Kfss
Kfss
Email: [email protected]
1
OVERVIEW OF CHINESE WARFARE (7000 BC)
Over 9000 years ago (7000 BC), the ancient Chinese river valley gave rise to settlements of
people that would develop into the largest and longest continuing civilization on Earth. Around
7000 to 4000 BC, the river valley would become one of four world's ancient civilizations that
emerged along large rivers in dry climates. A river valley that played a major role in the
emergence of ancient China's civilization that would prove to survive and give rise to people
who would be engaged in conflict since the dawn of warfare.
The people of this region settled and develop agriculturally fertile land of the river valley within
the North China Plain. Bounded by mountain ranges, these early Chinese people formed
agricultural settlements supported by fortifications. The settlements would later give rise to
towns and cities of the ancient dynasties that were involved in frequent wars of unification,
expansion, and defense of their territories. Survival was attributed to self-defense needs, hunting
activities, and military training. Hand-to-hand combat and weapons-based martial arts
would develop with practice becoming an important component in the training of Chinese
soldiers.
2
The Importance of River Valleys to Ancient Civilizations (Cultural China, 2015)
Ancient peoples of this region, established small settlements and villages, and would develop
warfare on the basis for protection. Peoples in these settlements developed the region
agriculturally and constructed fortifications that would meet the needs for expansion in the
northern and central part of China along the Yellow and Yangtze rivers. By 7000 BC, people
built protective ditches in scattered settlements along these two great river systems and their
tributaries. The excavated soil from these protective ditches furnished raw material for structural
foundations, and for raising the entire settlement elevation above the surrounding terrain.
Thereby, preventing flooding from rainwater and overflowing streams, and providing a slight
tactical advantage.
A model of a Yangshao Village - The Formation of Chinese Culture (Brian Holihan, 2015)
Dating back to the Yangshao culture, 6000 to 5000 BC, archaeologists in Central China's Henan
province excavated a large neolithic settlement complete with moats and a cemetery. The
Shanggangyang site was discovered in Xiyang village in Henan province. The siteis located
3
along a river in Zhengzhou and covers an area of 120,000 square meters. The people of this
culture were widely known for its advanced pottery-making technology. Practical engineering
concepts were noted in a site with features of two defensive moats surrounding three sides. In
this area, researchers found relics of three large houses as well as 39 tombs, the large number
suggesting several generations resided at this location. Archaeologists believe the size and
population of the settlement was large when compared to others in the same era. Excavation of
the site has offered a glimpse into the life in the tribe, including the use of pits to store food or
bury garbage. Researchers also found a variety of crockery wares, including pots, kettles, cups
and other tools.
Yangshao culture was located in Henan Province from about 6000 to 5000 BC. The peoples of
this culture grew millet (a type of grain), hunted game, fished, and raised pigs to survive.
Archeological digs in and around the villages uncovered small houses, grave-sites, storage pits,
and kilns used to fire pottery. Pottery made by the Yangshao people is considered most
remarkable product of this culture. The Yangshao people did not use a potter's wheel. The pots
were probably pieced together with strips of clay. After completion of the unfired pots, peoples
would would paint them with geometrical designs, and include pictures of humans or animals.
4
LONGSHAN CULTURE (5000 BC to 4000 BC)
Longshan culture was also located in Henan Province. The culture dates from approximately
5000 to 4000 BC. Like the Yangshao culture, the Longshan people relied on hunting, fishing and
raising grain to survive, but did so in a more efficient manner. More efficient methods
techniques to hunt and farm allowed families to produce a surplus of of food. As a result, the
Longshan Culture became a society of social classes. Farming became the basis for achieving a
economic independence, as a few families owned large areas of land, while others smaller plots
of land, and those that were less fortunate became slaves. This development of social-economic
classes brought political ideas and Chinges. Village leaders of these groups were once selected
by merit. Longshan Culture would evolve and develop a political system lead by the wealthy
families. Often this role of family hierarchy was transferred from father to son, and may have
been the ideological origin for the dynasty system in ancient China.
5
In 1976, Chinese archaeologists uncovered fortifications surrounding the Shimao ruins – the
largest Neolithic Chinese city ever discovered that included two huge beacon towers. The city
ruins were part of a much larger city extending over an area of 4.25 square kilometres. It
contained a central area with inner and outer structures and walls surrounding the outer city.
Remains of palaces, houses, tombs, sacrificial altars and handicraft workshops are scattered
around the site. The discovery of many important remains like the earliest preserved murals,
partial jade ware and large quantities of pottery shards indicated that the Shimao site played an
important core position in the Chinese northern cultural sphere. Excavation efforts discovered,
two square towers that were once part of the city wall, the largest of which measures 18 metres
long, 16 metres wide, and 4 metres high. The towers are the largest known structures of their
kind dating back to Neolithic China. Archaeologists interpret that the ancient city was built
about 4,300 years ago and was abandoned roughly 300 years later during the Xia Dynasty, the
first dynasty in China to be described in ancient historical chronicles.
Th
e Shimao ruins, a 4,000 year old fortification of stone age city in China (Ancient Origins, 2015)
YU THE GREAT (2200 BC -2101 BC)
The Yangshao and Longshan cultures predates written records. Often difficult to distinguish the
difference between the mythology and historical facts. However, it is believed that in the 21st
century BC, a man called Yu the Great became the last Longshan leader to gain power solely as a
result of his accomplishments. But, Yu's would face one of China's greatest challenges in taming
and controlling a mighty river. Specifically, the Yellow River breached and flooded and would
destroyed agricultural land and crops and take lives causing imminent death, and finally
submerged infrastructure of villages and settlements were carried away downstream.
