Kwong Wing Lam
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Kwong Wing Lam is known in the Traditional Chinese Martial Arts community as a teacher of Southern Shaolin (Hung Gar), Northern Shaolin (Bak Sil Lum), Yang style Tai Chi Chuan and Sun style Tai Chi Chuan Kung Fu styles; he is also known for his expertise in the arts of Iron Palm, Iron Body Qigong and Bagua.
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[edit] Life of Kwong Wing Lam
Sigung Kwong Wing Lam was born in Canton and began his training in Chinese martial arts in Hong Kong at age eight. He began his studies in Tai Chi. But because of its slow movements and focus on meditation rather than physical activity, Tai Chi was a poor choice for one of his age. After about six months he lost interest and quit. A year later he began studying Southern Hung Gar from Master Chiu Chao and his son, Master Chiu Wei. In this style Sifu Lam discovered the fun of practicing Kung Fu.
Curious to know more about the arts, Sifu Lam also studied Northern Shaolin under Master Yen Shang Wo for six years. He spent his childhood mornings training with the Chius, and his evenings training with Yen Shang Wo.
This traditional Kung Fu training was taught in a very strict manner. Techniques and movements of a set were taught step by step, with the student practicing on their own to master the movement and understand the concepts behind them. No new material would be shown unless the student could master the previous lesson.
Upon completing the Hung Gar and Shaolin systems, he spent another ten years learning other styles such as Five Animal Fist, Praying Mantis, Ha Say Fu Hung Gar, and Wing Tsun, with such notable masters as Leung Hua Chu and Lum Jow. In addition, Sifu Lam hit sand bags for Iron Palm training, and practiced Chi Kung (Iron Body) for strength. He also completed the Tai Chi system from Master Yen. Sifu Lam also learned Xing Yi, Bagua and Sun Style Tai Chi, learning under Sun Jian Yun, the daughter of Sun Lu Tang, founder of Sun Style Tai Chi.
Sifu Lam has been a major force in establishing the legitimacy of Kung Fu in this country. He emigrated to the United States in 1965, and opened his San Francisco School in 1967. He opened a second school in Sunnyvale six years later. Since then, he has been featured in numerous articles in martial arts magazines such as Inside Kung Fu and Black Belt. Sifu Lam has taught Kung Fu and Tai Chi at De Anza College in California, and led seminars across the country and in Europe. He also has made videotapes, and written books on Kung Fu.
[edit] Recent Accomplishments
In the last 30 years, he has taught several thousand students and certified many new masters. Many of these masters now have their own schools. Sifu Lam and these instructors continue to help students achieve their goals and reach their fullest potential in the martial arts.
[edit] Experience with Traditional Chinese Weapons
Sifu Lam has also dedicated time to improving the overall aspects of Chinese martial arts training. Never satisfied with the poor quality of modern Chinese weapons, Sifu Lam has learned to forge and fit his own arms -- swords, knives, chain whips, and halberds.
