- Jook Lum -
The name of this style came about when a monk watched a praying mantis defend itself against a large bird. This monk was able to adapt his own fighting style with the techniques demonstarted by the Praying Mantis, to form a very effective martial art. The "Praying Mantis" system quickly adapted into two very different schools: Northern and Southern Praying Mantis. Each of these also have their own sub systems. Jook Lum (Forest Grove Temple) is considered the original Southern Praying Mantis style.
Almost all Jook Lum practitioners today can trace their lineage to Grandmaster Lam Sang (Lum Wing Fay), who taught Jook Lum for 40 years. Twenty of those years were spent in New York, before returning to Tiawan. In his forty years of teaching, he held fast to the secretive traditions and only taught Chinese students.
There are six living disciples of Lam Sang (that I am aware of). The first four are Masters Wong Bak Lim (Grandmaster Lam's first disciple), Jessie Eng, Harry Sun, and Louie Jack Man. These four disciples are represented by the Bamboo Temple Chinese Benevolent Association. Most are now retired and rely on their students to spread the art. This association continues to teach by invitation only.
Master Gin Foon Mark received the altar from Grandmaster Lam upon his return to Tiawan, and has done a magnificent job of spreading Jook Lum throughout the United States.
Master Henry Poo Yee continued training with Grandmaster Lam after his return to Tiawan, and was instructed in advanced techniques that are unique to his style of Jook Lum.
OTHER JOOK LUM ASSOCIATIONS OF INTEREST
Sifu Gorme of the South Florida Chinese Boxing Association, began his Jook Lum training in Cuba in 1966 at the age of eleven under Sifu LiSan. Sifu Lisan was a contemporary of Lam Sang, but was not his student. In 1969 Gorme moved to the United States and trained under Hung Gar master Mario Perez until 1975, when Sifu LiSan also moved to the United States. For the next twenty years, Sifu LiSan continued to train Gorme. In 1995, Sifu LiSan moved to China. Sifu Gorme teaches Jook Lum in the tradition of his Sifu.
Boxing Association
Southern Praying Mantis
Discussion Board
My only agenda here is to offer an introduction to the various Jook Lum associations and the opportunity for discussion among all who are interested in Jook Lum. This web page and discussion board are not under the control of any association or school. The information shown above was furnished by existing web pages, and I simply took each organization at its word. I am not interested in the politics of martial arts, only in improving my own art. I hope that others feel the same way, and make this discussion board an open forum in which we can all become better students. This is not my forum, but rather it is our forum. Any further participation from me, will not be as administrator, but rather as us an occasional visitor.