Chan Kowk Wai
Encyclopedia
Chan Kwok Wai was born on April 3, 1936, at Taishan
in the province of Canton
, China
. He is well regarded as the major introductor of traditional Shaolin Kung Fu
in Brazil
, through the China-Brazil Kung Fu Academy (Portuguese: Academia Sino-Brasileira de Kung Fu). His disciples have spread as far as the USA, Canada, Spain, Argentina and the Czech Republic, among other countries.
In September, 2004, Chan was awarded the 10th degree of the World Organization of Wu Shu & Kung Fu Masters from Vancouver, BC, Canada, in five styles: Northern Shaolin, Yang Taiji, Bagua, Xingyi and Hung Sing Choy Lei Fat (see below).
The internal styles
(内家, Nèi Jiā) taught by Chan are such:
(氣功), healing massage techniques, Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, Bajiquan and Tantui. Yim Sheung Mo also introduced the young Chan to Won Hong Fan (黃漢勳) of the Seven Stars Mantis Style, Ching Jim Man (张占文) of the Eagle Claw Style and Master and renowned Doctor Yim You Chin of the Hung Sing Choy Li Fat Style, with all of whom he learned everything he could for roughly ten years.
In 1960, Chan moved to Brazil, where he co-founded the Chinese Social Center (Centro Social Chinês, in Portuguese) through which he taugh kung fu classes for twelve years. He also taught classes at the renowned Universidade de São Paulo (USP) for seven years. In 1973, Chan founded the China-Brazil Kung Fu Academy for which he is largely known today.
(太院长 顾汝章). (Ku Yu Cheong, or in Mandarin Gu Ru Zhang, taught Yim Shang Wu, or in Cantonese Yim Sheung Mo, who, in turn, taught Chen Guo Wei, or in Cantonese Chan Kowk Wai.) The core ten sets are preceded by an introductory set. His methodology is propagated throughout the whole Sinobrasileira family.
Introductory set:
The Five Lesser sets:
The Five Greater sets:
International:
Taishan
Taishan is a coastal county-level city in Guangdong Province, China. The city is part of the Greater Taishan Region....
in the province of Canton
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He is well regarded as the major introductor of traditional Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, through the China-Brazil Kung Fu Academy (Portuguese: Academia Sino-Brasileira de Kung Fu). His disciples have spread as far as the USA, Canada, Spain, Argentina and the Czech Republic, among other countries.
In September, 2004, Chan was awarded the 10th degree of the World Organization of Wu Shu & Kung Fu Masters from Vancouver, BC, Canada, in five styles: Northern Shaolin, Yang Taiji, Bagua, Xingyi and Hung Sing Choy Lei Fat (see below).
Kung Fu Styles
Chan teaches a broad curriculum of old-school kung fu styles. Most of them are external styles (外家, Wài Jiā):- Fist of the Northern Shaolin School ' onMouseout='HidePop("57662")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Běi Shào Lín Quán Mén, Cantonese: Bak Siu Lam Kuen Mun), the core martial arts system from the Buddhist Shaolin Monastery of Henan, in Northern China.
- Springing Legs ' onMouseout='HidePop("86746")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Tán Tuǐ, Cantonese: Tam Toi), originated from the Islamic Hui peopleHui peopleThe Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
; 12 Roads version (十二路).
- Fist of (Masters) Cai, Li & Buddha ' onMouseout='HidePop("90516")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Cài Lǐ Fó Quán, Cantonese: Choy Lei Fat Kuen), families Goose Victory (Chinese: 鴻勝; Pinyin: Hóng Shèng; Cantonese: Hung Sing) and Northern Victory (Chinese: 北勝; Pinyin: Běi Shèng; Cantonese: Bak Sing).
- Mantis Fist of the Seven StarsNorthern Praying Mantis (martial art)Northern Praying Mantis is a style of Chinese martial arts, sometimes called Shandong Praying Mantis after its province of origin. It was created by Wang Lang and was named after the praying mantis, an insect, the aggressiveness of which inspired the style...
