straw, Wong reasoned that if the mantis could defeat a larger creature, he might learn some new martial principles from observing it. After many years of practice and observation, Wong had developed a number of new fighting techniques based on forearms. Wong returned to the monastery to visit the monk who had defeated him years earlier. The old monk acknowledged that Wong was much improved, but pointed out that his footwork was still deficient. The monk led him down the mountain to an area where a troop of monkeys normally lived. After observing the monkeys for three years, Wong had developed three primary forms: Bung-Bo, (stomping steps), Lan Git (interfere and block, and Ba Jao, (eight elbows). For the third time, Wong visited the old monk. The monk approved, and the Praying Mantis style was formally accepted as a style at the temple. The original style was named Siu Lum Shantung Tong Leong. Wongs students and descendents later branched out creating various sub-styles of mantis boxing. One story has Wong sending his sons out to duplicate his experience-observing mantises. The result; now we have the 7 star style, the flat plate style, three spots style, plum flower style, no marks style, tai chi mantis style, 8 steps style, Wah Lum style, and bamboo grove style. Bamboo Grove was formerly known as Shantung Siu Lum Jook Lum Tong Leong Moon.
Bamboo Grove style mantis boxing (as I learned it) has a unique history that sets it apart from other mantis styles. It actually appears to be a mixture of Chu-Ga (Chu family style), and northern Chinese mantis. The primary difference from other mantis styles is that all kicks are low, stances are lower, and the many long range techniques such as jumping kicks, leaps, etc. that other mantis styles use are shortened. There are several different schools throughout the world that profess to be “bamboo grove mantis” style. As usual, it seems that there has been some off branching of the style as they each have different emphasis and some have different forms. After training with Mr. Thomas I later observed 7 star Mantis while attending school in Vancouver, B.C. I adopted several ideas and re-incorporated them into the forms and techniques Mr. Thomas taught me. Our mantis forms will give you a good representative foundation in Praying Mantis Chinese Boxing though it appears to be (from my limited knowledge) to be quite different from 7-star mantis, and also not the same as other "Jook Lum" schools I've seen. Only Master Wang in Taiwan knows for sure!!!

MANTIS SYSTEM FORMS
Tong Leong
Hen Ga
Bai Yun To Tao
Swa Tao
Bung Bo
Hei Hu tong Leong
Mei Hua Sao Chen
Tong Leong Tung Ku
Chau Fu Ien
Su Ga Sic Kune
Di Ga Sic Kune

Abridged History of Jook Lum Tong Leong
(Bamboo Grove Southern Mantis)
(By an instructor in the style from an interview in Inside Kung Fu Magazine) As publisher of both magazines and student and teacher of this style, I have continuously searched for its roots and origin. In 1977, when as a black belt in Hawaiian Kenpo (who lived and studied in Hawaii) and Northern Plum Flower Praying Mantis (who had studied in South Korea), I made my way into a small Chinese restaurant in Bowlingreen, Kentucky and found Master Louie Jack Man, head chef.
Stationed at Ft. Campbell, 160 miles away, there were very few martial arts schools and no Kungfu. Sampling all the Chinese restaurants within one day's drive of the Army Post, I remember asking the owner of the only Chinese restaurant in Bowlingreen, if there was any Chinese Kungfu nearby. He stated his head cook was excellent in kungfu and if I cared to wait until 10:30 that evening, he would introduce me. As a young martial artist, I was always willing to try my hand at something new, and so, over several pots of oolong tea and a few dozen fortune cookies, I waited. It was then my first teacher of Southern Praying Mantis appeared, Master Louie, smoking a cigarette, with a slightly arched back, sliding his feet as he walked across the floor. Looking rather distant, he asked, "so, you want to learn kungfu?" To which I replied, “I am a black belt”. He laughed, waved me away with the back of his hand and said, “I don’t know any kungfu, sorry.” It was very humbling to a young martial artist raised on TV and movies and a good lesson in etiquette. Now, some 19 years later, I am glad to say that the deepest roots of this system in the USA are still alive and well, having been active, but silent, for nearly the last 40 years. For the last thirty years I have dedicated my life to wu tao, traditional martial arts, making the study of it, my business and more so, my way of life. I am not sure if my given name, Roger, a Germanic name meaning warrior or spearman, shaped me, or, if I was simply influenced at an early age by Carradine and Lee. I could have chosen any style, I guess, but it seems that one style, Jook Lum Temple Praying Mantis, chose me.
Today, any single style has a host of masters one can learn from. And thanks to martial arts video productions, one may pick and choose what style, which master and what time you want to learn. Unless, that style is Southern Praying Mantis.
