About UsKwong Sai Jook Lum Gee Tong Long Pai (Kwong Sai Province, Bamboo Forest Monastery Praying Mantis Family) is a martial art founded by Monk Sam Dot and passed down directly to Master Gin Foon Mark in an unbroken lineage. Studying within Sifu Mark’s school since the early seventies, Joe McSorley—certified teacher as well as a disciple of Gin Foon Mark Sifu—leads Philadelphia's Kwong Sai Jook Lum Branch in the traditions as taught to him by Mark Sifu.
We emphasize real time application of the techniques and the foundation behind them. Here with the Philadelphia Pai, Joe is interested in teaching what works in the real world, in real time; not the theoretical. Practicing to swim next to a pool will never yield an ability to swim—jumping into the water is necessary. Those of us who teach here have been doing it for many years and have been trained in everything from karate and akido to boxing so we are a well-rounded practical bunch when it comes to application and Jook Lum. With that said, true training in Southern Mantis of the Kwong Sai tradition is not about bashing and violence; it is about learning an art together as family. It is expected those who study with the Philadelphia Branch to be respectful and friendly, and to have a good sense of humor: you’ll need it.
Joe is most interested in transmitting the true art of kung fu and its integral relationship with Chan (Zen) and Taoism, not just the fighting. Without transforming your mind, a practitioner is no different than any other street fighter. True kung fu should be about expressing the root of existence through the art and life in general, as well as acquiring an open awareness to all nature. To grow old only with the ability to pound someone is a sad statement about your life. Also trained for many years in Zen, Joe seeks to bring his knowledge into the teaching of Jook Lum. The practitioners under Joe have been doing it for many years, trained in everything from karate and akido to boxing. The result: a well-rounded, practical bunch in application and Jook Lum. Furthermore, two of the practitioners who study with the Philadelphia Branch also studied with Sifu Louie Jak Man, a direct student and authorized instructor of the late grandmaster Lum Wing Fay. This is not a one-size-fits-all style. You will learn to fight according to your size and body characteristics. This style is not based only on physical power, but on using your opponent’s power against them in a truly effective manner therefore making it ideal for smaller people and women. It is still essential that you develop by strength and conditioning training. There is no substitute for sweat. We focus on structure, straight from the beginning. You cannot just learn a hand or two from us and apply it to another style because this is a complete system with its own logic and skills. Many people take a little from each style and tack it together and then teach a mish mash. For us it is like building an airplane from many different airplanes and this just won’t work. You must have the right structure from the beginning. We are interested in sharing this art with sincere, genuine people who would truly like to expand their awareness of life. |