' onMouseout='HidePop("43658")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Qī Xīng Táng Láng Quán, Cantonese: Chat Seng Tong Long Kuen)
- TumblingFanziquánFānziquán is a Chinese martial art that emphasizes offense and defense with the hands. Its movements have been described as:Fānziquán routines are usually quite short and very fast...
Eagle Claw ' onMouseout='HidePop("72743")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Fān Zi Yīng Zhǎo, Cantonese: Fan Chi Ying Jaau)
- Fist of the ArhatLuohan (martial arts)Luohan quan , also known as in Japanese, literally means "Arhat boxing". The traditional story of its creation states that it was created by monks in the Shaolin Temple, by observing and imitating the forms and expressions of each Arhat Statue in the temple...
' onMouseout='HidePop("75256")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Lúo Hàn Quan, Cantonese: Lo Hon Kuen), from the Buddhist concept of Arhat ("worthy of Nirvana" in SanskritSanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
).
- Natural SchoolZi Ran MenZiranmen or Zi Ran Men , also known as Natural Boxing,is a Northern internal style of kung fu that is taught in conjunction with Qigong breathing techniques. The style traces its lineage to Dwarf Xu, who based it on ancient Taoist philosophy...
' onMouseout='HidePop("5598")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Zì Rán Mén, Cantonese: Ji Yin Mun)
- Fist of (Master) ZhaChaquánChāquán is a Chinese martial art that features graceful movements and some acrobatic aerial maneuvers.Chāquán also includes a large range of weapons....
' onMouseout='HidePop("82797")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Zhā Quán, Cantonese: Cha Kuen), originated from the Islamic Hui peopleHui peopleThe Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
.
The internal styles
Neijia
Nèijiā is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping those styles that practice nèijìng , usually translated as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects...
(内家, Nèi Jiā) taught by Chan are such:
- Fist of the Absolute of Yang Family ' onMouseout='HidePop("86567")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Yáng Shì Taì Jí Quán, Cantonese: Tai Kek Kuen), from the Taoist concept of the TaijiTaijiTaiji 太極 is a Chinese cosmological term for the "Supreme Ultimate" state of undifferentiated absolute and infinite potentiality, contrasted with the Wuji 無極 "Without Ultimate"...
(the supreme ultimate, the absolute, or the infinity).
- Fist of InfinityBajíquánBājíquán is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow strikes. It originated in Hebei Province in Northern China, but is also well-known in other places today, especially Taiwan...
' onMouseout='HidePop("63766")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Bā Jí Quán, Cantonese: Baat Kek Kuen), from the I ChingI ChingThe I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
concept of the Baji (everything in all eight directions, or the infinity), originated from the Islamic Hui peopleHui peopleThe Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
.
- Palm of the Eight TrigramsBaguazhangBāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
' onMouseout='HidePop("92850")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Bā Guà Zhǎng, Cantonese: Baat Kua Cheong), from the Taoist concept of the BaguaBagua (concept)The bagua are eight diagrams used in Taoist cosmology to represent the fundamental principles of reality, seen as a range of eight interrelated concepts. Each consists of three lines, each line either "broken" or "unbroken," representing yin or yang, respectively...
.
- Fist of the Six Harmonies ' onMouseout='HidePop("23192")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Liù Hé Quán, Cantonese: Luk Hop Kuen), from the Taoist concept of the Six Harmonies or Six Unions.
- Fist of Intent-ShapingXingyiquanXingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
' onMouseout='HidePop("392")' href="/topics/Pinyin">PinyinPinyinPinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
: Xíng Yì Quán, Cantonese: Yeng Yi Kuen)
Kung Fu Lineage
Chan initiated his kung fu by the age of four with Chan Cheok Sing, who taught him Choy Lei Fat until he was 14. In 1949, with the constitution of the People's Republic of China, the young Chan moved with his family to Hong Kong, where he trained Shaolin Lohon with his uncle Ma Kim Fong. When Yim Sheung Mo (嚴尚武) too left the PRC, he stayed in Hong Kong with Chan's family and taught him the Northern Shaolin Style. Thus did Chan Kowk Wai inherit this traditional martial art system along with martial qigongQigong
Qigong or chi kung is a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation...
