INTRODUCTION
AND HISTORY
The
Shaolin System Nam Pai Chuan has its roots and origins in the traditional
Martial Arts practiced by the Shaolin Monks of China over 200 years
ago. Though much of martial arts history could be told in the form of
legends and stories of martial arts heroes, it is widely accepted that
Shaolin Kung Fu was brought into China and Japan/Korea in the year 525AD
by a travelling Buddhist monk known to the Chinese as ‘Da Moh’
(Bodhidharma). He arrived at the Shaolin Temple of Sung Shan in Honan
province northern China and organized the monks at the monastery to
carry out solitary meditation, but became frustrated when the monks
frequently fell asleep. He introduced the monks to an exercise regime
which was to improve their stamina and therefore their mental capabilities.
These eighteen basic exercises are deemed to be the beginnings of the
Shaolin Martial Arts.
He
is credited with having taught Kung Fu to the monks in order to strengthen
them for meditation and prayer. It is hard to believe that war-like
nations like the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans did not possess a martial
arts skill of their own. The truth is probably that Da Moh consolidated
these skills and had the organisational ability to propound it to his
students. Through the years, the art has grown and developed into many
diverse forms and schools but regardless of the style, they can all
be traced back to Da Moh.
The
Nam Pai Chuan tradition can trace its line far back to Great Grandmaster
Hui Cheng of the Chek Chian Nan Hai Pooi Chee Temple in China. Master
Hui was a direct descendant of the Southern Shaolin tradition taught
by Buddhist monks in the tradition of Da Moh. One of Master Hui Cheng's
students was Grand Master Seh Koh San.
Cho
Si Seh Koh San was a legendary figure in martial arts of the Far East.
The Nam Pai Chuan school and style owe its origin largely to his teachings.
He is the great grandmaster of the Nam Pai Chuan System. He belonged
to the 2nd chamber 48th generation of Shaolin and was the Abbot of the
Siong Lim Temple in Singapore until his death in 1960 at the age of
74. The art taught by Cho Si Seh Koh San was known as ‘Shaolin
Kuen’ or ‘Shaolin Martial Arts’. It was also commonly
referred to in the Far East as ‘Fatt Gar Kuen’ or "Buddhist
Fist". The School of Cho Si Seh Koh San still flourishes today
and the students taught by him belong to the 2nd chamber 49th generation
of Shaolin. One of his students was Grandmaster Quek Hen Choon.
Grandmaster
Quek Hen Choon studied and trained under Cho Si Seh Koh San until his
master’s death, after which he returned to Malaysia to teach.
Master Quek is particularly renowned for his demonstrations of Hard
Chi Kung. In the sixties, examples of which included breaking marble
table tops on his back and with his hands causing a sensation. He represents
the original 50th generation of Shaolin and his students come from Malaysia,
Singapore and China. In 1971 he started his first own school Quek Heng
Choon Martial Arts Sport School. In 1977 he initiated the Kuala Lumpur
Song Shan Shaolin Wushu Association. Master Quek is the permanent Chief
Instructor in this school. He still resides in Malaysia and to date,
he is considered to be one of the oldest, important and most influential
students of Cho Si Seh Koh San still alive. Master Christopher Lai Khee
Choong, the chief instructor of the Shaolin System Nam Pai Chuan in
Europe was a student of Grandmaster Quek.
Sifu
Lai, 2nd chamber 50th generation of Shaolin has studied martial arts
since 1959 and in particular Shaolin Kung Fu from 1967 to 1979. In those
years, training was intense in the traditional manner and was undertaken
on a daily basis, often twice a day. Sifu Lai also trained with Master
Leow Cheng Koon, who was the chief instructor of the Taekwondo Federation.
Master Leow Cheng Koon's brand of martial arts transcended Taekwondo
and had incorporated other arts he had learnt, some of which include
Chinese Kung Fu, Hapkido and Hwarang-Do. Master Lai found there was
much to be gained by using modern Taekwondo training and teaching techniques
in teaching and unlocking of the traditions of Chinese martial arts.
He helped in the formation of the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (WTF)
in 1974 and was its first Secretary-General from 1974 until his departure
in 1979. In 1977, Sifu Lai decided to emigrate to United Kingdom (UK),
where he had undertaken his legal education. Since martial arts were
part of his life, he felt the need to bring his school with him. Prior
to his departure, he asked Grandmaster Quek to clarify the name of the
style he had been taught. Grandmaster Quek gave his permission and stated
that the style would be called ‘Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan’,
or ‘North South Fist’ in recognition of the fact that it
contained elements of Northern and Southern Chinese kung fu.
The
first ever martial arts of this form to be taught in Europe were taught
in Swiss Cottage, London. The system became a member of the British Council
for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA), the national governing body for Chinese
Martial Arts in UK. The system has grown and progressed smoothly with
classes in many cities in the UK and abroad. Master Christopher Lai Khee
Choon is the chief instructor of the system and Grandmaster Quek still
remains the technical adviser of the system. Today, the system has finally
become of age and is being taught in the sincere and dedicated manner
as seen by Sifu Lai and his predecessors.