Lau Kune Do Temple of Martial Arts

2015 marks the 40-​year anniversary of the founding of the art of Lau Kune Do, by Sifu Richard Tsim, when he was just a college student at the University of Massachusetts back in 1975. I began studying with Sifu in 1982, right after he opened the first official Lau Kune Do Temple of Martial Arts in Southern California, in a storefront on 4^th Street in Long Beach. I was in my twenties, attending CSULB, and lived in an apartment nearby. I had become intrigued with the new martial arts place around the corner, so one day I popped in to check it out. Sifu and I discovered we had both grown up in Massachusetts, so felt a kinship from the start. I studied both Tai Chi and Kung Fu for about three years, with Sifu as the sole instructor, earning a yellow sash in Kung Fu, which was a very challenging and gratifying accomplishment for me. I was continually awed by Sifu’s skill and discipline, and impressed with his genuine passion for helping his students achieve peace, health and harmony in their lives. Even though I wandered off in the mid-​eighties, I stopped in to see Sifu a few times over the next few years, and was always welcomed like an old friend.
In 2007, at age 52, and after recovering from hip replacement surgery, I asked my husband and daughters if I should study martial arts again with Sifu. It had been at least fifteen years since I had seen or spoken with him, and they asked if he would remember me. «Sifu never forgets a student,» I told them. He welcomed me back to the temple as if I had never left, and six years ago I was given the honor of becoming an assistant instructor.
The longevity of Lau Kune Do is almost unprecedented, and speaks to the dedication Sifu brings to his students. His wish is to impart to others a better way of life, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and help people achieve balance, good health and peace in their lives. Sifu believes health is our most precious possession, and he dedicates a lot of time to students with health issues, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and even cancer, to name a few. Many have improved greatly when they have applied themselves to the art. Some students have even been able to eliminate prescription medications after diligent daily practice of Qi Gong and the Tai Chi movements. Since I have been with the temple this time around, it has been my experience that Sifu bends over backwards to make himself available to his students. Sunday used to be his only day off from the Temple to spend with his family, but he has recently been coming in on Sunday mornings, as that is the only day one of his students can meet for his private lesson, and Sifu wants to see this student progress. He doesn’t make any more money doing this. He does it out of his passion for seeing his students succeed.
There are hundreds of martial arts schools all over southern California, and in my experience not one comes close to the authenticity of the Lau Kune Do Temple. And certainly no other school that I know of has come remotely close to enduring as long as Lau Kune Do. I can’t tell you how many martial arts schools I have heard about over the years that churn out belts like they are going out of style. Since there is a fee for testing, it is my opinion that these schools promote students up the «belt ladder» quickly, whether they are ready or not, simply to generate more revenue. Not so with Lau Kune Do. It takes a tremendous amount of diligence, skill, time and dedicated practice before testing for each new level in both the Kung Fu and the Tai Chi. It often takes years between levels. You really have to apply yourself and know your stuff. Whenever people ask me about my studies at the temple, I always say, «Lau Kune Do is the real deal.»
Although there are capable student instructors at the temple, Sifu still oversees and teaches many of the classes. And he makes sure to have a personal connection with each student. I have to say, I feel genuinely cared about by Sifu, as a student and a friend. He never pushes any agenda, but his wisdoms gently reach out and guide you along your path.
Sifu is particular about whom he allows to join the temple, too, and my fellow students at Lau Kune Do are some of the finest folks I have ever known, as well as some of the most amazing martial artists. Many have been with Sifu for ten, fifteen and twenty years, or more. Branch temples now span across the U.S., the U.K., Canada and New Zealand, and beyond. Sifu also plans to break ground for the big Temple Retreat Center and University in Northern California in 2016.
What a testament to Sifu Richard Tsim’s gentle and enduring ability to inspire. He has accomplished much in 40 years, and will continue for many more. Even after we are all gone, Sifu’s Lau Kune Do legacy will live on and continue to inspire those who seek lives of good health, spiritual balance and integrity.