6
Yu was supposed to have united the people living along China’s Yellow River by persuading
them to co-operate in a constructing a huge network of Chinnels and canals to end its devastating
floods.
Yu the Great was considered by many to be China's first King and civil engineer, who would
oversee the development of a system of Chinnels that diverted flood waters from the Yellow
River. These Chinnels were created with by means of engineering, and floods proved to have a
decrease impacts and less destructive force on the settlements of the region.
Yu's leadership again lessened the suffering of the people, Yu was appointed leader. Yu directed
that a friend who assisted him on his flood control projects would replace him as leader after his
death. However, Yu's son, Qi, had other plans. When Yu died, Qi killed the man Yu wanted to be
his successor. Qi's power grab marked the beginning of China's first hereditary dynasty -the Xia
dynasty.
7
The Legend of Da Yu and Yi Que (Travel Guide, 2015)
Ancient China was divided into many warring factions that would develop many types of
fighting arts. Neighboring agricultural communities fortified settlements and villages by
building protective ditches, towns surrounded by moats, later followed by the construction of
thick walls and moats for the purpose of fortification.
Eventually, settlements and villages would grow and develop into Chinese towns and cities that
were governed by at least 20 Dynasties. These dynasties maintained their own armed forces with
soldiers, who were taught hand to hand fighting systems. In war, the armed forces would often
engage in military conflict. A conqueror would arise and the warring neighbor would surrender,
then coexist with the new dynasty. The victor of these conflicts would then consolidate the
fighting systems and often destroy related infrastructure. By the the nineteenth century, several
sophisticated forms of fighting systems would evolved in China.
See map of China outlining the approximate extent of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties that
spanned a time period from 2200 to 221 BC.
8
Map showing Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties (Pixshark, 2015)
From this beginning, the evolution of Chinese warfare and the martial arts would proceed to
incorporate different philosophies and ideas into its practice, and would develop in parallel with
engineering, science, and technology (agriculture, construction, fabrication, and medicine).
Throughout China, it was a period of constant warfare, waged on a massive scale by several
powerful and well-organized political units. But, at the same time, the Warring States period
coincided with major economic and social Chinges. The introduction of iron tools from about
500 BC and the use of animal power for cultivation greatly increased agricultural productivity.
Population multiplied, commerce and industry flourished and large cities emerged. It was also a
period of innovation in technology and science, and of philosophical ferment, in which the main
schools of thought of Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism, evolved.
9
Qin Shi Huang (260–210 BC) was the King of the state of Qin (246–221 BC) who conquered all
seven Warring States and unified ancient China in 221 BC. In fact, rather than maintain the title
of king borne by the Shang and Zhou Dynasty rulers, he became the self-proclaimed ruler as the
First Emperor of the Qin dynasty from 220 to 210 BC. Hence, the title emperor, Huangdi, would
continue to be borne by Chinese rulers for the next two millennia.
10
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA (220 BC - 1644 AD)
Constructed over 2000-year period, China’s Great Wall is one of the world’s engineering marvels
composed of a network of fortifications. Qin Shi Huang took the remnants of truly ancient
fortifications, walls, and earthworks begun in the fifth century B.C. and linked them into a
unified wall circa 220 B.C. as part of a massive project to protect China against marauding
barbarians (The Mongolian's) from the north. The Great Wall was constructed of stone like ,
with its turrets and watchtowers, was completed during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
The entire Great Wall structure trends about 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) from the Korean
border west into the Gobi desert. Of that total 3,889 miles (6,259 kilometers) were actual wall,
while 223 miles (359 kilometers) were trenches and (1,387 miles) 2,232 kilometers were natural
defensive barriers, like rivers or steep hills, incorporated into the system.
Ancient Chinese warfare would predate the arrival of a monk named Batuo from India, or
Buddhabhadra, who came to China teaching a form of Buddhism known as Xiao Sheng
Buddhism, by 464 AD. In fact, previous works indicate that the first Shaolin Monastery was
built on the north side of Shaoshi, the central peak of Mount Song, one of the Sacred Mountains
of China, by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty somewhere between 477 AD and
494 AD.
11
Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu, (China Pictorial Publishing House, 2015)
No empire in history has risen so spectacularly as that of the Mongols and the empire that would
dominate the Europe and Asia. In less than 80 years, a band of warriors originally comprised of
several men grew to an empire that encompassed all from the Pacific Ocean to the Danube River.
This story is about one of the most dramatic series conquests in history and how it was the
Mongols themselves who shattered their own invincibility.
In the 12th century, various Turkic and Mongol-Tungusic tribes roamed the steppes of Mongolia.
One of these tribes was the Mongols. Around the 1130, the Mongols emerged as a powerful tribe,
defeating neighboring nomads and forcing the Jin Empire of Northern China to pay tribute.
However, the glory was short lived. In 1160, the Mongol Kingdom was shattered, having been
defeated by the neighboring Tartars tribe. The Mongol clans (divisions within a tribe) became
disunited and fought amongst themselves for what little there was.
