The Swedish Yau Kung Mun & Wun Yuen Gong Research Society was created by a small group of veteran martial artists in order to:

• Research and preserve Shaolin Yau Kung Mun (Shaolin Style of Flexible Power) with an emphasis on the fighting methods and inner training of the Flexible Power 18 Double Pushing Palms internal system.
• Research and preserve Wutaishan Wun Yuen Yat Hei Jeung (Mount Wutai Primordial Chaos One Qi Palm), aka Wun Yuen Gong, with an emphasis on the fighting methods, internal alchemy and the philosophical roots of the art.
• Further develop and continuously adapt the VIDAR (Violent Intent Direct Aggressive Response) and Gryphon personal security training programs to the ever-changing demands of the society in which we live.
• Note that we are NOT a teaching organization. Individual society members are free to teach at their discretion but this is not the purpose of the society itself.
• The work of our society is dedicated to the memory of the late Grandmaster Cornelius Coelho of Wun Yuen Yat Hei Jeung. We have not forgotten. We will never forget. 週天要義混元訣.

Overview

Yau Kung Mun is a rare internal Shaolin martial art characterized by its aggressive tactics and effective fighting techniques, including the use of the Phoenix Eye Fist and short range shock power. The history of Yau Kung Mun dates back to the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD) and the Shaolin temple in the Honan province, where the system was created by the Buddhist monk Ding Yang. It consists of both simpler external Kung Fu with techniques closely related to Bak Mei (White Eyebrow style) and an advanced internal Shaolin Kung Fu system known as Siu Lum Yau Kung Sup Bat Seung Toi Jeung or “Shaolin Flexible Power Eighteen Double Pushing Palm”.

Yau Kung Mun Kung Fu

Our Yau Kung Mun originally comes from the Australian branch founded by Grandmaster Leung Cheung. The Yau Kung Mun kung fu system offers training in all aspects of the Shaolin martial arts tradition including conditioning, unarmed and armed fighting skills, Qi Gong, meditation and Chinese medicine.

The external Yau Kung Mun system teaches fighting skills typical of Hakka kung fu, such as short range explosive power, extensive use of the phoenix eye fist and a very aggressive mindset.

The internal Yau Kung Mun system contains the full spectrum of internal training, from quiet meditation and soft Qigong to physically demanding power training methods such as practicing movements with a heavy ball. Students also learn the long internal form called Siu Lum Yau Kung Sup Bat Seung Toi Jeung. This form is often considered the “treasure” of the Yau Kung Mun system. It contains all the fighting and healing methods of Yau Kung Mun hidden inside one long form divided into three sections.

The initial stages of the Yau Kung Mun system, as taught by our family, focus on developing the body skill of the practitioner. This is primarily done by practicing solo drills, hitting pads, heavy ball exercises and numerous two-person methods designed to teach the practitioner to use a very relaxed and penetrating type of power. In addition to the soft training, students also learn the hard “kung” power aspect of the system. They condition their bodies for fighting using a variety of methods, including iron body, iron hand, iron bridge, iron claw and many two-person conditioning exercises. External and internal dit dar medicines together with specific Qi Gong exercises help with recovery from the hard conditioning. Through this training practitioners learn to balance soft and hard energy to create our characteristic “Yau Kung” or “flexible power”.

In Yau Kung Mun, every part of the body is a weapon. Common fighting techniques include a variety of hand strikes, kicks, elbows, knees, headbutts, joint locks and breaks, take-downs and wrestling techniques. Students learn to apply their skills through numerous partner drills and free sparring. Whole body sensitivity exercises are teach the student to react to their opponent’s slightest movement while relying on proper body mechanics and flexible power instead of brute “dead” force. Sparring is done both in a semi-contact fashion without gloves allowing for a larger range of techniques and full-contact with gloves and mouth guards so that the students can learn to take a hit and keep going while getting their reflexes and mindset ready for real fighting. Yau Kung Mun practitioners also study a variety of weapons such as the long pole, single and double daggers and broadsword.

