2009-06-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Our School

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Based in Wellington, New Zealand, we are a traditional Chinese martial arts school offering classes in southern fist Hap Gar and Hung Gar kung fu.

Established in 2003, our school is headed by Sifu Melissa Fung Chan, an exponent with over 40 years of experience training traditional Chinese martial arts. She is supported by our assistant instructors, who have been with the school since inception and aid with running classes and organising training activities.

The majority of our system stems from a rich history of development and progression handed down over many generations. You will find that our classes are run in a friendly and safe manner with lots of help on hand to assist you through the early stages of learning.

About our System
Our system of kung fu comprises the Hap Gar and Hung Gar kung fu styles. While each of these styles is a complete fighting art on its own, we see each style as highly complimentary to the other. Quite simply, through diligent training, the successful combination of both styles offers more to the student than the sum of each part.

Hap Gar kung fu traces its ancestry back to the fighting traditions of the Lama Monks of Tibet. The system relies on the waist to generate and deliver significant power to the striking limbs. The art emphasizes agility, evasion and quick successive counter attacks with ferocious intensity and pin point accuracy. Owing to the dynamic and rapid flowing strikes of Hap Gar, considerable focus is given to developing deep rooted, yet moveable stances to allow for maximum efficiency of movement while maintaining complete control throughout. This is the point where the two styles converge. Hung Gar kung fu is characterized by strong stances, powerful hand strikes and emphasis of the Horse Riding Stance (sei ping ma). It’s roots can be traced back to the Southern Shaolin temple in Fukian province, China.

Practically speaking, our training focuses on developing the links between physical conditioning, sparring and forms work. In addition, students are taught the cultural aspects that accompany learning a traditional Chinese martial art.

Lineage Information
Lineage is an important aspect in traditional Chinese martial arts. It helps to establish an understanding of where a particular art originated from, who the key teachers of the style were from days gone by and helps us to identify other students of the same lineage. In essence it is the kung fu schools family tree.

Sifu Melissa Fung Chan - Chief Instructor

Melissa Fung Chan (陳)馮映虹 began learning traditional Chinese martial arts in Guangzhou in 1962 under Sigong Deng Gum To (鄧錦濤) and his senior student Professor Zhou Pu Wang (周沛宏).

A traditional Wushu champion during the 1970s and early 1980s, she was the gold medalist in the ‘Southern Fist’ category at the All China Traditional Martial Arts competition in 1980. In the years to follow she instructed classes for her teacher and was a qualified judge and trainer for the Guangdong Wushu Federation.

In 1983 Melissa Fung Chan emigrated from China to New Zealand where she now lives and teaches traditional Chinese martial arts.

Throughout the mid 1980’s she performed various demonstrations of Hung Gar and Hap Gar empty hand and weapons forms and this led to her being invited to teach senior students at the Chinese Martial Arts Association (est 1968), one of the oldest Chinese martial arts schools in New Zealand. She taught kung fu and tai chi at the school for many years.

Above: Sifu Fung with her older kung fu brother, Zhou Pu Wang, early 1980's.

In 2003 she was invited by the Chin Woo Athletic Association of New Zealand Inc to open her own classes teaching southern fist Chinese martial arts. The school was officially named the following year the New Zealand Ling Nan Wushu Association. In 2006 she was awarded an honorary Black Belt by the Chinese Martial Arts Association for her dedication and commitment to teaching and assisting in that organisation. In August 2009, she tested for and was awarded 6th Duan Wei by the Chinese Wushu Federation in Beijing. She is currently Technical Adviser Traditional Chinese Martial Arts to the Chin Woo Athletic Association of New Zealand Inc. Sifu Fung is the schools Chief Instructor and is assisted by her senior students David Chan, Frank Szeto and Luke Hawker, pictured below.

Assistant Instructors

David Chan: - First started learning martial arts in 1989 at the Kempo School of Martial Arts. Trained for five years at this school before leaving to go to university where he cross trained with various people in different styles. In 1999, returned to formal martial arts training in Ryukyu Kempo and continued in this style until 2005. In 2003, started learning Hung Gar and Hap Gar kung fu under Sifu Fung. Current Secretary General of the Chin Woo Athletic Association of New Zealand.