Over the course of time, early Chinese dynasties survived extreme the political and social
Chinge. But, a time would come during the 13th, 14th, 15th centuries, when the Mongolian
Empire would become the largest contiguous land empire in the history of the world. Rising
form the steppes of central Asia, the Empire eventually stretched from Central Europe to the Sea
of Japan, extending northwards into Siberia, and then eastward and southward into India,
Indochina, and the Iranian plateau, and westward as far as Levant and Arabia. China would
12
endure a 300-year war with Mongolia. Under the leadership of Genghis Khan, the Mongolian
Empire grew rapidly and unified nomadic tribes in 1206. Mongolian invasions in every direction
would change the face of China, and impact the evolution of Chinese warfare and the
development of martial arts. By 1368, the Ming Dynasty had overthrown the Mongol Yuan
Dynasty, and would mark the end of Mongol Empire. Although aggressive subversive groups of
warriors continued to remain loyal to the former empire and its philosophies would continue well
into the 1600 AD.
Overview
The historical roots of Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung Moy Sot,¹ known in America as Kung Fu San Soo,
dates back about 1500 years to the Temples in China. However, due to the constant upheaval in
China’s history, many records have been lost or destroyed, leaving some questions unanswered.
As dynasties were overthrown and Emperors changed, China was divided and sub-divided into
various warring factions and each faction produced many different types of fighting styles. The
art of Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung Moy Sot is a combination of some of these fighting styles, which
emerged throughout the tumultuous history. The Martial artists throughout China’s history have
been forced to fight for the Emperors or against them using their fighting skills. It is only due to
their unique fighting skills, the monks and the martial arts are still in existence today.
13
Although the martial arts came out of the monasteries, the monks are not the originators of the
arts. The Buddhists religion is one of peace and not violence, so the monks would not have spent
their time devising means of combat. However, according to Han and Tang law, soldiers were not
allowed to leave their positions unless they died or entered monasteries. Many of these soldiers
left their positions to become monks, but took their martial arts exercises with them. While they
had become monks to leave their positions behind, they continued to train in the arts and
eventually trained many of the other monks.
No one really knows the age of KFSS, but most estimates within the present day KFSS
community indicate that these ages may range between 2,500 to 1,500 years ago (500 BC to
1600 AD). While a smaller group of practitioners believe that KFSS may be even much older.
Over 600 years before the manuscripts were compiled (about 1000 AD), monks of the Kuan Yin
monastery had been working on the form diagram, known as the geometric shape that KFSS was
derived from. The ancient manuscripts would survive, the Mongolian invasions from the north
who ruled in China for eighty-nine years (1279 AD - 1368 AD). In fact, in 1542 the Mongol
leader, Altan Khan harassed China along the northern border. In 1550, Altan crossed the Great
Wall and besieged Beijing setting the suburbs on fire. By 1552, he gained control of the remains
of Karakorum, the old Mongol capital. The Chinese emperor was forced to grant special trading
rights, and signing a peace treaty with Altan Khan in 1571. China opened border cities to the
Mongolians for trade, hoping to alleviate the Mongol need to raid.
Within the walls of the monastery, the ancient Chinese art of KFSS would later be inherited and
learned into Woo Family line nearly 400 years ago (roughly beginning about 1600 AD). As a
result, Grandmaster Jimmy H. Woo would be the sole survivor to bring this ancient martial art
here to the United States, and train approximately 50 Americans to rank KFSS Masters.
14
Leoung Kick taught his son Chin Moon Don for many years. Chin Moon Don then passed the
honor on to his son, Chin Siu Don, who passed it on to his son, Chin Siu Hung. Chin Siu Hung
was a legendary man of his time, who would pass on the honor to Chin Siu Dek.
It was in this environment and time period that the ancestor of Chin Siu Dek, Leoung Kick, is
held by oral tradition to have left one of these small temples in or near a village in Sanba Town
called Pong Hong on the Pearl River, with the two Wushu training books critical to the history of
Kung Fu San Soo, as Chin Siu Dek often referred to them when he taught. Most Kung Fu San
Soo practitioners hold that Chin Siu Dek explained that this particular temple was either
identified by, or dedicated to, the goddess Kwan Yin.
Yet the Romanization is very close to the infamous Southern Temple in Fujian where the Ming
fighting arts were refined, which very probably included early Kung Fu San Soo, the one burned
by the Qing Dynasty, Lin Quan Yuan. Either way, it is almost certain that the techniques
employed in Choy Li Ho Fut Hung did not originate in isolation in the obscure village Pong
Hong, but descended there as a practicing lineage from the radical changes that formed the
greater Wai Jia Nánquán arts through Fujian.
So even if Chin Siu Dek was in fact referring to the popular deity, Kwan Yin, there's still a
reasonable possibility, at least from the point of view of a researcher, that there might have been
a Kuang Yin > Quan Yuan lineage that had to be disguised as Kwan Yin during the extreme Qing
oppression toward the lives of those who made any reference to the Ming era, and the great
amount of documentable secrecy practitioners employed. It clearly would have been significantly
safer to take refuge in small temples behind Kwan Yin, the "goddess of mercy" than by openly
identifying with the rebels associated with the larger temple of Lin Quan Yuan. While this may or
may not be true, it really does make a lot more sense. When we think about it, there's nothing
15
really merciful about crushing a man's larynx or rupturing his spleen, which are basic white belt
techniques in Kung Fu San Soo.