Lau Kune Do is a place where you could get a taste of what Martial Arts is really about. The temple is rich in Chinese culture, as soon as you walk in you feel inspired to study the art. It is not just a great self-​defense technique to learn but you also get a work out doing it. Lau Kune Do also offer Tai-​Chi which is a less intense work out but a great work out for balance, stress relief, and flexibility in my opinion its perfect for someone that needs to distress. Sifu Richard Tsim not only cares about teaching the art but about teaching principles to live off of, the best thing about Martial Arts is the discipline that helps excel you in other aspects of your life. Sifu Richard Tsim is a very wise man and has a background in philosophy, he truly wants to help people. This is a Martial Arts Temple that I would highly recommend to anyone.
I have been with the temple over 2 and a half years now, I want to do a follow up review over the past years. Statistically that is significant considering majority of the people that train or have trained in Martial Arts have or will drop out of the training within the 1^st year. Sadly to say
I would have been in the majority if it was not for Sifu Richard Tsim and his teachings. After being with the temple for over 2 years I could say with confidence that I feel the difference; I am more disciplined, confident and I truly believe I could defend myself. The temple does not just offer self-​defense, physical conditioning and martial arts but it also teaches everyday life philosophies such as focus and patience. Learning the system has led me to a physical state of health and understanding I have never had. I am a licensed physical personal trainer and I manage health clubs. I believe I have a good physique but training in the temple is different than traditional exercise routines. It is a total over-​all conditioning for your soul and body.
I am going into the 3^rd year of Lau Kune Do with a new found passion and respect for myself. It saddens me that when I read Mr. John Barcarro’s review, in fact my experience with Sifu has shown the exact opposite of what was stated in his review. Money is not the main concern as far as my training goes from what I have experienced at Lau Kune Do. Master Tsim is a very successful person, money is not his motivation; he has money and he is more than generous with his knowledge and time. I truly believe that Sifu really wants to make a difference and impact people for the better. That is why he spends so much time with his students, being a student teacher of his is a privelage and the pay has nothing to do with the training, he always gives a lot more than he receives and walks that extra mile for us. His teachings and philosophy goes with the old saying that you are not a true rich man or woman until you have something that money cannot buy.
From my understanding Mr. Baccaro was only with Lau Kune Do for a short time (one and half years) and that was back in 2002. According to some of the higher level students, during that time he always looked confused and when he finally left the temple all the students didn’t know whether he quit or let go but they did realize that the bad energy Mr. Baccaro brought with him was gone. Mr. Baccarro. certainly tries to portray himself as an expert in Chinese martial arts lineage, (considering he has never stepped foot on Chinese soil and probably has no background in Martial Arts training). His comments on Sifu’s martial arts training is a complete irresponsible fallacy. Master Tsim’s skill and technique speaks for itself; success (40 years experience, 25 locations across the country and 6 internationally) is good enough for me not to mention Sifu has trained high officials in law enforcement and professional athletes (some of his past students you will probably recognize). John B. seems to be spending a lot of time trying to persuade people to leave the temple Mr. Bacarro it won’t work. Just like my fellow students say, «slashing other peoples tires it won’t make your car look any better»! I know that Master Tsim probably would not agree with what I am doing and why «kick a dead dog» but I cannot stand to sit here and read his sarcastic, stupid and disrespectful remarks. I respect my Sifu and look up to him very highly and I just had to get this post out of my system. What you did Mr. Barcarro was not only offensive to me but to thousands of other Lau Kune Do students and followers who all have high respect for our art, temple and Sifu.
With that being said coming into the New Year of 2016 lets all be positive, I am excited about going into my 3^rd year with the temple. I am blessed and fortunate to be taught by a true Kung Fu Master right here in Long Beach.

A word home refers to a place of one’s consciousness and a state of vibration that is literally transferred into reality for those Beings who reside in that space and time.
