SIFU SHUM'S TRAINING

Sifu Shum started studying martial arts at the age of eight with Ng Wai Nung, his godfather, who had a small school in Kowloon and who trained his godson in both kung fu and tai chit Sifu Shum practiced with his godfather until he was sixteen. When Ng Wai Nung was asked to teach Eagle Claw in Singapore for three years, Situ Shum and his training brother, Shum Man Lock, were put in charge of the school until his return. When Ng Wai Nung returned from Singapore, Shum Man Lock went to Canton. Sifu Shum then helped his teacher until leaving for the United States in 1971.

When Sifu Shum came to this country he knew no one. He worked in a restaurant in Chinatown, little by little widening his circle of friends and teaching privately. In 1972 Master Wai Hong of the Tiger Claw system organized a tournament and invited Sifu Shum to perform and act as a judge. Don Larkin, Sifu Shum's first American student, was in the audience. He was so impressed with Sifu Shum that he sought him out and asked Sifu Shum to teach him. He took private lessons from Sifu Shum for about one year, then in March 1974, helped Sifu Shum open the first Eagle Claw school in America on 28th Street In New York City. It was the beginning of the school's twenty years.