America's KungFu Patriarch

A Native of Toi San, China, Professor Lau Bun was born in 1891 during the Ching Dynasty.   He started learning gung fu (Hung Ga) as a kid.  However, he switched over to the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut system after losing a friendly match of skills with one of his friends.  Professor Lau's friend was a student of Yuen Hai, who was apart of the oldest group of senior disciples of Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon founder Jeong Yim.  When Professor Lau was young he was determined to become a disciple of the elder Yuen Hai.

It took some coaxing, but Lau Bun was eventually successful in convincing Yuen Hai to take him as a new student.  Yuen Hai and his wife was moved into Lau Bun's Toi San home where he began to teach the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut system to his newest disciple.  Eager to learn, Lau Bun absorbed as much of the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut system as he could, including herbal medicines. 

Lau Bun was taught the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut system as it was developed during his time.  But unfortunately Yuen Hai passed away in Lau Bun's home leaving behind his wife and son.  Yet, his learning just didn't stop there.  Yuen Hai's wife turned out to be part of a famous northern stylist family but she never had a student to pass on her gung fu to.  Yuen Hai Si-Mo chose Lau Bun  to pass on a traditional Shaolin form called Um Ying Kuen (5 Animals) which is still passed on today through  Grand Master Doc Fai Wong,  Grand Master Dino Salvatera, and  Sifu Frank McCarthy. 

 
Within the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon,  Lau Bun would have called Chan Ngau Sing-the first successor-Si Sook (Uncle) since Yuen Hai was Chan Ngau Sing's senior by more than 20 years.

Professor Lau Bun arrived to the United States under the paper name of Wong On Low during the early 1920's.  For some time, he resided in Los Angeles and recognized that there was no one teaching gung fu within the Chinese Community there.  During his stay, he began to teach Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut in Southern California when there were no other gung fu teachers in America at that time.

At the time, there was a well known chinese benevolent association set up in the United States to assist their newly arriving countrymen.  Lau Bun also joined this association where he was eventually brought to San Francisco.  This benevolent association then hired Lau Bun to be their Chief Gung Fu instructor-amongst other duties.  So, between 1931 to 1939 Lau Bun began privately teaching the Hung Sing Choy Lee Fut system in America. And also just like in Los Angeles, Lau Bun was the only gung fu master in the whole San Francisco bay area until the likes of Wong Ark Yuey, and T.W. Wong.

In 1939, the demand for learning gung fu rose, and Lau Bun officially opened- to the Chinese Community only- the first established gung fu school on American soil.  At first he called his school Wah Kue (Strong Chinese), but later changed it to reflect the schools true lineage.  In fact, Lau Bun was also responsible for establishing the first American Branch of the Fut San Hung Sing Kwoon.

Being raised during the era of the Ching, Lau Bun was the type to remain in the background, unseen and hidden within the shadows.  For him, it brought less attention and drama.  Over time within the martial arts community, Lau Bun began to gain an underground sort of fame, often referred to as being a part of a  rare breed of "authentic gung fu masters."  Many had come to pay their repect, others came in hopes of learning, ALL left with the same responce...."the Real Deal!"

However, Lau Bun had a strict rule against teaching outsiders (anyone non chinese).  But, from time to time he may have bent the rules a bit.  Waiting for confirmation are stories of how there were a few NON Chinese Lau Bun did teach, like the legendary actor Anthony Quinn.  Yet Masters like Ed Parker, Adriano Emperado, and even Ralph Castro has mentioned that Lau Bun has made some lasting effects on them,  even after just one meeting.  So, to return the favor, many had agreed to keep quiet about Lau Bun who didn't want all that attention.

Still, every once in a while throughout the year, the general public would get a glimpse into part of the Chinese culture rarely shown outside the chinese community.  Most Americans believe Bruce Lee to be America's first introduction to Chinese Gung Fu.  Little did they know that right in the heart of Chinatown lay the first and oldest gung school in America.

Outside of Chinatown, few had ever heard of Lau Bun.  But within the confines of Chinatown, Lau Bun was a local hero.  He protected Chinatown, settled disputes, and healed the sick.  Within the martial arts community, he is recognized as being America's gung fu partriarch.  Unfortunately, in September of 1967 the Hung Sing and Martial arts community was hit hard by the loss of a great gung fu master when Lau Bun passed away from a massive coronary.  

Under Lau Bun was some very very good martial artists.  He produced such well known masters as Jew Leong, and Doc Fai Wong.  However, Jew Leong stepped forward and assumed the responsibility of continuing Lau Bun's legacy.