Chin Moon Don Monastery Life and Training Manuscripts (1800 AD)
About 200 years ago, Leoung Kick taught his son Chin Moon Don for many years. Chin Moon
Don lived in the temple. At the age of 30 he left with the two training manuscripts which
contained the techniques that make up Kung Fu San Soo. These manuscripts that dated back to
the 1500’s remained in his family for four generations.
Leoung Kick taught his son Chin Moon Don for many years. Chin Moon Don then passed the
honor on to his son, Chin Siu Don, who passed it on to his son, Chin Siu Hung.
Chin Siu Hung was known as one of the “10 Tigers” of China. The Ten Tigers of Canton or Ten
Tigers of Guangdong was a group of ten Chinese martial artists from Guangdong (Canton),
China who lived in the late Qing Dynasty (1644 AD –1911 AD). They were said to be the best
fighters in southern China, at that time.
Formal Training by Chin Siu Hung for Chin Siu Dek - aka Jimmy H. Woo (1910)
Early in the second decade of this century (1910’s), Chin Siu Hung took his nephew Chin Siu
Dek (Jimmy H. Woo) for the purpose of training him in the “family business”. After some time,
Chin Siu Hung stated that Chin Siu Dek would be his heir as teaching master of the ancient art
16
KFSS. It is not known if there was any “announcement” from Hung, stating that Chin Siu Dek
would be taking over as the leader. It is known that Chin Siu Dek was “top” student and was
being instructed and prepared for the takeover.
Chin Siu Dek was born Sanba Town, Taishan City, Guandong Province, China, near present day
Canton in Southern China. At the age of 4 years old, Chin Siu Dek began his studies of Tsoi Li
Hoi Fut Hung (Kung Fu San Soo) under his great uncle, Chin Siu Hung, the teaching master of
the Chin family. From the beginning, the young Chin Siu Dek showed exceptional aptitude and
ability. At 4 years of age Chin Siu Dek had exceptional eye to hand coordination.
Later in years, Chin Siu Dek’s qualities grew in strength as he became the “top student” and the
“enforcer". These two qualities were the distinctions in rank to his name, within Chin Siu Dek’s
family. This honorary rank as the head instructor, otherwise known as the family leader and, the
top three students. It is unknown, the actual time when Chin Siu Dek was “taken” or announced
to be the next family leader. The Chin family raised Chin Siu Dek as a young prince of a very
powerful family.
The Japanese military response during their entire invasion of China was brutal throughout the
region. Execution and human atrocities of the Chinese people throughout the region by the
Japanese military was common practice. At that time, the Japanese would not simply kill a
military leader/commander without showing themselves to be superior. They would have their
equal commander do it instead to show superiority. During the Japanese invasion of mainland
China, Chin Siu Hung was 76 years old when that event happened.
The Japanese military commander decided that he would stage a fight to the death between Chin
Siu Hung and a Japanese soldier, a regimental Karate champion. The military commander
reasoned that having his champion kill Chin Siu Hung in hand-to-hand combat would show the
locals that the invading forces were superior and must be obeyed.
In this same time frame, the Hung Family made a decision to immediately send Chin Siu Dek out
of China for fear that he would fight the invading Japanese Army out of rage for the human
atrocities occurring during the invasion of mainland China. The Hung Family also needed Chin
Siu Dek to get the books out of the country as the Japanese Army was destroying all documents
and books as they invaded and marched down from the northern China. The brutal method of
operation exhibited by the Japanese Army to terminate life, and destroy documents and books
was a precursor of what was to come for Southeast Asia and Europe during WWII.
As a result, the Hung Family secured a passport for Chin Siu Dek using the pseudonym Jimmy
H. Woo (Grandfather to James P. King). His family realized for reasons of safety and refuge, and
gave him the passport and a bag of money. They placed him on a steamship destined for the
United States. His family believed that he could start a new life and be safe in the United States.
17
Soon after, the Japanese military command told Chin Siu Hung that he was going to fight the
regimental Karate champion, or they would kill the entire population of the village. Chin Siu
Hung realized immediately he had no choice in this decision. Chin Siu Hung killed the
regimental Karate champion within twenty seconds. This of course caused the military
commander to go into a rage. The military commander ordered Chin Siu Hung and all those
present machine gunned to death. At that moment, almost all the Chin fighters were caught in
that massacre.
It is important to note that Chin Siu Dek grew to like fighting in China, because that was much of
how his training began. Not to mention that he was the “enforcer” for the family in China. His
“temper” came more from his loss or death of his country, family, friends and status in life
because of the Japanese invasion and coming to America. In these family historical accounts,
Jimmy H. Woo leaving China was about surviving the invasion and protecting the books.
In other words, the books attributed to the ancestors of Chin Siu Dek, along with the art, may
have come from a surviving temple somewhere near present day Taishan in South China, very
likely the Kwangtung Temple near Canton where the techniques brought to American by Chin
Siu Dek were refined along with those of traditional Choi Li Fut. But the techniques themselves,
along with San Soo training methods, probably originated earlier in the Fujian Shaolin Temple,
Lin Quan Yuan, where the fierce, martial practices like TaiZu San Soo Kuang Yin Wusu may have
been refined to oppose the Qing Dynasty. From Kwangtung, the art of Chin Siu Dek's lineage
most likely moved into one of the training halls near Sanba Town. It is likely that this latter
18
training hall is where Chin Siu Dek's family trained, and where he took on his own personal
angle, the one he finally brought to America in his "hip pocket", if you will.
