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Pak Mei or white eyebrow kung fu was created by the Taoist monk Pak Mei, during the Ching dynasty in China.
Pak Mei kung fu was passed on to Gwong Wei, the only heir to the system, who named the style Pak Mei kung fu out of respect for his teacher. The style was then passed to Jok Fat Wan who traveled with his disciple Lin Sang from northern China to southern China, eventually ending up at the Gwong How temple in Canton where grand master Cheung Lai Chun learned.
Grand master Cheung Lai Chun was undefeated throughout his martial art career. He was one of the famed 3 tigers of the east river region and earned the title of the 7 southern states champion . Master Kwong Man Fong who is a fifth generation inheritor of Pak Mei was the last and the youngest student to train extensively and learn the complete system in its entirety.
Pak Mei kung fu is one of the few system that combines both Shaolin (Buddhist) and Taoist practices into a single fighting style. It is classified as an internal and external system that emphasizes the combination of the science of combat along with the Taoist principles of using the chi to maximize the generation of power from within the body and to maintain health. In Pak Mei, qigong is incorporated into every aspect of the art, not just supplemental exercises to develop the qi.
Pak Mei is a highly sophisticated, fast and aggressive system that is rarely seen within the realm of Chinese martial arts today. Pak Mei techniques are executed between short and mid range distances; hand movements are fast and powerful. Pak Mei kung fu also contains a wide assortment of kicks.
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Pak Mei Kung Fu
I. The Monk Pak Mei
The monk Pak Mei was one of the five elder monks of Shaolin Temple, Songshan, Province of Henan,
China. Pak Mei lived during the Ch'ing Dynasty (Emperor Ch'ian Lung era). Very little is known
about Pak Mei. Pak Mei, translated from Cantonese, literally means "white brow". I have inferred
that he must have been an albino, and was probably raised at the monastery from an early age.
Consequently, Pak Mei is the only name he is known by. Also, as a senoir Shaolin monk, he was a
master of many internal and external martial arts.
Pak Mei passed on the art to Gong Wai, second generation, in Sichuan province. The art was then
passed on to the third generation, Chuk Fat Wan. In Kwong How Temple, Guangzhou, Chuk Fat Wan
passed on the art to Cheung Lai Chun, the fourth generation. Traditionally, Pak Mei martial art
was only passed on to Buddhist monks. Master Cheung Lai Chun was the first to pass the art on
to laymen. It was Cheung Lai Chun who called the style Pak Mei kung fu.
II. Cheung Lai Chun, Founder of Pak Mei Kung Fu
Master Cheung Lai Chun was born in 1889, during the Ching Dynasty. He was enthusiastic in
practising martial arts. In his life, he had learned martial arts from four martial arts Sifu. The last Sifu was Master Chuk Fat Wan, 3rd generation master of Pak Mei. Though he admired the
essence of Pak Mei martial arts, he did not forget the teaching from his former three Sifus. He
decided to keep the practical and more useful forms from the former three Sifus and combined it
with Pak Mei concepts utilizing the waist, footwork and power.
Master Cheung Lai Chun opened his first Lai Chun Martial Art School in Wai On Lane, Guangdong. He
also had been a military instructor for Wong Poe Military Academy. After the Second World War,
he moved to Hong Kong with his three sons and continued his teaching.
This poem has been handed down by Pak Mei himself through the generations. My Sigung, Cheung Beng
Fat, repeatedly forced my Sifu to recite and rewrite this poem, which defines for us a code of
ethics. Note that the verses in Chinese are read from top to bottom, starting on the right hand
side.
The English translation is as follows:
1. Respect your kung fu ancestors, before you can claim to respect your kung fu.
2. Learn to be righteous and temper your conduct, before you may learn kung fu.
3. If you know kung fu, you may not commit any illegal offenses.
4. The best kung fu practitioners never hit people, even for the slightest offenses.
5. If you encounter an evil person,
6. Even if you are offered thousands of pounds of gold, you may not teach them.
7. You may not even teach a close relative, if they are not morally decent.
8. You may teach a perfect stranger, as long as they are righteous and decent.
9. If you understand the essence of Pak Mei kung fu,
10. Even a stone is precious like gold.
I think this tradition started by Pak Mei speaks volumes about his concern for the misuse of his
kung fu knowledge through subsequent generations. Rather than explain or discuss any derivative
meaning, I would rather live in this spirit.
As a footnote for those who do not read Chinese, the page shown is read from the right to left,
downwards along each line. There are seven words in each line, and the rhythm and cadence flow
quite elegantly; this is completely lost in the English translation.
Pak Mei Kung Fu Forms
Shaolin's martial arts organized into eight inner halls (internal martial arts) and eight outer
halls (external martial arts). Pak Mei kung fu classified as an internal martial art.
The essence of Pak Mei kung fu lies in utilizing the inner power (ching), not plain strength. Using
ching is intricate and dynamic; using strength is dull and blunt. The principles of Pak Mei
stresses six-ching, eight hand techniques, concept of swallow/spit/float/sink, shocking effect, and
evolving continuously.
Pak Mei Forms
Pak Mei has the following sets (in no particular order):
Chik Bo Biu Tze Kuen
Gau Bo Toi Kuen
Sup Bart Mor Kiu Kuen
Moun Foo Chui Lum Kuen
Sup Gee Kau Da Kuen
Ying Jow Neem Kiu Kuen
Sam Mun Tsui
Say Mun Bat Gwa Kuen
Teet Til Kuen
Day Sat Kuen
Chi Lim Kuen
Hung Sau Yap Pak Yan Kuen
Straight Step Form
Nine Step Pushing Form
Eighteen Mystic Deflects
Ferocious Retreating Tiger
Cross Set
Eagle Claw Sticky Bridge
Three Doors Set
Four Doors Form
Teet Til Kuen
Ground Set
Sticky Punch
Hung Sau Yap Pak Yan Kuen
Weapon Forms
Tai Chun Kwan
Ching Loan Gim
Sin Fa Bo Dun
Dui Chat Kwan
Jui Wan Lau Yip Cern Do
Wiu Wan Cern Gwai
Fay Fung Cern Do
For Day Sam Cha Dai Pa
Ng Hang Chung Lan Kwan
Ching Loan Yim Yuet Do
Don Do Dip Dai Pa
Fong Tin Gig
Tai Chun Kwan
Sword
Bench Fighting Set
Dui Chat Kwan
Jui Wan Lau Yip Cern Do
Double Crutches
Soaring Phoenix Double Knives
Trident, or Tiger Fork
Five Elements Staff
Ching Loan Yim Yuet Do
Don Do Dip Dai Pa
Fong Tin Gig
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