History

The Origins – Grand Master Chan Keng Wan

Grand Master Chan Keng Wan first learnt Kung Fu at the age of sixteen in the city of Taishan (台 山) from  Sifu Ng Leung of the traditional Shaolin Hung Ga Fist style. When he was eighteen he met Sifu Ng Serng Wun who became his second master and taught him the Shaolin Buddha Fist (Fut Gar) Style.

At the age of twenty he traveled to the city of Xinhui (新 會) and met Sifu Chan Ngai who was the founder of the Jin Wu Kung Fu Academy. Sifu Chan Ngai recognised the valuable qualities of patriotism, respect for tradition and endurance in Grand Master Chan Keng Wan and took him as his protégé and groomed him as the future instructor. Sifu Chan Ngai taught the traditional Shaolin Choi Lee Fut style including all traditional Chinese weapons (such as broad sword, spear, straight sword and tiger hook sword).

In later years, Sifu Ng Dak Sum of Guanxi Province was traveling in Jiangmen (江 門) where he met Grand Master Chan Keng Wan. It was a meeting of fate and Sifu Ng Dak Sum taught Grand Master Chan Keng Wan the northern styles of Double Dragon Fists, Double Butterfly Swords, the willow Sword and the Deadly Eighteen Step Spear.

During the 1930’s when China was at war with the invading Japanese army, local military officers organised guerrilla fighters of their district into the 19th Division Army led by the Dàdāo team (大 刀 隊). Grand Master Chan Keng Wan was appointed as the Broadsword combat instructor, leading raids into enemy camps. To be continued…