Frank Szeto:- Trained in Kempo Bushido Ryu from 1988 to 1990 before joining Shi Mei Lin International Wushu Association. Was one of Madam Shi Mei Lins first generation students in New Zealand and studied directly under her for 13 years and continues to help out with classes to this day. From 2003 to present, has been studying Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan under Sifu Terry Young and Hung Gar and Hap Gar under Sifu Fung.

Sigong Deng Gum To 鄧錦濤 (1902-1987)
Sigong Deng Gum To was born in 1902 in Guangdong Provence, southern China and lived until the age of 85. He devoted much of his life’s work to the study and promotion of traditional southern fist kung fu.

Deng Gum To initially learnt Hung Gar kung fu from his father Deng Long. Impressed with the Hap Gar style and having regard to his son's slight build, Deng Long sent his son to study Hap Gar kung fu from his colleague Wong Lun. Wong Lun was a disciple of the famous Sifu Wong Yan Lam. Later on, Deng Gum To also studied Yang Tai Chi Chuan under Yang Sau Cheung.

Deng Gum To taught kung fu in Guangzhou for many decades in the mid to late 1900's. He was a committee member for the Chinese Wushu Federation, Chairman for the Federation of Chinese martial arts in Guangzhou and Guangdong, selector and trainer of the Guangdong provincial team and a national wushu referee.

Deng Sigong taught many students who excelled in traditional Chinese martial arts at the highest level. Pictured below are some of these students:- his son Sifu Deng Jan Gong (China), Sifu Kong Fan Wei (The Netherlands), Madam Liang Xiao Wan (France), and our Sifu Melissa Fung Chan (Fung Ying Hong).

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Contact:- If you are interested in learning this system of kung fu in Wellington please email: nzlingnanwushu@gmail.com.

Site Last Updated 1.1.2012
(C) New Zealand Ling Nan Wushu Association 2010
Site created and maintained by D.Chan

Video Clips

2009-06-29T06:43:00.001-07:00

A brief anthology of Sifu Melissa Fung Chans martial arts career which spans nearly 50 years

A selection of performances given by students of the New Zealand Ling Nan Wushu Association during 2010

Photos

2009-06-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

Photos- 1970's and 1980's
(Photos Courtesy M. F. Chan unless stated)

Sigong Deng Gum To's senior Hap Gar students & family c 1975. Sifu Fung is back row far right, her sister Amanda is to her right. Sibak (Dai Sihing) Zhou Pu Wang is front left and our Sibak Deng Jan Gong is front 2nd from the far Right

Sigong Deng Gum To with City of Guangzhou Wushu Representatives, 1980

A very rare photograph- Champions from the 1980 All China Traditional Wushu Competition
Sifu Fung is front row 4th from the left.

Sifu Fung Training with her sidai in Guangzhou late 1970's

Sifu Fung Ying Hong, Sifu Liang Xiao Wang and Sifu Deng Jan Gong- late 1970's.

Sifu Fung Training Cheung Gwun with her Sihing Deng Mun Guangzhou late 1970's.

Sifu Fung- 1980 All China Gold Medal Champion- Lam Kuen (Southern Fist)

Sigong Deng Gum To
(Photos: www.xiaquan.com)

Professor Zhou Pu Wang (周沛宏) Senior Student of Deng Gum To
and Sifu Fung's God Father.

Sifu Fung- January 1984- First Public Demonstration in New Zealand
(Photos Courtesy: S. Chun)

Hung Gar- Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen

Hap Gar Kuen (Siu Lohan)

NZ Ling Nan Wushu Association Photos 2003 - Present
(Photos: D. Chan unless stated)

Sifu Fung, Great Wall, Beijing, December 2006

Sifu Fung with her Sihing, Mr Deng Jan Gong, Guanzghou, January 2007

Sifu Fung- Hap Gar Kuen, February 2008 Shaolin Monks Exchange, Wellington, NZ.
(S. Chun)

Sifu Fung, at Home, December 2008

School Photos

2004

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2005

2005

2005

August 2007

June 2008

December 2008

January 2009

December 2009

October 2010

New Zealand Ling Nan Wushu Association - Wellington New Zealand

Video Clips

Photos