And of course, this article does not claim to know any of these things for sure, but rather seek to
find a more reasonable and complete understanding than anyone else has been able to provide us
with to date. A better researcher may emerge tomorrow, or one may come forward with past
information, that could inspire us to quickly change my view.
We've seen wild assertions regarding the age of the Kung Fu San Soo training books attributed to
Leoung Kick, some suggesting they might be 700 years old. But that would make them 150 years
older than the Guttenberg Bible, and as the oldest known Chinese martial training manual is Qi Ji
Guang's New Book of Effective Military Techniques, a woodblock first penned in 1584, it's highly
unlikely. Most sources hold that the books Chin Siu Dek inherited date to the end of the Ming
Dynasty, which would make them no less than 360 years old. But the only known Ming era
Shaolin empty hand training manual, Fist Classic; Fist Method, was first penned by the monk
Xuan Ji, and barely dates back to the early 1600's.
Whatever their age, they are also not alone as examples of older martial arts texts from China,
although any dating back to even the 18th Century are considered quite old. You can find one
specific example here, and a deeper analysis of the trend here. In addition, many sources suggest
significant numbers of older texts have emerged during the past few years. With respect to the
older pieces, those where authorship might possibly date back to the 15th and 16th Centuries, most
were hand copied and it's difficult to say if any originals are still in existence.
Shortly thereafter, Jimmy H. Woo, opened another studio in Downey California with Frank
Woolsey as the head instructor. Grandmaster Woo had two schools opened in southern
California that would branch out and influence Kung Fu San Soo to a level that would spread
throughout on global scale.
Jimmy taught continuously in El Monte until his retirement. Even after his retirement in 1984,
Jimmy continued to teach at the El Monte studio until his death in 1991, respectively.
In this century, Grand Master Jimmy H. Woo (Chin Siu Dek) personally trained approximately
50 Americans to become Master's in this ancient and original art.
Today, Grandmaster Jimmy H. Woo has a grandson, named James P. King. Also known as
Master James P. King, who is the only surviving member directly related to him, and is still
practicing the art.
19
Grandmaster Jimmy H. Woo
(Lo Sifu Chin Siu Dek) 老師傅陳壽爵
“You can take my life but not my confidence”
20
An Ancient Lineage
Leoung Kick taught his son Chin Moon Don for many years. Chin Moon Don then passed the
honor on to his son, Chin Siu Don, who passed it on to his son, Chin Siu Hung. Chin Siu Hung
was a legendary man of his time, who would then pass the honor down to Chin Siu Dek. Chin
Siu Dek would come to train about 50 Americans, and rank them to the level of Master in
Ancient Art of Kung Fu San Soo.
William B. Hulsey
#33 of 50 American Masters
Joseph M. Saenz
21
Kung Fu San Soo Lineage
Ventura County
Kwan-Yin
Monastery
Monk
Leoung Kick
Jimmy’s Great, Great, Great Grandfather
Lo Sifu
Chin Siu Dek
Grandmaster Jimmy H. Woo
William Hulsey
Grandmaster, Kung Fu San Soo
Joseph M Saenz
Master, Kung Fu San Soo
22
Three Families, the Religion, &Art of Power
Kung Fu San Soo is a fighting system of practical self-defense techniques. It is warriors art,
based on natural human movement using a combination of punches, kicks, strikes, and blocks
directed to vital points of the human body. Techniques can be Chinged instantly to suit the
situation, and do not follow a set pattern. Using the scientific principles of physics involving
movement and leverage, any individual, man or woman, small or large, can generate extreme
power to disable attackers.
Kung Fu San Soo derived from Three Families:
• Tsoi Ga Family – is the art of striking (punches, elbows, forearms, kicks, etc.).
• Li Ga Family – is the art of power and balance through movement. To take the balance of an
opponent is very important in fighting, especially when dealing with a larger or stronger
opponent.
• Hoi Ga Family – is the art of lethal accuracy in striking (pressure points). By learning the
vital parts of the body, one can direct strikes to the most vulnerable areas where minimal force
will incapacitate an opponent.
• Fut Ga – is the Religion, known as the Way of the Monk. It is the psychology of fighting
(attitude, self-confidence, strategy for sudden attack, and proper use of mind and body
coordination).
• Hung Ga – is the Art of Power. It is the physical dynamics of fighting, the physical
conditioning of the body including the use of dynamic tension to produce a body which can
perform at its maximum potential.
References
Website: Jimmy on Three Family Name Style of American San Soo Posted by American Sansoo
From the Summer of 1990, at Seminar at Anaheim San Soo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ17GH2wjv8
Mr. Saenz traveled extensively, gaining insight and knowledge of other cultures, and continued
to train in the ancient art of KFSS.
23
Since 2007, Mr. Saenz continues to receive private training from Grand Master Bill Hulsey in
Bellflower California, a renowned 1st generation KFSS artist taught by Grand Master Jimmy H.
Woo, who brought this ancient Chinese martial art to the United States. Grand Master Jimmy H.
Woo (Chin Siu Dek) personally trained approximately 50 Americans to become Master's in this
ancient and original art. Grand Master Bill Hulsey is #33 in this American Family of KFSS
artists. Mr. Saenz is also a member of the US Navy Boxing Gym called the Bee Hive. Mr.
