People of Kung Fu
Kung Fu: 109 documented people. Also: codifier (3), predecessor / teacher (6), grandmaster (1), master (34), champion (1), notable figure (12), organisation / official (5), historian (1).
Founder (46)
Bak Mei (White Eyebrow)Founder: Bak Mei Kung FuMonk / SifuLegendary Daoist monk and founder of the Southern Chinese Kung Fu style Bak Mei.Cai MaoFounder: Huaquan (China Flourishing Boxing)Sifu / MasterQing Dynasty Chinese master and founder of traditional Huaquan (China's Glorious Fist).Cha MiranyiFounder: Chaquan (Cha Family Boxing)Sifu / ChamirChinese Hui Muslim general and legendary founder of the Northern style Zhaquan.Chan HeungFounder: Choy Li FutSifu / FounderChinese master and founder of Choy Li Fut Kung Fu (1836), one of the most widely practiced Wushu styles.Chen ShiuFounder: Choy Li FutSifu / Shaolin MasterSouthern Shaolin Chinese master and first martial arts teacher of Chan Heung (founder of Choy Li Fut).Chen TuanFounder: Liu He Ba Fa (Water Boxing)Daoist / SageLegendary Daoist sage of Mount Hua and founder of the internal art Liu He Ba Fa (Water Fist).Chen WangtingFounder: Chen Style Tai ChiGeneral / MasterMing Dynasty military officer and founder of the oldest lineage of Tai Chi Chuan (Chen style).Chen XiaowangFounder: Baji ZhandaoGrandmasterChinese 19th-generation Chen family grandmaster and co-developer of Baji Zhandao tactical fencing.Cheng TinghuaFounder: Cheng Style BaguazhangMaster / SifuChinese master and direct student of Dong Haichuan who founded the Cheng style of Baguazhang.Choy Gau LeeFounder: Choy GarSifu / MasterChinese master and founder of Choy Gar, one of the Five Great Southern Kung Fu styles.Choy QuintFounder: Choy GarSifuTraditional Chinese master and one of the early teachers of the Choy Gar family style.Chu Ngun-hungFounder: Chuka Gar (Chuka Southern Praying Mantis)SifuChinese master and founder of the Chuka Shaolin (Chuka Gar) family style of Kung Fu.Chua Giok BengFounder: Wuzuquan (Five Ancestors Boxing)Sifu / MasterChinese master and founder of the Southern style Wuzuquan (Five Ancestors Fist).Ding Qi TingFounder: Six Harmonies Praying Mantis (Liuhe Tanglangquan)Sifu / MasterChinese master and founder of the Liuhe Tanglangquan (Six Harmonies Praying Mantis) style.Dong HaichuanFounder: BaguazhangGrandmaster / SifuLegendary Chinese master and founder of the internal martial art Baguazhang (Eight Trigram Palm).Du XinwuFounder: Zi Ran Men (Natural Boxing)General / SifuLegendary bodyguard and master who popularized the natural style Zi Ran Men (Natural Boxing).Fang QiuniangFounder: Baihequan (Fujian White Crane)Sifu / FounderChinese female master and founder of the influential Fujian Baihequan (White Crane) style.Gan FengchiFounder: Sanhuang Paochui (Three Emperors Cannon Fist)Sifu / MasterFamous Chinese internal martial arts master and co-developer of Sanhuang Paochui.Gao SanrenFounder: Sanhuang Paochui (Three Emperors Cannon Fist)Sifu / MasterChinese master and primary founder of the Sanhuang Paochui (Three Emperors Cannon Fist) style.Gao YishengFounder: Gao Style BaguazhangSifu / MasterChinese master and founder of the Gao Style Baguazhang branch.Ha Hon HungFounder: Yau Kung Mun (Flexible Hard Power Kung Fu)Grandmaster / SifuChinese grandmaster who brought and popularized the Yau Kung Mun style in Hong Kong.Han BaiFounder: Baji ZhandaoSifu / Fencing MasterChinese master and co-developer of the Baji Zhandao tactical sword combat system.Huang Chien-LiangFounder: Tianshan Pai (Tien Shan Mountain Kung Fu)Grandmaster / DoctorTaiwanese-American traditional Kuoshu grandmaster and international