I began San Soo in '72 at a time when some Woolsey instructors had left Frank's and were opening their own studios. I studied in Long Beach under Rick Insley, and later Ted Sias. Ah Soo lessons were vital to training in many ways...basically learning real fight techniques while teaching balance and timing.
I learned old school San Soo from Tim Thomas who was Jimmy Woo's student from 1958. I have the books from Ah Soo and Fut Ka. The only variation that I see that is different then what we learned is number 2. The way I learned it was is that we don't bring the arm up before we strike the groin because that's a lot of distance going back to the groin, but instead we strike the arm from below knocking the arm up and then strike the groin because we don't have to travel that far to get to the groin. Anyway, I enjoy the old style of San Soo because it was good. However, I cannot stand the new style because I think the entries are horrible. Tim Thomas, says Jimmy Woo changed the art because there was rumors that he got sued and there was another rumor that he was threaten with deportation, but who knows. Anyway, after Tim Thomas, returned back from the Vietnam War he didn't teach the art outside of his family until after Jimmy Woo's death. What happened was he got challenged by an Iron Palm Master in a hospital and after Tim Thomas hit the guy 8 times before he could blink then the Iron Palm Master said, "Oh that's San Soo. That's not what there teaching out there." So in dismayed by the Iron Palm Master's comment then Tim Thomas started going to the different schools to see what they were teaching and then he said, "Oh my God he's right! That's not the San Soo I learned from Jimmy." So, after a whole year of being angry Tim Thomas finally opened up and started teaching in the 90's. He was so mad that he changed the name to Black Dragon San Soo Kung Fu just to distinguish the old style from the new style. He use to be friend's with Frank Woolsey when Frank was around and met Bill Hulsey a few years before he died. It was only Tim Thomas and Bill Hulsey that I knew of that were teaching the old style. I'm glad I was very fortunate to learn the old style.
LOL I can't believe that "master" allowed his student to wear that swap meet, chop sockey bullshit top! True San Soo people wear regular Karate-style GIs.
First technique is great!! I remember learning almost that exact same one! I love this great stances great strikes and windmills jimmy woo would be so proud my man
Is EV ER Y kick in the system a kick to the nuts? I’m wondering if you’re going to choose that target anyway why not hit it immediately when you grabbed initially? All this other nonsense about hitting it to your hip getting in your half horse stance etc. etc. doesn’t make any sense
i took San Soo and yes it is meant to decapitate your attacker imeediately and get outta the situation and danger, it is not a sparring sport, there is some grappling but it is a very brutal right to the point self defense form of martial art, go for the groin, knees, stomp the feet, go for the face (eye gouges, noose), throat, headbutts, etc, thats why no one ever uses any San Soo moves in MMA or anything its all illegal and dangerous, thats why i also learned some judo throws and jiu jitsu cause i would need to be in a situation where it calls to be very ruthless to use a lot of what i learned there.
My initial Kenpo training started of pretty much the same way and I've modified it to more fit my needs and the needs of those I teach. I still practice the old stuff because it's conceptually viable and is good foundation.
@@darkhorsedojo Ya good to get rid of the "Dojo" term. Might want to incorporate San Soo into the name as well. To me it indicates other arts might be incorporated, it's all in San Soo, no reason to bring in other stuff.
Sorry but good as you are there is only ONE style of Kung fu San Soo- the Lo Sifu Chin Su Dek Kung Fu San Soo. to not mention him is total disrespect. I have studied under Sifu Tom Akers and Master Chuck Cory, neither would have said it was Woolsey San Soo or Hulsey San Soo. Tom and Chuck could just have easily said they taught Akers San Soo or Cory San Soo, but they have too much respect for Lo Sifu. But I have to say your Jimmy H Woo San Soo is pretty good
Hey man we are currently making a new kfss serious to post on our channel shortly! We can also provide long distance video training. Please contact us at darkhorsewarlord@gmail.com for any further questions! San Soo is a wonderful art and we will help your journey as best as we can.
