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In early 500 BC Bodhidharma traveled to
Bodhidharmas' depression grew once he reached the famed Shaolin temple, for Prajnatra's story was true. The monks were in a ragged condition and were physically and mentally unfit due to the large amounts of time the monks spent in meditation and doing little else. Many of the monks would fall asleep in meditation while others needed assistance in the basic necessities of life - so feeble was their condition.
For an unknown period of time Bodhidharma meditated in a cave at the outer reaches of the temple seeking for a way to renew the spirit of Buddhist teaching. Upon his return Bodhidharma began training the monks in the courtyard. From the physically powerful to the frail he started to enlighten and train with them in the art of Shih Pa Lo Han Sho, or the 18 hands of Lo Han. These techniques were never originally intended for fighting but were a manner in which the monks could attain clarification while developing their bodies' health.
During the Sui period bandits assaulted the Shaolin monastery; this would become one of many attacks that would occur until the early twentieth century. During this first invasion, the monks attempts at defending their temple were futile, their skills were not accustomed to war techniques and it looked as if the temple would fall. A monk of the temple known only as the "begging monk" attacked several of the outlaws with an array of aggressive hand and foot techniques, killing and injuring some and driving the remaining attackers away. The other monks were so inspired by the display of this single monk that they requested tutelage in this martial style as a means of protection. In scripts this combating art was recorded as Chuan Fa or Fist Method. Chuan Fa translated into Japanese is Kempo, or in English is "Fighting Methods" or "Fighting Laws." This is the basis of most of the Asian Martial Arts in the world today.
Over several generations the warfare arts of the Shaolin
temple grew into hundreds of styles in all over the next several centuries. A
master of Chuan Fa called Ch'ueh Taun Shang-jen was said to have rediscovered
the original Shih Pa Lo Han Sho which had been lost for many years. Ch'ueh
integrated his art of Chuan Fa with that of the Lo Han styles increasing his
total number of techniques from the original eighteen to total of seventy-two.
Ch'ueh would promote his newfound style by traveling the country side of

Over the next several centuries the history of Chuan Fa and
its advent to Kempo is ragged in its tales and difficult to gain accurate
descriptions. What is known is that the art of Chuan Fa remained and is still
practiced in
For many centuries it is contemplation that many traveling
monks ventured across
It is generally believed that the Chinese systems of Chuan Fa not only reached the shores of the Ryukyu Islands and became known as Kempo but spread throughout all of Asia to include martial arts influences in Korea, Thailand, Viet Nam, Singapore, Philippines and many other countries.
It is believed that many Japanese and Okinawians made trips
to various areas in
It is generally believed that Master Sakugawa
on his return in 1784 to
During the reign of Hideyoshi Toyotomi's in
Many styles of Kempo and Chuan Fa would find there way to
the islands of
Great Grand
Master Daniel Kane Pai's grandfather, Po Fong, left his home near a southern
At the end of World War II, Daniel Pai
went to work on the Parker Ranch on the "
In 1951, Daniel Pai joined the U.S. Army and was stationed on the Mainland. He
opened his first school in the back of his Sunset Boulevard home just before
leaving to fight in the Korean War. He re-enlisted in 1953, and worked early
intelligence in
Dr. Daniel Pai graduated from the
Throughout the
mid-sixties and early seventies, he opened numerous schools in the
Great Grandmaster Pai established five
families of Pai Lum. At that time five heads of family were established to
maintain their status as legitimate lineage of the teacher. Because
of the vast knowledge of martial arts by Grandmaster Pai, each family received
some different knowledge and training than the others. While many forms
and fist sets and training crossed into all families, Great
Grandmaster often would teach from his martial art heritage unique training
material to one family and other training forms or material to another
family. In this way his incredible devotion to kung fu might be
perpetuated in the future as the families worked together and shared from their
treasuries of Pai Lum.
In 1993 while in the Dominican
Republic, Great Grandmaster Daniel Kane Pai passed from this life and was
laid to rest with full military honors at the Hawaiian National Cemetary. A
legacy of knowledge and wisdom was left to many devoted practictioners with Pai
Lum across several decades. What they choose to do with it is entirely up
to them and their heart.
