The Shaolin Kung Fu system of Gao Can Mun Nam-Pai-Chuan has its roots and origins in the traditional Martial Arts practiced by the Shaolin Monks of China over 1400 years ago.  Gao Can Mun means “The way of Gao Can” (Cho-Si, Seh Koh San – see page) and Nam-Pai-Chuan means “North-South Fist” – indicating the system’s spread heritage.
 
Though much of Martial Arts history could be told in the form of legends and stories of Martial Arts heroes, it is widely accepted that Shaolin Kung Fu was brought into China and Japan/Korea in the year 525AD by a travelling Buddhist monk known to the Chinese as "Da-Mo" (Bodhidharma).  He arrived at the Shaolin Temple of Sung Shan in Honan province, Northern China and organised the monks at the monastery to carry out solitary meditation, but became frustrated when the monks frequently fell asleep.  He introduced the monks to an exercise regime which was to improve their stamina and therefore their mental capabilities.  These eighteen basic exercises are deemed to be the beginnings of the Shaolin Martial Arts.  Da-Mo is credited with having taught Kung Fu to the monks in order to strengthen them for meditation and prayer.
 
It is hard to believe that war-like nations like the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans did not possess a Martial Arts skill of their own.  The truth is probably that Da-Mo consolidated these skills and had the organisational ability to propound it to his students.  Through the years, the art has grown and developed into many diverse forms and schools but regardless of the style, they could all be traced back to Da-Mo.
 
There are 5 chambers in the style of Shaolin, which are correlated to the 5 branches of Chan Buddhism.  It is believed that the 6th Forefather of Shaolin after Da-Mo (Hui Neng) took Shaolin Kung Fu South into China.  The Southern school is known as the 2nd chamber of Shaolin, which the Gao Can Mun Nam-Pai-Chaun system is predominantly derived from.
 
The Gao Can Mun Nam-Pai-Chuan tradition or style can trace its line far back to Reverend Hui Cheng of the Chek Chian Nan Hai Pooi Chee Temple in China.  Reverend Hui represented the 2nd chamber 47th generation of Shaolin and was a direct descendant of the Southern school taught by 6th Forefather Hui Neng in the tradition of Da-Mo in the Sung Shan Shaolin Temple.  One of Reverend Hui Cheng's students was Cho-Si Seh Koh San.
  

The precepts and Tenets of the Shaolin Gao Can Mun Nam-Pai-Chuan system are as follows:

1- Revere your ancestor ｜显祖扬宗

2- Respect your guide ｜尊师重道

3- Train with your mind ｜练之以恒

4- Strengthen the will ｜百折不挠

5- Centre your energy ｜意守丹田

6- Focus on reality ｜务实寻道

7- Act with earnestness ｜守教挚诚

8- Covet nothing ｜虚心得道

9- Subdue the I ｜矢志不渝

10- Behave with fortitude ｜刚毅不挠

11- Approach with innocence | 大义凛然

12- Ever hope ｜寄予希望

13- Life is death ｜生既是死

14- Death is life ｜死既是生

15- Teach the deserving ｜教之以道

16- Teach with passion ｜持之以恒

17- Learn always ｜学海无涯

18- Assume nothing ｜四大皆空