There is an actual system known as “Northern Shaolin.” The main proponent of this system in the Twentieh century was GM Gu Ru Zhang. The director of Plum Publications own heritage through Wing Lam is from this lineage. Another branch of the school is through the teacher Wong Jack Man, well known in San Francisco China town. One of his students, Rick Wing, has produced a book on a key form out of the Northern Shaolin lineage: #5 or Martial Skill.
While the facts behind the suposed @ss kicking are certainly up for debate… yes, it is the same Wong Jack Man. He’s a pretty well respected member of the martial arts community, rather than the racist back breaking gorilla portrayed in the fictional movie.
First off, I’d like to say that Mr. Wing’s book is one of most informative and detailed books on the subject of Northern Shaolin I’ve ever seen (published anyway). And as someone who’s seen him in action, I can also say that he is a highly skilled practitioner. Since he is obviously quite athletic, none of the challenging moves in the forms are misrepresented. I’d say this book is a must for anyone interested in Bak Siu Lum gung fu. There’s practical applications, detailed overviews of all ten forms, and thoroughly depicted views of all of the moves. I’m actually extremely excited about this book right now since I only just recently acquired it and I’m greatly impressed.
Also, anyone who knows anything about real gung fu would know that, just from looking at the sparse amounts of evidence that we have (testimony other than that of Linda Lee Caldwell’s from real martial artists) and the incongruities in the Lee side of the story, that Wong Jack Man was the more skilled and proficient fighter. Anyone who does just a little research on Bruce’s private life would also see that Wong had more moral integrity as well. And he certainly isn’t the “back breaking gorilla” depicted in that farce of a movie. Bruce Lee injured his back while working out improperly.
Awesome book!! It’s probably the most detailed history on Northern Shaolin that has ever gone to print. The forms are given in detail and Rick L. Wing (a.k.a. Buckie) shows a great deal of proficiency and skill in the photographs. There is also a really great preface with references to Wong Jack Man. A truely great teacher who, by the way, did NOT have his ass handed to him by Bruce Lee.
Just the fact that Wong’s class has always been made up of people of varying ethnicities should tell anyone with integrity that the Lee side of the story (mainly put forth by Linda Lee Caldwell for financial gain) has too many holes in it to be credible. This book illustrates true martial arts; not these supposedly “more effective” and “modern styles” of today that people have made up in their backyards.
The book was done by a few people not just Sifu Rick Wing… Master Robert Louie of the Jing Mo did the History part and the stuff on GM WJM in the book… Also Master Paul Eng worked on the book also… Both have been doing NSL for over 35 years and there GM WJM top two Disciples and some others also helped with the book… but I do not remeber there names… Sorry, if you are on this board… They cut out some of the stuff from the book, when they put it all together… Why I do not know…
But It’s not a bad book at all, one of the best out on NSL/BSL…
It was the number of pages and the cost of the book that Iwas believed was the reason it was cut down. They wanted to keep the book affortable.
Sifu Wing has about 30 years under his belt in BSL while Sifu Wing’s older classmates, Masters Robert Louie and Paul Eng has over 40 years of BSL and the later has over 50 years of BSL and TCMA.
From what I understood in the agknowledgements, it was mainly Robert Louie who gave most of the history. “The military chronicler” Sifu Wing calls him. I especially found it humorous when he says Louie’s martial arts conversation starter runs to, “yes, but did you know what style Kuo Yu Chang’s second wife practiced?”
The director of Plum Publications own heritage through Wing Lam is from this lineage.
I used to train with Ted Mancuso when I lived in Santa Cruz, although we haven’t crossed paths in years. He’s a great guy and quite diligent with Plum. Looks like an interesting book. Maybe someone will send me a reader’s copy hint, hint