This form of Sil Lum Fut Gar Kuen arrived in Wellington New Zealand in the early 1950s from South China's
Guandong province.
In the Late 1970s an advanced
student of The
Wellington Chinese Martial Arts Association was given
permission by his master to form a club and begin teaching. He
started the Jun
Hap Pai (United) Martial Arts Cub in 1979.
Fut Gar Kung Fu has been taught at this club since its formation. The
club has operated continuously since then. Yang style Tai Chi has been taught here since
1991.
The club was known as Jun Hap Pai 結合派
武術協會
(United Martial Arts Club) until 2000 when it was renamed Sil Lum Fut Gar Kuen and Yang Tai Chi Martial Arts Club
少林佛家拳
- 杨式太极拳 武术协会
to more openly reflect the actual
styles being taught and practised here.
Kung Fu here is taught in the same manner as it was when it arrived in New Zealand. Training involves drills, conditioning, forms, techniques, three step sparing and some free sparing. Learning the
basics is stressed to develop strong stances, mobility, power, accuracy and speed in
students. There are no belts and no grading.
When current head instructor Glen Keith began his Fut Gar training at this club in 1979
he had already reached 2nd dan black belt in Kempo Karate. He has been with the club
ever since, becoming head instructor in 1985. Mr Keith is also involved with the promotion
of International Wushu in New Zealand,
both Taolu and Sanshou, having helped run a number of
national Wushu tournaments and travelled with New Zealand's international Wushu
team. He is also a Vice President of the International Wushu Federation. He is the current National President of the New Zealand Kung Fu Wushu Federation and the current Oceania Wushu
Federation Continental President.
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