head of the Tien Shan Pai system.Huang Sheng-Shyan (Huang Xingxian)Founder: Tai ChiGrandmaster / MasterProminent Chinese-Malaysian grandmaster, student of Zheng Manqing and White Crane master Xie Zhongxian.Hung Hei-gunFounder: Hung GarSifu / FounderLegendary Chinese master and founder of Southern Hung Gar Kung Fu (Tiger and Crane style).Huo DiangeFounder: Huo Style BajiquanSifu / BodyguardChinese grandmaster, personal bodyguard to China's last Emperor Puyi, and founder of Huo Bajiquan.Jeung YukFounder: Fut Gar (Buddhist Family Boxing)Sifu / MasterGuangdong Chinese grandmaster, key co-developer and systemizer of Fut Gar Kung Fu.Ji LongfengFounder: XingyiquanJi Jike / SifuLegendary Ming dynasty master considered the historical founder of the internal art Xingyiquan.Lama Ah Dat TaFounder: Pak Hok Pai (Tibetan White Crane)Lama / SifuTibetan Buddhist monk and legendary founder of the Tibetan White Crane style (Pak Hok Pai).Lau Sam NgunFounder: Lau GarSifu / FounderChinese master and founder of Lau Gar, one of Southern China's Five Great Family Kung Fu styles.Li RuidongFounder: Li Style Tai ChiSifu / MasterChinese grandmaster and founder of the distinctive Li Style Tai Chi Chuan.Li Yau ShanFounder: Li GarSifu / MasterChinese master, founder of Li Gar, and teacher of Chan Heung (co-founder of Choy Li Fut).Liang ZhenpuFounder: Liang Style BaguazhangSifu / MasterChinese master, youngest direct student of Dong Haichuan, and founder of Liang Style Baguazhang.Monk Ding Wai (Shaolin)Founder: Yau Kung Mun (Flexible Hard Power Kung Fu)Shaolin Monk / MasterShaolin Buddhist monk and legendary co-founder of the Southern Chinese style Yau Kung Mun.Ng Mui (Abbess Wu Mei)Founder: Wing ChunShaolin Abbess / Legendary FounderLegendary Shaolin abbess, one of the Five Elders, revered founder of Wing Chun and Dragon style.Sawai KenichiFounder: Yiquan (Dachengquan)Master / FounderJapanese grandmaster, sole foreign student of Wang Xiangzhai, and founder of Taiki-ken.Sun Lutang (Sun Fuquan)Founder: Sun Style Tai ChiGrandmaster / ScholarChinese internal martial arts grandmaster who unified Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, and Tai Chi into Sun Style Tai Chi.Wang LangFounder: Tanglangquan (Praying Mantis)Sifu / FounderLegendary Chinese master and founder of Praying Mantis Kung Fu (Tanglangquan).Wang XiangzhaiFounder: Yiquan (Dachengquan)Nibao / MasterChinese internal martial arts grandmaster, student of Guo Yunshen, and founder of formless Yiquan.Wong Bil Hong (Sifu)Founder: Fu Jow Pai (Tiger Claw)Grandmaster / SifuGuangdong Chinese grandmaster and founder of the fierce Tiger Claw style (Fu Jow Pai / Hark Fu Moon).Wu JianquanFounder: Tai ChiSifu / MasterChinese grandmaster and co-founder of the second most popular style of Tai Chi Chuan (Wu Style).Wu YuxiangFounder: Wu (Hao) Style Tai ChiScholar / MasterChinese scholar and founder of the compact, internal Wu (Hao) Style Tai Chi Chuan.Wu ZhongFounder: BajiquanSifu / FounderChinese Hui Muslim grandmaster and historic founder of explosive Bajiquan (Eight Extremes Boxing).Yang LuchanFounder: Yang Style Tai ChiYang Wu-Di / SifuChinese grandmaster and founder of the world's most popular Tai Chi Chuan style (Yang style).Zhang SanfengFounder: Tai ChiImmortal / DaoistLegendary Daoist monk of Mount Wudang, traditionally revered as founder of internal martial arts Neijiaquan and Tai Chi.Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu)Founder: Changquan (Traditional Long Fist)Emperor Taizu of SongFounder of the Song Dynasty and legendary creator of the Northern Taizu Changquan (Long Fist) style.
