Bak Mei Kung Fu, or White Eyebrow Kung Fu, also spelled as Pak Mei (白眉拳), is a rare Kung Fu style which was created in southern China, specifically in the provinces of Guangdong and perhaps even Wan Nian Qing, during the Qing dynasty around 300 years ago. This 武术 uses many of the same hand shapes as Wing Chun, and in fact, some Kung Fu historians believe that this 功夫 may be one of the martial arts styles that the founders of Wing Chun used to create their style. Interestingly, some Bak Mei schools use the Wing Chun wooden dummy for freestyle practice of their own techniques.
The style is named after the legendary founder, who is said to have been a Taoist monk and one of the “Five Elders,” a group of monks who escaped the destruction of the Shaolin temple. “Bak Mei,” or “White Eyebrow,” was actually a nickname for the founder. He may have earned that name because he had white eyebrows or perhaps because he wore a white headband. According to legend, he became a traitorous figure who betrayed the other monks, who were revolutionaries against the Qing dynasty—a sensational story that adds to the rich origins and legends of the art. This tale of treachery is steeped in mystery and has even led to portrayals of Bak Mei as both revered teacher and feared opponent in martial art folklore.
Bak Mei looks quite similar to Southern Praying Mantis and Dragon style Kung Fu. All three arts are called Hakka arts, which means they were developed by travelers living in southern China at the time. Many of these are associated with Emei Mountain, where one or more temples were places where Kung Fu was trained and developed. It is believed that the founders of Bak Mei or their successors trained together with the founders of these other two arts and exchanged techniques, drawing strength and versatility from diverse sources. According to legends, one such disciple of Bak Mei later brought these techniques to Guangzhou, establishing a stronghold where the style could continue to flourish.
Bak Mei uses several stances that are generally lower than those in Wing Chun but higher than most of the stances used in other southern styles. Many actually resemble or are even identical to the familiar Karate front stance, horse stance, and cat stance. These positions aid in protecting vital areas such as the neck while allowing for quick transitions in defense and attack.
Bak Mei practitioners seldom use the regular fist, preferring to use the leopard fist or the phoenix-eye fist to concentrate power in a small area to the body’s most vulnerable points such as the throat, temple, or eyes—an effective attack strategy. Practitioners are trained to be formidable opponents, focusing on precision and speed to overcome any challenge.
Bak Mei is classified as both an internal and external system. At advanced levels, there is a great emphasis on the breath and on mental concentration to generate power, similar to techniques found in Buddhist martial practices. Pak Mei kung fu stylists learn their own special breathing techniques using the abdomen. These techniques are passed down through martial family lineages, ensuring the preservation of ancient secrets.
Bak Mei uses a chain punch quite similar to the Wing Chun chain punch, but it employs more waist rotation and incorporates the phoenix-eye punch. Unlike Wing Chun practitioners, Bak Mei stylists do not train in sticking or chi sao.
Open hand whipping strikes similar to those used in White Crane Kung Fu are also employed, along with hammer fists, finger jabs, palm strikes, and elbow strikes. Kicks are mostly targeted to the waist or below, often aiming for the knees, groin, or shin, although striking with the hands is generally preferred over kicking. This diverse arsenal makes Bak Mei a comprehensive style suited for both offensive and defensive encounters.
There are a number of empty hand forms. Each form is designed to hone the skills needed to counteract an opponent’s moves swiftly and effectively, ensuring that a well-prepared disciple can stand up against any adversary. Most are intricate, and almost all are performed with full speed and power to develop footwork, speed, and agility.The training is centered on the principles of balance and development, emphasizing the holistic form and function in every movement. This approach is deeply rooted in the 传统 (traditional) practices of Chinese martial arts. Additionally, numerous weapons sets using the pole, staff, sword, saber, butterfly knives, and the wooden bench are taught, showcasing the style’s strength and versatility in maintaining health and skill mastery. The integration of 南拳 (Nan Quan) influences further enhances the style’s profound connection to traditional southern Chinese martial arts.
Bak Mei is known for being one of the most brutal styles and has a reputation as one of the best for real combat fighting. Instead of blocking, the Bak Mei stylist will intercept the opponent’s incoming strike with an immediate counter-attacking move that will either break or damage the attacking limb or deflect it and power through. Much of the training involves practicing deadly combinations at explosive speed and conditioning the hands, forearms, shins, and body, reflecting the core principles of the art form, which are steeped in 传统 (traditional) methods.
The panther fist (also known as the leopard fist) and phoenix-eye fist are used to concentrate power into small surfaces to strike the throat, temple, eyes, and other extremely vulnerable points, aiming to cause death, serious injury, or at least stop the fight almost instantly. These weapons require a great deal of painful special conditioning to avoid breaking knuckles. Stories and demonstrations, such as those seen in Hong Kong, attest to the focus and mastery required in executing such techniques, similar to the admired elders of ancient times within the vast provinces of China, where the 南拳 (Nan Quan) tradition also finds its roots.
Although many other Kung Fu styles claim that their techniques are too dangerous to be used in the ring, for Bak Mei, this claim may very well hold true, given its formidable balance of speed and power. The incorporation of 传统 (traditional) values ensures these techniques are passed down with respect and authenticity.
Chin Na, using the tiger claw and eagle claw grips, is also trained extensively, accentuating the development and precision of these techniques. The influence of 南拳 (Nan Quan) is evident in the utilization of these claws, paying homage to its southern roots.
In Bak Mei, speed, power, and accuracy are considered to be the most important aspects, and these attributes are trained extensively, embodying the ideals of both the elders and masters of the art. Achieving this form of mastery is not just about combat, but about the health and balance of the practitioner’s mind and body, aligning perfectly with 传统 (traditional) philosophies.
For various reasons, Bak Mei was little known until recently and tended to be kept within families, passed down from father to son. In recent years, some schools have become very popular in France, and the French sifus have started posting videos and otherwise actively promoting the art to the public, sharing its rich heritage with people around the world. This spread of knowledge has contributed significantly to the development of the form in new ways, enriching its provincial roots while still honoring the 南拳 (Nan Quan) and 传统 (traditional) heritage.
Today, this style emphasizes tradition and respect. Masters are more likely to have disciples than students, and students are expected to be loyal and train very hard, honoring the strength and dedication of past masters and the elders. In this environment, the 南拳 (Nan Quan) principles continue to flourish alongside 传统 (traditional) values.
There are several lineages, each using somewhat different techniques and approaches. The schools in France come from the Fatsan branch. The Fatsan branch is thought to incorporate some techniques from Choy Li Fut, including the leopard fist and some hook punches. However, the hand movements tend to be much tighter than those in Choy Li Fut, reflecting a refined balance between tradition and innovation, akin to the 南拳 (Nan Quan) ethos.
The Fatsan branch can therefore be considered a modified version of the mainstream lineage derived from Grandmaster Cheung Lai Chuen. The other important difference between the lineages is that the Fatsan branch emphasizes the tiger and eagle claws much more, drawing inspiration from diverse origins across the provinces and their storied histories, and emphasizing the foundational principles of balance and health in martial arts development, in line with 传统 (traditional) and 南拳 (Nan Quan) teachings.
