Articles

THE CHIN FAMILY
(Thieves, street thugs or mentors?)

By Master Larry Wikel

    There have been many articles and stories written about the history of the CHIN FAMILY and KUNG FU SAN SOO. Some of this information was passed down from Lo Si Fu Chin Siu Dek which would of course make much of this information first and second hand in the telling and all of it from the "Keeper of The Family's and Art's History". Unfortunately, some of the information floating about has been passed from non-Chin family ear to non-Chin family's so to speak with the result of creating much colorfully inaccurate, misleading and, in terms of the art, undermining information.

    "Why address this?" you might ask. There is an old Kung Fu proverb that so knowingly states: "A word whispered in the ear can be heard for miles." It is my opinion that some of this information has been disrespectful to Lo Si Fu, the Chin Family and the many masters and students of art.  For anyone to state or even think that the Family was a bunch of thieves or gangsters and that Lo Si Fu was just a street thug is beyond belief. And, while it is certainly not for me to judge someone or their need for portraying Lo Si Fu this way, as as first generation Master I do gladly assume a responsibility for trying to clarify and correct inaccurate information is from a misinterpretation of the descriptions and "titles" used to denote members of the Chin family and the context in which these words were used; such as: TONG, OVERLORD, ENFORCER and CRAZY DEVIL.

    The Chin family, beginning with Lo Si Fu's Great, Great, Great Grandfather, the Monk, LEONG KICK, enjoyed a long and strong connection with the QUAN YIN TEMPLE and the ruling regime at that time. (Quan Yin, by the way, is the name of the Goddess of Mercy. The namesake Temple's governing concept is that of caring and compassion for your fellow man.) The Monk, Leong Kick, after twenty-one years in residence, left the Quan Yin Temple in the mid-1700's. He had in his possession the Buddhist Training Texts which had been entrusted by his masters to him for safe-keeping. History tells us that it was around the same time (1760's) that the new emperor, Qian Lung, destroyed most of the monasteries and killed all but a few of the monks. Leong Kick returned to his village where he taught his family THE ART as well as all he could impart about the character and conviction of the monks and their kindness and compassion towards their fellow man. (In my opinion, all of these qualities were quite apparent in Lo Si Fu for those who knew him.)

    In Lo Si Fu's telling the Training Texts and the teaching of thereof were passed on from Leong Kick to Lo Si Fu's Great Great Grandfather, CHIN MOON DON, and he eventually passed them onto Lo Si Fu's Great Grandfather, CHIN SUI DON, who passed them onto Lo Si Fu's Great Uncle and teacher, CHI SUI HUNG.

    CHI SUI HUNG was also nicknamed the NEOW GEE, which translates to "CRAZY DEVIL" or "WHITE-HAIRED DEVIL". Lo Si Fu said that his Great Uncle had long white hair and beard. The hair stood up in front like two horns and on his cheek had a large mole with three protruding, long white, hairs. Chin Sui Hung was also over six feet five inches tall and reportedly weighed over 350 pounds. Hence the nickname. It helps to understand if one was aware that the average height of a Chinese person at the time was approximately five feet four inches.

    Chin Sui Hung was well known as a teacher and a fighter through his "Mo Kwoons" (martial schools). Students training in the Mo Kwoons not only learned the martial arts but also about Chinese herbs, massage, acupuncture, joint and bone alignment and other healing arts. This extensive training was not only to create well-balanced students but also because all Mo Kwoons had a policy to care for the old and poor. Towards the end of the 1800's and well into the 1900's Hung was an "Overlord", (a district magistrate, prefect or governor), a position appointed by the government. He presided over a province about the size of Orange County, California. As such, Hung held tremendous control over the lives of the people in that area. Essentially, no one started a business or made any other major life decisions without consulting him first. Before some of us start seeing this as a reality version of a certain character portrayed by Marlon Brando in a 1970's Francis Coppola film, let's take a closer look at the duties of an Overlord or District Magistrate in late Imperial China.

    The function of the District Magistrate was to take charge over all matters affecting the maintenance of public order; i. e. - regulating its taxes and labor services, hearing and administering its legal suits, promoting education and culture and helping to refine its customs. He was the official closest to the people. If the District Magistrate was capable, then the governing would be simple, punishment clear, the people peaceful and material things in plenty. The order or disorder of the people was very much dependant on the District Magistrate's abilities of administration. As such, the Magistrate enjoyed considerable latitude in his administration of justice. It combined all local security functions under one head because the Magistrate received all criminal and civil cases bought before administrative authority.

    CHIN SUI DEK (Lo Si Fu - Jimmy H. Woo) became a traveling teacher of the Art and an enforcer for his great uncle. It is important here to note that the term "enforcer" as is used in this article is a translation from Chinese terminology denoting an individual who functioned more as something of the equivalent of a Texas Ranger and not as a "thug" as is often the grievance, Lo Si Fu was dispatched as the provincial enforcer. When the elders of a village decided it was time for the young men to learn to defend themselves, Lo Si Fu would be sent to live in the particular village for months at a time to teach them. Lo Si Fu's ability as a martial arts fighter was heralded throughout the province as being unequalled. This remarkable man had strong convictions concerning the Art and about family. It was these same convictions that drew me and, I believe, many others to him as a teacher and as a man. Over the time there have been many stories about his almost roguish prowess as a fighter. However, there have been many more stories about his respect, his loyalty, his kindness, his compassion and his wisdom to his family, his students and fellow man. In fact, in Lo Si Fu's school in El Monte hung a sign for as long as I can remember. This is what is written on that sign: "The art of Kung-Fu does not lie in victory or defeat, but in building human character." Gangster, street thug; Please!!

    The preceding information is from Lo Si Fu as told to many of the first generation masters and from documented research on Chinese history and culture as well as my personal experience.

