David Wong - Chan Dor's Nephew  (Tuesday, January 15, 2002)

Mr. doucet:

Sometimes one focuses so much on one thing and misses everything else. I mean, while I was seeing everything in Pak Mei in you web site, I can not believe I missed the name Danny Pai. This name rings a bell. Then after a long "meditation", I remember an event that occurred over 30 years ago. I think you will get a kick out of this:

It was sometime in the early 70's. Aaron Bank was putting up a show in New York's Madison Square Garden called "The Oriental World of Self-Defense" (or something close to that. After all, it was 30 years ago). That was one of the earliest "shows" Aaron Bank conducted. I was part of an Iaido group to do an exhibition there. My Iaido teacher (and most of the martial artists at that time) was not aware of how this show would turn out but happy to be part of it, as it showed the world what the Oriental Self-defenses are all about (or better yet, what they look like). So, before our turn, we got to watch the others perform.

Then, after I saw all these "masters" flying over 15 chairs to break one board with a flying side kick, etc., I began to felt really disappointed and just about to leave my spot and go back stage to see if I can find a place to lay down and take a nap. I heard the MC call out someone called Daniel Pai to perform. I turned around and saw this big Hawaiian/Philippino/Asian looking person get on the ring (yes, it was a boxing ring, that much I remembered). He wore a dark blue with white dots outfit not like any of the karate or gung fu uniforms.

I told myself: Oh no, here is another freak! But he changed my view after I saw his performance. He showed no Kata, form or whatever. He was alone on stage. He brought a few boards to break. I was about to turn away thinking this is another of those board breaking shows. Then, he held 3 board with his left hand using only his fingers (much like a waiter would hold the tray for your drinks). then he broke the boards with his right wrist without even lifting his right arm. I was stunned. Then he did a few more breaks using his finger tips, wrist, etc. All in close distance, without Kia, raising of the arms, or anything dramatic. In fact, he was explaining how he will break the boards and breaking them at the same time. I was so impressed that I don't remember the details of the rest of the breaks. Then, Mr. Pai bowed and stepped out of the ring and disappeared back stage.

The next thing I remember was our group was on stage (in the ring) going through our performance, but all that time I was still thinking about the way Mr. Pai broke those boards. He broke those boards like I break toothpicks. He did it with such ease and grace that made the other "black-belt Masters" looks like they are trying too hard. Afterwards, our Iaido group went out to eat and all we talked about was Mr. Pai's breaking. Nobody remembered any person in that exhibition coming close to Mr. Pai.

This is one of those good memories that one gets when seeing a great master perform, or a great movie, a master piece of work from an artist, that make you say: "Ah...that IS wonderful..." or..."That's how it SHOULD be done". If you are in that art, this memory would make you push yourself even harder when you are about to give up on you effort.

I will always remember Mr Pai's breaking on that day.

David Wong

Tom Campbell (Thursday, March 14, 2002)

I'm not sure if this will be read by Mr. Doucet or someone else, so I'll just open by saying "hello." In the course of researching "southern" Chinese martial arts, particularly those associated with the Hakka people, I came across your excellent and informative website today. I enjoyed the articles and interviews tremendously . . .  plain-spoken, humorous, to the point. Except for the "humorous" part, they were just like your martial art of Pak Mei.  Thanks for putting it all together.

I've been looking to begin in-depth study and practice of a serious martial art for some time. I'd thought that the relatively closed and conservative transmission of the Hakka and other southern Chinese arts would have avoided the dilution and misinformation that plague taijiquan, baguazhang, wing chun and even xingyiquan . . . but I've found the same problems affecting even the Hakka arts. I didn't think there was enough Pak Mei "out there" in the marketplace yet to have suffered this fate . . . at least, I didn't think so, until I read the articles and observations about Pak Mei in the U.S.

If it weren't serious (to me), the situation would seem like a mildly funny cartoon (Gweilo looking for the real thing).

Anyways, I just wanted to commend you for "keeping it real"  and keeping your martial art alive with integrity. I wish you the best of success in passing on the principles and heritage of Pak Mei...  to young master Danny and other students.

Peter Ngai (Monday, March 18, 2002)

Ask all your sifu if they known or heard of my sifu Chan Dor in New York, I've been learning from him for many years, the sudden explosive power from the pakmei he demonstrated to as nobody will believed, you have to see in your eyes to believe. He is the only one of the few true disciples that learned all the pakmei forms from the great grand master. To the best of my knowledge and history of pakmei. the late great grand master  only past the secret sets of pakmei to his sons and my sifu; maybe few others?  I can tell you that he is the only one true 5th generation pak mei sifu in USA and got the true pakmei striking power.

Bruce LeBlanc (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)

Peter Ngai (Wednesday, March 20, 2002)

The reason I decided to chat with you is your website seems to be consistent about Pak Mei with similar opinions.

[ OMITTED PERSONAL DISCUSSION ]

I hope this will summarize our discussions on Pak Mei and best wishes to both of you.  Bin-Lum is the current Grandmaster of Pak Mei, he has the knowledge, history and authority to rule out those phony claims.  Otherwise Pak Mei is a dying art, a new generation.

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