In this episode of Voices of Kung Fu, we sit down with Sifu David Welther— long-time practitioner and coach of Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu —to explore a journey shaped through pressure, experience, and years of dedicated training.

From his early encounters with Southern Praying Mantis…
to intense training environments…
to evolving his approach through cross-training and experimentation…

This is a conversation about what actually builds skill.

We dive into:

• The moment that changed his understanding of martial arts
• Why pressure testing is essential for development
• The role of conditioning, sparring, and mindset
• Differences across Southern Mantis systems
• How training evolves over time
  

This isn’t about collecting techniques.
It’s about understanding the journey beyond techniques.

🎧 Listen now and experience the conversation.

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What happens when you dedicate your life to training, not just physically, but mentally and internally?

In this episode of Voices of Kung Fu, we sit down with Sifu James, head of the Sing Yee Da Cheng Boxing Association, to explore his journey through traditional martial arts—from early training in the UK to over a decade immersed in the internal arts in Hong Kong.

This conversation dives deep into:

• The reality of training Yi Quan (mind-intent boxing)
• Why standing practice (Zhan Zhuang) is more than it seems
• Internal vs external training—what really matters
• The role of mindset, relaxation, and “no mind” in power development
• Lessons from living and training in Hong Kong for 11 years
• Why foundations are everything in Kung Fu
  

This is not about flashy techniques or forms—it’s about the process, the struggle, and the long-term path of development in martial arts.

🎙️ Listen now and explore the journey.

This episode is brought to you by the ICGPMA International Chow Gar Praying Mantis Association

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https://www.instagram.com/chowgarmantis/

We have been building Voices of Kung Fu to share real stories, knowledge and the deeper side of the arts — not just what you see on the surface.

But we are interested in what you all want to learn and see more of.

Drop a comment and let us know what you like so far, which episode is currently your fav and anything else!

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@voicesofkungfu is brought to you by the ICGPMA International Chow Gar Praying Mantis Association
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In this episode of Voices of Kung Fu, we sit down with Sifu Phillip Le to explore his journey into U.S. Jook Lum Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu—shaped by heritage, curiosity and the search for something that truly works.

This is a conversation grounded in experience.

We dive into:

• The transition from theory to application
• What changes when techniques are put under pressure
• The mindset behind effective training
• The role of structure, timing and understanding
• Bridging tradition with experience
  

Through honest discussion, this episode explores what it means to move beyond surface-level practice and develop deeper insight through training.

🎙️ Listen now and hear the journey.

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This episode is brought to you by the ICGPMA International Chow Gar Praying Mantis Association

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In this episode of Voices of Kung Fu, we sit down with Fan Style Baguazhang Sifu Phil Morrell—a lifelong martial artist whose journey spans karate, Muay Thai, Hung Gar, Southern systems and decades of dedicated training in Baguazhang.

Alongside his martial arts path, Phil also served as a police officer based in London’s Chinatown—offering a unique perspective shaped by real-world experience and the environments where these arts live and evolve.

From Manchester… to London… to Beijing—where he has trained one-to-one with his teacher for over 20 years—this is a conversation rooted in experience, discipline and long-term development.

We explore:

• The principles and origins of Baguazhang
• Circle walking and internal training methods
• The connection to Taoist practice
• The role of repetition, structure, and time
• Training in Beijing and traditional learning environments
• Balancing martial arts with real-world experience
  

This is a grounded and honest look at training, perspective, and the path of long-term development.

🎙️ Listen now and explore the journey.

This episode is brought to you by the ICGPMA International Chow Gar Praying Mantis Association

https://www.facebook.com/chowgarmantisassociation/

https://www.instagram.com/chowgarmantis/

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What does a journey in Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu training look like?
In this episode of Voices of Kung Fu, we sit down with Sifu Tommy Quan of the CKFA Southern Praying Mantis Federation USA — an inheritor of the Jook Lum Southern Praying Mantis system under Sifu Poo Yee.

With over 50 years of martial arts experience, Sifu Tommy shares a direct and honest perspective on traditional training, lineage and what it truly takes to develop real skill.

This is a deep dive into one of the most respected Southern systems — known for its close-range power, structure and intensity.

