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Bak Si Lum
In the twelfth century China, there once lived five brothers, their names lost to posterity. Each of these brothers agreed to spend twenty years traveling and training at different Shaolin Temples. At the end of that time they were to regroup and analyze what they had learned. Only after careful evaluation and research did these brothers develop what is known today as the Bak Sil Lum system of Kung Fu. This system came to be one of the most effective and enduring styles taught at Shaolin.
The most visible proponent of this system was the famous master Gu Yee Tsang, circa 1920. Master Gu was widely known for his Iron Palm skill and reputedly was able to break any one selected brick in a waist high stack. Following the disastrous Boxer Rebellion in China, martial arts fell out of favor. Master Gu was very active in rebuilding interest in the arts through various demonstrations and feats of Kung Fu power. Gušs top student was Yim Sam Wu. Wu propagated his Bak Sil Lum in Hong Kong where, in 1950, he accepted Kwok Wei Chan for studies. After ten year of intensive training Kwok Wei Chan emigrated to Brazil to teach Kung Fu in Sao Paulo where he is regarded to this day as the Father of Brazilian Kung Fu. A student of Chanšs, Chin Bing Chung, mastered the art under his guidance and brought it to Boston in the early 1970's. Shortly after, John Loupos, already a martial arts teacher at the time, was introduced to Master Chin and began his own studies at Bak Sil Lum in 1974.
Before a year had passed Sifu Chin asked John Loupos to accompany him to a warmer climate to open a new school. After two years in Florida with Master Chin, Loupos returned to the Boston area to reopen his own Bak Sil Lum school.
Content courtesy of Sifu John Loupos, Jade Forest KungFu and Tai Chi
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