Saenz has also trained with Professor Brian Espinoza as a member of the Executive Club at West
Coast MMA - Muay Thai - Jiu Jujitsu, Oxnard, California. He is also a member of the National
Teachers Association of Kung Fu San Soo.
24
Kung Fu San Soo Instructors Terry Gillette (left) and Dennis Woolsey (right). Grandmaster Bill
Hulsey and Dennis Woolsey trained together at Frank Woolsey’s studio for many years.
25
West Coast MMA, Oxnard California
26
Acknowledgements
For those who brought KFSS into my life, I would like to express my appreciation and
acknowledge all those who came before me, especially those who continue to support me.
Salute to all my past instructors: Terry Gillette and Dennis Woolsey, and Professor Brian
Espinosa. Salute to my present instructor Grandmaster Bill Hulsey and to US Navy Boxing
Coach Oscar. Salute to Master James P. King who provided great leadership and insight to the
history and account of ancient art of Kung Fu San Soo– Thank you.
For further information for private or group lessons contact Joseph M. Saenz at Email:
[email protected]
Training Programs
For further information for private or group lessons contact Joseph M. Saenz, Kung Fu San Soo
Instructor.
E-mail: [email protected]
References - Publications
William Acevedo, M.Eng., P.E.g, Translations by Brenda Hood Ph.D. and Mei Cheung B.A.,
2014, A Lifetime Dedicated to the Martial Traditions, 2014, An Interview with Professor
Ma Mingda, Northern Chinese Martial Arts, Original Published in Kung Fu Taiji Magazine,
2008.
Thomas T. Allsen, 2004, Culture and Conquest in Mongol Eurasia (Cambridge Studies in Islamic
Civilization), Cambridge University press, Pages 1-211.
Geoffrey Barraclough, 1993, Hammond The Times Atlas of World History, Fourth Edition, The
Times Book, Hammond Inc., Pages 1-360.
John Andrew Boyle, 1977, The Mongol World Empire, Pages 1–1370.
Jeffrey L. Broughton, 1999, The Bodhidharma Anthology: The Earliest Records of Zen,
27
Berkeley: University of California Press, ISBN 0-520-21972-4, Pages 1-198.
Llord A. Brown, 1979, The Story of Maps, With 86 Illustrations, General Publishing Company,
Pages 1-397.
Yong Yap Cotterell and Arthur Cotterell, 1975, The early civilization of China, Putnam, Pages 1-
256.
Jared M. Diamond, 1997, Guns, Germs, and Steel, The Fate of Human Societies, W.W. Norton &
Company Inc. Pages 1-475.
John King Fairbank and Merle Goldman, 2006, CHINA A NEW HISTORY, The Belknap Press
of Harvard University Press, Pages 1-560.
Kang Gewu, 1995, Spring and Autumn of Chinese Martial Arts: 5000 Years, Pages 1-108.
John Goss, The Map Makers Art, An Illustrated History Of Cartography, Rand McNally, Pages
1-373.
Renzo Gracie and Royler Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Theroy and Technique, Pages 1-257.
Gregory G. Guzman, 1988, Chapter 12, Were the barbarians a negative or positive factor in
ancient and medieval history? Pages 386-396.
Stan Henning, 1999, Martial Arts Myths of Shaolin Monastery, Part I: The Giant with the
Flaming Staff Journal of the Chenstyle Taijiquan Research Association of Hawaii, Vol. 5, No. 1.
Stan Henning, 1995, On Politically Correct Treatment, of Myths in the Chinese Martial arts,
Journal of the Chen Style Taijiquan Research Association Of Hawaii, Vol. 3, No. 2, Summer
1995.
Stan Henning, 2006, General Qi Jiguang’s Approach To Martial Arts Training, Journal of the
Chen Style Taijiquan Research Association Of Hawaii, Vol. 3, No. 2, Summer 1995, 1-3 (minor
editorial Chinges/clarifications, July 2006).
Stan Henning, 2012, Thoughts and Origins and Development of Taijiquan, 3rd Shenjiang
International Forum on Wushu, Pages 13-17.
William Hulsey, 1989, Inside Ku Fu, Private Lessons from the Masters, Kung Fu San Soo: Pure
and Simple, Where the best Defense is a Good Offense, Pages 42-48.
William Hulsey, 1990, Inside Ku Fu, Private Lessons from the Masters, Kung Fu San Soo: Pure
and Simple, Pages 65-68.
28
William Hulsey, 2006, Master Bill Hulsey’s Private Video Collection.
Lilia Howe, 1990, Inside Ku Fu, Private Lessons from the Masters, Helio Gracie a Living
Legend, Pages 34-38.
Robert Hixson Julyan, 1984, Mountain Names, ISBN 9780898860917, Pages 1-199.
Peter A. Lorge, 2012, CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE TWENTY-
FIRST CENTURY, Cambridge University Press, Pages 1-265.
Timothy May, 2013, The Mongol Conquests in World History, London: Reaktion Books, Pages
1-313.
Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo, 2008, Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical
Survey, Blue Snake Books Berkley, California, Pages 1-328.
Peter Lorge, 2011, Chinese Martial Arts: From Antiquity to the 21st Century, Cambridge
University Press, Pages 1-265.
Michael Marshal, 1990, Ocean Traders: A History of MerChint Shipping from the Portuguese
Discoveries to the present Day, A Batsford Book, Printed in Great Britain, Pages 1-192.