Bak Mei (White Eyebrow)
Huang Chien-Liang
Sawai KenichiCodifier (3)
Chang NaizhouScholar / MasterQing Dynasty Chinese scholar and master, founder of Chang Style Wushu, and author of Chang's Martial Book.Imperial GuardCodifier: Beijing Shuai JiaoImperial GuardsElite guard of Qing Dynasty Chinese emperors that refined Beijing style Shuai Jiao wrestling.Qi JiguangGeneral / CommanderFamous Ming Dynasty Chinese general and author of the classic military treatise Ji Xiao Xin Shu (1560).
Predecessor / teacher (6)
BodhidharmaDa Mo / PatriarchIndian Buddhist monk who brought Chan Buddhism to the Shaolin Temple and laid the roots of Kung Fu.ChimeiPredecessor / teacher: Bak Mei Kung FuMonk / SifuDaoist monk and student of Bak Mei who transmitted White Eyebrow Kung Fu in Southern China.Chin Woo Athletic AssociationPredecessor / teacher: Sport Sanda (Wushu Sanshou)Legendary Wushu AssociationFamous Chinese athletic association founded in Shanghai in 1910 by Huo Yuanjia to modernize Wushu.Choy FookPredecessor / teacher: Hung Sing Choy Li FutMonk / SifuShaolin monk and primary teacher of Chan Heung, namesake of the Choy element in Choy Li Fut.Jue Yuan (Monk Jueyuan)Predecessor / teacher: Shaolin QuanShaolin Monk / MasterLegendary 13th-century Shaolin monk who expanded 18 Arhat techniques into 72 stances and helped formulate Five Animals Kung Fu.Sun Bin (Military Strategist)Predecessor / teacher: Sun Bin Quan (Sun Bin Boxing)General / Strategist / MasterAncient Chinese military general, descendant of Sun Tzu, author of Sun Bin's Art of War.
BodhidharmaGrandmaster (1)
Master (34)
Baoding MastersMaster: Baoding Shuai Jiao (Kuai Jiao)Shuai Jiao MastersCollective of Chinese masters from Baoding who developed the fast-striking Shuai Jiao style (Kuai Jiao).Chang Dsu YaoMaster: Tai ChiGrandmaster / SifuChinese grandmaster who introduced traditional Mei Hua Quan and Yang Tai Chi Chuan to Italy and Europe.Chao Sen-AnMaster: Ying Jow Pai (Eagle Claw)Grandmaster / SifuChinese Kung Fu grandmaster and leading exponent of Northern Eagle Claw (Ying Jow Pai).Chen ChangxingMaster: Tai Chi14th Generation MasterChinese 14th-generation Chen family grandmaster who famously broke tradition to teach Yang Luchan.Chen FakeMaster: Tai Chi17th Generation GrandmasterChinese 17th-generation Chen family grandmaster who introduced Chen Style Tai Chi to Beijing in 1928.Chen Pan-lingMaster: Tai ChiGrandmaster / ChairmanChinese internal martial arts grandmaster from Henan who created the syncretic 99-Posture Tai Chi Chuan form.Chen PeishanMaster: Chen Style Tai Chi20th Generation GrandmasterChinese-Japanese 20th-generation Chen family grandmaster and promoter of Small Frame (Xiao Jia) Chen Taiji.Chen QingpingMaster: Tai Chi15th Generation MasterChinese Tai Chi Chuan grandmaster who resided in Zhaobao town, teaching Zhaobao and Wu (Hao) styles.Chi Kwan-chunMaster: Hung GarMaster / ActorHong Kong Shaw Brothers actor and authentic grandmaster of traditional Southern Hung Gar Kung Fu.Chinese Wushu MastersMaster: Changquan (Traditional Long Fist)Gongfu Masters / SifuTradition and collective of Chinese masters who developed hundreds of Wushu and Kung Fu styles over millennia.Feng KeshanMaster / Rebel LeaderChinese Wushu master and Eight Trigrams rebellion leader who codified Meihuaquan (Plum Blossom Boxing).Go Gen YuenMaster: BaguazhangSifu / GrandmasterChinese internal