Sil Lum Hung Kuen

Chinese Boxing is an ancient martial art with a long history. Its body of knowledge and practices has been hidden from the general mass of people throughout much of its history. As a result, most of what little historical records were kept have been lost or destroyed over time. There is no known record of when and who originated Kung Fu. The Book of Rites, which was written during the Chou Dynasty (1066-403 B.C.}, mentions martial arts, but does not furnish details. Historians believe, however, that methods of physical culture based on respiratory and mental exercise were developed and practised by Taoist philosophers during this period. Their techniques eventually had a strong effect in the philosophical foundation of several boxing systems.

The study of Kung Fu has been closely related to the study of physical therapy from ancient times. A strong body free from illness and an alert mind free from stress and tension became the goal of every Chinese boxer. Taoist and Buddhist meditative exercises were included in many systems of Kung Fu and they eventually became a part of the fighting techniques. The influence of psychology, physiology, medicine, and religion improved the primitive fighting movements, and they became a part of the fighting techniques.

The term Kung Fu is a colloquialism of Southern China that has come to mean any of the martial arts. Literally, it can be applied to anyone who is talented and proficient in a particular field. The styles of Kung Fu, as known today, are only few of endless styles handed down from generation to generation. They cover a broad area, including warfare and military strategy. Some styles include the highly specialised skill of throwing razor-sharp coins. Others specialise in the use of staffs, spears, swords, whips, axes, bows and arrows, daggers and dirks.

The unarmed methods of Kung Fu are even broader than those that use weapons. There are the soft and hard styles with a wide range of philosophies based on various concepts of cosmology and the laws of nature. There are also fighting techniques patterned after animals, birds, and insects. Sil Lum Temple boxers developed one of these styles which emulated the movements of the tiger, crane, dragon, leopard, and the snake.

Regardless of styles, most Academies were bound together like a family structure. The master was like a father, advanced students like older brothers and younger students like younger brothers. Everyone worked together to improve himself and eventually to teach his style to others. The study of Kung Fu requires great self-discipline and sacrifice. A student should not expect to learn it overnight. It might take years before he can even begin to grasp its basic teachings. Once he becomes a master, however, his status in the art is almost peerless.

It is generally agreed that the art emigrated from India to China around the year 525 AD. The style of Chinese Boxing that we of the Federation teach is known as Sil Lum Hung Kuen. Hung is a generic name describing particular southern styles of Kung fu. The name Hung is legendary in the realm of Chinese martial arts.

In addition to the set work of Sil Lum Hung Kuen Chinese Boxing, advanced students were introduced to the weapons sets of the Dragon Pole, and the Butterfly Swords. The art of the Long Pole, or Dragon Pole, or Double Dragon Stick, using both ends with speed and forceful strokes, is one of the best methods for defense against almost all other types of weapons. Interestingly enough, it was also the weapon Kancho had to fight against in order to gain admission to the Buddhist monk training in China, when he visited there.

The Butterfly sword, or Knives, is a weapon used primarily by Southern China masters. The blade length of the weapon is equal to the fist and forearm, and a guard is fixed to its hilt to protect the hand. The special length of the blade is designed for better maneuvering. The butterfly swords in Southern China are used chiefly in close-quarter fighting because of their short length, with emphasis placed on precision and co-ordination of both swords at the same time.

Kancho Bradshaw, who saw how easily Chinese Boxing could be adapted with TaiJitsu as an adjunct for a total Self-defense system, introduced the Sil Lum style of Hung Kuen into the Federation. So the Kancho together with Sifu Albert Lau, both of who studied Kung Fu at the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne, began a Chinese Boxing branch of the Australian Federation of Instructors. Sifu Lau remained as Technical Advisor for Chinese Boxing until his retirement from the Federation, to concentrate on his Chinese medicine practice.

Buk Tu Mua Kuan at the Honbu continues in the traditions set by its founders of the Federation providing Kung Fu tuition to our members. Students are introduced to the rigours of empty-handed forms and sets, and progress into learning traditional Chinese weaponry in the advanced stages of their training. They are also introduced to the courtesies and respect due their Sifu (teacher) and fellow practitioners as well as learning something about the culture of their martial art.