威勇

History of Bak Pai Sil Lum

At its most specific, Northern Shaolin refers to the style disseminated by Gu Ruzhang (Cantonese Ku Yu Cheung). In its broadest sense, Northern Shaolin (Chinese: 北少林; Pinyin: běishàolín, Cantonese: Bak Sil Lum) refers to the external (as opposed to internal) martial arts of Northern China referring to those styles from the Northern Shaolin Monastery in Henan.

The monastery in Henan is the original Shaolin Monastery. The monks began to practice military weapons sometime around the Tang Dynasty and became famous for aiding the future Emperor Li Shimin in struggles against rebellious forces. The monks were primarily known for their spear and staff techniques until the Ming-Qing transition when they began to specialize in unarmed combat. As the reputation of the Shaolin martial arts grew during the following centuries, its name became synonymous with martial arts, regardless of whether an individual art traced its origins to the Shaolin Monastery in Henan or not.^[1] As a result, the “Shaolin” moniker was applied to other Buddhist temples with strong reputations for martial arts. The characteristics of the martial arts taught at each temple were so different from each other that they became identified with their place of origin.

The Northern Shaolin style associated with Gu Ruzhang was first taught to a lay disciple, the celebrated 18th century master Gan Feng chi of Jiangsu Province, by a Shaolin monk named Zhao Yuan, born Zhu Fu, a member of the Ming royal family who joined the sangha after the Ming was overthrown by the Qing in 1644. (Gan is also remembered for founding the martial art Huāquán 花拳, literally “flower fist”, about which he wrote the book Introduction to Huāquán.) Gan in turn taught Wan Bangcai, who taught Yan Degong, who taught Yan Sansen, who taught Yan Jiwen, who taught his nephew Gu Ruzhang (1894–1952).

Generation 1-11

1. 朝元 和尚 (Monk Zhāo Yuán)
2. 甘鳳吃 (Gān Fèng Chī)
3. 萬邦才 (Wàn Bāng Cái)
4. 嚴徳功 (Yán Dé Gōng)
5. 嚴三省 (Yán Sān Xǐng)
6. 嚴機(繼)溫 (Yán Jī Wēn)
7. 顧汝章 (Gù Rǔ Zhāng)
8. 严尚武 Yim Shan Wu
9. 黃澤民 Wong Chia Man
10. Robert Louie
11. Jason VanWinkle 

Yan Jiwen also taught Gu the skills of Iron Body and Iron Palm. On a famous occasion in 1931, Gu is said to have demonstrated the latter on a horse.

Among the martial artists who gathered at the Central National Martial Arts Institute in Nanjing in 1928, Gu placed in the top fifteen and was included—alongside Fu Zhensong, Li Xianwu, Wan Laimin, Wan Laisheng, and Wong Shao Chou—in the Five Southbound Tigers (五虎下江南; pinyin: wǔ hǔ xià jiāng nán; literally “five tigers heading south of Jiangnan“), five masters of the Northern Chinese martial arts sent to Guangzhou to organize another National Martial Arts Institute.

In Guangzhou, the name “Shaolin” was already associated with Hung Gar and other styles, so Gu’s style came to be known by the name Northern Shaolin. Also by the names Buk Sil Lum in Cantonese and Bei Shaolin in Mandarin.

“Why do you waste your time on history when you should be practicing.”
~Master Wong Jack Man 黃澤民

Characteristics

The Northern Shaolin style of  kung fu is one of the most prominent traditional northern styles of Chinese martial arts. The northern styles of kung-fu generally emphasize long range techniques, quick advances and retreats, wide stances, kicking and leaping techniques, whirling circular blocks, quickness, agility, and aggressive attacks.

The system teaches empty-hand techniques and weaponry through predetermined combinations, known as forms, routines, or movement of sets. The students learn the basics by practicing the routines until the movements in the routines can be executed naturally based on instinct. Then, two or multiple man sets are practiced to train responses and applications of techniques learned from the sets. The practice sets/routines are not only practical in applications but are also graceful and artistic in nature. The fluidness of the movements combined with acrobatic techniques are trademarks of the Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu sets.

The Northern Shaolin style of Kung-Fu was made famous by the late Ku Yu Cheung. There are many legends of Ku; according to tales related by his close students, Ku’s father was an accomplished exponent of the Tan Tui (Snapping Kicks) Kung-Fu form. When he was young, Ku traveled throughout Northern China to learn all the northern kung-fu systems. He was renowned for his Iron Palm techniques and the application of the long spear. He organized all his learnings into what is the Northern Shaolin Kung Fu today.

Note:
* Some of the information here is from Wikipedia®

Our Lineage for Bak Pai Sil Lum:
Monk Chih Yuan —> Feng Shao Ch’en —> Hsu Wen San —> Yim Po —> Yim Chih Wen (Big Spear Yim) —> Kuo Yu Chang (Iron Spear Kuo) (1890-1951)—> Yim Shan Wu (1887-1971)—> Wong Chia Man (1941-Present) —> Robert Louie (1949-Present) —> Jason VanWinkle ( 1969 to Present)

History Coming Soon: BSL LoHan

Our Lineage for  Bak Sil Lum LoHan:
 Hermits in Shaolin Caves—> Yuan Tung T’san —> Ma Lang + Sun Yu Fung —> Li Hon Kuai + Ma Gim Fung (Ma Ching Fung)–->Wong Chia Man —> Robert Louie —> Jason VanWinkle

History Coming Soon: Hsing-i

Our Lineage for Hsing-i Lineage:
Hermit in Na Shan—> Chi Lung Feng—> Ts’ao Chi Wu—> Tai Lung Pang—> Li Neng Jan —> Kuo Yun Shen —> Li Kuei Yuan —> Sun Lu T’ang —> Kuo Yu Chang—> Yim Shan Wu —> Wong Chia Man —> Robert Louie —> Jason VanWinkle

 Our History Coming Soon: Bagua

Lineage for Bagua Lineage:
Tung Hai Ch’uan —> Chia Ch’i Shan + Ma Gua + Ching Ting Wah —>Fu Chen Sheng—> Lin Chao Chen —> Robert Louie —> Jason VanWinkle