Wushu grandmaster, student in Xingyiquan and Baguazhang lineages.Gu RuzhangMaster: Iron Palm Kung FuSifu / MasterLegendary Chinese martial artist and most famous master of the Iron Palm technique (Tie Zhang Gong).Hebei MastersMaster: Mianquan (Cotton Boxing)Mianquan MastersChinese masters from Hebei province who formulated the continuous Kung Fu style Mianquan (Cotton Fist).Jin YuntingMaster: XingyiquanSifu / MasterChinese internal Wushu grandmaster and author of a major 1928 manual on Taiji sword and Xingyiquan.Monks of Mount Emei (Emeiquan)Master: Emeiquan (Emei Mountain Kung Fu)Emei Martial MonksBuddhist and Daoist monks of sacred Mount Emei in Sichuan, creators of Emeiquan.Ng Yue Eng (Sifu)Master: Ying Jow Pai (Eagle Claw)Sifu / Eagle Claw MasterChinese Wushu grandmaster and prominent teacher of Northern Eagle Claw (Ying Jow Pai).Ningxia MastersMaster: Tongbeiquan (Through-the-Back Boxing)Tongbeiquan MastersNorthern Chinese masters from Ningxia who developed the regional Tongbeiquan branch (Zhei Tongbei).Shanxi MastersMaster: Paochuan (Cannon Boxing)Paochuan MastersChinese masters from Shanxi province who formulated the Paochuan (Cannon Fist) Kung Fu style.Shaolin MonksMaster: Shaolin QuanBuddhist Monks / WarriorsBuddhist monks of Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, founders and guardians of Shaolin Kung Fu.Tianjin MastersMaster: Tianjin Shuai JiaoShuai Jiao MastersChinese masters from Tianjin port who developed the Tianjin Shuai Jiao wrestling style.Wang Zi-PingMaster: Chaquan (Cha Family Boxing)Grandmaster / SifuChinese Hui Muslim grandmaster, famous strongman, and master of Chaquan and Shaolin Wushu.Wong Fei-hungMaster: Hung GarHung Gar Grandmaster / PhysicianFamous Chinese folk hero, traditional physician, and grandmaster of Southern Hung Gar Kung Fu.Wudang MonksMaster: WudangquanDaoist Monks & Martial ArtistsDaoist monks of the Wudang Mountains, guardians of internal Neijiaquan and Wudang Sword.Yang BanhouMaster: Tai ChiSifu / MasterChinese grandmaster, second son of Yang Luchan, famous for his explosive Yang Small Frame Tai Chi.Yang ChengfuMaster: Tai ChiGrandmaster / SifuChinese grandmaster, grandson of Yang Luchan, who standardized and popularized the large-frame Yang Style Tai Chi.Yip ChingMaster: Wing ChunSifu / MasterYounger son of grandmaster Yip Man who preserved and taught traditional Wing Chun worldwide.Yip ChunMaster: Wing ChunGrandmaster / SifuEldest son of grandmaster Yip Man and globally revered lineage guardian of Wing Chun.Yip Man (Ip Man)Master: Wing ChunGrandmaster / SifuFamous Chinese grandmaster who popularized Wing Chun in Hong Kong and was Bruce Lee's master.Yu ChenghuiMaster / ActorChinese Wushu grandmaster, actor, and restorer of the traditional two-handed straight sword (Shuangshou Jian).Yuan Haiting (Yuan Xi)Master: Chaquan (Cha Family Boxing)Grandmaster / SifuNorthern Chinese Wushu grandmaster, expert in Chaquan and agile Long Fist kicks.Zhang SongxiSifu / MasterMing Dynasty Chinese master and founder of the historic Songxi Neijiaquan branch.Zheng Manqing (Cheng Man-ch'ing)Master: Tai ChiProfessor / Master of 5 ExcellencesChinese grandmaster, student of Yang Chengfu, who created the shortened 37-Posture Yang Tai Chi form.Zhu GuofuMaster: XingyiquanSifu / Boxing ChampionChinese Xingyiquan grandmaster and pioneer who integrated Western boxing with traditional Wushu.