It is the highest of places in consciousness for those individual Being to journey to move to the place of safety and security. It is the situation that supports the learning that one must master on the path to the Light.
And, I have found it at/​in Lau Kune Do.
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This is a great place to study a very rich array of Chinese martial arts that all come together under the Lau Kune Do umbrella: hard and soft, linear and circular, martial and holistic. These forms have been synthesized together by Sifu Richard Tsim, a 1^st generation Chinese American teacher who has studied martial arts since he was very young. On the kung fu side, it’s a mix of Hung Gar, Wing Chun and northern Shaolin styles. The Tai Chi is most similar to Wu style, and leads into circular Ba Gua forms. Tai Chi classes also include Qi Gong exercises.
The facilities include an indoor and outdoor workout area which are inspiring both to look at and to practice in.
Classes are held seven days a week, mornings every day and evenings on weekdays. Students can choose to attend just kung fu or just tai chi classes, but most students do a blend of both.
Most of the students here are adults, but there is also now a Youth class for tweens and teens. Very young children would probably not work out well, but a focused 9 – 15 year old would be right at home. The instructors for that section are especially patient and knowledgeable as martial arts instructors go. You couldn’t ask for a better scenario for a young learner.

I have been training with Sifu Tsim for nine years. I originally found the temple when I was having sciatic nerve problems due to a life time of computer use and spending too much time being sedentary. My original intention was to practice tai chi to gain some flexibility and pain relief. What started as a simple quest to become more active turned into a life changing event.
Sifu Tsim does not accept anyone who wants to train. There is an interview process and he expects new students to commit to a year worth of training. That makes for a considerable up front expense, but it serves an excellent way to cull the wheat from the chaff… to separate those who are serious about wanting to train, from the rest.
Lest anyone accuse Sifu of being greedy, it has been my personal experience that he is just the opposite. After training for close to two years, I came upon hard times with my job. I looked around at my expenses and decided that I would have to stop training because I could not afford it. When I explained that to Sifu Tsim, he looked at me and said, «David, I accepted you as my student. You will continue to come here and train as often as you can. Do not worry about the money.» After a few months work picked up, I got a raise and I was able to afford to pay for my training again. Sifu never asked for «back payment» or anything along those lines.
The purpose of the art is to help people be better human beings. Sifu Tsim and the rest of the instructors are focused on becoming the best martial arts they can be, and helping others who want to walk the same path. Being a martial artist is more than training a few times a week. It is a way of life for those who wish it to be, and Lau Kune Do is a complete art in that regards. It encompasses both the soft internal and hard external arts. Beyond that, it has a solid philosophical underpinning.
The art is extremely practical. Every single exercise and motion is results oriented and has a direct self defense application. One of Sifu’s philosophies is «simplicity» and he realized that in order to make the art he was taught accessible to the Western culture, he needed to make it relevant and simple. He could not train Westerners in the old school traditions. Because of that, the art is being continually refined and simplified.
I could go on for hours about all of the wisdom and positive affects the art has had on my life over the last decade. To condense it, for me, it all comes down to this…
Sifu Tsim cares about his students. He uses his art as a tool to help people be better people. Anyone who studies the art diligently, with dedication and perseverance will be able to defend themselves after the first 6 to 12 months of training.
The art itself is infinitely deep, limited only by the dedication of the student. I’ve been there for close to a decade, and I am one of the younger students. There are students who have been with Sifu for twice as long as I have, and we’re all still learning.

The Lau Kune Do Temple was started 36 years ago by Master Richard Tsim who still continues to teach here in Long Beach. Sifu Tsim is an awesome teacher and also a very compassionate human being. I was out of work for a year and a half recently and rather than stop my training Sifu let me continue in good faith.
The cost is reasonable compared to the quality of training and classes are held every day morning and evening with the majority of the morning Tai Chi classes taught by Sifu himself. Sifu Tsim also teaches Kung Fu on Mondays and Saturdays for two hours each class.
