Martial arts experts in Manila to celebrate club’s 80th year

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos’ fascination for martial arts comes alive as more than 200 martial arts experts across the globe converge in Manila on Nov. 24 to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the Kong Han Athletic Club, the country’s premier martial arts school.

Abbot Chang Ding of Quanzhou City’s Shaolin Temple, and some 30 monks and members of the International South Shaolin Wuzuquan Federation, will lead participants on the occasion.

Delegates from Canada, Norway, Australia, England, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and Taiwan have confirmed their participation in the event.

A kung fu exhibition, featuring different fighting methods and skills of martial arts practitioners, will highlight the celebration, which also seeks to commemorate the devotion and passion of the club’s founding father in preserving the legacy of the ancient Chinese martial art.

“We hope to improve the level of awareness of Filipinos, especially the youth, on the importance of preserving the old and traditional Chinese kung fu in the development of self-confidence, responsibility and character-building,” said incoming club president Eric Go Kaw.

Kong Han Athletic Club is the only surviving school in the country providing training on the traditional Chinese martial art known as the “Five Ancestor Fist,” which originated from the Ming and early Ching dynasties.

According to Master Henry Lo, the school has trained about 10,000 students since it started operation in 1937. At present, the school has about 500 members.

Among the school’s successful graduates are Jimmy Tang of Avesco Marketing; Henry Lim of Sterling Paper and Vicente Yu of Sterling Steel Inc.

Lo said the school’s most senior member is 80 years old while the youngest is 13.