FREEZE THE MIND
By Master Sam Silva

Jimmy Woo's first language was Chinese and sometimes when he was talking, he would think of a phrase in Chinese and try to translate it into English. Unfortunately, Jimmy's English at times was poor, and his translation would sound clipped. However if you were with him as he talked, by context, you would completely understand what he was saying.

One of Jimmy's favorite phrases, was "Freeze his heart." In talking about confronting an aggressor, Jimmy explained with a certain look on his face, his demeanor and the way he held his body, he could "freeze his (the aggressors) heart." Jimmy literally meant he could stop a person's heart with fear. In a split second, he could induce intimidating fear into an opponent causing a psychological and physiological effect. The opponent would experience a combination adrenaline rush, sinking of the stomach, shortness of breath, light headiness, tightening of the muscles, and loss of confidence. Recognizing his body was shutting down, and fearing what was going to happen, the opponents' brain would literally freeze with fear.

Jimmy's ability to "freeze a heart" was based on his aggressiveness and
the air of confidence he so easily carried. Based on his knowledge of
San Soo that he used in hundreds of street fights, Jimmy knew his potential. San Soo dictates an aggressive mind set when a confrontation arises. Recognizing there is no referee, no trophy and no rules or regulations in a street fight, San Soo understands there is no give and take, no "I hit you and you hit me." Instead, San Soo teaches the student to move into an attacking opponent and turn from a defensive mode into an offensive fighting machine. The resulting confidence that
San Soo dictates, grows as the students' training progresses. 

Road rage is a fairly new term, but the concept is as old as traffic. Once, Jimmy was driving on the freeway. Something happened between a truck driver and him. The truck driver gave Jimmy a dirty gesture and called for Jimmy to "pull over." Jimmy complied and got out of his car, ready to fight. The truck driver got out of his cab and began aggressively walking toward Jimmy. It was then Jimmy gave the man the "freeze his heart" look and loudly growled, "Too bad you die today!" 

The man literally stopped as though he hit an invisible brick wall. His eyes' snapped open and he froze. After a few seconds, he turned, walked back to his truck and drove away without saying a word. He had felt the aggression and confidence springing from Jimmy. It was enough to cause that man to weigh his options and decide "flight" was better than "fight."

This type of confidence and aggression can only come from fighting. One aspect of training in San Soo consists of "fighting." Fighting in a scientific method that combines punches, strikes, kicks, and take down moves, in combination techniques done to the weak points of an opponents body. In a normal practice, a person faces his partner and they repeatedly simulate fighting throughout the class. One or more aggressors, standing or on the ground, fighting from any position and against any attack, the student trains for any eventuality and anything goes. 

Recently, while training my children's class, we were practicing biting. A visiting mother who had brought her son as a potential student approached me after class and said, "You don't really teach them to bite do you?" My reply was, "Absolutely!" In a fight, anything goes. If it means the difference between life and death, or a child defending themselves from a kidnapper, we do what it takes to survive. During
practice, fists and feet fly and "anything goes." Nevertheless, during training, all moves are controlled so the partner is not seriously injured or worse. 

Jimmy said his students would "fight" hundreds of times during a nightly practice session. In so doing, by training their minds and bodies for combat, the students' confidence and aggression grow. Yet, aggression uncontrolled is a fault and not an advantage. To control aggression, I teach my students to use the light switch technique. A light switch is either "On or Off." When we are not training, the light switch is off. We are not bullies, and we have nothing to prove. We handle ourselves in confidence, but don't walk around with an "I can beat you up,"
attitude. Jimmy used to stress this when he would say, "Don't go looking for trouble, trouble look for you." In other words, you will have enough trouble in your life, without going out and looking for it.

A smart fighter is one who does not give away his "secret weapon." He does not let others know what he knows. Instead, he keeps his knowledge in check for the day he needs it. Then, seemingly unassuming, the San Soo fighter can turn on the light switch on a moment's notice and unleash his "secret weapon." 

Two years before I had the opportunity to teach San Soo at our church, I became acquainted with a man named Jose. After I began teaching San Soo, Jose became one of my students. One day in passing, he said, "I never thought you were anything different from anyone else. I mean you never acted different, but man, you're something else." Another time, a man at church walked up to me and said, "Man, you are deceptive. You act easy-going but you are bad."

Honestly, I do not feel that I am bad and I do not feel that I am any better than anyone. I just had the opportunity to learn this great Art from the man who brought it here from China. Additionally, I love the art so much that I have devoted most my life training in it. I do not walk with something to prove, and quote honestly, if someone bumped into me, I would probably say, "Excuse me." Yet, why did those men reference my aggression? The answer lies within the light switch. When it looks like a fight is going to start, or when working out, the light switch goes, "On." At that point, the "worst" comes out. Everything I do not want to be, I become. The animal aggression, the meanness, controlled anger, every negative human emotion and feature concentrated and released on the attacker with only one goal in mind. Neutralizing him before he hurts me.

With time, practice, confidence, aggression, and proper demeanor, when the light switch is turned on, the aggressor will intuitively sense danger. Often that will be enough to "freeze a man's heart." 


About the Author

Sam Silva received his Master's ranking from Jimmy Woo. He began training under Jimmy since approximately 1970 and is past owner of the La Habra Kung Fu San Soo Studio. He has written articles on San Soo and fighting that have been published nationally. He is the past Vice President of the International Kung Fu San Soo Association. Additionally, Sam has been a police officer for 27 years, and has worked some of the worst areas in Los Angeles County. This exposure has allowed him to gain exceptional knowledge in the psychology of street violence and the practical aspects of self defense. Sam currently teaches at Calvary Chapel of the Chino Valley in Chino, California. He can be reached via email at samthesifu@hotmail.com