Perhaps secrecy, tradition or the collective Chinese culture is the reason. Perhaps, it is nothing more than the fact that this style belonged to a select, sub-minority of the Chinese populace, known as the Hakka, or guest people. It was only within the last few decades that even the non-Hakka Chinese were taught this kungfu and no non-Chinese were accepted as students or disciples by the late Lum Sang Sifu (although a caucasian taxi-driver who showed exceeding kindness to Lum Sang Sifu received basic instruction from a disciple).
The origin of the style is said to have begun as late as the mid Qing Dynasty and passed hands only three or four times before the Late Lum Sang Sifu. Hence, we can say the style is not yet diluted from its original content. Located in Hong Kong during the early 1950's, the Late Master Lao Sui, began teaching the south Mantis style although he called it Chu Gar Gao, or Chu Family Creed. (Chu is a famous surname and is reocurring throughtout the history of China). Although, he had many students, he accepted only five excellent disciples (Chu Kwong Hwa, Chu Yu Hing, Lum Hwa, Wong Go Chang, Yip Sui) who propogated his teaching. Among them, Master Yip Sui later renamed the Chu Gar style to Chow Gar Tong Long or Chow family mantis kungfu. (Often, those accepted as disciples adopt the surname of the Sifu or Style, ie. Tien Zan Men Hay Kung students all call themselves by the family name "Pong"). (The older generation Chu Gar masters privately acknowledge Bamboo Temple as the original south Mantis style.)
As early as 1990, I had inquired with the Zhejiang and Guangdong Provincial Departments of Martial Art and discovered that the Southern Praying Mantis was more widespread than publicly known. Quietly in the interior of south China, others were practicing southern Praying Mantis and gaining strength from the roots of the Bamboo Temple too!
Still in his mid thirties, it was during the last years of WW2, that the Late Lum Sang Sifu left his teacher and found his way to NYC Chinatown. There, he began quietly teaching the Bamboo Temple Kungfu at the Hakka Chinese Association. Later, at the request of another Chinese American Association interpretor, Lum Sang Sifu began teaching their youth. Lion Dance and Kungfu instruction was the method used to recruit new members and hundreds of Chinatown's populace became students of Lum Sang Sifu during the 1950’s and 60's. It was during this time that the Late Lum Sang Sifu chose from among the hundreds of Chinese students, his first disciple, Wong Bak Lim. Seven others were then chosen and accepted as disciples (Ah Leung, Ah Hing, Ah Eng, Ah Wong, Ah Lee, Ah Kai, Ah Sun). These first eight disciples became the family of Lum Sang Sifu and the whole group would stand before the Ancestors and the Shun Toi (altar of the art) and make lifelong promises (creating their future). They would occupy the third floor of #3 Pearl Street, NYC Chinatown for years to follow.
Such power the Chinese Associations yielded in Boston, Seattle, Chicago and San Francisco Chinatowns, that they sponsored the Late Lum Sang Sifu and his family of disciples and students during the late 1950’s for Lion Dancing and Kungfu Demonstrations. The American economy was well enough that local Chinese Organizations could support each guest member up to $700 per week during such celebrations!
Although, at the time, ordinary circumstances of survival were more difficult than the yearly travel and celebrations, each of the Late Lum Sang Sifu’s disciples supported their father/teacher and each other with daily jobs, often at menial wages. Each individual’s money was laid on the kitchen (bread) table for the teacher’s (and each others) disposal. Today, traditional kungfu schools are the opposite. Sifus support and pay their students to learn and teach in order to support themselves. And although, the operandi may have changed the modus has not. It is still the recruiting of America’s young children that propogates martial art for the future, regardless of the style.
And the times, they were a changing! With another war (Vietnam), the Late Sifu Lum Sang saw his first family change and adapt to survive. As the remaining disciples went to war or followed the fate prepared for them, he may have felt homeless? Circumstances, determination or fate left the Dai Sihing (senior elder brother) Wong Bak Lim to follow the tradition given him and he introduced the Late Sifu Lum Sang to the NYC Chinese Freemason Association in 1963. Although, begun some 199 years before with the razing of the Kao Lin Fukien Shaolin Temple, it was Taiwan’s Republican Hero, Sun Yat Sen (1911) who fomented this "society with secrets" worldwide.
From the NYC Chinese Freemasons, the Late Lum Sang Sifu accepted a second family among his many kungfu students. (Ah Chen, Ah Mark, Ah Lee, Ah Chen, Ah Bing, Ah Louie, Ah Kin), and they too stood before the Ancestors and the Shun Toi (altar of the art) and made lifelong promises (creating their future). A few years later (1968), the Late Lum Sang Sifu, after closing his hands (retirement), left the USA for Taiwan, where he lived until his return to NYC Chinatown in the early 1980’s. Most of his first and second family of disciples and many of his students and friends would see him regularly in the years before his death in 1991. Particularly, a disciple, Ah Lee, kindly assisted him in his last years. 2 man fighting skills are the foundation of Southern Praying Mantis Kungfu. Stomping with the feet, hooking and deflecting with the forearms and hands and striking the vital points with the knuckles and fingertips are its basics. "Within three steps contact, control and strike the enemy until he is red" is the fighting motto.
