武功 Kung Fu & Wushu

Kung Fu / 功夫 is a general term covering 350 different styles of Chinese martial arts. However, it is not restricted to martial arts, as its very first meaning would be mastery, virtuosity, and dexterity. Much more than a "know-how", Kung Fu implies a mastery of a skill and is a "way to excellence". Kung Fu is thus the true objective of the learner. The master recognizes if his disciple has the Kung Fu of a movement or not, by evaluating the mastery of this movement.

The word "wushu" / 武术 means martial arts. Today, this expression covers the sportive practice developed by the Popular Republic of China during the 50's. It is actually a kind of acrobatic gymnastics developed from a compilation of different Kung Fu styles. While the practice of wushu is firstly a research of esthetic movements and sport performance, Kung Fu is an authentic quest for the mastery of martial movements.

The LWS Pak Mei School is a Kung Fu school in which the authentic Pak Mei style is taught.

文化革命 Forgotten eras

Kung Fu, which is now a very popular practice, has been discredited and prohibited for many years. During the Cultural Revolution, teaching Kung Fu was forbidden under threat of imprisonment. Mao's supporters used to consider Kung Fu as a subversive practice for several reasons: disciples learned dangerous fighting techniques, Kung Fu impulsed them toward self accomplishment and disciples tend to forge strong bonds with their master.

During these years, some masters, such as Lao Siu Leung, still discretely taught Kung Fu at home or in secret places, while some others left China for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam or Korea.