Gavin Menzies, 2002, 1421 The year China Discovered America, Transworld Publishers, Great
Britain, Pages 1-552.
Ma Mingda, 2009, Bajiquan (Eight Cardinal Boxing) and Liuhe daqiang, (Six Harmony Spear)
Journal of Chinese Martial Studies, Page 44-53
David Morgan, 2007, The Mongols, Second Edition, Blackwell Publishing, Pages 1-233.
Andrew Morris, Marrow of the Nation: A History of Sports and Physical Culture in Republican
China.
Reuven Amitai-Preiss, 2005, Mongols and Mamluks: The Mamluk-Ilkhanid War, 1260–1281
(Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization), Cambridge University press, Pages 1-246.Weldon
Russell, 1995, Cradle of Civilzation CHINA, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman
Oklahoma, Pages 1-192.
Edwin Oldfather Reischauer, John King Fairbank, and Albert M. Craig, 1960, A history of East
Asian civilization, Volume 1. East Asia: The Great Tradition, George Allen & Unwin Ltd. Heiner
Roetz, 1993, Confucian ethics of the axial age: a reconstruction under the aspect of the
breakthrough toward postconventional thinking, ISBN 0-7914-1649-6, SUNY Press, Page 37.
Ralph Sawyer, 2011, Ancient Chinese Warfare, Basi Books, A member of the Perseus Books
Group, New York, Pages 1-554.
29
Meir Shahar, 2008, The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts,
Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, SBN: 978-0-8248-3349-7, Pages 1-296.
Bradley Smith & Wan-go Weng, 1979, China- A History in Art, Doubleday and Comapny, Inc.,
Pages 1-295.
Sun Tzu, 2013, The Art of War, Chartwell Books Incorporated, Translated by James Trapp, Pages
1-96.
George Vernadsky, 1953, The Mongols and Russia, Yale University Press, Pages 1-462.
Brain Williams, 1996, Ancient China, Reed Education and Professional Publishing, Ltd., Pages
1-48.
David Curtis Wright, 2011, The History of China, Second Edition, ABC-CLIO, Pages 1-245.
References - DVD's
History DVD, 2009, Art of War, Sun Tzu's Legendary Victory Manual Comes to Life, 96
minutes.
References – Websites
Website: About Education - Yellow Emperor - Legendary Chinese Yellow Emperor 2698-2598
B.C.
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/china/g/YellowEmperor.htm
30
http://ed101.bu.edu/StudentDoc/Archives/spring04/lmChing/site/dynasty-xia.htm
Website: Ancient Origins - 4,000-Year-Old Fortifications of Stone Age city discovered in China
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/4000-year-old-fortifications-stone-age-
city-discovered-china-001079
Website: Ancient China Before The Shang Dynasty; Facts And Maybes About The Yangshao
Period; Part Two
http://brianholihan.com/chinese-culture/ancient-china-before-the-shang-dynasty-facts-and-
maybes-about-the-yangshao-period-part-two/
Website: China Daily Europe: Neolithic site dating back 5,000 yrs discovered in C China
http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2014-08/29/content_18510767.htm
Website: China through a Lens - Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of 2004 (China's Top-Ten
archaeological discoveries of 2004 were announced in Beijing on April 17, 2005)
http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Archaeology/149496.htm#3
Website: China Folio - Part I – A Formative Age: Prehistory 780,000 BCE – Zhou Dynasty
1046-221 BCE
http://www.chinafolio.com/the-dynastic-history-series-a-formative-age/
31
Website: Cultural China - The Importance of River Valleys to Ancient Civilizations
http://history.cultural-china.com/en/181History5917.html
Website: Dashigu City of the Xia Dynasty, middle and late Erlitou Culture
http://www1.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/15/content_46835_2.htm
Websites: Epiphany
http://www.binujohn.name/tag/battle-of-banquan/
Website: History - Did Homo Erectus Craft Complex Tools and Weapons?
http://www.history.com/news/did-homo-erectus-craft-complex-tools-and-weapons
Website: History Chinnel Ancient Chinese Weapons - Sun Tzu - Qin Shi Huang's army unified
the seven provinces of ancient China by capitalizing on superior weapons.
http://www.history.com/topics/sun-tzu/videos/ancient-chinese-weapons?
m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false
Website: Jimmy on Three Family Name Style of American San Soo Posted by American Sansoo
From the Summer of 1990, at Seminar at Anaheim San Soo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ17GH2wjv8
32
http://www.realkungfusansoo.com/
http://www.sansootennessee.com/
http://kungfudanielson.net/
http://www.sansookungfu.com/
http://2dragonskfss.com/index.php/about/kung-fu-san-soo/
http://www.billlasiterschoolofselfdefense.com/
http://www.sansoodiamondbar.com/history-of-san-soo/history/
Website: Museum of Fine Arts Boston - Yu the Great (King Yu of the Xia Dynasty) Fights a
Flood Dragon
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/yu-the-great-king-yu-of-the-xia-dynasty-fights-a-flood-
dragon-212440
Website: National Geographic - Peking Man Lived 200,000 Years Earlier Than Thought
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090312-peking-man_2.html Website:
National Geographic - Genographic Project / The Development of Agriculture
https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/development-of-agriculture/
Website: National Geographic - The Mongol Empire Under Genghis Khan, Painting showing the
extent of the Mongol empire under Genghis Khan surrounded by depictions of a Mongol
cavalryman, arrowheads, and scenes from the field. (Illustration by William H. Bond, National
Geographic)
http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2012/11/14/happy-850th-genghis/ngs-picture-
id546414/
Website: News Network Archaeology - Peking Man could have used weapons in China 700,000
years ago
http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/05/peking-man-could-have-used-weapons-
in.html#.VKtEaXvciHg
http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/05/peking-man-could-have-used-weapons-
in.html#.VKtEaXvciHg
33
Website: Sino Impression
http://www.sino-impression.com/History2008416110316.html
Website: Unknown-pixshark, Xia Dynasty Map Xia Shang Zhou 2200-221 BCE
http://pixshark.com/xia-dynasty-map.htm
Website: Yin Yu Tang: The Architecture and Daily Life of a Chinese House
https://books.google.com/books?