We explore:

The lineage and transmission of Jook Lum Southern Praying Mantis

The importance of structure, conditioning, and repetition

Old-school training methods and discipline

How real power is developed through the body

The balance between preserving tradition and evolving the art

What separates real training from performance

This is not theory. This is experience. This is a voice of kung fu.

🎙️ Listen now and discover what Southern Praying Mantis training is really about.

This episode is brought to you by the ICGPMA International Chow Gar Praying Mantis Association

https://www.facebook.com/chowgarmantisassociation/

https://www.instagram.com/chowgarmantis/

Is Tai Chi really a martial art?

In this episode of Voices of Kung Fu, we sit down with Sifu Stephen Wooster — a lifelong martial artist with experience across karate, judo, and traditional Tai Chi — to explore the deeper reality behind the art.

This conversation goes beyond the surface.

We break down Tai Chi not as slow movement or health exercise, but as a complete martial system built on structure, sensitivity, and refined power.

We explore:

• The lineage and transmission of traditional Tai Chi
• The connection between internal principles and real application
• How structure, relaxation, and intent generate power
• The role of push hands and sensitivity training
• The crossover between external and internal martial arts
• What it really takes to develop skill over time

This is a grounded, honest look at Tai Chi — through experience, not theory.

🎙️ Listen now and discover what Tai Chi training is really about.

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This episode is brought to you by the ICGPMA International Chow Gar Praying Mantis Association

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https://www.instagram.com/chowgarmantis/

What does it really mean to learn traditional Kung Fu?

In this episode of Voices of Kung Fu, we sit down with Suki — a long-time practitioner of Wing Chun and non-classical Kung Fu — to explore the deeper reality behind lineage, training, and what it takes to truly be accepted into a traditional system.

This is not about shortcuts or surface-level techniques.

From real-life turning points to years of persistence under an old-school Sifu, this conversation reveals the difference between modern training and the traditional path — where knowledge is earned, not given.

We explore:

• The difference between mainstream and traditional Wing Chun
• The importance of lineage and preserving knowledge
• What it means to earn acceptance from a teacher
• The reality of training — discipline, repetition, and patience
• Why many martial arts lose their essence over time
• The mindset required to stay on the path
  

This is a story about commitment, humility, and long-term development.

🎙️ Listen now and discover what real training actually looks like.

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This episode is brought to you by the ICGPMA International Chow Gar Praying Mantis Association

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What happens when you stop accepting tradition… and start questioning everything?

In this episode of Voices of Kung Fu, we sit down with Gary Lever — a long-time Goju-Ryu practitioner who went deep into the roots of his art, cross-training with other arts and Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu and exploring what truly makes martial arts functional.

This is a raw and honest conversation about training, evolution, and the reality behind traditional systems.

We explore:

• The connection between Goju-Ryu and Southern Chinese systems
• Why San Chin is the foundation — and what most people miss
• How structure, breathing, and internal development actually work
• The role of strength training vs traditional conditioning
• Why many systems lose their essence over time
• The importance of mindset, adaptation, and real application
  

This episode goes beyond style and into understanding.

🎙️ Listen now and rethink what training really means.

This episode is brought to you by the ICGPMA International Chow Gar Praying Mantis Association

https://www.facebook.com/chowgarmantisassociation/

https://www.instagram.com/chowgarmantis/

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What does real Kung Fu training look like when it’s stripped of ego, politics, and performance?

In this episode of Voices of Kung Fu, we sit down with Sifu Steve Hayes — a lifelong martial artist with decades of experience in Southern Praying Mantis, security work, and real-world combat.

From brutal conditioning and pad work to the psychological reality of confrontation, this is an honest look at what training is really for.

We explore:

• The reality of Southern Praying Mantis training and its combative roots
• Why aggression, simplicity, and repetition matter more than complexity
• The gap between traditional forms and real-world application
• Lessons from security work and dealing with real violence
• Why most people misunderstand fighting — and what actually works under pressure
• The importance of fundamentals, conditioning, and mental toughness
  

This is not about performance.
This is about function.

🎙️ Listen now and discover what real Kung Fu training actually demands.

This episode is brought to you by the ICGPMA International Chow Gar Praying Mantis Association

https://www.facebook.com/chowgarmantisassociation/

https://www.instagram.com/chowgarmantis/