The primary focus of our society is on researching and refining the internal YKM art. The external YKM system is still taught by some of our members and also included in a streamlined fashion as part of the VIDAR COMBATIVES program.

Wun Yuen Yat Hei Jeung (Primordial Chaos One Qi Palm, sometimes called Wun Yuen Gong) is a Daoist internal martial art which includes Qi Gong exercises, meditation, conditioning, push-hands, self-defence, free sparring, tui na and the 64-section long form.

Wun Yuen Yat Hei means Primordial First Qi, or Original First Breath, which refers to the Primordial Chaos that exists before the duality of Yin and Yang is formed.

The system was founded in the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) by two senior disciples of the legendary sage Lao Tzu, named Ngai Bak Yeung and Chiu Chi, who created the art in order to attain the Six Unions. The first Five Unions focus on coordination of the Body, Heart, Intent, Qi, Spirit and Movement. The Sixth Union combines Movement with Void, which can also be described as natural coordination of the previous Five Unions without the need to actively focus on them. This is the Daoist principle of Wu Wei or non-doing, where action becomes spontaneous and effortless.

The last true Grandmaster of the Wun Yuen Yat Hei Jeung system was the late Lo Chi Wun (Hong Kong) and the last true Gatekeeper was his student Grandmaster Cornelius Coelho (Australia) who sadly passed away in January 2015.

The Swedish Yau Kung Mun & Wun Yuen Gong Research Society was founded by Christer Wretfors Sifu and Christer Lundenius in 2019. It can be viewed as a continuation of the research and instructor development aspects of what was previously known as Warrior Body Buddha Mind Europe.

Christer Wretfors Sifu has studied traditional martial arts since 1986 and modern combatives since 1994. He received his first instructor’s title in 1995 and opened his first class teaching internal martial arts, self-defence and Qigong in 1997.

His background includes extensive training and instructorship in several traditional martial arts, including Yau Kung Mun, Wun Yuen Yat Hei Jeung, Hung Mo Bak Mei Pai, Snake-style Wing Chun and Yang-family Taijiquan. He’s the creator of the VIDAR Combatives and Gryphon Personal Security training programs.

He currently lives with his family in Hässleholm, Sweden, where he teaches private Yau Kung Mun, Wun Yuen Yat Hei Jeung and VIDAR classes only. Enrollment for new students is closed but if you would like to be put on a waiting list, please follow the instructions found in the FAQ under training opportunities.

Christer Lundenius is a life-long martial artist and the most senior student of Christer Wretfors Sifu, having trained with him since the first class opened in Alnarp in 1997. He has also been a practitioner of Yau Kung Mun, Wun Yuen Yat Hei Jeung and Bak Mei for more than fifteen years. He’s the only person authorized by Wretfors Sifu to teach Yau Kung Mun and the VIDAR training program. He also has a training background in several other arts, including Kenpo, Aikido and Taijiquan. He’s also a longtime yoga practitioner.

Christer currently lives and represents our arts in Gothenburg, Sweden.

VIDAR CORE is our foundation self-protection training program. It is very intense and usually taught during two – three consecutive days (minimum 10 hours of training each day, morning through evening). It is designed for professionals and currently not offered to the general public.

VIDAR EDGE is our fundamental edged weapons training program. Minimum time required is two full days of training (10 hrs per day).

Prerequisite: VIDAR CORE.

• Repetition of VIDAR CORE – basic unarmed combatives.
• Combative blade I – fundamental edged weapon techniques.
• Counter-blade – unarmed survival against edged weapons.

VIDAR IMPROV & GUN teaches improvised weapons, gun disarms and team work. Minimum time required is one full day of training (10 hrs).

Prerequisites: VIDAR CORE and VIDAR EDGE.

• Repetition of CORE – basic unarmed combatives.
• Repetition of EDGE – combative blade and counter-blade.
• IMPROV – improvised weapon techniques using pens, flashlights, keys and other items.
• GUN – fundamental tactics and firearm disarms, active shooter situation survival.
• Team work – introduction to assisting third person during violent situations.