34
id=tAzQAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT37&lpg=PT37&dq=Xia+Dynasty++2700++
%E2%80%93+1600+BCE&source=bl&ots=xXUrueO7eE&sig=ORM0wZ7-
nuQo6uVA9taotQyIr3Y&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DymfVMGFFMaoogSyyoCgAg&ved=0CDgQ6AE
wBA#v=onepage&q=Xia%20Dynasty
%20%202700%20%20%E2%80%93%201600%20BCE&f=false
Website: Z News - Peking Man used weapons in China 700,000 yrs ago
http://zeenews.india.com/home/peking-man-used-weapons-in-china-700000-yrs-
ago_704010.html
Website: Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association - A Brief History of the Chinese Martial Arts
http://zhongyimartialarts.org/item/26-a-brief-history-of-the-chinese-martial-arts
Website: The World of the Chinese - Does China Really Have 5,000 Years of History?
http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2012/10/does-china-really-have-5000-years-of-history/
Website: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Peking Man Site at
Zhoukoudian
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/449
Website: Unreported Heritage News - Did Peking Man wield a spear? New research suggests
early humans were assembling weapons in China 700,000 years ago
http://www.unreportedheritagenews.com/2011/04/did-peking-man-wield-spear-new-
research.html
35
Havasu Martial Arts AcademyHavasu Martial Arts Academy
https://www.lhckungfu.com/history-of-san-soo.html
Home
Learning Kung-Fu
Instructors
Kaswi Training
Training Videos
In 1802, Jimmy H Woo's Chin Siu Dek great great great grandfather Chin Heung
Ying, founder of Tsai Li Fo San Soo was born in the King Mui village (also known as
36
Mui Gung, Gung Moy, King Mui or Zin Mui), In San Wui district county in
Kwantung province. He began his training in Tsai Li Fo at the age of seven under the
guidance of four Buddhist monks; his uncle Chin Yuen Woo with whom he studied
with for ten years, Choy Fok whom he studied with for four years learning kicking,
and Cho Ching whom taught him Buddhism and Shao-lin open palm techniques.
In 1836 Chin Hueng ( Chen Leung ) would combine the Five Family Style of Choy
Li Mo Liu and Hung to form what is known today as Tsai Li Hoc Fut and Hung or
simply Tsai Li Hoc Fut ( also Tsai Li Fo For short). Chin Heung has two sons, Chin
On Pak ( born 1839), and Chin Koon Pak. Chin Heung died in 1875 and is burried in
King Mui.
At the age of 4, around 1906, Chin Siu Dek was sent to China to begin his wu-shu
training under the guidance of his grandfather, Chin Koon Dah and his Great Uncle,
Chin Si Hung (his father's uncle) known as crazy devil Hung.
In the 1930's, the Japanese swept down into China. In 1941 or 1942, Chin Hung at
the age of 73, was forced to fight the Japanese regional karate champion as a public
display of Japanese superiority he killed his opponent within 20 seconds. He and
most of his students were then shot, stabbed or machine gun to death. This wiped out
all traces of Tsai Li Fo San Soo on the mainland of China.
It was during this period that many of the early arts of Chinese fighting were
destroyed. First by the Japanese, then after world war 2, by Mao Tse Tung (the
communist). Mao destroyed anything from the past including the purest of martial
systems (books), temples, and any other fighting or religionist systems he could find.
Between 1935 and 1937 as the Japanese invaded southern China, Chin Siu Dek
took two secret fighting books and one book of forms from his family home in China
and left for Hawaii, Within a few years Jimmy became bored with things and had his
family buy him the passport belonging to a dead cousin name Koon Haw Woo so he
could enter the U.S.
Arriving in this country with no money, Chin Siu Dek lived at, and taught Tsai Li
Fo San Soo at the L.A cousin Club (an all Chinese club like the Y.M.C.A). He later
dropped the name Koon at the request of his female english teacher who asked him if
she could call him Jimmy, the name stuck for the rest of his life. Then in 1962, after
working for many years as a produce manager, he bet a large sum of money on a horse
race winning 6 to 8 thousand dollars. He quickly opened his El Monte Kung-Fu studio
where he taught until his death on Feb 14th 1991 of heart failure. Grand Master Chin
37
Siu Dek (Jimmy H Woo) is burried in Newport Beach, Ca, at Pacific View Memorial
Cemetery in the Bayview Terrace area, Lot 875.
http://www.historyonthenet.com/mongol-empire-timeline/
38