Wah Lum Kung Fuās 18th anniversary celebration
Thereās some pix if you follow the link.
Martial arts legend honored at Worldās Fair Park event
By Mike Blackerby
Posted July 7, 2012 at 10:37 p.m.
Mimi Chan began her martial arts training at the age of 3 under the guidance of her father.
Little did she realize, she was learning from a master.
Wah Lum Kung Fuās 18th anniversary celebration
Fists and feet of fury were flying Saturday night at the Worldās Fair Park Amphitheater.
The Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi of Knoxville, in celebration of its 18th-year anniversary, served as host to a dazzling display of martial artistry.
Mimi Chanās father, 74-year-old Grandmaster Pui Chan, was special guest at the colorful and tradition-steeped anniversary event, which drew an audience of more than 200 people.
Dozens of Chanās students, including Wah Lum of Knoxville founder and Sifu (teacher) Leroy Kautz, were on hand to honor Chan and participate in the event.
Master Chan, who was born in China, is considered a pioneer in introducing traditional Kung Fu to America.
Grandmaster Pui Chan waits for festivities to start before a demonstration of Wah Lum Kung Fuās 18th anniversary celebration. (Photo by Wade Payne, Special to the News Sentinel)
Mimi Chan, now a 33-year-old Sifu who was chosen as the model and martial arts video reference for Disneyās feature animation, Mulan, said it took her awhile to appreciate her fatherās stature.
āI started training when I was 3 because I knew nothing different,ā said Mimi Chan.
āWhen I was little, I didnāt realize it was such an opportunity.ā
She eventually learned about her fatherās well-deserved reputation.
Master Chan is the Sixth generation Wah Lum successor of the Wah Lum Northern Mantis System, and is also a 33rd generation successor of the famed Shaolin Temple.
Master Chan introduced the Wah Lum System to the United States in 1970 and is the founder of the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple in Orlando, Fla.
He has given many demonstrations worldwide and has appeared in many TV programs including the Discovery Channel, ESPN and pay-per-view. He is listed as one of the most influential Martial Artists by Inside Kung Fu magazine.
Master Chan also was inducted in the Black Beltās Hall of Fame.
Kung Fu students and Sifus from several states were also on hand to participate in Saturdayās celebration and watch demonstrations in traditional Kung Fu, Tai Chi Chuan, weaponry and sparring.
Kautz put his Wah Lum forms and weapons demo teams through the paces. The Wah Lum students also demonstrated traditional lion and dragon dancing.
There was a special performance by the Tennessee Childrenās dance ensemble with their Fusion Art.
But most important, Kautz, who began studying under Master Chan in 1987, said it was an opportunity to recognize a true legend in martial arts.
āItās very rare to see a grandmaster (of Master Chanās level) in our branch,ā said Kautz.
āThere are just a handful of them in the U.S. ā you could put them in one room.ā