There are numerous other branches of Lau Kune Do all over the world who all started right here. This year new temples in Munich, Germany; Sidney, Australia; and the island of Guam are scheduled to open. Over half of the student population have been with the main temple for more than ten years. I’ve been a student of Sifu Tsim’s for a long time and I can honestly say that it’s the best martial arts training I’ve ever had. Very practical against real world situations.
The first time I ever stepped foot through the front gates I could immediately feel the positive energy that flows from this place. Keep in mind though, that it is a closed door temple so your admission is not automatic. You need to go through an interview and be accepted. If you’re serious about becoming a great martial artist then Lau Kune Do is the place to be. I’ve learned so much about myself while training here and met so many good friends and mentors along the way.
In response to John B or John Baccarro, I can’t believe what I’m reading! It’s obvious you are still jealous and bitter. I can’t believe that after eight years you cannot seem to let go of your hatred. Why are you so upset that you had to pay for a service? You’re just like all those people who want something for nothing. You have this victim mentality and probably feel like the whole world is responsible for your financial shortcomings. I can tell you from close interaction with Sifu that he’s a very successful person and that he doesn’t need to teach for money; he teaches Kung Fu because it is his passion and it’s what he loves to do. I can also tell you that Master Tsim does not have a computer in his office and probably has no idea about all your slanderous remarks, or my response to you. If he did he would probably tell me that it’s not worth wasting my time with you and that I should be focusing my energy on something more constructive, but I cannot sit quietly while someone speaks ill of my teacher, my mentor and my good friend. Your sarcastic remarks and negative reviews are not going to hurt Sifu but they are upsetting the people who look up to him and respect him as a great teacher. Remember, throwing rocks at your neighbors house won’t make your house look any better. You need to get on with your life. I’m glad you’re no longer with the temple because we don’t need your negative energy.

In response to John B. I am a disciple of Lau Kune Do Kung Fu and Tai Chi and have been training with Master Tsim for almost two decades. It sounds like you had a good experience. I would like to clarify a few things. It sounds like you got a great deal for $ 1,200 a year. I have seen some schools charging quarterly outrageous prices like 20 thousand dollars a year. Watch The documentary Needle Through Brick. You will see one of the reasons the arts where dying, besides the cultural revolution is because people have this idea that Kung Fu Teachers have this Daoist obligation to to teach for peanuts out of the goodness of their heart. As Master Tsim says «The art is Free… you are just paying me for my time». Did you really think you would learn 10 plus weapons, a handful of sets, empty hand forms, qigong exercises, 8 separate palm forms, etc… in one hour classes.
Secondly in regards to this exaggerated misunderstanding about the lineage… Two names were reversed by accident in the printing of a paper written by a student. Not by Master Tsim, and it was fixed after it was noticed. Everybody knows there’s not even a computer in the office. Wong Fei Hung was Lum Sai Wing’s Teacher. WFH had married many wife’s in his life, some much younger than him. Many years after he died one of his widowed wife’s was friends with Sifu Tsim’s mother «Mai Wong» (no relation). It was her that suggested that he go to the Wong Fei Hung (lineage) school of Hung Gar (Southern Shaolin) in which it was passed on from Wong Fei Hung To Lum Sai Wing To Lum Cho to Chan Hon Chung To Master Tsim, and just for the record Chan Hon Chung was very famous in his own right. Master Tsim is not claiming to be taught by Lum Sai Wing, He was not claiming anything at all except to be in that same lineage. Furthermore, since 1992 when I started training under him, I have heard countless stories about Sifu’s recollections of his training under Leung Sheung, Chan Hon Chung and Jiang Young Chiao (founder of Jiang style Baguazhang), But moreover HIS DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF WING CHUN, HUNG GAR, TAI CHI and BAGUA are unmistakable. At some point this all gets silly. I wasn’t there In China and I can’t even prove that I took Judo When I was a kid… So to finish, There are no mysteries and there never was about Sifu’s training background. The only mystery is why it took 7 years of dwelling for you to comment.

