Is Kung Fu A Dying Art – Pt 2

We are honored to have Sifu Lloyd Fridenburg, senior instructor at Waterloo Kung Fu Academy, and writer, as our guest blogger answering the question: is kung fu a dying art?

As always Master Tan you spark some interesting thoughts and discussion.
This is a dilemma that all traditional martial arts schools must confront. I had the privilege of being taught by Sigung Bob Schneider who founded the Waterloo Kung Fu Academy. Our Canadian lineage began with Grandmaster David Chong and his cousin Tony who studied Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu in China but switched to Okinawan Karate when they moved to Canada because there were no Kung Fu schools in their city at that time. Thus there was a blend of Karate and Kung Fu when they began teaching Kung Fu in the 1970’s. Hence the formation of the CKKA (Canadian Karate Kung Fu Association) because some schools in our lineage evolved in the direction of Okinawan Karate and others towards Kung Fu, while others show are a blend of the two where out soft flowing Kung Forms are performed in a very rigid Karate-like manner.

Sigung Schneider not only followed the Kung Fu path but was determined to develop a school that was deeply rooted in the Chinese Kung Fu traditions of dedication, perseverance, loyalty, and respect. To attain a black sash students must be determined, dedicated, and knowledgeable. Over the 23 year history of the school we have averaged only one promotion to black sash per year. About a dozen black sash instructors are still very active in the school. We have 4 second degree, two third degree, and one fourth degree (me).

Thanks to our association with Grandmaster Pan Qing Fu (Chief Senior Coach of the Chinese National Wushu team during the 1980’s and self-defense instructor to some of the elite Chinese Special Forces) who moved to Canada and lived with Sigung for a couple of years, our school actually regressed into a very traditional format. Even though he excelled in the performing art of Wushu Master Pan retained his traditional skills and taught them selectively in China and in great detail to Sigung Schneider who brought many of the traditional skills and customs into our curriculum.

After Sigung’s untimely death in 2006 the school was bought by Sifu David Moylan who was a student of WKFA from the time he was 12 years old. He gave up a promising career as a Chartered Accountant and continues to run the school in a very traditional manner. Although much of the tradition has been retained we are now less rigid and more accommodating of older students and tolerant of input from students and parents. Hence a further evolution.

I have personally evolved a unique program that is designed specifically for adults over 45. It is more informal and I restrict it to the teaching of simple practical skills. Yet another evolution.

Is traditional Kung Fu dead? It think that, with the exception of some dedicated remote pockets, the answer is yes. Modern society, even in China, will not be bound by rigid tradition. We had some students that attended a Shaolin retreat in the Wudang Mountains of China. Although the level of martial arts skills was exceptional they were appalled when the “monks” would step out for a cigarette break or answer their cell phone while teaching. Hardly traditional.

There is however a balance that will accommodate a blend of old and new while still maintaining the essence of the art. You can become a business and a belt factory or you can put the art first and seek out that balance.

Sifu Lloyd
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Tags: black belt, bob schneider, davd chong, david moylan, kung fu, lloyd fridenburg, pan qing fu, shaolin, waterloo kung fu