Southern Praying Mantis is a martial art, which can only be learned with a partner, as self-defense is the primary emphasis. This partner training creates a very alive, feeling and changing power based on the opponent’s movement and intent.
One starts training by learning to walk the mantis steps. The special mantis “horse” stance is upright and mobile allowing quick stepping with offensive and defensive action of the hips, knees, legs and feet. Traditionally, Lum Sang Sifu taught the system as follows: Som Bo Gin is the first form and the foundation of the system. This form is often mistranslated “Three Step Arrow”, although the actual meaning is three steps forward. Stepping, gathering and releasing power in short explosive strikes and borrowing force are the important points of this form. During the training of this single man form, one should train “fic shu” and mantis chi sao. Fic shu is a series of continuous hand motions to increase fluidity, relaxation and flexibility in the hand and arms. Mantis chi sao (sticky hand) exercises develop feeling, timing and sensitivity and are different than the Wing Chun sticky hand exercises.
Once the single man Som Bo Gin form has become skillful, one next learns the two man “breakdown” of Som Bo Gin. This is a two man form stressing basic skills of stepping, borrowing force, and striking in unison with a partner. It differs from most other style’s two man forms in that it is very sticky and contact oriented. The two practitioners hands, arms and legs are hardly separated once the form is begun. Because of the realistic nature of the two man forms, free sparring in the system is limited and greatly differs from other styles. Rather than advancing and retreating with a flurry of kicks and punches in a tag style, the moment mantis realizes intent, it closes the gap forcing contact, controlling the opponent by borrowing force or applying explosive force and strikes the vital points in rapid succession until the opponent is downed. And this is exactly what the two man forms accomplish.
Next one learns the single man form called Sup Bot Dim, (18 Points). It includes, stepping, kicking, covering left, right, and center gates and striking low below the waist, all while attacking the nerves with short continuous explosive strikes. 18 points two man form follows and the partners develop greater feeling, timing and sensitivity while learning where and how to strike the vital points with intent. Staff, broadsword, sword and sai may also be taught.
Chut Dim Siem Kuen (7 Point Monk Lee's Fist) was then sometimes taught privately to those who had kungfu potential but weren't deemed acceptable by the Master to graduate the system. Unless one was asked and became an inner disciple by ceremony, traditionally his training would stop here. Only those who became personal disciples of the Master would continue their training further.
Yup Bot Ling Bot(108) is the master’s form. It is a two man form teaching 36-72 vital (108) point striking. Medicine is taught at this stage along with a spiritual kungfu (Shun Kung). This kungfu clearly influenced several of the southern styles of kungfu as well as the Okinawan and Japanese martial arts as reflected in their forms. Kungfu examples are Tai Tsu Chuan which begins with the form,”3 Battles Forward” and the five styles of Fukien Crane whose first “vibration form” is also named “Som Bo Gin”.
Most Okinawan and Japanese forms follow the same numerology, such as, San Chin Kata (3 steps), Seipa Kata (18), Sanseiru kata (36) and Pechurin Kata (108). Master Louie Jack Man was my first teacher of this rare style. He remains open, friendly, honest and kind. I often go to see him in Philadelphia Chinatown. In the late 1970's and early 1980's I accompanied him to demonstrate Jook Lum during the Chinese New Year Celebrations in Atlanta. I also travelled with him to NYC and Atlantic City, NJ at that time. I am happy that after 19 years his door is still open to me. With recommendation, Master Louie introduced me to his Sihing (older brother) Master Gin Foon Mark and on June 6, 1980, I entered Mark Sifu’s school. He (Mark Sifu) was everything I expected and more out of a traditional kungfu teacher. In 1987, we travelled south of Mexico City, Mexico, together, where we introduced Jook Lum Temple Praying Mantis Kungfu on Mexican National Television during a 10 day seminar with 120 participants.
I have always respected and supported Mark Sifu. It is primarily due to his effort that the non-Chinese public has become aware of Southern Praying Mantis. His film Kungfu Master: Gin Foon Mark is available in libraries throughout the world and was even shown on HBO during the 1980's. I keep close contact with him today.
Master Gene Chen of San Francisco and one of his teachers, the late Choy Kam Man Sifu, were instrumental to my understanding of Chu Gar Praying Mantis. Master Gene Chen accepted me as Chu Gar disciple by ceremony, in 1990. Although, from the same family, Chu Gar Praying Mantis expanded it’s forms to include Jik Bo, Som Bo, Say Mun Gao Choy, Ying Chum Sao, Som Gin Yu Sao, Say Mun Bao Zhang, Som Yu Som Fung, Gan Ton Ging, Chut Bo Tui, Som Gong Bo, Sup Bot Mo Jung, Fut Sao and Duk Sheu Gun (Poison Snake Staff).
