History of Nam Pai Chuan

Nam Pai Chuan has its roots and origins in the traditional Martial Arts practiced by the Shaolin Monks of China. It is widely accepted that Shaolin Kung Fu was brought into China in the year 525AD by a travelling Buddhist monk known to the Chinese as "Da Moh" (Bodhidharma). He arrived at the Shaolin Temple of Song Shan in Henan province, northern China, and organised the monks at the monastery to carry out solitary meditation. He introduced the monks to an exercise regime which was to improve their stamina and therefore their mental capabilities. These eighteen basic exercises are deemed to be the beginnings of the Shaolin Martial Arts.

Da Mo is credited with having taught Kung Fu to the monks in order to strengthen them for meditation and prayer. Through the years, the art has grown and developed into many diverse forms and schools but regardless of the style, they can all be traced back to Da Moh. The Nam Pai Chuan tradition can trace its line far back to Great Grandmaster Hui Cheng of the Chek Chian Nan Hai Pooi Chee Temple in China. Master Hui was a direct descendant of the Southern Shaolin tradition taught by Buddhist monks in the tradition of Da Moh. One of Master Hui Cheng's students was Grand Master Seh Koh San.

Cho Si (Ancestor Master) Seh Koh San was a legendary figure in martial arts of the Far East. The Nam Pai Chuan school and style owe its origin largely to his teachings. He is the great grandmaster of the Nam Pai Chuan System. He belonged to the 2nd chamber 48th generation of Shaolin and was the Abbot of the Siong Lim Temple in Singapore until his death in 1960 at the age of 74. The art taught by Cho Si Seh Koh San was known as "Shaolin Kuen" or "Shaolin Martial Arts". It was also commonly referred to in the Far East as "Fatt Gar Kuen" or "Buddhist Fist". The School of Cho Si Seh Koh San still flourishes today and the students taught by him belong to the 2nd chamber 49th generation of Shaolin. One of his students was Grandmaster Quek Hen Choon.

Tai Sigung (Great Grandmaster) Quek Heng Choon studied and trained under Cho Si Seh Koh San until his master's death. He trained within the shaolin temple at Singapore. Training was tough - three times per day every day - and he was not allowed to step outside the temple until his training was complete, a period of six or seven years. After his training was complete, he returned to Malaysia to teach. Master Quek was particularly renowned for his demonstrations of Hard Chi Kung. He performed many demonstrations in the sixties, examples of which included breaking marble table tops on his back and with his hands, causing a sensation. He represented the original 50th generation of Shaolin and his students came from Malaysia, Singapore and China. In 1971 he started his own school, Quek Heng Choon Martial Arts Sport School. In 1977 he initiated the Kuala Lumpur Song Shan Shaolin Wushu Association. Master Quek was the Chief Instructor in this school. Sadly, Great Grandmaster Quek passed away in February 2010, but for the last years of his life he was considered to be one of the oldest, most important and most influential students of Cho Si Seh Koh San. Grandmaster Christopher Lai Khee Choong, the chief instructor of the Shaolin System Nam Pai Chuan in Europe was a student of Grandmaster Quek.

Sigung (Grandmaster) Lai Khee Choong, 2nd chamber 50th generation of Shaolin has studied martial arts since 1959 and in particular Shaolin Kung Fu from 1967 to 1979. In those years, training was intense in the traditional manner and was undertaken on a daily basis, often twice a day. In 1977, Sifu Lai decided to emigrate to the United Kingdom, where he had undertaken his legal education. Since martial arts were part of his life, he felt the need to bring his school with him. Prior to his departure, he asked Grandmaster Quek to clarify the name of the style he had been taught. Grandmaster Quek gave his permission and stated that the style would be called "Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan", or "North South Fist" in recognition of the fact that it contained elements of Northern and Southern Chinese kung fu. Master Christopher Lai Khee Choong is the chief instructor of the system.