NOT to destroy the past… BUT to protect the future!
I left LKD TMA about 7 years ago after spending nearly 2 years almost gaining red sash level. I also attained my first level for Tai Chi. Reflecting back on my experiences now I can truly say that Mr. Tsim is a great businessman.
I enjoyed the excellent training, thoughtful students, and dedicated instructors at this school. I believe that there is an excellent training curriculum available at this school that blends Wing Chun, Hung Gar, Northern Shaolin, Ba Gua Zhang, and Tai Chi styles. Weapons forms are also taught to the students.
When I was a student there at LKDTMA, I paid $ 1200 a year for tuition. I paid this fee in one lump sum which entitled me to attend unlimited Kung Fu and Tai Chi classes. I also received a series of private lessons with Mr. Tsim included with this fee.
I also had the option of paying a monthly fee of $ 100. However, this would allow me to attend either unlimited Kung Fu classes OR Tai Chi classes… but not both.
All future prospective students should also know prior to becoming a deeply dedicated member of this school a few facts, however.
Advancement to higher levels beyond the beginner phase required more advanced training obtained solely through private instruction. These private sessions with Mr. Tsim himself cost additional money. During my time with this school, many fine and talented individuals eventually decided to leave because they could not afford the private lessons. After my «complimentary» lessons (included with the $ 1200 tuition) had been exhausted, further private lessons cost me an additional $ 1000 /​year. These were ½ hour sessions about once every week. Testing to more advanced levels also has a fee depending on which «sash» or level is considered. I remember $ 50 to $ 100 for every test. However, test fees are standard for most martial arts schools.
Classes are taught mostly by advanced students. Once in awhile, a regular class will be taught by Mr. Tsim directly. But, most of his direct instruction is through the private lessons. Being said, there is no monetary compensation (either through direct payment or reduction of tuition /​lesson costs) to the student instructors. I do agree though that there is benefit gained by the instructors in teaching and helping others to acquire martial arts skills. Nonetheless, the student teachers pay the full tuition costs just like all of the other students at this school.
Additionally, there was always a mystery surrounding the experience of Mr. Tsim. Well known martial arts instructors such as Lam Sai Wing (Hung Gar) and Leung Sheung (WC) supposedly instructed Mr. Tsim directly. However, Lam Sai Wing died in the 1940s. Coordinating Mr. Tsim’s age and experiences with the time periods that his famed instructors lived raises questions to the authenticity of his training lineage. Yet, you now can read the sparkling reviews from his own past instructors, colleagues, and students on the LKD website. Maybe the lineage questions and confusion finally got cleared up.
And then the fundraisers… I never could figure out what they were for. Helping offset tuition for members making a modest living? I hope so for this would be proper. Or maybe temple improvements and enhancements? Yet, I remember sanding the wooden floors along with my fellow students most of whom had also participated in the fundraisers. Mystery… Absolute Mystery.
If you have found solace and solemnity training here, please stay… at least until you yourself have discovered what the true price of your training costs. Especially if you are the type to not mind always picking up the dinner check.
There are many excellent martial arts schools out there that can afford you fine training and a strong sense of community. You will also not have to sacrifice monetary resources above and beyond what is reasonably appropriate. Do your research thoroughly and consult many references before making any decisions.

I am a 55-​year-​old man, disabled with my back and very set in my ways. Cardiac problems from a life-​long inability to face and manage stress have plagued me for the past 4 years. After ignoring much advice to check out yoga or tai chi, I finally walked myself down the block to the Lau Kune Do Temple on Broadway in Long Beach.
Just two weeks later, the calming and meditational influence of Sifu Richard Tsim, and the support and examples of his many students has already begun to have a positive impact in my life. I have much to learn, and I am still that clumsy, awkward looking old guy in the back of the class, but I believe I have found a home.