(氣功), healing massage techniques, Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, Bajiquan and Tantui. Yim Sheung Mo also introduced the young Chan to Won Hong Fan (黃漢勳) of the Seven Stars Mantis Style, Ching Jim Man (张占文) of the Eagle Claw Style and Master and renowned Doctor Yim You Chin of the Hung Sing Choy Li Fat Style, with all of whom he learned everything he could for roughly ten years.
In 1960, Chan moved to Brazil, where he co-founded the Chinese Social Center (Centro Social Chinês, in Portuguese) through which he taugh kung fu classes for twelve years. He also taught classes at the renowned Universidade de São Paulo (USP) for seven years. In 1973, Chan founded the China-Brazil Kung Fu Academy for which he is largely known today.
Personal Approach
Chan teaches the core Northern Shaolin hand sets in a different order than Ku Yu CheungKu Yu Cheung
Ku Yu Cheung was a Chinese martial artist who disseminated the Bak sil lum martial arts system across southern China in the early 1900’s. Ku was known for his expertise in Iron Palm hand conditioning among other Chinese Martial Art training exercises...
(太院长 顾汝章). (Ku Yu Cheong, or in Mandarin Gu Ru Zhang, taught Yim Shang Wu, or in Cantonese Yim Sheung Mo, who, in turn, taught Chen Guo Wei, or in Cantonese Chan Kowk Wai.) The core ten sets are preceded by an introductory set. His methodology is propagated throughout the whole Sinobrasileira family.
Introductory set:
- 練歩拳 [Liàn Bù Quán / Lien Bu Chuan] Steps and Fists Practice
The Five Lesser sets:
- 短打 [Duǎn Dǎ / Tuin Ta] Short Strike (Zhang's 8th)
- 梅花 [Méi Huā / Moy Fa] Plum Blossom (Zhang's 7th)
- 穿心 [Chuān Xīn / Tchuin Sam] Pierce the Heart (Zhang's 6th)
- 武藝 [Wǔ Yì / Mo Ay] Martial Skill (Zhang's 3rd)
- 拔歩 [Bá Bù / Pa Pou] Uprooting Step / Long March (Zhang's 4th)
The Five Greater sets:
- 坐馬 [Zuò Mǎ / Tchou Ma] Sit on the Horse (Zhang's 1st)
- 領路 [Lǐng Lù / Leng Lo] Lead the Way (Zhang's 2nd)
- 開門 [Kāi Mén / Koy Moon] Open the Door / Release (Zhang's 5th)
- 連環 [Lián Huán / Lien Lou] Continuous Chain (Zhang's 9th)
- 式法 [Shì Fǎ / Ce Fa] Pattern Method (Zhang's 10th)
External links
- Academia Sino-Brasileira de Kung Fu (HQ in São Paulo)
- Senda - Escola de Kung Fu (Curitiba, Paraná)
- Academia Sino-Brasileira de Kung Fu (Florianópolis, Santa Catarina)
- Lin Tai (Florianópolis, Santa Catarina)
- Wu Yi - Habilidade Marcial (Rio de Janeiro)
- www.kungfu-wushu.com.br (Manaus, Amazonas)
- Associação Gaúcha de Kung-Fu (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul)
- Academia Wu Song de Kung Fu (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul)
- Centro Cultural Brasil China (Rio de Janeiro)
- Associação Umbuzeiro de Kung Fu e Boxe Chinês (Santos, São Paulo)
- Associação Pak Shao Lin de Kung Fu (São Paulo)
- Associação Mei Hua (João Pessoa, Paraíba)
- Equilíbrio Academia (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul)
International:
- Česko-Čínská Akademie Kungfu (Czech Republic)
- Académie Sino Canadienne de Kung Fu (Canada)
- Asociación Kai Men Kung Fu (Argentina)
See also
- Chinese martial artsChinese martial artsChinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
- Styles of Chinese martial artsStyles of Chinese martial artsHundreds of different styles of Chinese martial arts exist, many distinctive styles with their own sets of techniques and ideas. There are themes common which allows them to be group according to generalized "families" , "sects" , "class" , or "schools" of martial art styles...
- List of Chinese martial arts