Fukien Black Flag Wing Chun - Hek Ki Boen Eng Chun Kun

Fukien

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Suhu (Sifu) [master] Lin Xiang Fuk (Kenneth Salim): Born 1975, began studying the Fukien Black Flag Wing Chun (HKB Eng Chun) system in or about 1985 at 10 years old, under Sukong (Sigung) [Grand Master] Tio Tik Kwi in Indonesia. Sukong [GM] Tio was born in 1942 and began studying the system in or about 1961 at 19 years old.

Suhu Lin started assisting Sukong [GM] Tio in teaching the students in 1995 and opened his own school in 2000 in Indonesia and migrated to the United States in 2005. He opened the Shaolin Kungfu Center School in that same year.

Since Suhu Lin has been teaching in the US, through the efforts of the Ving Tsun Museum he heard about the Hung Fa Yi art. In the past, the Sujo (Sico) [Great Grand Master] spoke about Secret Society, Black Flag Division and Hung Fa Yi. Suhu Lin asked his Master by phone on multiple occasions about possible connections and/or similarities of the two systems. Sukong [GM] Tio shared recollections and discussions from the Sujo (Sico) [GGM], as follows:

In the past, the Sujo [GGM] did not explain the actual origin or the full name of the system because of the pressures and politic conditions in China and the political ban toward the teaching off Chinese arts, language and culture*[1]. Approximately after 1970 Sujo [GGM] began to reveal the full history of the system, including the name of the system, the origins, the forefathers, etc. However, the emphasis Sujo [GGM] made was always on the teaching and practice, and true understanding by experiencing it rather than the history. There is still missing and incomplete information on the specifics of the origins.

After many conversations with Sukong [GM] Tio, Suhu Lin began documenting everything available concerning the history and origins of the system.

[1] Fukien HKB Engchun (Black Flag Wing Chun) comes from a background of secret societies. Secret Society Members took a blood oath to never reveal the secrets to outsiders. That has always been the tradition. During the 1960s-80s, the Indonesian government was actively trying to prevent Chinese culture from propagating. Chinese culture was forbidden – including Chinese names for family members, the language, and arts/cultural festivals.

These were three primary reasons/causes for Fukien Black Flag Wing Chun to remain 'underground'; First, Secret society raid in China during the Qing Dynasty, followed by the banning of secret society by communist. Second, During Dutch invasion in Indonesia, their Government also banned any secret society; they saw Chinese martial arts and communities as a threat. Third, After the Indonesian Independence, the Indonesian Government also continued to ban any Chinese Culture due to the Indonesia-wide anti-Communist (PKI) propaganda campaign organized by Ex. Pres Suharto.

It was after 1970, that the Grand Master saw that the tradition of blood oaths was not necessary for the system to survive in the modern era; However, the teaching still remained underground and only within the inner circle network of the Chinese community. After 1997 (After Ex-president Suharto had fallen), the restrictions on Chinese culture were finally lifted.

Government persecution and internal restrictions from coming to the public also occurred in the HFY lineage: the communists took over China in 1949 (and secret societies were banned) and during the Cultural Revolution, traditions from the past were persecuted. These led to the HFY lineage keeping a secret profile as well.

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