Master Gene Chen could easily have been a Grandmaster of Chu Gar Mantis, although he is now recognized as a Chen Style Taijiquan Grandmaster, with others who have mastered the Taiji, such as, Master Ken Yasamoto, under him. Master Norman Lee is the only Chu Gar inheritor under Chen Sifu, to my knowledge.
I met with Grandmaster Yip Sui on several occasions in Hong Kong. Not long ago, I called his flat in Kowloon City, but received no answer. As Lao Sui’s inheritor, he taught four basic forms: Som Bo Gin, Som Gin Yu Kiu, Som Bond Ging Tan and Fut Sao (Buddha Hand).
Here I would like to correct a mistake. In Wushu Kungfu magazine, Mr. Henry Poo Yee was introduced as a traditional teacher of Jook Lum Temple Southern Praying Mantis. This was a mistake on the part of the publication. I can confidently say that Mr. Yee's teaching is eclectic and not traditional Southern Praying Mantis as evidenced by the senior disciples of the Late Lum Sang Sifu. Nor does Mr. Yee's teaching resemble any of the traditional Jook Lum taught in England, Ireland, Taiwan, Hong Kong or China. Several years ago, I resigned any affiliation with his organization and I cannot recommend his teaching as traditional Jook Lum.
A second mistake was published in the February 1991 issue of Martial Arts of China. An article stated the Jook Lum style was an offshoot of one of the Late Lao Sui's disciples. However, Lao Sui did not begin teaching the style in Hong Kong until the early 1950's. Yet, the late Lum Sang Sifu was already teaching the Jook Lum Temple Kungfu at the NYC Hakka Association in the 1940's, some10 years before the incident supposedly occurred.
By design, in 1991, I sought out Sishuk Henry Wong of San Francisco who was an Association disciple of Lum Sifu at the NYC Freemasons. After nearly 30 years he was still enthusiastic about the late Lum Sifu. By chance, at my California offices, I met Mr. Richard Ong, who was a student of Dai Sihing Wong Baklim in NYC during the late 60’s. It was he, who introduced me to Master Harry Sun, the last of the first family of disciples.
Master Sun perfectly emulates the movements of a praying mantis and his body feels like a coiled strand of copper wire! His claw like fingers and quick explosive actions exemplify this system. He has one student, Rocky, (since 1975) although he prefers to say Rocky is just a friend with whom he exchanges knowledge (as Rocky had studied Hung Gar with Mr. Bill Chung who had studied South Mantis with Master Gin Foon Mark). Master Sun is truly a gentleman and my benefactor. I thank him for his friendship and opening the doors of the Late Lum Sang Sifu’s first family to me. It was he, who introduced me to two of his older brothers, Mr. Wong Bak Lim and Mr. Jesse Eng.
At 60, Master Eng could pass for half his age. He jogs several miles daily and has two students he calls friends, avoiding too much tradition. Although, he is a member of the first family of the Bamboo Temple kungfu, he also spent many years studying Chu Gar Southern Praying Mantis. His open, friendly and warm personality are a reflection of the true meaning of family (pai).
I am thankful to Dai Sihing (Senior Brother) Wong Bak Lim for his dedication to the Late Lum Sang Sifu. As the first disciple and first son of the first family, he has maintained impeccable records of dates and times of the Late Lum Sang Sifu’s teaching. Included are 100’s of photos and (8mm) films that attest to the system of Jook Lum (Bamboo Forest) Gee (Temple) Tong Long (Praying Mantis) Pai (Family) Chinese Kungfu in the USA. In the 1960's he opened a school in NYC Chinatown teaching the Chinese youth for free and even feeding them to keep them off the streets! Thanks to his effort to preserve this rare art, one can see 40 years of Jook Lum history in just a few hours. He is the DaSihing(Oldest Brother) and the first of Lum Sang Sifu’s Family of Disciples. He is a living encyclopedia of the Jook Lum Kungfu.
In his latter years, the late Master Lam accepted a third family of disciples (Ah Wong, Ah Lee, Ah Soo, Ah Ng and Ah Moy). These gentlemen also carry privately the Late Lam Sifu's legacy today.
With the cooperation of the senior and elder disciples of the Bamboo Temple Family, perhaps this rare kungfu style will blossom even further. We must be careful to preserve the tradition in its original form. We cannot escape the shadow of our teachers. The mirror of the inner self must be polished until truth is above money, need and life. Then, we will find the teaching to sustain tomorrow’s children. Search and prove all things! PAI@BambooTemple.Com BAMBOO TEMPLE CHINESE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION PO Box 2303 Decatur, AL 35602 Phone: 1-800-JOOK LUM Fax: 205-355-4551

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