Kam Yuen, (simplified Chinese: 金源; pinyin:Jīn yuan; born in Hong Kong, was a Chinese-born American martial arts expert who was the consultant and stunt coordinator for the original television series Kung Fu. He also played the roles of Wong Ti and Lin Wu in the series and was the double for Keye Luke, who played Master Po in the series.[1][2] Yuen was David Carradine's martial arts instructor. He credited Yuen as the inspiration for the series' main character, Kwai Chang Caine;[3][4] Carradine's book, The Spirit of Shaolin, was dedicated to Kam.[5] A grandmaster of the Tai Mantis style of Shaolin kung fu and known as the "Praying Mantis of North America" for his skill in the fighting style,[2][6] Yuen's film credits included the role of Red Band in Circle of Iron, co-written by Bruce Lee which was produced posthumously and also stars Carradine, and Project Eliminator.
Kam Yuen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 10, 1941 |
| Died | June 24, 2023 |
| Education | Manhattan College |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, public speaker, doctor of chiropractic, alternative medicine advocate, life consultant |
| Known for | Kung Fu expert, consultant and stunt coordinator for the TV series Kung Fu |
| Website | Yuenmethod.com |
Yuen graduated from Manhattan College in 1964.[7] A former aerospace engineer, he was also noted for his expertise in tai chi and qigong, as well as feng shui.[8] He authored several books on the subject including Beginning Kung-Fu and Technique and Form of the Three Sectional Staff in Kung Fu (Literary links to the Orient). He is also a 2012 inductee in the Martial Arts History Museum’s Hall of Fame.[9] In addition, World Black Belt has called him a living legend.[10]
He was also a doctor of chiropractic and consulted patients who suffered from chronic pain. His method was initially called Yuen Energetics, but it was changed to the “Yuen Method”, co-founded with Marnie Greenberg.[11][12] According to Yuen and Greenberg, the Yuen Method “relieves pain through feeling for the exact causes of pain… [termed] weaknesses, then strengthening the deletion process for the deletion to take place, ”and the process then resets “the mind, body, spirit”.[13]
He authored several self-help titles on the subject, including Delete Pain and Stress On the Spot (co-authored with Greenberg), The Power of Instant Healing, Instant Rejuvenation and Instant Pain Elimination.
References
edit- ^ Farrier, John (18 August 2011). "11 Facts You Might Not Know about Kung Fu". Neatorama. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ a b Burke, Floyd (November 2001). "David Carradine: 30 Years of Kwai Chang Caine". Black Belt. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Carradine, David. "ODE to SIFU: The Debt I Can Never Repay". David Carradine: Notes from the Barefoot Legend. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 17 Jul 2022.
- ^ Leeder, Mike (15 December 2014). "David Carradine to receive 'Hall of Fame' Award..." Impact Online. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Carradine, David (1991). Spirit of Shaolin: A Kung Fu Philosophy. Charles E. Tuttle Company. ISBN 978-0804818285.
- ^ Saunders, Suzanne (July 1975). "The Development of Ki". Black Belt. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "JASPERS COMMITTED TO ATTENDING 50TH ANNIVERSARY". Manhattan College. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Who's Who: Kam Yuen". World Wide Dojo. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Hall of Fame". Martial Arts History Museum. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Living Legends: Kam Yuen". World Black Belt. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ "Kam Yuen, Kung Fu Expert and Promoter". Martial Arts Entertainment. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Interview with Dr. Kam Yuen about his Shaolin Kung Fu. Kalamazoo, Michigan. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ Yuen, Kam; Greenberg, Marnie (2015). Delete Stress and Pain On the Spot. Motivational Press, Inc. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-1628651331.