Official Site For Kyin Kung Fu

A modern martial art for today’s world. Borrowing from the past to expand techniques to fit today’s environment.

Welcome to the official site for Kyin Kung Fu. Here you can find information about where to train, certified teachers of the art and a little more about the style.

This style of fighting is not solely reliant on strength, weight, or muscle power but rather the knowledge of practiced techniques, principles and mental attitude. The physical art focuses on kicking, punching, leverage, timing, distance, footwork and angles. The knowledge center of the art is based on the basic reactionary principles of vital targets on the human body.

We work on techniques that are basic, but strong. Principles that are basic but strong. Not complicating the techniques and principles of fighting. The ultimate goal is to train the body to perform the techniques so that they become second nature. The result is an aggressive, dangerous and smart fighter.

The ultimate physical goal is for the student of Kyin Kung Fu to learn the techniques and then be able to adapt the techniques to suit their personal body type based on the core principles of the art.

The ultimate mental goal is for the student to carry an unshakable confidence. This does not mean we do not get scared. To be scared is natural, but to have a self confidence in yourself that is strong and unwavering.

To strive to be the best you can possibly be. As a martial artist we must strive to be the best we are capable in all areas. If there is a way for us to improve then we should pursue that way. Keep an open mind and always be the white belt.

About The Martial Art Of Kyin Kung Fu

A modern martial art for today’s world. Borrowing from the past to expand techniques to fit today’s environment.

Kyin Kung Fu is an off shoot of the martial art of Kung Fu San Soo. We are proud to trace our lineage to this ancient martial art. The art of Kyin shares many common techniques with San Soo. At the same time it has some differences.

Since the art has been changed and modifications made the name was changed to Kyin Kung Fu. This was done to be respectful to the Masters who teach and practice the traditional art of San Soo. We do not want to misrepresent what is being taught and since the techniques and principles have been altered it made sense to change the name.

The creator of Kyin Kung Fu, Steven Gregoire borrowed the name Kyin from the Monastery from which San Soo originated: The Kwan Yin Monastery.

In ancient Chinese monasteries’ many martial styles would have come into contact with the monks, adding to the monks way of training and martial techniques. Today we carry on that tradition with Kyin Kung Fu.

Lineage

Our lineage dates back to Quan Yin Monastary in Southern China. Where an art was developed called the The 5 Family Fist. Also known as Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung.

In China, many centuries ago, there were three original families that contributed information from their fighting systems in order to create this style. They built a monastery 800 years ago in Guangdong province called Quan Yin and developed a combined fighting system. These families are Tsoi, Li, and Ho. Fut was the philosophical base. The Hung family was added later in order to increase power, physical conditioning and dynamics.

The 5 Family Fist is commonly practiced in the Taishan region of the Guangdong province. It is traditionally taught in China with classical forms and isometric exercises in its training regimen. Chin Siu Dek (Jimmy H. Woo), the man responsible for bringing this fighting art to America, did not believe in the animal styles that was taught along with it and so only taught the 5 family styles. The name “San Soo” itself was chosen by Woo to simplify the pronunciation and meaning for American students, rather than using the complete names of the 5 families – Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung.

Chin Siu Dek Entered the United States under the Chinese Exclusion Act, and leaving China on the eve of the Japanese Occupation, Chin Siu Dek took the name, “Jimmy H Woo”. Most believe he was born somewhere around 1905–10. He died in Southern California on February 14, 1991, and is the man responsible for bringing the Five Family Style of Tsoi Li Ho Fut Hung to America after learning from his Great-Uncle, Chan Siu Hung, at the Hung Sing Goon school in Taishan, Guangdong Province, China.

The Lineage of the 5 Family Fist started in the Qwan Yin Monastery and descended down the following path:

Leoung Kick (Monk at the monastary and Jimmy’s Great-Great-Great Grandfather)

Chin Moon Don (Jimmy’s Great-Great Grandfather)

Chin Siu Don (Jimmy’s Great Grandfather)

Chin Siu Hung (Jimmy’s Great Uncle)

Jimmy H. Woo (Chin Siu Dek)

Bill Lasiter (First American Grandmaster)

Steven Gregoire (2nd Generation Master)

Steven Gregoire began his training in 1985 under Master Dave Gonsalves and then continued his training under Grandmaster Bill Lasiter and earned his 8th Degree and Masters Rank in 1999. Then going on to train in other martial art styles over the next 18 years and founding 3 martial art studios in Southern California.