Chi Kwan-chunChampion (1)
Notable figure (12)
Bolo YeungActor and bodybuilderHong Kong actor and bodybuilder, an iconic action-film villain.Chin GungNotable figure: Fut Gar (Buddhist Family Boxing)Sifu / MasterSouthern Shaolin Chinese master, teacher of Jeung Yuk, and key figure in Fut Gar Kung Fu.Cynthia RothrockActress and competitive karatekaAmerican competitive karateka who became the genre's first female action star.Donnie YenActor and choreographerActor and choreographer, the first to systematically bring MMA and ground fighting into Hong Kong action.Gordon LiuNotable figure: Hung GarActor and Hung Gar practitionerHong Kong actor, student of Hung Gar master Lau Kar-leung.Huo Yuanjia (Sifu)Notable figure: Mizongyi (Lost Track Boxing)National Hero / SifuChinese national hero, master of Mizongyi, and founder of the renowned Chin Woo Athletic Association (1910).Jackie ChanActor, stuntman and choreographerHong Kong actor and stuntman who fused martial arts with acrobatics and comedy.Mark DacascosActor and martial artistAmerican actor who grew up in a family martial arts school.Sammo HungActor, director and choreographerHong Kong actor, director and choreographer, co-author of the modern action scene.Wong Shun LeungNotable figure: Wing ChunSifu / King of Talking HandsFamous Hong Kong Wing Chun master, top disciple of Yip Man, and Bruce Lee's primary sparring mentor in Beimo fights.Xu Ai'sanNotable figure: Zi Ran Men (Natural Boxing)Xu the Dwarf / SifuReclusive Chinese master (nicknamed Dwarf Xu) who created the natural style Zi Ran Men.Yuen Woo-pingChoreographer and directorHong Kong choreographer and director, the most influential creator of screen fighting.
Organisation / official (5)
Beijing Wrestling MastersOrganisation / official: Shuai JiaoShan Pu Ying MastersImperial wrestlers of Beijing who refined the Beijing Shuai Jiao style within the Shan Pu Ying camp.Chen Style MastersOrganisation / official: Tai ChiChenjiagou Lineage HoldersCollective of historical and contemporary Chen family masters from Chenjiagou village in Henan.Hebei Wushu AssociationOrganisation / official: Shuai JiaoProvincial Wushu OrganizationChinese provincial organization governing traditional and sport Wushu in Hebei province.Xingyiquan Masters (Hsing-I)Organisation / official: XingyiquanNeijia Lineage HoldersCollective of Chinese grandmasters (Ji Longfeng, Li Luoneng, Guo Yunshen) who shaped Xingyiquan.Yulin Wushu MastersOrganisation / official: Nanquan (Southern Fist)Southern Wushu MastersTraditional Wushu masters from the Yulin region in Guangxi, preserving Southern boxing forms.