Grandmaster Fu Leung, founder of the Bak Shaolin Ying Jow Wushu Pai International, recently traveled through Olympia, Washington spending two weeks with his students at The Evergreen State College. During this time, the Grandmaster gave daily seminars on Choy Li Fut technique. His teachings centered around the form 'Four Directions' and its applications.

Immediately after the two week seminar The Evergreen State College Bak Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu team competed in the PacWest Tae Kwon Do Association Martial Arts Championships in Spanaway, Washington. The team's spirits were high, and rookies and veterans alike were obviously energized by the recent instruction and direct interaction with the Grandmaster. Although Master Fu departed just before the tournament, the team, under the direction of national coach Sifu Dana Daniels, won 22 medals with 12 competitors.

The Choy Li Fut techniques that he trained his Evergreen students on were evident in the competition, especially in the hard-hitting point sparring rings and the continuous sparring division. The southern Chinese style technique stresses stable stances and powerful hand techniques. From the Evergreen underbelts to the black belts, the stances were firm and the punches were devastating.

Although Choy Li Fut is a Southern Chinese style and Bak Shaolin Eagle Claw is primarily Northern, the two are connected through the Shaolin Temples. Choy Li Fut was founded in 1836 by Chan Heung, a well known and highly skilled martial artist of that period. Chan Heung combined the teachings of his three masters to form a new system. Two of Chan Heung's teachers; Yuen Woo, a famous boxer from the legendary Shaolin Temple and Li Yau-San, also from the Shaolin Temple, were from Southern China. His third master, the Shaolin monk Choy Fok, was from the north.

Thus, Chan Heung combined the names of two of his teachers, Choy Fok and Li Yau-San, and added Fut, the Chinese word for Buddha, to pay homage to his first teacher and the Shaolin roots of the system. Choy Li Fut, like Bak Shaolin Eagle Claw is one of the few kung fu styles that merges techniques from both Northern and Southern Chinese martial arts.

Master Fu, who alone is responsible for building the international network of instructors and schools of the Bak Shaolin Eagle Claw Institute over the past 25 years, has mastered nearly every form of Chinese martial art that exists. He works tirelessly to disseminate and promote the vast knowledge he has acquired to all that are willing to learn. His teachings encompass all aspects of life.

The Evergreen State College Bak Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu Team would like to thank Grandmaster Fu Leung for his recent seminar and for his ongoing dedication to teaching the martial arts. The team would also like to thank national coach Sifu Dana Daniels for his countless hours of instruction.

For more information about the Team Evergreen Bak Shaolin Eagle Claw Kung Fu Club and Competition team visit www.bakshaolineagleclaw.com or contact Owen O'Keefe at 357-9137.