There’s something sacred about a tradition that has stood the test of time. Not just because of its longevity, but because someone, somewhere, made the decision to keep it alive.
This is the story of how one of the oldest, most authentic systems of traditional Kung Fu and ancient knowledge made its way across oceans and into the lives of students here in Australia. It’s a story of lineage, loyalty, and deep responsibility. And it begins in the heart of the Chinese martial world.
The journey to find what was nearly lost
Long before our school existed, a journey began. A path led through Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Singapore, and Penang, in search of something deeper than commercial martial arts.
What was found was authentic Kung Fu, brutal in its honesty, precise in its methods. The masters of these arts protected their systems like sacred texts. Their art is rooted in centuries of lived experience. That knowledge could have died with them, but they chose to pass it on.
And today, in our Academy, we chose to carry it forward.
Planting tradition in new ground
In 1977, a young George Michielsen stepped into a modest Gwoon in Perth, intending to train for three months. But something deeper took hold. Six years later, he had represented Australia in world tournaments, claimed a national title fight, and immersed himself in the intense, disciplined training of Masters Vince and Dave Lacey, direct inheritors of the Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut lineage.
A defining moment came in 1982, during a month-long stay in Hong Kong. There, George trained under Grandmaster Kong Hing — a master known not only for his skill, but for the raw, uncompromising spirit of his art. That experience didn’t just sharpen George’s technique. It ignited a lifelong commitment.
In 1995, that commitment took root in Balcatta, Western Australia, when the first full-time traditional Kung Fu Academy opened its doors. The suburb was still part farmland, but the vision was clear: to create a space where authentic Kung Fu could live, breathe, and be passed on the right way. Three years later, the Academy expanded to O’Connor. Today, both branches operate under the name Chinese Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy — a name that reflects the depth and diversity of the arts we preserve.
For nearly three decades, these halls have been more than training grounds, they’ve become sanctuaries. Places where students reconnect with their bodies, sharpen their minds, and step into a lineage far older than themselves. A place where transformation isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.
A lineage that lives on
What we teach at our Academy is a direct transmission from master to student:
- The long-range, explosive mechanics of Buk Sing Choy Lay Fut
- The breath-led tendon training of the Shaolin monks through Lohan Qigong
- The grounded spirals and hidden force of Chen Tai Chi
- The rare internal alchemy of Sinew Qigong (Yi Jin Jing)
These systems were designed to rebuild warriors from the inside out. And they still work today.
Each art we teach has survived because someone made the effort to preserve them. Not just in memory, but in method.
That’s what lineage means to us. It’s a living connection, bound by trust, service, and unbroken tradition.
Ancient knowledge for modern times
In a world of shortcuts and convenience over depth, there’s something radical about doing things properly. About slowing down. About staying in the form until it lives in your bones.
In traditional Kung Fu, there is no rushing through the motions. Every stance, every transition, and every breath is purposeful. The rewards may not be instant, but they are lasting.
This is the wisdom that underpins our training. That energy flows through structure, not chaos. That discipline isn’t a constraint, but a container for power.
From hidden temples to homes worldwide
What was once taught behind temple doors is now available to students everywhere. Through our online Kung Fu programs, students can now learn from the same curriculum passed down through the masters and taught in our Perth schools — no shortcuts, no dilution.
We teach to honour the journey that carried these art forms here.
From master to disciple.
From the past to the present.
From Shaolin to Perth.
Our students don’t just gain technique, they inherit something sacred – a living, breathing legacy.
Want to know more?
If you’re seeking real skill, real depth, and a path that challenges and transforms you, we welcome you to join us.
🔥 Train in traditional Kung Fu, at your owb pace Reclaim something real.
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