History
Around 540 A.D., a highly reputed Indian monk named Bodhidharma (Dalma in Chinese) traveled to a Buddhist temple in Northern China. The temple was called "Young Forrest" (Shaolin in Mandarin, Sil Lum in Cantonese, So Rim in Korean). At that time the monks were mentally superior, but physically weak. Dalma observed this and taught the monks a unique blend of exercises that marked the origin of So Rim Kung Fu. Soon after, other monks developed different systems of Kung Fu based off of careful observations of the tactics and movements of animals, birds, and insects.
Approximately 400 years ago, a disciple of So Rim named Wong Long (Dang Rang in Korean) developed the Praying Mantis style of Kung Fu. His code of attack and defense was based on the tactics of the insect. Oral tradition dictates that Wong Long entered an annual contest in which many highly trained and skilled practitioners of Kung Fu took part. Invincible in his style of self-defense, he fought and defeated some two–hundred Kung Fu martial artists who challenged him to a duel. He later went into seclusion to further systematize his martial art.
The details are recorded in the book of divination called Suk Yang Pi Kup from which the style was handed down through many generations.
Today, Wong Long's original style has developed into many separate and distinct systems. The So Rim Dang Rang Kwan teaches a unique system of Praying Mantis Kung Fu with a strong Korean Influence. It blends traditional Praying Mantis Kung Fu with Shaolin Long Fist to create a unique style. The art was brought to America by Grandmaster Chul Woo Jung, a master of Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do and Hap Ki Do. While a prominent member of the Moo Duk Kwan in Korea, Grandmaster Jung learned Kung Fu from Lin Poon Zhong, a 9th generation master of the Plum Flower Praying Mantis system who immigrated from China to Korea in the 1940's.
Grandmaster Jung retired from the martial arts in 2004 and granted master Kevin Lees Presidency of his association. Under Master Lees' supervision, Sun Bai Nim's Erik Brechun and Marek Chromik maintain instruction in Denver, Colorado & Newport, Rhode Island.
