Bak Mei- White Eyebrow Kung Fu (REVISED)
By Hibik

A notorious style of Southern Kung Fu, Bak Mei's origin can be traced back to the burning of the Fukien Shaolin (Sil Lum) Temple, circa 1644. It's founder, Bak Mei (nicknamed such due to his literally white eyebrows), had supposedly betrayed the Shaolin Temple, and may have been responsible for the burning. His legacy has remained to this day with the existence of this art. While many deny Bak Mei's status as a Manchurian supporter and the one responsible for the Sil Lum temple's fall, none can deny the existence or power of this art.

Bak Mei in itself is a very unorthodox system. In addition to being an infighting system, it's also highly internal, with the building of chi being very important. The most notable aspect of Bak Mei is its used of Scared Power, or Ging, which is used to make powerful strikes capable of inflicting damage from a very short range and with no drawing back. In order to be proficient with Bak Mei, one must merge the five external sources of power (Eyes (Ngan), Mind (Sum), Hands (Sau), Waist (Yiu), and Stance (Ma)) with the five Internal Sources (Spirit (Shen), Purpose (Yee), Courage (Gi), Internal Power (Chi), and Power (Ging)). The major points of Ging in Bak Mei are from the wrist, forearms, and the elbow, as well as from the back. The waist is also used frequently, much more then in most other systems of Southern Kung Fu.

A Bak Mei master, when entering combat, stays very relaxed. An artist will wait until his opponent acts offensively. All his defense maneuvers are soft and relaxed. However, when a Bak Mei artist strikes, his arm stays relaxed until the point of impact, where upon it tenses into a hard, sharp strike, often channeling chi through his strikes. The primary closed hand attack that Bak Mei uses is the Phoenix Eye fist, and this is always aimed towards the enemy's weak areas, such as pressure points. However, a Bak Mei artist's major weapon is his Wit.

Bak Mei, while being a major category of Chinese Martial Arts, is relatively uncommon nonetheless. Training can be found in the USA, Taiwan, and China (especially in Hong Kong and the southern provinces).

Entrance Requirements: IQ and PP of 11 or higher. A higher MA can be beneficial, but is not required.
Skill Cost: 15 Years (7 Years Secondary)
Costume: Often a Southern Style Sleeveless Kung Fu uniform.
Stance: A neutral bow stance, with equal weight on both legs when in a ready stance. This often shifts to a forward bow with 70% of the body's weight on the front leg when striking. Typically the arm opposite of the front leg is extended (Right Arm to Left Leg, and vise versa), with the other hand under the extended arm, open palmed, guarding the armpit. Extended hand is either open palm, or clenched in a Phoenix Eye fist. Footwork follows a triangular pattern, as the leg's alignment at the toes is always 45 degrees off center.

CHARACTER BONUSES
Add 5 to Chi
Add 2 to M.A.
Add 2 to P.P.
Add 4 to Spd

COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks Per Melee: 2
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact, and Maintain Balance.
Attack Moves: None
Basic Defense Moves: Dodge, Parry, and Automatic Parry.
Advanced Defenses: Chum (SPECIAL! A parry maneuver that involves sinking your chi as you make contact with your opponent, bringing your opponent down and neutralizing his attack. If successful, the opponent loser his next attack), and Circular Parry.
Hand Attacks: Phoenix Eye Fist (variation of a fore knuckle fist), Backhand, and Palm Strike.
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick Attack, Snap Kick, and Tripping/Leg Hook.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Forearm, Elbow, Deathblow, and Chuk (SPECIAL! A forward, aggressive maneuver where the artist, combining all of his sources of power (including Ging) and his internal energy into a sudden, violent strike to an opponent's weak spot, where chi is often channeled through the hand. Typically used with a Phoenix Eye Fist, Chuk does 2D6 Damage, with double damage to infernal demons.)
Holds/Locks: Wrist Lock.
Weapon Katas (Select One): WP Jian (Straight Sword), WP Bian (Chain Whip), WP Cha (Trident), WP Hue Die Dao (Butterfly Sabers (Paired)), or WP Qiang (Spear).
Modifiers to Attack: Pull Punch, Knock Out/Stun, Critical Strike, and Critical Strike from Rear.

SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Arts Powers: Select a total of TWO (2) from Chi Mastery (including Advanced), Atemi (Including Advanced), or Martial Art Techniques. If desired, any number of powers can be traded, one-for-one, for any Basic Skill Programs.
Languages: Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, or another Southern Dialect)
Physical: Prowl.
Philosophical Training: Taoism
If this is your primary martial art form, then the following other forms can be learned in shorter time: Shantung Black Tiger (4 Years), Taiji Quan (5 Years), or Hsing-I (5 Years).

LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +2 to Strike, +2 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact.
2nd: +2 to Parry, +1 to Dodge.
3rd: Select one additional Atemi (including Advanced), Chi Mastery (including Advanced), or martial Art Techniques.
4th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Strike.
5th: Increase Chuk Damage to 3D6 (6D6 against infernals), +2 to Chum.
6th: Critical Strike on Natural 19-20.
7th: Double Existing Chi, +1 Attack per Melee.
8th: Select one additional Atemi (including Advanced), Chi Mastery (including Advanced), or Martial Art techniques.
9th: +1 Attack per Melee.
10th: +1 to Strike and Parry, and select an additional Weapon Kata.
11th: Deathblow on a Natural 20, +2 to Damage.
12th: Double Existing Chi, +1 to Chum.
13th: Select one additional Atemi (including Advanced), Chi Mastery (including Advanced), or Martial Art Technique.
14th: Critical Strike on Natural 18-20, +1 Attack per Melee.
15th: Select a Xian Chi.

Why Study Bak Mei?
A definitely unorthodox style, as well as the creation of a supposed traitor. Bak Mei combines soft defenses, hard yet surprising strikes, and an aggressive infighting philosophy to create an extremely effective southern style, as well as being primarily internal as well. Always remember, a Bak Mei artist's best friend is his wit.