Sigung Steve Jungmann began his training in Pai
Lum in 1986 in one of the five families that Great
Grandmaster established. He trained briefly with the Great
Grandmaster himself. However after Grandmaster Pai passed on in 1993,
Sigung Steve was adopted into the Gong Yuen Chuan Fa family by Grandmaster
Wilson -- a different Pai Lum family. After 8 years with his
first family, Sigung Steve spent 18 more years (1994 to 2011) studying the
unique forms, fist sets, weapons and theories of this Pai Lum family.
This provided the Sigung with an incredible array of
training in Pai Lum: Over 25 years of experience in two unique
families. During this time Sigung Steve demonstrated his Pai Lum skills by
gathering a number of World Champion titles (8) in many diverse fields
of international competition including Point Fighting, Full Contact Fighting,
and Weapon Forms. Under his teaching numerous students have won
international gold medals in every category of competition.
Sigung Steve started his school Rising Dragon
Martial Arts in 1991 and has since produced over a dozen black belts with many
schools springing up in Wisconsin as part of his legacy. He married
one of those black belts (Sifu Melodie) and together they have continued to
teach at the school training all those with the heart to learn the
incredible Pai Lum disciplines of kung fu, tai chi, kenpo and Sanshou
kickboxing.
Bok Leen
Pai Kenpo, "White Lotus Kenpo" is a Chinese Kenpo and is very similar to Pai
Lum Kung Fu, but is considered "Short Hand" in its techniques compared to the
"Long Hand" of Kung Fu.
Fighting Sets and Kuens (Forms) are designed for close in-fighting. Whereas the
main sword of Kung Fu is the Don Gul or Sabre and the main sword of Tai Chi is
the double edged straight sword, the main sword trained with in Kenpo is the
Katana, or the Samurai sword.
Bok Leen Pai Kenpo has its roots from Grandmaster Pai's raising in the White
Lotus Monastery in Okinawa as a youth. The art originally has its development in
the Shaolin Temple in Singapore. There the five main animals of Shaolin were
developed: Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake, and Dragon. But Bok Leen Pai Kenpo also
studies four secondary animals for Pai Lum Tao: Monkey, Mantis, White Ape and
Shark.
Forms for the lower levels of study include:
Weapons for the lower levels of study include:
Fist Sets are
time and combat tested self defense techniques that students learn in order to
defend against a large variety of attacks, kicks, punches, and grabs. Each rank
level in kung fu and Kenpo requires fist sets to be learned. The fist sets for
Kung Fu and Kenpo are the same requirement because they are a mixture from both
arts.
Here are some of the first ranks fist set requirements:
| YELLOW | ORANGE | PURPLE | BLUE |
| Escaping Tiger | Penetrating Earth | Sumo | Full Nelson |
| Thunder & Earth | Dangerous Waters | Blocking the Kick | Locking Arm |
| Bite of the Viper | Gentle Thunder | Headlock Tech. | Windmill Guard |
| Removing the Jewels | Twisting Bird | Crash of the Eagle | Aiming the Spear |
| Hidden Spear | Tiger in the Cave | Rising Elbow | Spiraling Wrist |
| Escaping Sparrow | Constricting Serpent | Opponents at Sides | Driving Elbows |
| Pushing the Circle | Arousing Mountain | Passing the Horizon | Crossing Talons |
| Yielding Fire | Tackle Techniques | Wrap Around | Cutting the Pagoda |
| Kimono Grab | Eagle Pin | Lever | Crane Leap |
White Lotus
Kenpo at each level blends a mixture of required basics (stances, block, punches
and kicks) with Forms, Fist Sets, Weapons, Theory, and Sparring requirements.
White Lotus Kenpo is recognized around the world for it has produced world
champions in forms, point fighting and full contact fighting. One of its most
recognized students, for example, is Cynthia Rothrock -- forms champion and
movie star.
Whatever area a student wants to achieve -- better health, confidence and self
defense, Chinese culture, personal learning and respect, tournaments, or just
being a well blended and skilled martial artist -- White Lotus Kenpo offers a
proven path for attainment.
Rising Dragon
Martial Arts � 3429 West Greenfield Avenue � Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215
414.383.7727 � info@risingdragonmartialarts.com