LINEAGE

The Nam Pai Chuan tradition or style can trace its line far back to Great Grandmaster Hui Cheng of the Chek Chain Nan Hai Pooi Chee temple in China. Master Hui was a direct descendant of the southern Shaolin tradition taught by buddhist monks in the tradition of da-mo. One of Master Hui Cheng's student was Grandmaster Seh Koh San.

Cho Si Seh Koh San was a legendary figure in martial arts of the far east. The Nam Pai Chuan school and style owe its origin largely to his teachings. He is the Great Grandmaster of the Nam Pai Chuan system. He belonged to the 2nd chamber 48th generation of Shaolin and was the abbot of the Siong Lim temple in Singapore until his death in 1960 at the age of 74. The art taught by Cho-Si Seh Koh San was known as "Shaolin Kung" of "Shaolin material arts". It was also commonly referred to in the far east as "fatt kah chuen" or "buddhist fist". The school of Cho-Si Seh Koh san still flourishes today and the students taught by him belong to the 2nd chamber 49th generation of Shaolin. One of his students was Grandmaster Quek Heng Choon, 2nd chamber 49th generation.

Grandmaster Quek Heng Choon studied and trained under Cho-Si Seh Koh San until his master's death, after which he returned to Malaysia to teach. Master Quek is particularly renowned by his demonstrations of ying qigong (hard chi gung). In the sixties, he demonstrated this by breaking marble table tops on his back and with his hands causing a sensation. He represents the original 49th generation of Shaolin and his students come from Malaysia, Singapore and China. In 1971 he started his first own school Quek Heng Choon martial arts sport school. In 1977 he initiated the Kuala Lumpur Song Shan Shaolin Wushu association. Master Quek is the permanent chief instructor in this school. He still resides in Malaysia and to date, he is considered to be one of the oldest, important and most influential students of Cho-Si Seh Koh San still alive. Master Christopher Lai Khee Choong, the chief of the Shaolin System Nam Pai Chuan in Europe was a student of Grandmaster Quek.

Sifu Lai, 2nd chamber 50th generation of Shaolin has studied martial arts since 1959 and in particular Shaolin kung fu from 1967 - 1979. In those years, training was intense in the traditional manner and was undertaken on a daily basis, often twice a day. Sifu Lai also trained with Master Leow Cheng Koon, who was the chief instructor of the taekwondo federation. Master Leow Cheng Koon's brand of martial arts transcended taekwondo and had incorporated other arts he had learnt, some of which include Chinese kung fu, hap-kido and hwarang-do. Master Lai found there was much to be gained by using modern taekwondo training and teaching techniques in the teaching and unlocking of the traditions of Chinese martial arts. He helped in the formation of the Malaysian taekwondo association (WTF) in 1974 and was its first secretary-general from 1974 until his departure in 1979. In 1977, Sifu Lai decided to emigrate to the United Kingdom, where he had undertaken his legal education. Since martial arts was part of his life, he felt the need to bring his school with him. Prior to his departure, he asked Grandmaster Quek to clarify the name of the style he had been taught. Grandmaster Quek gave his permission and stated that the style of kung fu he taught was "Shaolin Nam Pai Chuan".

The first ever martial arts of this form to be taught in Europe was taught in Swiss Cottage, London. The system became a member of the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA), the national governing body for Chinese martial arts in UK. The system has grown and progressed smoothly with classes in many cities in the UK and abroad. Master Christopher Lai Khee Choong is the chief instructor of the system and Grandmaster Quek still remains the technical adviser of the system. Today, the system has finally become of age and is being taught in the sincere and dedicated manner as seen by Sifu Lai and his predecessors.

Sifu Halliwell started training with Nam Pai Chuan in 1981 at the age of 27. He was one of Master Lai’s first students in the UK and is now one of the system’s most senior instructors and advisors. In 1985 he opened his first centre for Nam Pai Chuan, which has been active ever since. He is supported by his wife Ann, who gained her first degree black belt with Nam Pai Chuan in 1990, and who herself has a wealth of experience that contributes to the standards they strive to uphold within the system. Sifu Halliwell’s daughter Kim is also a second degree black belt within the system and has been training since 1986, from the age of five. With her many years of experience she is well respected by the senior black belts of the system, and considered by Sifu Halliwell as his right hand, accompanying him when travelling to venues around the country. Kim is the next generation of the system alongside Sifu Shahrokh Na’el, and will be promoting Nam Pai Chuan in the future.

Outside of his martial arts training, Sifu Halliwell also has a varied sports background, with weight training, running and squash still a part of his routine. His experiences in these fields have helped him to become a senior athletics coach, and he is currently training two international athletes and an England junior. One of the international athletes he coaches is deaf and has just returned from the Deaf Olympics in Taipei, China where she competed in the hammer. She has already been selected to compete in Germany next year. The other athlete has competed twice this year for his country in the shot putt, and is in the frame for a Commonwealth place in India next year. Over half of Sifu Hallweill’s squad compete for various premiership clubs around the country. He also regularly meets up with senior international squads at Loughborough.

Sifu Halliwell also teaches Construction and Technology in a secondary school and has been in this role since 2003. Prior to that he worked for HM Prison Service teaching construction to the inmates. Both these jobs have been very rewarding experiences for him.

Today Sifu Halliwell continues to share his knowledge of Shaolin Kung Fu at his club in Westhoughton, and in 2009 he was awarded his sixth degree black belt from Master Lai. If you are interested in studying this classical martial art, please refer to the information and contact details provided on this website.