Simon Lau

Masters' Kung Fu is a book all practitioners of wing chun kuen have been waiting for. This is the style practised by the celebrated Bruce Lee who, like the author, was a pupil of Grand Master Yip Man.

Simon Lau, a recognised master of wing chun, reveals the secrets of his art and guides the reader through the essential principles of breathing, focus and relaxation, to the lightning kicks and explosive strikes which are a dramatic feature of the art.

There are chapters on the specialised generation of force, the weapons of the body, basic punches, stirkes, kicks and blocks. with the aid of action photographs, Master Lau shows how close-range practice with a partner teaches instant response in a self-defence situation. He details his theories of internal and external fitness which link, for the first time, the science of East and West. Hints about safety in training and selecting the right club are also inlcuded.

The book is not just about technique, however. As Master Lau says in his introduction, 'I hope to inculcate in you, the reader, the motivation to become a martial artist and not someone who merely practises the martial arts'.

With more than two hundred and fifty photographs and a wealth of expertise accumulated over many years, Masters' Kung Fu is the book no student of kung fu can afford to do without.

Simon Lau was born in China and began training in the martial arts when he was twelve. Althought his parents originally intended that he become a Buddhist monk, he chose instead to follow the parallel route of the martial arts.

His first teacher was his older brother, but Simon soon became a pupil of Yip Man, the last Grand Master of Wing Chun Kuen and Bruce Lee's teacher.

At eighteen he won a scholashp to Alberta University in Canada, but left to come to England and here concentated all his energies on Wing Chun training.

He subjected himself to a fierce training routine, building up his strength and speed to such an extent that word of his prowess began to spread. Before long he was giving demonstrations of kung fu to conventions held in honour of the late Bruce Lee.

In 1980 he became a full-time teacher and was selected to appear in the BBC television series 'The Way of the Warrior'. Soon after he was asked by Goldcrest to demonstrate his muscle power in their series 'The Living Body'.

Master Lau now operates from three main clubs, one in London, one in Chicago and one in Gothenberg. He is recognised as one of the foremost practitioners of wing chun kuen in the world and is a member of the British Martial Arts Commission.

Contents

Foreword
Introduction
History of wing chun kuen
Developing latent power
Natural weapons of the body
Practising basic techniques
Blocking techniques
Sticking hand practice
Free sparring
Self defence
The philosophy of fitness
Some advice on safe practice
Philosophy and practice of wing chun kuen
Terminology used in kung fu
Acknowledgements… (meer)