History of Wu Clan Gung Fu

The history of Wu Clan Gung Fu dates back to the days of general revelation (prehistoric times) involving the origin of Martial Arts, probably before 450 BC. Most martial arts historians only talk about the origin of martial arts from limited ethnic perspectives or from the perspective of the Chinese Shaolin after its known origin passed down from Bodhidarma (Toma in Chinese) in the fifth century BC. Most of this record was passed down through oral traditions by their original founding practitioners, who were early Afro-Asiatic from India and African-Descendants of the African Diaspora. In fact, many Martial Art historians will tell you that Martial Arts can be traced back even to Biblical Antiquity. Certainly, these histories are not to discredit the Chinese origin of Shaolin history, but only to state that Gung fu practices and principles of Martial Science were shared by descendants of many ethnic traditions of the Eastern Hemisphere. In historic times, Wu Clan Gung Fu dates back to the Sanskrit origins of Buddhism from India, and the Himalayan monks, who are respected in many Chinese Shaolin circles.  The Sanskrit language can linguistically be traced to the Egyptian roots of Yoga and the perpetual meditation practices of mentally directed movements that became the focus of the temple named “Young Forest” (Shaolin in Mandarin and Sil Lum in Cantonese).


Many Kung Fu or Gung Fu instructors of other Martial Art systems do not always recognize or officially know the Gung Fu practices of Wu Clan Gung Fu by name until they see the movements, because it draws from many styles of African, India, and what has been presently considered Chinese Gung fu movements. This is also due to the mythological origins of its history. It is necessary to mention at this point that what has been historical considered myth has been recognized by many historians as truth, simply because myth has been categorically called myth due to our inability to track and authenticate everything about a subject before the days of written history. Many of the Chinese monks who practice the style of Wu Gung fu have chosen to remain nameless due to the political nature of the subject and the political consequences that the Chinese Communistic Government could inflict upon their families and their martial traditions. Nevertheless, this history can be authenticated by several literary and historic sources and conversations with several (at least three) monks of Chinese Gung Fu that wish to remain nameless for all the reasons previously stated.


Wu Clan Gung Fu is primarily practiced today by the author of this article and other Wu Clan descendants (students) of this system of Chinese Martial Science, which was passed down from principles of Himalayan (India) and African Martial Art cultures. Wu Clan Gung Fu is characterized by Northern and Southern Systems of specialized movements, with the basic hand posture of Yang Wu (lead Hand- Yang and rear hand-Wu). Various practitioners of Wu Clan Gung Fu maybe Southern (up close and personal) or Northern fighters (more flambougant and distance based fighters). Wu Clan Gung Fu practitioners have one thing in common, and that is the distinction of the Yang Wu philosophy (a special martial formula) and the unique history of their Wu Clan Gung Fu.


Many descendants of Wu Clan Gung Fu have studied Gung Fu or Kung Fu from other perspectives, but each member of the family understands the unique history of their system as it relates to the contributions other cultures and their influences on the Chinese system of Martial Arts. Many Master instructors of Wu Clan Gung Fu, who are not Chinese by national origin, have studied this special system by going to direct descendants of the Wu Clan or have studied the art through the unique lineage of its student disciples of Wu Clan’s retired Masters.


Wu Clan Gung Fu is also known from the history of Bodhidarma (Toma in Chinese) teaching the monks of China the system of Gung Fu that involved Buddhist meditation, simply because the monks lacked mental and physical stamina and endurance. The movements of Gung Fu taught to the monks of China involved moving meditation and these movements would eventually enhance philosophies taught from Buddhism and incorporate many principles of Taoism that helped to formulate a new sect of Asia culture called Shaolin. Once an individual became apart of the Shaolin Temple, this new order called Shaolin combined both Taoism and Buddhism and other prevailing philosophies of Asia culture which became the legendary way of practicing and learning Gung Fu systems throughout Asian culture.


Later other temples of Henan emerged out of the persecution of the Shaolin monks who did not always align themselves with imperial power. This is specifically, where many Shaolin monks in hiding taught disciples Gung Fu and became Refugee monks. These teachers taught many moral lessons that would lead Gung Fu practice to liberate people from social injustice, and instill principles of love for others and oneself. Many of The Henan monks of Shaolin were from reconverted pre-existing temples of Wu Tang and O Mei Shan, and other rare temples of Fukien and Kwangtung. Many of the descendants of Wu Clan Gung Fu were actually Shaolin monks of Henan. After 1901, the beginning of the Boxer Rebellion marked the end of the older traditions of the Shaolin era.

Later still, China became occupied with Western and Japanese governments for reasons of business and Colonial enterprise. During the late 20th century, Kung Fu would be reintroduced to Western governments like the United States through Chinese Martial Artists, like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. During that time the United States, there were many other practicing Gung Fu practitioners that remained unnoticed by choice for fear of the “foreigner’s ability to claim his particular Gung Fu practice as his/her own.” Wu Clan Gung Fu practitioners were also among these groups of Martial Art masters and practitioners who kept their Martial secrets away from the public until the death of Bruce Lee when the idea of sharing Wu Clan Gung Fu became more accepted among its monks and disciples. Presently, Wu Clan Gung Fu is still very rare to find, but it still exist through a few select teachers in America and through others who teach it’s concepts from other Chinese Gung Fu Traditions.     

Wu Clan
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