The VIDAR CONTINUUM is for advanced students who have completed our fundamental training courses. At this point, you are free to explore all our training methods, including advanced self-protection training and other supplemental training programs such as VIDAR DRIVE and VIDAR TRAVEL

Prerequisites: VIDAR CORE, VIDAR EDGE, VIDAR IMPROV & GUN.

• Advanced unarmed and armed combatives.
• VIDAR DRIVE, defensive driving skills and vehicle safety.
• VIDAR TRAVEL, security awareness and planning for frequent travellers.
• VIDAR HOME, securing and defending your home environment.

VIDAR is an acronym for the mindset and primary tactics instilled throughout the VIDAR program; Violent Intent Direct Aggressive Response. We believe that developing your mindset is the most important aspect of self-protection training. You can have the greatest physique in the world, with absolutely flawless fighting technique, but if you aren’t mentally prepared to deal with extreme aggression and violence, then you will still become just another “+1” when the yearly “victims of violent crime” statistics are compiled.

Also since our training program is a Swedish creation, we like the idea of having a name that pays tribute to our Scandinavian heritage.

One of the lesser known gods of the Norse mythology is Odin’s son Vidar (sometimes also spelled Vidarr, Vithar etc). Known primarily as a god of vengeance, he only gets a few mentions in the Poetic Edda. His main claim to fame is slaying the Fenris wolf during Ragnarök after the wolf killed his father. He is described as one of the strongest gods, almost as powerful as the mighty Thor himself. Beyond the acronymn, the VIDAR combatives program is named after him for several reasons, a few of which will be briefly discussed here.

The god Vidar is a powerful symbol representing the vengeful warrior who only uses violence to protect himself and his loved ones. In VIDAR we are not really concerned with “humane” self-defense where the enemy is pampered into submission, so it is important to have a strong moral code to provide guidance for when violence can be considered an acceptable option.

Additionally, we are firm believers in the 7 Ps. The 7 Ps are an acronym for “Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance”. In other words, the better prepared you are, the greater your chances when bad things eventually happen. Vidar was well prepared when he slayed Fenris. He even wore a special shoe that he had made for this one occasion. The shoe was reinforced with many thick layers of leather which allowed him to step on the lower jaw of the wolf and then rip it open. Without the shoe, he might have met the same fate as his father Odin. This story shows the importance of the 7 Ps and how they have been observed by warriors throughout the ages.

Vidar is also known as the quiet god. In other words, don’t brag about your training, don’t show off in front of people and don’t get tricked into fighting if staying silent and walking away is an option. This isn’t about fake humility, it’s about maintaining an advantage.

“The wolf shall fell the father of men,
And this shall Vithar avenge;
The terrible jaws shall he tear apart,
And so the wolf shall he slay.” / Vafthruthnismol, stanza 53

Membership in the The Swedish Yau Kung Mun & Wun Yuen Gong Research Society is open to instructors and by personal invitation only. We do not offer any kind of public enrollment process, all members are verified and know each other well in real-life. There are no fees or other costs, members are expected to contribute with their knowledge and time only.

Our old students, going all the way back to the early days in Alnarp, are also always welcome to stay in touch, even if it is just to let us know how you are doing in these strange times.

New prospective students who are looking for an instructor can contact us in order to be put on a waiting list. We will then get back to you if anyone in the society is taking on new students. Our members don’t operate any commercial schools, lessons are usually taught in small, informal and private groups. If you don’t already have a point of contact with us, you’ll need someone we know to vouch for you before you can ask to become a student. For Kung Fu students, your initial training will consist of a demanding six-month period of basic skills, conditioning and combatives, ending with a three-hour non-stop practical test that must be successfully completed, before being accepted as a student proper. For Neigong-only students, there is still a six-month period of basic training that must be completed to lay a good foundation for further internal work.