The words Kung Fu can be literally translated as skill from effort. It can be used to describe anything that requires a person to invest both time and effort into training to become skillful.

2,500 years ago Buddhism was founded in Nepal. About 2,100 years ago Buddhism spread to India. 1,500 years ago an Indian Monk called Bodhidharma traveled to China and he developed the teachings of Chan Buddhism. 495 A.D.

The Shaolin Monastery is built in Henan Province. The first abbot is Ba Tuo. Ba Tuo received the land at the foot of the Shao She mountain from the Chinese emperor to build the monastery. The name Shaolin comes from the Shao She Mountain and from the forest that surrounds it. The Chinese word for forest is Lin and for temple it is Su.
Shao Lin Su = Shaolin Temple

Sigung Chong Oi Mun, a student of Li Sai Wing, was the first to bring this incredible art to Canada. However, this undertaking was not without its share of trial and tribulation. At the time he started teaching, Kung Fu's reputation had been tarnished - as it had become associated with the Triads - the Chinese Mafia. On the other hand, Karate had no such negative ties - and was considered to be good for discipline. In order to build up a student base, Chong Oi Mun taught a Karate system to beginners and as the serious students progressed, they would learn the art of Shaolin. This combination of Karate basics and Shaolin flow has culminated the very unique style form we are taught today.

Each of the forms in this style is a complete system unto itself. Each animal style, for example, develops various aspects of the body and spirit:

• The Leopard teaches agility and strength;
• the Dragon shows you inner spirit and how to ride the wind;
• the Tiger strengthens the bones and muscles;
• the Crane is a form of vitality, endurance, balance and precision counter attacks and lastly,
• the Snake pulls them all together, building chi energy, accuracy, and timing.

In addition, each animal form has its own strategy of combat - the Leopard, for example, is particularly effective against smaller opponents. Tiet Hsin Kune trains the body to open and close, and float and sink. Most importantly, this form develops the twelve bridges and the correctness of breath.

For example, one of the most famous forms is Fu Hok Shoeng Ying Kuen (Tiger Crane Form) and is said to have been developed by Wong Fei Hung. This form stresses the cultivation of the Tiger and Crane as well as a balance between the two complementing each other in the form. While the Tiger is utilized for teaching one to refine his physical entity (power), dynamic tension breathing skills and courage. The Crane develops whipping power, evasive tactics, waist movement, and calmness of the spirit and balance. The Tiger form of training provides the hard or external methods of the style while the Crane form provides the soft or internal balance between the two.

It is generally believed that Wong Fei Hung was in his peak during the mid 1860's. Lam Sai Wing would then have taught in the 1890's and Li Sai Wing in the 1930's. Chong Oi Mun arrived in Canada in 1962 and started teaching Sigung Yamanaka. At this time, in the first decade of the year 2000, Sigung Yamanaka is passing down the teaching to many students, with two of them being Sifu Mike & Laura Sywyk; an honour bestowed upon him by the original founder - Sigung Chong Oi Mun (David Chong).

Thousands of students have trained with Sigung Chong.

Common Terms

Sandah/Sanshou

Full contact fighting

Kwoon

Training Hall

Tongsan

Uniform

Kune Fa

Fist Law

Hung Sao Doh

Empty Handed Way

Sihing

Senior

Sitze

Senior (feminine form)

Sifu

Teacher or Father

Sigung

Master

Sijo

Grand Master

Sipa

Your Sifu's Sihing (i.e. Your father's elder brother.)

Ma Bu

Horse Stance

Shi Bu

Cat Stance

Kom Bu

Bow and Arrow Stance

Yut

One

Yee

Two

Sam

Three

Say

Four

Um

Five

Lok

Six

Chat

Seven

Bat

Eight

Gal

Nine

Sup

Ten

More Common Chinese Terms
Chinese Name	English Translation
Yu-Bay!	Ready!
Gin Lai	Salute
Bai Jong	Ready Position
Kwoon	School or Academy
Si-jo	Founder of System
Si-gung	Your Instructor's Instructor
Si-fu	Your Instructor
Si-hing	Your senior, older brother
Si-dai	Your junior or younger brother
Si-bak	Instructor's senior
Si-sook	Instructor's junior
To-dai	Student
Toe-suen	Student's Student
Phon-Sao	Trapping Hands
Pak sao	Slapping Hand
Lop sao	Pulling Hand
Jut sao	Jerking Hand
Jao sao	Running Hand
Huen sao	Circling Hand
Boang sao	Deflecting Hand (elbow up)
Fook sao	Horizontal Deflecting Arm
Maun sao	Inquisitive Hand (Gum Sao)
Gum sao	Covering, Pressing Hand, Forearm
Tan sao	Palm Up Deflecting Hand
Ha pak	Low Slap
Ouy ha pak	Outside Low Slap Cover
Loy ha pak	Inside Low Slap Cover
Ha o'ou sao	Low Outside Hooking Hand
Woang pak	High Cross Slap
Goang sao	Low Outer Wrist Block
Ha da	Low Hit
Jung da	Middle Hit
Go da	High Hit
Bil-Jee	Thrusting fingers (finger jab)
Jik chung choi	Straight Blast (Battle Punch)
Chung choi	Vertical Fist
Gua choi	Back Fist
Ping choi	Horizontal Fist
Chop choi	Knuckle Fist
Saat	Knee
Jang	Elbow
Kow Tao	Head Butt
No'ou tek	Hook Kick (Roundhouse Kick)
Juk tek	Side Kick
Hou tek	Back Kick
Hou juk tek	Back-Side Kick
Juen tek	Spin Kick
Dum tek	Foot Stomp
Gua tek	Inverted Hook Kick
Jeet Tek	Stop Kick
Jik tek	Straight Kick
So tek	Sweeping Kick
Chi sao	Sticky Hands Excercise
Tan sao	Palm Up Deflecting Hand

Remember Sun Ha which means:

• Community
• Compassion
• Principals of Life