Chin Woo

The Chin Woo is basically a (YMCA) type of association for martial arts and a Chinese cultural center. The presidents of each Chin Woo would send out an invitation to the Head Instructor of their particular style and invite them to become members and teach their styles.

It was a way to make sure that all Chinese men and women got the opportunity to train their bodies and mind to be able an withstand the negative propaganda that the Japenese were doing at the time. In every Chin Woo you will find the styles of Kung Fu taught in the particular provinces. Most masters at that time couldn't afford to have a school, so what better place to be able and hold classes and bring the entire community together.

As a member of the Chin Woo you were required to master the 10 Chin Woo forms and then you were allowed to pick the particular style that you wanted to master. My Sifu Grandmaster Lee Kam Wing is the Head Instructor for the Hong Kong Chin Woo in the 7 Star Mantis style, so was his teacher SiGung Chiu Chi Man and his teacher Si SiGung Lo Kwang Yu. So the tradition just keeps going on.

Peace
Mantismaster

Very good break down Mantis. =)

And welcome to the D-List.

__________________
"You must eat bitter before you can taste sweet"- Iron & Silk
"I see no virtue where I smell no sweat"
"Arm yourself because no one else here will save you" - Chris Cornell

What kind of negative propaganda were the Japanese doing at that time?

Chin Woo was created early in the 20th century before the war with the Japanese, but after the Boxer Rebellion. From the movie "Fist of Fury" I gather that there was an international village or something in Shanghai at the time. Was Shanghai an occupied city? Forgive me if I sound ignorant of this era.

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

The Chinese were considered by the Japanese to be the sick man of Asia, now you have to remember that China is pretty big and in some cases some Chinese never even saw a Japanese soldier, but never the less the negative remarks towards the Chinese was still going on and spreading like wild fire.

Yes, Shanghai was occupied by the Japanese. Don't forget that the Chinese during that time were not allowed to even enjoy certain restaurants or shows due to the Japanese. It was like when Germany occupied France, same exact thing just different location and different players.

Anyone who gets the chance to go to China could find all this information staright from the Chin Woo itself. Now I've not been to the Shanghai Chin Woo, but I've been to the Fo Shan and Hong Kong Chin Woo. I was in Fo Shan Chin Woo for the 85th anniversary of the association doing a Kung Fu exchange with my Sifu (Grandmaster Lee Kam Wing). Just remember that the Japanese needed not to be on Chinese soil to start a negative propaganda, most negative propagandas start in your own country. Hope this helps and thank you Wraith for welcoming me to the D-List.

Peace
Mantismaster

Yes but, did Japan occupy Shanghai from 1905-1920's? I know that there were ongoing problems, that there was open war & occupation beginning in the '30s, but I'm talking about when Huo Yuan Jia was around.

I just don't know much about this era in China, other than in a general sense, just hoping to learn more.

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

Sammygirl, you are correct the Japanese army didn't occupied Shanghai until the 30's but, there were already Japanese delegates, business men and certain Japanese triads that were infiltrating the Chinese communities and paving the way for the Japanese invasion.

Huo Yuan Jia, already feared what was happening to his people and it is the reason that the Chin Woo was established to prepare his people and the communities to come together and stand strong for when danger arrives. Remember the saying "it is better to be prepare and not need to use it, then to need to use it and not be prepare at all." The whole purpose of the Chin Woo was not founded for the purpose of martial arts but for the unity of the community.

So IMO he saw what would happen to his country if they didn't start preparering themselves to take action. It takes awhile to prepare an entire community to come together and think as one.



Peace
Mantismaster

Thanks Mantismaster, that clears up some things!

__________________
"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...